To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Modification to Humboldt County Local Equity Program Manual
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve modifications to the Humboldt County Local Equity Program Manual.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund.
DISCUSSION:
On March 19th, 2019 your Board adopted Resolution No. 19-24 adopting the Humboldt County Cannabis Local Equity Program Manual for the operation of the County of Humboldt Local Equity Program (LEP). The Humboldt County Local Equity Program Manual focuses on inclusion and support of individuals and communities in Humboldt's cannabis industry who are linked to populations or neighborhoods that were negatively or disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization.
With the adoption of the LEP, your Board also authorized the Humboldt County Administrative Office Economic Development Team to apply for the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) Local Equity Grant Program funding for the maximum amount of funding available, based on criteria and allocation formula set forth in the Bureau of Cannabis Control Program Guidelines.
During the time between your Boards approval of the LEP, and submittal of the county’s application to the Bureau of Cannabis Control the BCC’s criteria for funding local equity programs changed. These changes, coupled with the publication of Humboldt County’s Equity Assessment, necessitated that staff make certain modifications to the LEP Manual which included:
• Adding clarification to the manual under section “A. Qualifications” by creating criteria for “Program Eligibility” and “Alternate qualifications” thereby increasing the types of individuals who can qualify for services under the LEP. And,
• Adding section “D. Provision of Services” to the manual clarifying the type of agencies eligible to provide LEP services and which services, through an interagency agreement with a qualifying internal or external agency, may be provided on behalf of the County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The county funded portion of the Humboldt County Local Equity Program for fiscal year (FY) 2019-20 is $108,135.00. This is funded via the allocation of cannabis excise tax that is set aside for Project Trellis and which represents 15% of the total Project Trellis budget. In its grant request to the BCC staff asked for $1.6 million in additional state equity funding which, if awarded by the state, would be matched with the county’s contribution.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by supporting business, workforce development and creation of private-sector jobs .
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
At Board discretion.
ATTACHMENTS:
Humboldt County LEP Manual
Humboldt County Cannabis Equity Assessment
LEP Manual Red Lined
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: Resolution 19-24 Adopting LEP Manual
Meeting of: March 19, 2019
File No.: N/A