To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Board of Supervisors
Staff Name and Phone Number: Supervisor James Gore, 707-565-2241
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fourth
Title:
Title
Disbursement of Fiscal Year 25-26 Fourth 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 grant agreements with the following entities: A Theater for Children (Inquiring Systems, Inc.), $500; Alexander Valley Healthcare, $500; Ballet Paquiyollotzin (El Dia de los Muertos Petaluma), $1,000; Cloverdale Citrus Fair, $1,500; Dia De Los Muertos Windsor, $3,000; Disability Services & Legal Center, $500; EFZM Engage, $250; Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County, $1,500; Food for Thought, $500; Geyserville Chamber of Commerce, $3,000; LandPaths, $300; Northern Sonoma County Fire Foundation, $1,250; On the Margins, Inc., $1,000; Our Village Closet, $1,000; Railroad Square Music Festival (The Lost Church), $200; Raizes Collective, $200; Revolving Theatre Company, $250; Santa Rosa Quilt Guild, $300; Santa Rosa Urban Arts Partnership, $250; Sonoma Family Meal, $500; The LIME Foundation, $1,500; The Living Room, $1,000; and YWCA Sonoma County, $1,000; 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. (Fourth District)
end
Executive Summary:
The Board established the Local Events, Organizations, and District Priorities category to fund local events that will support businesses, enhance 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 Fourth District has reviewed the applications and recommends the following grant awards:
1. A Theater for Children (Inquiring Systems, Inc.) for advertising and promotion of plays, grant award of $500;
2. Alexander Valley Healthcare for “Connection is Prevention” event in Cloverdale, grant award of $500;
3. Ballet Paquiyollotzin (El Dia de los Muertos Petaluma) for the showcase: “Journey to our Roots” in Rohnert Park, grant award of $1,000;
4. Cloverdale Citrus Fair for the Latino Heritage Festival, grant award of $1,500;
5. Dia De Los Muertos Windsor for their annual Dia de Los Muertos event, Fiestas Patrias event, and for the Windsor Taco Fest event, grant award of $3,000;
6. Disability Services & Legal Center for their resource expo, grant award of $500;
7. EFZM Engage to support the 16th Vince Harper's South Park Day & Night Festival, grant award of $250;
8. Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County for the Sonoma County Ag Summit, grant award of $1,500;
9. Food for Thought for the 24th annual Dinning Out for Life event, grant award of $500;
10. Geyserville Chamber of Commerce for their Fall Colors event, Tractor Parade, and May Day Celebration, grant award of $3,000;
11. LandPaths to support the Harvest Festival/Festival de la Cosecha, grant award of $300;
12. Northern Sonoma County Fire Foundation for their Wine Country to the Rescue fundraiser, grant award of $1,250;
13. On the Margins, Inc. for their Healing Justice Clinics, grant award of $1,000;
14. Our Village Closet for their OVC Resource Center, grant award of $1,000;
15. Railroad Square Music Festival (The Lost Church) for the 10th Annual Free Railroad Square Music Festival, grant award of $200;
16. Raizes Collective for their Day of the Dead Commemoration 2025, grant award of $200;
17. Revolving Theatre Company to support developing the Arlene Francis Center’s main event room into a sustainable community theater space, grant award of $250;
18. Santa Rosa Quilt Guild for purchasing supplies of the quilts that are donated through Sonoma County, grant award of $300;
19. Santa Rosa Urban Arts Partnership for the 22nd annual WinterBlast Festival and Sofa Parades, grant award of $250;
20. Sonoma Family Meal to support the Knife’s Edge - Connected by Cuisine - Annual Gala, grant award of $500;
21. The LIME Foundation to support the Believe in the Dream 10th Anniversary - Legacy Gala, grant award of $1,500;
22. The Living Room for their annual fundraising gala, grant award of $1,000; and
23. YWCA Sonoma County to support YWCA's After Hours event, grant award of $1,000.
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 |
$20,500 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$20,500 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$20,500 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$20,500 |
|
|
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