To: Board of Supervisors, County of Sonoma
Department or Agency Name(s): Board of Supervisors
Staff Name and Phone Number: Supervisor James Gore, (707) 565-2241
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Fourth District
Title:
Title
Use of Lytton Tribal Mitigation Funds
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize the County Executive or designee to execute community grant funding agreements totaling $950,000 in a form approved by County Counsel and for the term from October 13, 2026 through December 31, 2030, with the following 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations:
i.) Russian Riverkeeper ($400,000);
ii.) Landpaths ($300,000);
iii.) Nuestra Comunidad ($150,000); and
iv.) The Progressive Tribal Alliance ($100,000)
B) Make a finding that the proposed expenditures are necessary to meet the social needs of the population of the County pursuant to California Government Code section 26227.
C) Adopt a Resolution authorizing budgetary adjustments to the FY 2026-27 adopted budget to increase expenditure appropriations in the Lytton Tribal Mitigation Fund to program a total amount of $950,000. (4/5 Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
This item seeks Board authorization to use $950,000 of Lytton Tribal Mitigation Funds for four community-based project grants as follows: $400,000 will be utilized by Russian Riverkeeper for the Russian River Floodplain Restoration Project; $300,000 will be utilized by Landpaths for youth education, ecological restoration and stewardship; $150,000 will be utilized by Nuestra Comunidad for disaster preparedness and community resilience initiatives; and $100,000 will be utilized by The Progressive Tribal Alliance for youth education and cultural events.
Discussion:
Background:
The County of Sonoma executed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Lytton Rancheria of California in 2015 and amended on August 7, 2018. The agreement (MOA attached, Sections 7.2, 7.5.2, 7.8) describes a one-time payment of $6.1 million to the County to address potential offsite impacts of the development, including but not limited to impacts to parks, habitat, road impacts, in addition to administrative and consultant costs. Additionally, the Lytton Tribe makes annual payments to the County based on the assessed value of its trust property in-lieu of property tax payments.
The tribal contributions are allocated to the Lytton Tribal Mitigation Fund for future mitigation needs and may be used at the County’s discretion. The current Lytton Mitigation Fund balance is $2.16 million. The County has adopted the following financial policy with regard to mitigation funds: “Tribal Development Impact Mitigation Funds shall be accounted for separately, so that when budgeting, only those monies received in the current year shall be relied upon for financing costs in the coming budget. The Board of Supervisors shall make a determination, as new tribal developments occur, on the best uses of these funds to mitigate impacts and maintain the high quality of life in surrounding or affected communities.”
Recommendations:
Consistent with the Lytton MOA, projects which have used this fund balance in the past include parks, road and traffic improvements, partnership with Santa Rosa Junior College to enhance workforce development related to fire resilience and vegetation management, and Hanson Russian River Floodplain Restoration. In consultation with county staff and non-profit partners, District Four recommends the following allocations from the Lytton Tribal Mitigation Fund:
Russian Riverkeeper: Russian River Floodplain Restoration ($400,000)
Russian Riverkeeper will use $400,000 for the Russian River Floodplain Restoration project in the area of the ‘Hanson Pits’, near Windsor, CA. This grant funding, in addition to previous grant funding in the amount of $600,000 approved by the Board on March 24, 2026, will support administrative, permitting, and legal work for the Restoration Project. Russian Riverkeeper will utilize these additional grant funds for final reclamation costs and legal fees associated with this project. The Floodplain Restoration Project will convert four gravel ponds on 360 acres into restored seasonal floodplain wetlands and salmonid habitat. The project also seeks to mitigate flooding, increase groundwater recharge, eliminate mercury pollution, improve overall water quality, and establish a publicly accessible river park. After the completion of floodplain restoration work, planning for park facilities will begin and the property will be transferred to Sonoma County Regional Parks. The project received a County Use Permit in April 2024 and has completed CEQA review through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Statutory Exemption for Restoration Projects program. This project aligns with the Board’s adopted policy on use of Tribal development mitigation funds by improving access and community environmental health in the area of the Russian River near the Lytton Trust Lands development, supporting ecological restoration of native plants and trees, contributing to flood protection and wildfire mitigation, and improving the overall quality of life for Sonoma County residents. This work also aligns with the ‘Russian River Floodplain Restoration Project’, approved by the Board on April 22, 2025, located in the area of the ‘Hanson Pits’, at the eastern edge of Windsor, CA.
LandPaths: Education, Restoration, and Land Stewardship ($300,000)
LandPaths is a 501c (3) nonprofit environmental education and conservation organization in Sonoma County, focusing on environmental education, land preservation, and ecological stewardship with the mission to ‘foster a love of the land.’ Annually, LandPaths engages thousands of youth and adult participants to foster restorative relationships with the land and biodiversity in Sonoma County. This restorative work occurs through creative outings led in both English and Spanish, environmental education in partnership with local school districts, nature camps, community gardens, and land stewardship of local open spaces. Landpaths will utilize $300,000 of Lytton Tribal Mitigation funds for environmental education and ecological stewardship in the Russian River watershed including, but not limited to, youth environmental education programs, partnerships with school districts, fire resilience work and oak woodland restoration, community engagement and outreach with underserved communities.
