File #: 2020-0483   
Type: Consent Calendar Item Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 5/4/2020 In control: County Administrator
On agenda: 5/12/2020 Final action:
Title: Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Tourism Impact Fund Grant Awards
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator
Attachments: 1. Summary Report, 2. Attachment A: FY 2019-2020 Tourism Impact Award Data

To: Board of Supervisors

Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator’s Office

Staff Name and Phone Number: McCall Miller 565-7099

Vote Requirement: Majority

Supervisorial District(s): Countywide

 

Title:

Title

Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Tourism Impact Fund Grant Awards

End

 

Recommended Action:

Recommended action

A)                     Authorize the County Administrator, or designee, to execute agreements for a total of $135,000 with grantees: North Bay Organizing Project on behalf of UndocuFund, $10,000; Food For Thought, $5,000; The Center for Social and Environmental Stewardship (two grants), $15,000; La Luz Center, $30,000; Burbank Housing, $10,000; MidPen Housing, $10,000; Community Action Partnership Sonoma, $15,000; Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH), $15,000; Vintage House, $10,000; and

B)                     Authorize the County Administrator, 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 agreement.

end

 

Executive Summary:

Today’s Actions would award a total of $120,000 of Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Tourism Impact Funds from the Community Investment Fund and authorize the County Administrator, or designee, to execute a total of $120,000 in funding agreements with grantees to complete projects; and authorize the County Administrator, or designee, to amend these agreements and make minor modifications 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.

 

Discussion:

Transient Occupancy Tax Funding

The Transient Occupancy Tax (Hotel/Motel Tax or Bed Tax) is levied at a rate of 12% in unincorporated Sonoma County. In 2016, voters approved Measure L, which authorized a 3% increase to the tax - from 9% to 12%. The first 9% of TOT is divided with 33% of revenues received going into the General Fund. The remaining funds, including the Measure L funds, are allocated according to the Community Investment Fund Policy.

 

Tourism Impact Funds

One component of the Measure L funds is the Tourism Impact Fund, established to mitigate the impacts of Tourism. The Tourism Impact Fund distributes 10% of revenue from Measure L among the Supervisorial Districts, according to the percentage of TOT revenue collected in each District during the previous fiscal year.

 

The Tourism Impact Fund was established to meet unique and urgent needs of areas within unincorporated Sonoma County that are most impacted by tourism. District Supervisors recommend how funding should be allocated in their district, for approval by the Board of Supervisors. In order to address urgent needs in a timely manner, the Board of Supervisors awards Tourism Impact Funds multiple times a year.

 

Funds in this category may be used for activities such as safety improvements (e.g. lighted and/or marked crosswalks, traffic calming devices), environmental impact mitigation (e.g. removing trash from beaches, waterways, and areas with high tourist traffic), public safety (e.g. Fire Services), and other tourism mitigation activities, such as parking enforcement in heavily trafficked areas. Funds may be used to support organizations that coordinate community improvements, such as the Municipal Advisory Councils.

 

Unused funds in a single fiscal year will be accounted for and available in following years.

 

Details of the proposals may be found in Attachment A.

 

District One Funds: $115,000

Project

Organization/Department

Amount

Financial Aid Program

North Bay Organizing Group on behalf of UndocuFund

$10,000

Grocery Program

Food For Thought

$5,000

VISTA Academy Youth Detention Program

The Center for Social and Environmental Stewardship

$10,000

Crisis Fund

La Luz Center

$30,000

Rental Assistance (Resident Care Fund)

Burbank Housing

$10,000

Rental Assistance & Relief Fund

MidPen Housing

$10,000

Disaster Relief Program

Community Action Partnership Sonoma

$15,000

Rental Assistance

Friends in Sonoma Helping (FISH)

$15,000

Senior Services

Vintage House

$10,000

Sub-Total

$115,000

 

District Five Funds: $5,000

Project

Organization/Department

Amount

Food Distribution Program

The Center for Social and Environmental Stewardship

$5,000

Sub-Total

$5,000

Total

$120,000

 

Funds will be distributed upon approval of these awards by the Board of Supervisors and execution of the Tourism Impact Fund Agreement contract by the entity. The contracts will be executed by the County Administrator. The contracts will require the County logo on promotional materials produced using the grant award, and will require submission of receipts to the County Administrator’s Office for the total amount of the grant award.

 

Due to the scope and nature of projects funded by the Tourism Impact Fund, the project may require modification and/or work may not be completed during the award year, necessitating an extension of time or modification of allowed uses for the organization to complete the project. Therefore it is recommended that the County Administrator, 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.

 

Prior Board Actions:

12/17/2019 and 4/28/2020 - Allocation of FY 2019-2020 Tourism Impact Funds

 

Fiscal Summary

 Expenditures

FY 19-20 Adopted

FY20-21 Projected

FY 21-22 Projected

Budgeted Expenses

$120,000

 

 

Additional Appropriation Requested

 

 

 

Total Expenditures

$120,000

 

 

Funding Sources

 

 

 

General Fund/WA GF

 

 

 

State/Federal

 

 

 

Fees/Other

$120,000

 

 

Use of Fund Balance

 

 

 

Contingencies

 

 

 

Total Sources

$120,000

 

 

 

Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:

Funds are included in the FY 2019-2020 budget.

 

Staffing Impacts:

 

 

 

Position Title (Payroll Classification)

Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step)

Additions (Number)

Deletions (Number)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):

N/A

 

Attachments:

Attachment A: FY 2019-2020 Tourism Impact Award Data

 

Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:

FY 2019-2020 Tourism Impact Fund Agreement

Community Investment Fund Policy