To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Board of Supervisors
Staff Name and Phone Number: Supervisor Lynda Hopkins 707-565-2241
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Disbursement of Fiscal Year 25-26 Fifth District Community Investment Fund Grant Awards
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Approve Community Investment Fund grant awards and authorize the County Executive, or designee, to execute an agreement with the following entities: Art Workshop of Western Sonoma County, $500; Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival, $2,500; Best Buddies Analy (Santa Rosa City Schools), $1,000; Children's Museum of Sonoma County, $1,000; Cinco de Mayo Santa Rosa Inc., $500; Community Equity Foundation Inc., $500; Council on Aging Services for Seniors, $500; Forestville Skatespot, $1,000; Friends of Monte Rio, $2,500; Infinite Learning and Resource Center, $500; Kid Scoop News, $500; Law Enforcement Chaplaincy in Sonoma County, $500; Los Cien Sonoma County, Inc., $1,000; Monte Rio Chamber of Commerce, $2,500; Monte Rio Recreation & Park District, $2,500; Not My Addiction, $500; Ragle Beach Volleyball Inc., $1,000; River Arts and Media, $2,500; Russian River Chamber of Commerce (2 grants), $6,000; Safe and Sober Project Graduation - Analy and Laguna High Schools, $1,000; Sebastopol Center for the Arts, $2,500; Slow Food Russian River, $1,000; Sonoma County Youth Commission on Human Rights (Sonoma County Human Resources Department), $1,000; Sonoma County Farm Trails, $2,000; Sonoma County Flag Football Association, $1,000; The Funky Forest, $1,000; The Rahus Institute, $1,000; Valley of the Moon Children's Foundation, $1,000.
B) Authorize the County Executive, or designee, to amend these agreements to lengthen the time schedules and make minor modifications to the allowed uses that do not increase the amount awarded under the agreements.
C) Make a finding that the proposed expenditures are necessary to meet the social needs of the population of the County pursuant to Government Code Section 26227. (Fifth District)
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Executive Summary:
The Board established the Local Events, Organizations, and District Priorities category to fund local events and programs that will support businesses, culture, and organizations that provide a benefit to the community, or to award funding to County Departments to fulfill Supervisorial District priorities. Events and organizations may make requests throughout the year to one or more Supervisorial Districts.
The Fifth District has reviewed the applications and recommends the following grant awards:
1.) Art Workshop of Western Sonoma County for Art show at Sebastopol's Apple Blossom Festival, grant award of $500.
2.) Best Buddies Analy (Santa Rosa City Schools) for The Sonoma County Best Buddies Prom, grant award of $1,000.
3.) Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival for 53rd Annual Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival, grant award of $2,500.
4.) Children's Museum of Sonoma County for early childhood development resources, grant award of $1,000.
5.) Cinco de Mayo Santa Rosa Inc. for 17th Annual Roseland Cinco de Mayo Festival, grant award of $500.
6.) Community Equity Foundation Inc. for 5th Annual African Soul Festival, grant award of $500.
7.) Council on Aging Services for Seniors for community-based workshops for older adults, grant award of $500.
8.) Forestville Skatespot for annual 2026 Fun Run, grant award of $1,000.
9.) Friends of Monte Rio for Monte Rio’s 6th Annual RioFest, grant award of $2,500.
10.) Infinite Learning and Resource Center for Exploradores Outings Program, grant award of $500.
11.) Kid Scoop News for engaging reading resource for students, teachers, and parents, grant award of $500.
12.) Law Enforcement Chaplaincy in Sonoma County for on-scene emotional support and follow up care for first responders, grant award of $500.
13.) Los Cien Sonoma County, Inc. for The Puente & Ganas Awards, grant award of $1,000.
14.) Monte Rio Chamber of Commerce for website support, grant award of $2,500.
15.) Monte Rio Recreation & Park District for beach trash removal, grant award of $2,500.
16.) Not My Addiction for youth-led support groups, mentorship, and community events, grant award of $500.
17.) Ragle Beach Volleyball Inc. for court improvements and youth events, grant award of $1,000.
18.) River Arts and Media to support ArtWalk and other events, grant award of $2,500.
19.) Russian River Chamber of Commerce for core production costs for Fungi Fest, grant award of $3,500.
20.) Russian River Chamber of Commerce to support Parade of Lights event, grant award of $2,500.
21.) Safe and Sober Project Graduation - Analy and Laguna High Schools to support Project Grad event, grant award of $1,000.
22.) Sebastopol Center for the Arts for Art at the Source event, grant award of $2,500.
