To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Christina Rivera 565-2048
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Cannabis Equity Grant
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorization to Accept and Execute Agreements for Funding Under the Cannabis Equity Grants Program.
B) Adopt a Budget Resolution amending the FY 2020-21 CAO Cannabis budget by $75,000 to recognize grant award and program expenditure appropriations to execute the grant requirements.
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Executive Summary:
GO-Biz’s Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions was developed to aid local equity efforts and to reduce barriers to licensure and employment in the cannabis industry. The County of Sonoma has recently been notified that it has been awarded $75,000 for Type 1 funding (for purposes of conducting a cannabis equity assessment). To receive grant funding, GO-Biz requires formal authorization for the County to enter into a grant agreement with GO-Biz and to designate the individual who is authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the County. Staff also requests a budgetary adjustment recognizing the newly awarded state funding, including expenditure authority to satisfy the grant requirements. The $75,000 grant will span the current 2020-21 and 2021-22 fiscal years.
Discussion:
The purpose of the Cannabis Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions is to advance economic justice for populations and communities harmed by previous cannabis prohibition and to provide support to local jurisdictions as they promote equity and mitigate barriers to enter the newly regulated cannabis industry. By issuing grants to local jurisdictions, GO-Biz aims to advance the well-being of populations and communities that have been negatively or disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition and the war on drugs.
The Cannabis Equity Grants Program is comprised of two funding types:
• Type 1: Assistance for cannabis equity assessment/program development
• Type 2: Assistance for cannabis equity program applicants and licensees
The County applied for and received notice that it would be awarded $75,000, the maximum amount permitted for Type 1 funding, for cannabis equity assessment/program development. The requirements related to Type 1 funding include the following:
• No more than $50,000 of the award may be used to conduct the cannabis equity assessment and/or to develop a local equity program
• Eligible costs related to conducting a cannabis equity assessment include staff time to conduct the analysis and compile the report, or contracting with a consultant to conduct necessary research, etc.
• Eligible costs related to program development include staff or consultant time, and other necessary and reasonable expenses to adopt a local equity program, and/or design and prepare to implement any new component(s) of an existing local equity program, which are not already operational.
• Funds may not be used to acquire and/or improve land or buildings
There is no local match requirement and the grant funds must be expended within 12 months from the date funds have been disbursed. In consultation with the County’s Equity Officer, in early 2022, CAO staff expects to present to the Board the results of the assessment, and if data supports, recommendations that will support equity and mitigate barriers to enter the newly regulated cannabis industry.
To receive grant funding, GO-Biz requires formal authorization for the County to enter into a grant agreement with GO-Biz and to designate the individual who is authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the County. The resolution in Attachment 1 authorizes the County Administrator to sign on behalf of the County.
Prior Board Actions:
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 20-21 Adopted |
FY 21-22 Projected |
FY 22-23 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$75,000 |
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Total Expenditures |
$75,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$75,000 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$75,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
A budget resolution is included to recognize state grant funding and to secure expenditure authority to execute the tasks needed to meet the grant requirements. The effort will require an estimated one-third of a full-time position from the County Administrator’s Office for the next 12 months and will be dedicated to the effort of managing the process and engaging an outside consultant.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
Attachments:
1) Cannabis Equity Grant resolution
2) FY 2020-21 Budgetary Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None