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 25-26 Third 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: Santa Rosa Quilt Guild, $500; Ballet Paquiyollotzin (El Dia de los Muertos Petaluma), $750; North Bay Science Discovery Day (Buck Institute for Research on Aging), $1,000; Positive Images, $1,000; A Theater For Children (Inquiring Systems, Inc.), $1,500; Rotary Club of Santa Rosa East/West, $500; Santa Rosa Urban Arts Partnership, $3,000; Career Technical Education Foundation Sonoma County, $2,000; Mujeres Unidas (MA Marisol Angeles Ceron), $2,000; Our Village Closet, $1,000; 10,000 Degrees, $2,500; Infinite Learning and Resource Center, $1,500; Vecinos de Moorland (MA Concepcion Dominguez Galvan), $2,000; School Garden Network Foundation, $1,000; Santa Rosa Symphony Association, $1,000; The Living Room, $1,500; Sonoma County Women in Law, $1,000; Luther Burbank Home & Gardens Association, $500; Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County, $500; Disability Services & Legal Center, $1,000; Verity, $1,500; Micah's Hugs, $2,000; Sonoma County Pride, $2,000; Lomi School Foundation (Lomi Psychotherapy Clinic), $1,500; Centro Laboral de Graton, $2,000; Latino Service Providers, $1,500; 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. (Third 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 Third District has reviewed the applications and recommends the following grant awards:
1. Santa Rosa Quilt Guild for Quiltathons, grant award of $500;
2. Ballet Paquiyollotzin (El Dia de los Muertos Petaluma) for the Journey to our Roots event in Rohnert Park, grant award of $750;
3. North Bay Science Discovery Day (Buck Institute for Research on Aging) for the 2026 North Bay Science Discovery Day, grant award of $1,000;
4. Positive Images for the Auto Light Repair Clinic at the Latino Services Providers' annual Health and Wellness Fair, grant award of $1,000;
5. A Theater For Children (Inquiring System, Inc.) for three plays, grant award of $1,500;
6. Rotary Club of Santa Rosa East/West for the Santa Rosa Veterans Tribute luncheon, grant award of $500;
7. Santa Rosa Urban Arts Partnership for the 22nd Annual WinterBlast Festival and Sofa Parades, grant award of $3,000;
8. Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation Sonoma County for the Spark the Future, grant award of $2,000;
9. Mujeres Unidas (MA Marisol Angeles Ceron) for the Dia De Nino and Resource fair and food distribution event, grant award of $2,000;
10. Our Village Closet for the OVC Resource Center and Maker/Art/Create Sessions, grant award of $1,000;
11. 10,000 Degrees for the College Access and Success programs, grant award of $2,500;
12. Infinite Learning and Resource Center at the Ciencia Y Cena, grant award of $1,500;
13. Vecinos de Moorland (MA Concepcion Dominguez Galvan) for the Posada de Andy in Andy's Unity Park and Arte en al Parque Celebrando el Día del Niño, grant award of $2,000;
14. School Garden Network Foundation for the Harvest of the Month program, grant award of $1,000;
15. Santa Rosa Symphony Association for the Simply Strings, music education program, grant award of $1,000;
16. The Living Room for the Loving the Living Room Fundraiser, grant award of $1,500;
17. Sonoma County Women in Law for their annual Community Advocacy Scholarship, grant award of $1,000;
18. Luther Burbank Home & Gardens Association for the 45th Annual Holiday Open House, grant award of $500;
19. Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County for the Sonoma County Ag Summit, grant award of $500;
20. Disability Services & Legal Center for the Aging and Disability Resource Expo, grant award of $1,000;
21. Verity for the School-Based Sexual Assault Prevention Education Program, grant award of $1,500;
22. Micah's Hugs for the Prevention & Harm Reduction Infrastructure, Recovery Pathway Creation, Grief-to-Action Transformation, grant award of $2,000;
23. Sonoma County Pride for the Annual LGBTQIAA+ Pride Parade & Festival Celebration, grant award of $2,000;
24. Lomi School Foundation (Lomi Psychotherapy Clinic) for the Legacy Fund sliding-scale and pro-bono services, grant award of $1,500;
25. Centro Laboral de Graton for the Centro Laboral de Graton and ALMAS (domestic Workers) community and leadership building breakfasts and programs, grant award of $2,000;
26. Latino Service Providers for the LSPooky Fest, grant award of $1,500.
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:
9/23/2025: Awarded FY 25-26 Local Events, Organizations, District Priorities Grants
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$36,250 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$36,250 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$36,250 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$36,250 |
|
|
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:
N/A