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Authorize the County's contribution of $1,750 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 2 to benefit Food is Free Solano dba Food is Free Bay Area
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Supervisor Monica Brown requests that the Board of Supervisors authorize the County's contribution of $1,750 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 2 to benefit Food is Free Solano dba Food is Free Bay Area.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Food is Free Solano ($1,750)
Food is Free Solano dba Food is Free Bay Area is a local free food resource run completely by volunteers and supported by the local community. These funds will be used to provide much needed financial resources to ensure that the Benicia Summer Food Program continues to serve students and families impacted by food insecurity over the summer months.
The Benicia Summer Food Program will be a site-based food resource at the Benicia Library, where many children and families experience food insecurity frequently during the summer months. The Benicia Summer Food Program will include food distribution at the Benicia Library once weekly for a period of 9 weeks, starting in June 2024. It is expected that this program will reach at least 100 households with an estimated impact on 300 individuals.
The Solano County Board of Supervisors approved a similar $2,000 contribution from District 2 to Food is Free Solano on May 14, 2024.
Guidelines for Grant Funding Requests:
During the 2023/24 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; and
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 costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2023/24 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could choose not to authorize this expenditure; however, this is not recommended as this is a much-needed resource for the local community.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION