DATE: October 25, 2005
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Allocation of District Two Community Projects
Funding
SUMMARY:
Today’s action will provide funding for a variety of projects in
East County including improving the Chamber of Commerce building in Ramona,
providing Thanksgiving dinner to seniors in El Cajon, providing support
to Cancer Navigator and helping furnish the new Alpine Fire Station.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Supervisor Dianne Jacob:
- Find that the allocation to the Ramona Chamber of Commerce is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15301.
- Allocate $30,690 from the District Two Community Projects budget to the Ramona Chamber of Commerce to make improvements to their Main Street office building including paving the parking area in the rear of the building, replacing a storage structure, roof and drywall, and repainting the interior of the building.
- Allocate $600 from the District Two Community Projects budget to the Salvation Army of El Cajon to provide Thanksgiving meals to seniors on November 22, 2005.
- Allocate $25,000 from the District Two Community Projects budget to Cancer Navigator to provide comprehensive cancer information through its HelpLine and website.
- Allocate $30,000 from the District Two Community Projects budget to the Alpine Firefighters Association to be used to help furnish the new Alpine Fire Station.
- Authorize the Chief Financial Officer to execute a grant agreement with the organizations listed above, establishing the terms for receipt of the funds described above.
- Find that these grant awards have a public purpose.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of these recommendations is $86,290. The funding source
for these items is FY 05-06 District Two Community Projects. This action
will result in the addition of no new staff years and no future costs.
BACKGROUND:
The Ramona Chamber of Commerce has demonstrated an outstanding leadership
role in the community of Ramona for many years by working to develop and
maintain a climate for viable economic growth and by promoting networking
for local businesses. The Chamber also provides an information center
for people traveling through Ramona. The Chamber’s downtown office
is in much need of repair and refurbishment. Today’s allocation
of $30,690 will be used to make improvements to the Ramona Chamber of
Commerce Main Street office building including paving the parking area
in the rear of the building, replacing a storage structure, roof and drywall,
and repainting the interior of the building.
Every year, the Salvation Army of El Cajon hosts a Thanksgiving feast
for seniors in the area. Approximately 300 seniors come to the table for
a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, complete with turkey, dressing, and
pumpkin pie. They usually enjoy some entertainment by those who wish to
sing or read poems while they receive full service treatment from the
Salvation Army staff and volunteers who work hard on this event. The Thanksgiving
meal brings seniors of El Cajon together as a family for a warm meal and
an opportunity to be together. Today’s action will approve $600
to continue this important Thanksgiving tradition.
Cancer Navigator has been operational since February 2004, and serves
as the comprehensive resource for cancer information for the residents
of San Diego County, having served over 39,000 website visitors and provided
nearly 1,000 services to 584 HelpLine callers. The mission of Cancer Navigator
is to provide cancer information and navigation support to patients, families,
caregivers, providers, and the public through an integrated HelpLine and
website. The program provides bilingual/ bicultural support (English/Spanish)
to HelpLine callers. HelpLine services include linking callers to resources,
researching and matching them to services, and following-up to ensure
that they receive the resources they need to make informed decisions and
access to care. The website (www.cancernavigator.org) includes over 975
links to local, state, and national resources and new links are researched
and added regularly and is a major tool for the HelpLine staff to find
options for callers as efficiently as possible. Cancer Navigator is a
community-based, non-profit organization that relies heavily on grant
opportunities and corporate and donor sponsorships. Today’s allocation
of $25,000 will be used to provide program support to Cancer Navigator.
Construction is nearly complete on the new Alpine Fire Protection District
fire station. Although funding was secured to build a new station, funding
to furnish it was not secured. The community of Alpine has done an excellent
job in their effort to support the Alpine Fire Protection District and
recently held a fundraiser titled “Help Put Your Firefighters to
Bed,” where they successfully raised $22,031. Today’s allocation
of $30,000 to the Alpine Firefighter’s Association will serve as
a match to their fundraising efforts and is to be used to help furnish
the new Alpine Fire Station.
I urge your support!
Respectfully submitted,
DIANNE JACOB
Supervisor, Second District
