To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Executive’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: David Guhin, Jennifer Larocque, (707) 565-2431
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Graton Mitigation Funding for Fire Services
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the County Executive, or designee, to execute an agreement with Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District, Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, and Sonoma County Fire District to distribute funds from Graton Mitigation Fund for Fiscal Years 2025-26 and 2026-27, in an amount not to exceed $1,551,025 in FY 2025-26, and with a Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment applied in FY 2026-27.
end
Executive Summary:
The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (Tribe) operate the Graton Resort and Casino (Casino) in the unincorporated area near Rohnert Park. The County and the Tribe maintain an Intergovernmental Mitigation Agreement (IMA), which provides approximately $14,500,000 annually, adjusted each year based on the Consumer Price Index, to mitigate impacts of the Casino across several service areas, including fire and emergency services.
This item authorizes the County Executive, or designee, to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sonoma County Fire District, Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District, and the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety to distribute fire service mitigation funds for Fiscal Years 2025-26 and 2026-27. The proposed agreement continues the distribution methodology established in 2020 based on the agencies’ respective roles in responding to incidents associated with the casino and provides total funding of $1,551,025 in FY 2025-26, and with a Consumer Price Index adjustment applied in FY 2026-27.
Discussion:
Background
Sonoma County has five federally recognized tribes within its boundaries, including the Tribe, which operates the Casino. The County and the Tribe maintain an IMA to address off-site impacts of on-reservation development. The IMA reflects the County’s intent to address these impacts while supporting a respectful and mutually beneficial government-to-government relationship.
On June 6, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved the Amended and Restated IMA between the Tribe and the County. Under the agreement, the Tribe provides approximately $14,500,000 annually, adjusted each year based on the Consumer Price Index, to mitigate impacts of the gaming facility across several service areas, including fire and emergency services. The IMA establishes the total mitigation payment and eligible service areas but does not specify funding levels for fire and emergency services or other impact categories.
Since 2014, the County has distributed mitigation funds to fire agencies to address impacts of the Casino on fire and emergency services. In 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved a multi-year distribution agreement with Sonoma County Fire District, Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District, and the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety covering Fiscal Years 2020-21 through 2024-25. That agreement established the distribution among agencies based on their respective roles in responding to incidents associated with the Casino, including primary response and support coverage, and was agreed to by all participating agencies.
In June 2024, the Board of Supervisors adopted a comprehensive allocation plan for the mitigation payments, including funding for fire and emergency services, and established that these allocations will continue in future years.
Proposed Agreement
The proposed MOU (Attachment A) continues the distribution methodology established in 2020 for Fiscal Years 2025-26 and 2026-27. The agreement provides a total distribution of $1,551,025 in FY 2025-26, allocated as follows: $100,000 to Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District, $100,000 to the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, and $1,351,025 to Sonoma County Fire District. These amounts reflect the agencies’ respective roles in responding to incidents associated with the Casino, including Sonoma County Fire District’s primary response responsibility and Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety and Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District’s support role for off-site impacts.
For FY 2026-27, Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District and the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety will continue to receive $100,000 each. Sonoma County Fire District’s allocation will increase based on the Consumer Price Index applied to the total mitigation payment allocated for fire and emergency services.
Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District is expected to consolidate with Sonoma County Fire District in 2026. If consolidation occurs, the County will transfer Rancho Adobe’s allocation to Sonoma County Fire District beginning with the next quarterly payment, consistent with the MOU.
The proposed MOU maintains provisions from prior agreements, including requirements that agencies use funds solely to mitigate fire and emergency service impacts associated with the Casino and maintain records for County audit. Payment to the fire districts will also continue to be contingent on the County receiving full quarterly mitigation payments under the IMA.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
June 14, 2024 - Adopted the FY 2024-2025 budget, including ongoing allocations of Graton mitigation funding for fire and emergency services.
June 6, 2023 - Approved Amended and Restated Intergovernmental Mitigation Agreement with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
July 14, 2020 - Approved a resolution granting the County Administrator authorization to distribute Fire Services Distributions of Graton mitigation fund payments to Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District, Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, and Sonoma County Fire District for Fiscal Years 2020-21 through 2024-25.
July 12, 2016 - Approved agreements with Central Fire Authority and Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District to disburse 2015-16 funds.
July 22, 2014 - Approved agreements with Central Fire Authority and Rancho Adobe Fire Protection District to disburse 2014-15 funds.
June 17, 2014 - Approved the Allocations for Fire and Emergency Services Providers.
October 2012 - Approved the Intergovernmental Mitigation Agreement with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$1,551,025 |
$1,600,968 |
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$1,551,025 |
$1,600,968 |
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$1,551,025 |
$1,600,968 |
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$1,551,025 |
$1,600,968 |
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
In FY 2025-26, the County will distribute a total of $1,551,025 in Graton mitigation funding for fire services. In FY 2026-27, the total mitigation payment will be adjusted based on the CPI for the San Francisco area. The County will renegotiate the agreement with the fire agencies for FY 2027-28; therefore, the FY 2027-28 amount is not yet known. Projected amounts for FY 2026-27 assume a CPI of 3.22 percent, reflecting the average CPI over the past four years. All payments are contingent upon the County’s receipt of full mitigation payments from the Tribe.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
Attachment A - Graton Mitigation Funding for Fire Services
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.