REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 11, 2025
FROM
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
2025 San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department SEAT Heat Barbeque and Chili Cook-Off Fundraising Activity
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Find that the 2025 San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department SEAT Heat Barbeque and Chili Cook-Off fundraising activity assists in meeting the social needs of the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator employees, volunteers, and retirees.
2. Find that the 2025 San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department SEAT Heat Barbeque and Chili Cook-Off fundraising activity will be conducted in cooperation with the Sheriff’s Employee Assistance Team, a non-profit charitable organization.
3. Authorize County officials and employees to solicit funds and provide administrative support during work hours, when necessary, and utilize County resources in support of the 2025 San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department SEAT Heat Barbeque and Chili Cook-Off, to be held at Glen Helen Regional Park on May 3, 2025, for Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator employees, volunteers, and retirees.
(Presenter: Brian Roper, Lieutenant, 387-0640)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). County resources to be used in support of the 2025 San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department SEAT Heat Barbeque and Chili Cook-Off (SEAT Heat BBQ) fundraising activity are estimated to be minimal, at $1,000. This estimate does not include personnel costs, which will be calculated and included in an activities report following the event and presented to the Board of Supervisors (Board) at a later date. The cost of County personnel supporting the 2024 SEAT Heat BBQ was $32,584 as detailed in the SEAT Heat BBQ 2024 Report of Fundraising Activities. Sufficient appropriation is included in the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s (Department) 2024-25 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department is involved in a variety of fundraising activities that not only benefit the worthy causes it supports but also provide unique opportunities to foster positive relationships and provide team building among Department personnel.
The Sheriff’s Employee Assistance Team (SEAT) is a non-profit charitable organization that provides assistance to Department employees, volunteers, and retirees during critical situations, such as: major illnesses, accidents, living condition emergencies, and deaths. In partnership with SEAT, the Department hosted the first annual SEAT Heat BBQ in 2012 and continued to host until 2019. The event resumed in 2022 following a two-year break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On May 3, 2025, SEAT will host the annual SEAT Heat BBQ competition among the Department’s various stations and divisions. Department employees, volunteers, and retirees form teams and pay to participate in the competition. Employees, volunteers, retirees, and their family members purchase tickets to attend the event, sample the food, and vote for their favorites. Proceeds from the team entry fees, ticket sales, and private and/or corporate sponsors benefit SEAT. This is a private Department fundraising event and is not open to the general public.
The coordination and implementation of the event is a significant undertaking. While most of the work is done by volunteers, minimal use of County resources, estimated at $1,000, for items such as fuel for portable generators, will be necessary to ensure the event’s success.
The Department recommends approval for support of the 2025 SEAT Heat BBQ. In addition, approval of this item complies with County Standard Practice 06-02SP, which requires County departments to request authorization of a fundraising program from the Board. The request must include the following three recommendations:
• Find that the fundraising programs will assist in meeting the social needs of the citizens of the county;
• Find that the fundraising programs will be conducted in cooperation with a non-profit organization; and
• Authorize County officials and employees to solicit funds for the organization during work hours, utilize County resources to support the organization administratively, and/or utilize County resources to assist in establishing a non-profit organization.
In accordance with Standard Practice 11-07SP, SEAT will obtain event insurance, and provide a certificate of insurance to the County for the 2025 SEAT Heat BBQ.
The Department is submitting, as an attachment to this agenda item, the Report of Fundraising Activities for the 2024 SEAT Heat BBQ event on behalf of SEAT. This report details the hours worked by County employees and includes lists of both the sponsors and beneficiaries of the event.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Grace B. Parsons, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on February 12, 2025; Finance (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on February 19, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on February 21, 2025.