To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Board of Supervisors
Staff Name and Phone Number: Supervisor David Rabbitt, 707-565-2241
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Second
Title:
Title
Disbursement of Fiscal Year 25-26 Second 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: 10,000 Degrees, $1,000; Agricultural Community Events Farmers Markets, $2,000; Career Technical Education Foundation, $1,500; Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County, $2,000; Generation Housing (Tides Center), $2,000; North Bay Science Discovery Days (fiscal agent: Buck Institute for Research on Aging), $500; Petaluma Arts Council (Petaluma Arts Center), $2,000; Rancho Cotate High School MEChA & Latino Student Union (Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District), $250; Santa Rosa Quilt Guild, $250; Sonoma County Pride $1,500; Sonoma Family Meal, $5,000; The LIME Foundation, $1,500; Verity, $1,000; YWCA Sonoma County, $500; and
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. (Second District)
end
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 Second District has reviewed the applications and recommends the following grant awards:
1.) 10,000 Degrees to support the college access and success programming in the Second District including Petaluma and Casa Grande High Schools; grant award of $1,000;
2.) Agricultural Community Events Farmers Markets for expenses related to the Cotati Shop & Stroll annual holiday event; grant award of $2,000;
3.) Career Technical Education Foundation for expenses related to the annual “Spark the Future” event; grant award of $1,500;
4.) Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County for expenses related to the Sonoma County Ag Summit; grant award of $2,000;
5.) Generation Housing (Tides Center) for expenses related to the annual Sonoma County housing report; grant award of $2,000;
6.) North Bay Science Discovery Days (fiscal agent: Buck Institute for Research on Aging) for expenses related to the 14th North Bay Science Discovery Day; grant award of $500;
7.) Petaluma Arts Council (Petaluma Arts Center) for advertising and promotion of the Xicano Community Narratives series; grant award of $2,000;
8.) Rancho Cotate High School MEChA & Latino Student Union (Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District) for expenses related to the 3rd annual student led Fiesta Latina; grant award of $250;
9.) Santa Rosa Quilt Guild for the purchase of quilting material to create and donate quilts to local organizations; grant award of $250;
10.) Sonoma County Pride for advertising and promotion of the Annual LGBTQI Diversity and Inclusion Festival and Parade; grant award of $1,500;
11.) Sonoma Family Meal for advertising and promotion of the annual fundraising event; grant award of $5,000;
12.) The LIME Foundation for advertising and promotion of the annual fundraiser event; grant award of $1,500;
13.) Verity for expenses related to school based sexual assault prevention education in the Second District; grant award of $1,000; and
14.) YWCA Sonoma County for advertising, promotion and expenses related to the Annual “Y I Run” domestic violence awareness fundraising event; grant award of $500.
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.
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:
None for FY 25-26
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$21,000 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$21,000 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$21,000 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$21,000 |
|
|
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 Local Events, Organizations, District Priorities Grant Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None