To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Board of Supervisors
Staff Name and Phone Number: Supervisor Chris Coursey 707-565-2241
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Third
Title:
Title
Disbursement of Fiscal Year 26-27 Third District Community Investment Fund District Priorities Grant Awards
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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: North Bay Performing Arts Association, $1,500; Vecinos de Moorland, $2,000; EFZM Engage (Sonoma CAN), $1,500; LIME Foundation, $1,000; Sonoma County Women in Law, $2,500; Community Support Network, $2,500; First Responders Resiliency, Inc., $2,000; Rancho Cotate High School MEChA & Latino Student Union, $2,000; Latino Service Providers, $5,000; Listening for a Change, $2,000; The Living Room Center, Inc., $1,500; Buck Institute for Research on Aging (North Bay Science Discovery Day), $1,000; Infinite Learning and Resource Center, $2,000; Latino Service Providers, $2,000; 404 Found Code, $1,000; Career Technical Education Foundation Sonoma County, $2,000; Museum of Sonoma County, $2,000; LandPaths, $1,500; Children’s Museum of Sonoma County, $2,500; Pediatric Dental Initiative of the North Coast Inc., $2,500; KBBF 89.1 FM Radio, $3,000; Cookout at the Vineyard, $1,000; Sonoma County Farm Trails, $2,000; North Coast Ballet California, $2,000; Sonoma County Pride, $2,000; Centro Laboral de Graton, $2,000; Petaluma Blacks for Community Development, $2,000; and Valley Of The Moon Children's Foundation, $2,000.
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.
(Third District)
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Executive Summary:
The Board established the 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. Organizations may make requests throughout the year to one or more Supervisorial Districts.
The Third District has reviewed the applications and recommends the following grant awards:
1. North Bay Performing Arts Association for Clara's Enchanted Dream, Land of Sweets, grant award of $1,500.
2. Vecinos de Moorland for the La posada de Andy by Vecinos de Moorland and Día de la Niño con arte by Vecinos de Moorland, grant award of $2,000.
3. EFZM Engage (Sonoma CAN), for the 2026 Vince Harper's 17th South Park Day & Night Festival, grant award of $1,500.
4. LIME Foundation for the Believe in the Dream: Lasso the Dream gala, grant award of $1,000.
5. Sonoma County Women in Law for the Community Advocacy Scholarship, grant award of $2,500.
6. Community Support Network for the 4th Annual Job and Resource Fair for the Unsheltered and at Risk, grant award of $2,500.
7. First Responders Resiliency, Inc. for the First Responders Resiliency Training, grant award of $2,000.
8. Rancho Cotate High School MEChA & Latino Student Union for the 4th Annual Fiesta Latina, grant award of $2,000.
9. Latino Service Providers for the Las Monarcas SinCuenta, grant award of $5,000.
10. Listening for a Change for the Online Oral History Program, grant award of $2,000.
11. The Living Room Center, Inc. for the Loving the Living Room fundraising gala, grant award of $1,500.
12. Buck Institute for Research on Aging for the North Bay Science Discovery Day, grant award of $1,000.
13. Infinite Learning and Resource Center for the Exploradores en SoCo!, grant award of $2,000.
14. Latino Service Providers for the "Promotores Profesionales" Internship Program, grant award of $2,000.
15. 404 Found Code for the STEM education program, grant award of $1,000.
16. Career Technical Education Foundation Sonoma County for the Path to Purpose Internship Program, grant award of $2,000.
17. Museum of Sonoma County for the Second Saturdays at the Museum of Sonoma County, grant award of $2,000.
18. LandPaths for the Harvest Festival/Festival de la Cosecha, grant award of $1,500.
19. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County for the Access for All initiative, grant award of $2,500.
20. Pediatric Dental Initiative of the North Coast for the PDI Community Oral Health Program: Maintaining Essential Surgical Access for Children, grant award of $2,500.
21. KBBF 89.1 FM Radio for power poles and generator service, grant award of $3,000.
22. Cookout at the Vineyard for the Cookout at the Vineyard Block Party, grant award of $1,000.
23. Sonoma County Farm Trails for the Weekend Along the Farm Trails Fall Tour, Sonoma County Farm Trails Map & Guide, and the Blossoms, Bees & Barnyard Babies Spring Tour, grant award of $2,000.
24. North Coast Ballet California for the 2026-2027 season, grant award of $2,000.
25. Sonoma County Pride for the Sonoma County Pride LGBTQI Annual Festival & Parade, grant award of $2,000.
26. Centro Laboral de Graton for the 2nd Annual Posada Navidena, grant award of $2,000.
27. Petaluma Blacks for Community Development for the Black History Exhibit, Black History Program, Lectures and Youth Trip, grant award of $2,000.
28. Valley Of The Moon Children's Foundation for the Valley of the Moon Children's Foundation Scholarship Program and Critical Needs Program, grant award of $2,000.
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.
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).
District Priorities Category
The 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:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
8/18/2026 - Awarded FY 26-27 District Priorities Grants
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$56,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$56,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
$56,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$56,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Community Investment District Priorities Funds are included in the FY 26-27 budget.
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Staffing Impacts: N/A |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Sample District Priorities Grant Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None