Supervisors approve District 5 Community Enhancement funding

Normally the allocation of Community Enhancement funding is part of the County of San Diego's annual budget process. Due to the delay in the passage of the 2020-21 budget a Community Enhancement allocation for each supervisorial district was included in the budget, but the actual grant awards were separated from the budget approval.

Supervisor Jim Desmond recommended his Community Enhancement grants for docketing at the March 2 San Diego County Board of Supervisors meeting, and a 5-0 vote approved the allocation of $1,146,388 in District 5 Community Enhancement awards.

The funding will provide $100,000 to the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce, $16,000 for the Fallbrook Historical Society, $14,500 to the Live Oak Park Coalition, and $10,000 apiece for the Bonsall Chamber of Commerce, the Fallbrook Art Association, Fallbrook Center of the Arts, the Fallbrook Land Conservancy, the Fallbrook Music Society, the Fallbrook Trails Council, the Fallbrook Village Association, and Riding Emphasizing Individual Needs and Strengths (REINS).

Desmond also allocated $5,000 to Producegood for equipment at 15 pick farms in Bonsall, Fallbrook, Rancho Santa Fe, and Valley Center.

Funding for the Community Enhancement program utilizes a combination of general fund money and Transient Occupancy Tax revenue collected from lodging facilities in the unincorporated portion of the county, although organizations in incorporated cities are also eligible for funding.

Each county supervisor makes recommendations on how much of his or her budget will be given to each group requesting funds. The recommendations are then ratified by the entire Board of Supervisors. Expenses and lost revenue associated with the coronavirus outbreak delayed the approval of the county's 2020-21 budget.

The Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce will use the money for business and economic development services including business seminars, education, and community resources. Many of those activities will feature business growth and survival during times of disaster. If the Avocado Festival is held, some of the Community Enhancement award may be used to promote that event, and Community Enhancement money may also be used to promote the annual Christmas in the Village event.

The Chamber of Commerce may also use the funding for tourism and visitor support including maintenance of the Visitor Center, resources, maps, trail guides, area discovery books, guides to local and regional products including agricultural crops, a directory, a tourist guide, community signage, marketing, and branding. The chamber is also planning a tourism conference which would be an allowable Community Enhancement expenditure.

The Fallbrook Historical Society can use the money to help fund the design and construction of an "interpretative walking trail" for the Reche School House including landscaping and Americans with Disabilities Act access. The historical society may also use the funding to help fund advertising and printing costs or to fund display enhancements at the Heritage Center or the Reche School House.

When the Live Oak Park Coalition holds a formal Live Oak Park Centennial celebration some of the Community Enhancement allocation can be used for that event. The pocket field guide with flora and fauna in North County is currently 18 years old, and an update of that can be funded through the Community Enhancement program.

Live Oak Park has an off-leash dog park, and the Community Enhancement grant may be used for maintenance of that portion of the park as well as materials such as doggie bags and wood chips. Program support including transportation and books is also allowable under the Community Enhancement agreement.

The Bonsall Chamber of Commerce will use the money for community event costs, visitor and office operation expenses, and the cost to design, print, and mail the business directory.

The Fallbrook Art Association will spend the money on event rental, marketing, printing, and mailing costs for its art show and for art demonstrations whose expenses include space rental, artist fees, and marketing.

The eligible Fallbrook Center for the Arts expenses are a marketing consultant, personnel payroll, printing, advertising, postage, distribution services, window displays, website maintenance and upgrades, art supplies for the children and adult ceramics classes and the Junior Wildlife Art Show, and electricity required to pay for the specialized light emitting diode illumination for art galleries.

The Fallbrook Land Conservancy will use the money both for Stagecoach Sunday and for Save Our Forest. The Stagecoach Sunday expenses include the stage coach, animal exhibits, a band, catering, food plates and utensils, drinks, printing, publicity, mailing, postage, banners, signs, children's art supplies, and portable toilets.

The Save Our Forest expenditures may include plants, trees, bench supplies, and equipment for urban greening projects. The planned purchases of plants include native pollinator plants for a habitat demonstration garden which will provide examples of native and drought-tolerant landscaping.

The Fallbrook Music Society has a Classical Sunday Concert Series with nine free performances, and video production complements the live concerts. One of those concerts will be the Arts in the Park event for schools, and funding will also be used to support an in-school music program at six Fallbrook Union Elementary School District schools which will include performances, music education, and mentoring.

The Fallbrook Trails Council funding will be used for trail repair and maintenance, to purchase signage, and to hire part-time security.

Railroad Heritage Park, Jackie Heyneman Park, and Vince Ross Village Square will be the beneficiaries of the grant to the Fallbrook Village Association. A plot plan and a digital rendering of Railroad Heritage Park will be developed, and marketing components will be created including a short conceptual video tour, a storyboard, and a promotional brochure. Maintenance at Jackie Heyneman Park will include signs and restriping the alley adjacent to the parking area. The Vince Ross Village Square expenses will be for marketing.

REINS can use the money for its annual Country Hoedown fundraiser, its Horses, Hats and Hope fundraiser, the REINS of Life golf tournament, and the volunteer program.

The grant to Producegood will help purchase recovery equipment for the 15 pick farms. The equipment will include bins, wagons, pruners, picker poles, tarps, gloves, masks, bags, rags, pens, clipboards, computer hardware, garden tools, stools, and chairs. Harvesting and delivery costs may also be funded through the Community Enhancement allocation as can the CropSwap Field to Fork Personnel events.