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Authorize the County’s contribution of $6,500 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 1 to benefit the following organizations, including The Boys and Girls Empowerment Group ($1,500), Nuevos Caminos ($1,500), Vallejo Together ($1,500), Solano Pride Center ($1,000) and The Solano Association of Realtors Foundation ($1,000)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Supervisor James requests that the Board of Supervisors authorize the County’s contribution of $6,500 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 1 to benefit the following organizations, including The Boys and Girls Empowerment Group ($1,500), Nuevos Caminos ($1,500), Vallejo Together ($1,500), Solano Pride Center ($1,000) and The Solano Association of Realtors Foundation ($1,000).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
District 1 has identified five local non-profit organizations for which to contribute its non-county contribution allocation, including:
The Boys and Girls Empowerment Group, $1,500
The Boys and Girls empowerment group works to assist young people, especially those who lack meaningful experiences and opportunities, in reaching their potential as productive, mindful, well-balanced young people. They do this by providing service opportunities that assure successful engagement with community members that include neighborhood empowerment community clean ups, providing free meal boxes every Saturday. The Donation will support their summer youth program where they provide a 6-week summer program where every Friday they take the students from Vallejo on a field trip, to local farms, local events and other places they don’t typically experience in their daily lives.
Nuevos Caminos, $1,500
Nuevos Caminos Vallejo is a community-driven organization dedicated to empowering Vallejo youth and families through bilingual mental health support, mentorship, parent education, and cultural identity enrichment. Their mission is to bridge educational and social disparities by providing culturally responsive programs that encourage resilience, leadership, and community engagement for all youth, regardless of background. This donation is for them to continue their program of informational immigration workshops to families and its impact on children.
Vallejo Together, $1,500
Vallejo Together works to engage community members without shelter in Vallejo and strategize to meet their diverse needs, including basic needs items, direct service referrals, forming effective partnerships and collaborations, and advocating for change. This donation will provide hygiene packages to unhoused residents in Vallejo and assist them in attaining the resources to do more outreach.
Solano Pride Center $1,000
These funds are to support the center's mission and vision of building community and provide services for Solano County’s LGBTQIA2S+ people and allies. Solano Pride Center envisions a community where all LGBTQIA2S+ people live freely and authentically.
Solano Association of Realtors Foundation, $1,000
SAORF carries the firm belief that our children represent our future, they endeavor to support their needs and enhance their growth by supplementing education and enrichment programs. They make grants to under-funded and developing programs that support the youth in communities served by the local association. This donation is to sponsor their Goal Getters girls soccer camp for Vallejo residents to promote SAORF’s mission.
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 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 judgment 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 any and all books, receipts, documentation and other records of the expenditures for three (3) years from date of receiving funds.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The expenditures totaling $6,500 in contributions are included in the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget. The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2024/25 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