No General Fund impact. The $750,000 required for the three contracts will come from the District IV allocation of the deposits into the Livable Community Trust (Fund). The current available balance in the District IV portion of the fund is $1,558,606.51.
The Livable Communities Trust Fund is a Special Revenue Mitigation Fund that was established by the Board of Supervisors on November 15, 2005, following the approval of the Camino Tassajara Combined General Plan Amendment Project, also known as the Alamo Creek and Intervening Property residential projects, and was required as a condition of approval. The Fund was established to implement the County’s Smart Growth Action Plan. The residential developers pay an $8,000 per unit fee (excluding the affordable housing portions of the projects) into the Fund. The Department of Conservation and Development administers the Fund.
On December 3, 2013, the Board of Supervisors determined that revenue from the Fund should be spent equally among supervisorial districts. At complete build-out, deposits to the Fund will total $8,448,000. As of April 14, 2022, the account has collected $8,376,000 in revenue fees, and $867,967.57 accrued interest with $6,203,773.93 remaining in uncommitted funds. The approved expenditures to date are attached.
Libraries are a necessary component to a vibrant and healthy community with resources that lead to economic development and community engagement. Libraries are resource hubs for community members that usually encourage the accessibility to public transportation, which foster smart growth principles. The use of the funds for support of each of the libraries support Smart Growth Action Plan number 4: To promote economic revitalization and urban infill communities.
The allocated funding will go towards additions and /or improvements to library services that further economic goals of the community including:
- Fund-raising campaigns, grant-writing and capacity building work by each recipient organization to increase funding to address library needs and goals.
- Purchase of equipment and supplies for use at the library, including but not limited to books, periodicals, subscriptions, computers, printers, various other computer peripherals, furniture, projectors, paper, and art supplies.
- Initiation or augmention educational programs and events conducted at the library (or field trips conducted by the library), including but not limited to programs and events that teach reading, computer literacy, craftsmanship, S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) and various other subjects and life skills that prepare people of all ages for careers in the 21st century economy.
- Expansions of the types of public services offered at the libraries, including but not limited programs to recruit and train volunteers that will further the mission of the library.
- Transportation subsidies to bring children and others to the library who would otherwise struggle to make the trip.
- Promotion and marketing of the libraries and their services to the public.
- Administration of the terms of the contracts.