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Board signals support for $25,000 for "1 Team, 1 Dream" program, directs MOU to address gift-of-public-funds concerns
Summary
The board discussed a funding request from the "1 Team, 1 Dream" small-business competition and signaled consensus to support up to $25,000 if the county and the organizer put an MOU in place that documents a clear public purpose and recipient obligations to avoid a gift-of-public-funds issue.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors discussed a funding request for the "1 Team, 1 Dream" program, a small-business competition focused this year on the food and beverage sector, and indicated support for a reduced allocation contingent on a binding memorandum of understanding.
Olga Martin Steele, who volunteers with the program, described the event as a five-year effort that routes sponsorship and award dollars to small businesses and noted the City of Lakeport is contributing $10,000 this year. "Every cent goes to a business, a small business," Steele said, adding the program uses volunteers and works with Woodland Community College to involve culinary students.
County counsel advised caution about gift-of-public-funds issues and recommended that, if the board approved funding, the terms of expenditure and disbursement be set out in an MOU that "expressly outlines the actual public purpose" and recipient obligations. County staff said applicants already sign recipient agreements requiring them to use awards for business purposes and that the program has implemented follow-up documentation and return provisions if funds are misused.
Board direction: Several supervisors said they could support $25,000 — not the $50,000 requested — provided county administration returns with a contract or MOU that spells out the public purpose, reporting requirements and recipient obligations. That direction was made by consensus rather than as a formal roll-call motion.
What was not decided: The board did not vote to appropriate funds at the $50,000 level. Instead it directed county administration to draft an MOU and return to the board for approval of the terms and any appropriation.
Why it matters: Supervisors said the program supports small businesses in unincorporated areas and helps local workforce development through partnerships with the college's culinary program. Counsel flagged legal constraints: an explicit MOU would be necessary to demonstrate the public purpose of county funds.
