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Authorize the County’s contribution of $3,000 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 5 to benefit the following organizations, including the Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club ($1,000), Wild West Family Festival/On Stage Vacaville ($1,000), Sudie M. Smith Foundation, Inc. ($500), and Saving Gracie Foundation ($500)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Supervisor Mashburn requests that the Board authorize the County’s contribution of $3,000 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 5 to benefit the following organizations, including the Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club ($1,000), Wild West Family Festival/On Stage Vacaville ($1,000), Sudie M. Smith Foundation, Inc. ($500), and Saving Gracie Foundation ($500).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
District 5 has identified four local non-profit organizations for which to contribute its non-county contribution allocation. These agencies directly impact and enrich the lives of residents in Solano County through community support programs.
Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club ($1,000)
The Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club directly impacts and enriches the lives of young residents in Solano County through mentorship and their community support programs. The Club’s goal is to inspire youth to believe in themselves and to enhance their lives through a diverse variety of programs. Ensuring a safe, productive place for kids to spend out-of-school time is vital because when the bell rings and school is out for the day, many kids in our community have nowhere to go. The Club provides Vacaville’s youth with life-changing programs that develop a desire to learn in a safe environment surrounded by people who believe that every young person deserves a great future. The club’s goal is for all Club members to graduate from high school with a plan for their future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and leading a healthy lifestyle.
Wild West Family Festival/On Stage Vacaville ($1,000)
On Stage Vacaville, the Downtown Vacaville Business Improvement District, Main Grape Wine Bar, and Visit Vacaville are collectively producing the Wild West Family Festival, an inclusive and engaging community event scheduled for October 12 & 13, 2024. With the support of additional partners Western Ranch Pet Supply, Solano Farm Bureau, Pena Adobe, Solano Sheriff's Posse, Buffalo Soldiers, and the 100 Club of Solano County, the Wild West Family Festival is posed to be a highlight of the year and a legacy for years to come. The Wild West Family Festival is designed to bring together the diverse members of our community for a weekend filled with entertainment, food, and activities suitable for all ages. The event aims to celebrate Vacaville's vibrant culture and heritage, providing significant benefits to the City of Vacaville, local businesses, non-profits, and families.
Sudie M. Smith Foundation, Inc. ($500)
The mission of the Sudie M. Smith Foundation is to provide charitable assistance and enrichment opportunities for young people pursuing a career in healthcare or medicine. Since 1997, Sudie M. Smith’s family has bestowed a memorial scholarship in her honor through the Assist-A-Grad Scholarship Program to an Armijo High School student who is pursuing a career in healthcare or medicine. In 2017, the family launched the Sudie M. Smith Foundation, Inc. to continue this scholarship and expand it in her honor. Sudie M. Smith moved to Solano County with her family in 1962. She was a mother of eight children, actively involved in her community, a gifted chef and hostess to all who visited her home, and she retired from the Fairfield Suisun Unified School District after 24 years of dedicated service. Her life was one of service to others and she modeled that through her dedication to the health and welfare of those around her. The scholarship in her memory is a testament to her beautiful legacy of service.
Saving Gracie Foundation ($500)
At Saving Gracie their mission is simple, and it comes from the heart: They give pets a second chance at life and their goal is to provide life-saving treatment for pets. Saving Gracie seeks to help save pets whose families are facing the heartbreak of economic euthanasia because they can’t afford medical care. The Saving Gracie team has also recognized the health-giving significance of the human-animal bond. Benefits like reducing anxiety, lowering blood pressure, and easing social interaction help seniors, war vets, and autistic children in ways medical science cannot. Pets enrich our lives in so many ways and their loss is always heartbreaking, but to lose a pet because you can’t afford treatment would be devastating. Saving Gracie is doing everything they can to prevent these deaths and this donation will aid in their efforts.
Guidelines for Grant Funding Requests:
During the FY2024/25 Budget Hearings, the Board appropriated $75,000, $15,000 to each supervisorial district, to allow Board members to support community service programs. The Board directed County Counsel to provide guidelines on how to recommend funding for qualifying agencies or programs. The guidelines are as follows:
1) Each supervisor must submit the proposed expenditure to the County Counsel and the Auditor/Controller for initial review.
2) The Board must approve the expenditure by a majority vote.
3) The Board must determine that the expenditure is for a public purpose.
4) The Board may authorize an expenditure of public funds to a nonprofit organization so long as the County retains ultimate control over the exercise of judgement and discretion of the intended program.
5) To ensure accountability, all expenditures are subject to audits by the Auditor/Controller.
a) If the recipient provides an activity, program or service (“activity”), it shall provide an activity report within 30 days of the activity that states the number of persons attending (if applicable) or participating activities carried out, feedback from participants (if applicable) and benefits of the activity. The recipient’s failure to provide a report may result in its being considered ineligible for future funding.
b) If the recipient is purchasing property or making improvements, it shall use the funds for only the specified purposes and allow representatives of the county to inspect and/or audit the purchase or the contractor’s performance, the facility or the portion improved with the funds and/or the records pertaining to the expenditures. The recipient shall retain for inspection and audit purposes all books, receipts, documentation and other records of the expenditures for three (3) years from date of receiving funds.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost associated with preparing the agenda item is nominal and absorbed by the Department's FY2024/25 Working Budget. This expenditure is included in the District 5 FY2024/2025 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to authorize these expenditures; however, this is not recommended as this is consistent with Board policy.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
This report was prepared in coordination with the County Administrator’s office, County Auditor/Controller’s office, and County Counsel.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION