To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: McCall Miller, 707-565-2431
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth
Title:
Title
FY 23-24 Tourism Impact Fund Grant Awards
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize the County Administrator, or designee, to execute agreements with the following grantees: Sonoma Ecology Center, $11,750; Food For All/Comida Para Todos (fiscal agent: North Bay Organizing Project), $25,000; Friends in Sonoma Helping, $40,000; Ceres Community Project, $20,000; Share Housing and Resource Exchange California (dba SHARE Sonoma County), $20,000; Sonoma Overnight Support, $45,000; Homeless Action Sonoma, $45,000; City of Sonoma, $20,000; Penngrove Social Firemen, $3,500; WiConduit, $11,318; and Coastal Hills Community Project, $8,000;
B) Authorize the allocation of $5,000 from the Tourism Impact Fund for the support of the Mark West Area Citizens Advisory Council; and
C) Authorize the County Administrator, or designee, to amend this agreement to lengthen the time schedules and make minor modifications to the allowed uses that do not increase the amount awarded under the agreement.
(First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth Districts)
end
Executive Summary:
The Tourism Impact Fund was established to meet the unique and urgent needs of unincorporated Sonoma County and may be used for activities such as safety improvements, environmental impact mitigation, public safety, and other tourism mitigation activities. Funds may also be used for projects that benefit the community, or to support organizations that coordinate community improvements, such as the Municipal Advisory Councils.
Staff recommends award of a total of $254,568 of FY 23-24 Tourism Impact Funds and requests authorization for the County Administrator, or designee, to execute the funding agreements and to make minor modifications that do not increase the amount awarded under the agreements.
Activities performed utilizing the Community Investment Program funds provide public benefit that serve important community needs under Government Code Section 26227.
Discussion:
Transient Occupancy Tax Funding
The Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) is levied at a rate of 12% in unincorporated Sonoma County, a rate established in 2016 by the voter-approved Measure L. The first 9% of the TOT rate is allocated 33% to the General Fund and 67% to the Community Investment special revenue fund. The last 3% includes Measure L funds and are allocated according to the Community Investment Fund Policy <https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/county-administratorsoffice/community-investment-fund-program/community-investment-program-policy>.
Tourism Impact Funds
One component of the Measure L voter-approved rate is the Tourism Impact Fund, established to mitigate the impacts of tourism. The Tourism Impact Fund allocates 10% of Measure L budgeted revenue among the Supervisorial Districts, according to the percentage of Transient Occupancy Tax revenue collected in each District during the previous fiscal year.
The Tourism Impact Fund was established to meet unique and urgent needs of areas within unincorporated Sonoma County that are most impacted by tourism. District Supervisors recommend how funding should be allocated in their district, for approval by the Board of Supervisors. In order to address urgent needs in a timely manner, the Board of Supervisors awards Tourism Impact Funds multiple times a year.
Funds in this category may be used for activities such as safety improvements (i.e.: lighted and/or marked crosswalks, traffic calming devices), environmental impact mitigation (i.e.: removing trash from beaches, waterways, and areas with high tourist traffic), public safety (i.e.: Fire Services), and other tourism mitigation activities, such as parking enforcement in heavily trafficked areas. Funds may be used to support organization that coordinate community improvements, such as Municipal Advisory Councils. Assuming sufficient funds are available, allocated and unused district allocated funds in a single fiscal year will be available in following fiscal years.
First District
|
Organization/Department |
Project |
Amount |
|
Sonoma Ecology Center |
Sonoma Garden Park |
$11,750 |
|
Food For All/Comida Para Todos (fiscal agent: North Bay Organizing Project) |
Food distribution |
$25,000 |
|
Friends in Sonoma Helping |
Direct assistance |
$40,000 |
|
CERES Community Project |
Center for Food, Youth & Community |
$20,000 |
|
Share Housing and Resource Exchange California (dba SHARE Sonoma County) |
Community Housing and Home Share programs |
$20,000 |
|
Sonoma Overnight Support |
Renovation of Unity Kitchen |
$45,000 |
|
Homeless Action Sonoma |
Home and Safe Village |
$45,000 |
|
City of Sonoma |
Warming Center |
$20,000 |
|
First District Sub-Total |
$226,750 |
Second District
|
Organization/Department |
Project |
Amount |
|
Penngrove Social Firemen |
Merchant District Welcome Banners |
$3,500 |
|
Second District Sub-Total |
$3,500 |
Fourth District
|
Organization/Department |
Project |
Amount |
|
Various |
Mark West Area Citizens Advisory Council |
$5,000 |
|
Fourth District Sub-Total |
$5,000 |
Fifth District
|
Organization/Department |
Project |
Amount |
|
WiConduit |
GMRS Installation |
$11,318 |
|
Coastal Hills Community Project |
Satellite and internet |
$8,000 |
|
Fifth District Sub-Total |
$19,318 |
|
Grand Total |
$254,568 |
Funds will be disbursed upon Board approval and the execution of Tourism Impact Fund Grant Agreements. The agreements will require the County logo on promotional materials produced using the grant award and will require submission of receipts to the County Administrator’s Office for the total amount of the grant award.
Due to the scope and nature of projects funded by the Tourism Impact Fund, a project may require modification as the work/project may not be completed within the fiscal year, necessitating an extension of time or modification of allowed uses for the organization to complete the project. Therefore, it is recommended that the County Administrator, 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.
Activities performed utilizing Community Investment Program funds provide public benefits that serve important community needs under Government Code Section 26227.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
9/26/2023 and 11/7/2023 - Awarded FY 23-24 Tourism Impact Fund Grants
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$254,568 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$254,568 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$254,568 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$254,568 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Tourism Impact Funds are included in the FY 23-24 budget.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
None
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None