LandPaths’ core initiatives include: ‘Rooting Youth in Nature’ to expand opportunities for youth to access the outdoors and learn stewardship of working and natural lands; ‘Conservation for Everyone’ dedicates priority programs and bilingual engagement to reduce barriers and access to land and stewardship training; and ‘Growing Community with Nature’ to address challenges like catastrophic fire, floods, and droughts exacerbated by climate change. LandPaths staff, youth trainees, and community volunteers perform wildfire mitigation and ecological restoration work throughout the Russian River watershed. LandPaths’ work aligns with the Board’s adopted policy on use of Tribal development mitigation funds by improving land access and community environmental health in the area of the Russian River watershed and near the Lytton Trust Lands development, supporting ecological restoration of native plants and oak woodlands, contributing to wildland fire mitigation and fuels reduction, and improving the overall quality of life for Sonoma County residents.
Nuestra Comunidad: Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Initiatives ($150,000)
Nuestra Comunidad is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Windsor, CA, focusing on community-centered disaster preparedness and training, 9-1-1 awareness, health and wellness, mental health support, and youth leadership, and career pathway development. Nuestra Comunidad will utilize $150,000 of Lytton Tribal Mitigation Funds for infrastructure upgrades and community resilience initiatives, including, but not limited to, bilingual disaster preparedness training and outreach, 911 awareness trainings, career development for youth entering emergency and first response work, ‘Stop the Bleed’ bilingual first-aid training, food security services, and mental health resources. Nuestra Comunidad’s location and programs align with the Board’s adopted policy on use of Tribal development mitigation funds by providing an established base of operations in Windsor, CA, near the Lytton Trust Lands development, providing critical disaster preparedness and resilience programs, and improving the overall quality of life for Sonoma County residents near the Lytton Trust lands and county-wide.
Progressive Tribal Alliance: Education and Cultural Events ($100,000)
The Progressive Tribal Alliance (Alliance) is a Windsor-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission it is to increase the representation of Native Americans in business, entrepreneurial ventures, and to foster a stronger civic presence through education and leadership opportunities. The Progressive Tribal Alliance will utilize $100,000 of Lytton Tribal Mitigation Funds for cultural education programs and events both within and beyond the Native American community in Sonoma County. These grant funds will support the Progressive Tribal Alliance’s ongoing educational programming to promote the preservation and celebration of Native American heritage. These funds will support the Native Arts Festival in Windsor, CA. Additionally, grant funds will compensate Elders/educators, procurement of cultural materials, culturally appropriate foods, and historical trauma classes designed to provide education, healing, and support to those most impacted by historical and generational trauma. This project aligns with the Board’s adopted policy on use of Tribal development mitigation funds by providing cultural events educational programs near the Lytton Trust Lands development and improving the overall quality of life for Sonoma County residents.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
3/24/2026 - Board authorized the use of $2.275m in Lytton Mitigation funds for County departments and nonprofit environmental organizations.
9/24/2024 - Board authorized $50,000 in Lytton Mitigation funds for the Progressive Tribal Alliance towards enhancement of cultural education programs and historical trauma classes.
5/31/2024 - Board authorized the use of $750,000 of Lytton Tribal Mitigation Funds as part of the FY 24/25 budget process SRJC fire resilience workforce and allocated to Regional Parks to support the Hanson Russian River Floodplain Restoration project - Tab 13 of the FY 24/25 Budget Hearing Materials.
4/16/2024 - Board authorized the County Administrator to use Lytton Tribal Mitigation Funds and enter into a funding agreement for $50,000 with the Progressive Tribal Alliance for Native American arts festivals for three years.
9/1/2020 - Board authorized the use of $1,850,000 in Lytton Tribal Mitigation Funds for park improvements, roadway intersection improvements, and oak tree mitigation program.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$950,000 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$950,000 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
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|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
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Use of Fund Balance |
$950,000 |
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$950,000 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
This item will utilize $950,000 of available fund balance from the Lytton Tribal Mitigation Fund for work that will begin in FY 26-27. The estimated total available Lytton Mitigation fund balance is approximately $2.16 million and the use of these funds for this purpose is within the parameters of this fund. The attached budget resolution adds expenditure appropriations totaling $950,000 for community grant agreement expenses anticipated in FY 26-27.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
1) Agreement with Russian Riverkeeper
2) Agreement with Landpaths
3) Agreement with Nuestra Comunidad 707
4) Agreement with Progressive Tribal Alliance
5) Budget Resolution
6) Lytton MOA, 2015
7) MOA Amendment, 2018
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A