23.) Slow Food Russian River for roundtable meeting with growers, grant award of $1,000.
24.) Sonoma County Youth Commission on Human Rights (Sonoma County Human Resources Department) for engagement, education and human rights, grant award of $1,000.
25.) Sonoma County Farm Trails for Sonoma County Farm Trails’ Gravenstein Apple Fair, grant award of $2000.
26.) Sonoma County Flag Football Association for operating the Sonoma County Griz, grant award of $1,000.
27.) The Funky Forest for The 2026 Forestville Holiday Faire, grant award of $1,000.
28.) The Rahus Institute for Sebastopol Carbon Conversations, grant award of $1,000.
29.) Valley of the Moon Children's Foundation for helping Foster Youth in Sonoma County, grant award of $1,000.
Activities performed utilizing Community Investment Program funds provide public benefits that serve important community needs under Government Code Section 26227.
Discussion:
Transient Occupancy Tax Funding
The Sonoma County Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT or Hotel Bed Tax) was established in 1965 and is authorized under State Revenue and Taxation Code Section 7280. TOT, a general tax, is currently levied at a rate of 12%, a rate established in 2016 by the voter-approved Measure L. TOT revenue is allocated 25% to the General Fund; 50% to the Community Investment Fund; and 25% to the Measure L Fund.
Community Investment Fund Program and Policy
The Community Investment Fund Program, established in 1986 as the Advertising and Promotions Program, allocates a portion of the Transient Occupancy Tax to encourage economic development, community engagement, and culture in the County through a variety of grant award and funding avenues. The program provides grants to community-based organizations for a wide range of activities including economic development, community and countywide events, and advertising and promoting the county as a visitor destination with the goal of advancing economic growth through tourism. Additionally, the program provides grants to address impacts on safety due to tourism and to enhance community services throughout the county. The program provides funding to the Regional Parks Department, the Economic Development Collaborative, and additional county activities. Community Investment Funds are allocated per the Community Investment Fund Policy (Policy) (https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/county-administrators-office/community-investment-fund-program/community-investment-program-policy).
On September 16, 2025, the Board adopted revisions to the Policy, consolidating funding priorities into three funding categories: County Department Funding, District Priorities, and Community Funding. Staff are working on updating the application process to align with the new funding categories. In order to minimize impacts to the community, applications in process will continue to be processed based on the current Policy.
Revised District Priorities Category
The revised District Priorities funding category provides funds to events, organizations, and Supervisorial District priorities. Funding may be distributed through grants or assigned to County departments. The funds available in this category include $100,000 for each supervisorial district ($500,000 total) from the Community Investment Fund and 10% of Measure L revenue to be allocated to each supervisorial district proportionate to the amount of Transient Occupancy Tax collected within the district in the previous fiscal year. Unused funds will be accounted for and available for use in future years. Organizations may make their requests directly to each Supervisorial District.
Funds in this category may be used for activities such as safety improvements, environmental impact mitigation, public safety, and other tourism mitigation activities, such as parking enforcement. Funds may be used for projects that benefit the community, or to support organizations that coordinate community improvements, such as the Municipal Advisory Councils. The Board may award funding to County Departments or to Supervisorial Districts to complete priority projects. Funding may be used to cover salary and benefit costs associated with changed or additional staff, and other costs associated with added staffing such as office space.
Funds will be distributed upon approval of these award(s) by the Board of Supervisors and execution of the Community Investment Fund grant agreement by the entity. The agreement(s) will be executed by the County Executive, or designee. The agreements require the County seal on promotional materials produced using the grant award.
Because a project may require modification as the work/project may not be completed within the fiscal year, an extension of time or modification of allowed uses for the organization to complete the project may be necessary. Therefore, it is recommended that the County Executive, or designee, be authorized to amend the contracts to lengthen the time schedules and make minor modifications to the allowed uses that do not increase the amount awarded under the agreement.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 26227, the Board of Supervisors may fund programs deemed by the Board to be necessary to meet the social needs of the population of the county, including but not limited to, the areas of health, law enforcement, public safety, rehabilitation, welfare, education, and legal services. Staff is recommending that the Board find that the activities performed utilizing Community Investment Program Funds provide public benefits that serve important community needs under Government Code Section 26227.
Strategic Plan:
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
11/04/2025 - Awarded FY 25-26 Local Events, Organizations, District Priorities Grants
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$39,000 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$39,000 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$39,000 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$39,000 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Community Investment Funds are included in the FY 25-26 budget.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Sample Community Investment Fund Grant Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None