What it is:  MISSION STATEMENT: The Community Benefit Program recommends, promotes, coordinates projects, oversees funding and ensures timely completion of projects proposed by nonprofit and qualified organizations related to parks, recreation facilities, and roads and street lighting within FPUD’s service area. The program intends to benefit Fallbrook residents by using unrestricted public property tax revenue received by FPUD and allocated to the Community Benefit Program.

VISION STATEMENT: The Program identifies and solicits requests from FPUD’s service area nonprofit organizations to foster projects that enhance the quality of life for Fallbrook residents. The seven-member committee ensures that funded projects result from fair and equitable consideration of proposals sponsored by qualified organizations during the selection process.

Going forward: On Monday, Oct. 2 from 5 - 7 p.m., the Community Benefit Program will hold a public workshop to guide nonprofit organizations seeking funding for projects considered to be of benefit for the residents and businesses within the FPUD service area. The workshop will cover requirements to be eligible for project funding and a scoring sheet to guide the program’s seven members in evaluating the appropriateness of each project submitted for their consideration.

Projects will be selected and funded only once for the coming year at a public meeting prior to, or shortly after, the end of calendar year 2023. The scope of those projects will run during 2024. In the third quarter of calendar year 2024, the application process for 2025 projects will be scheduled.

Funding application: coming soon.

Members: The Community Benefit Program membership is chaired by Jim Mendelson FCBPChair@outlook.com. It consists of six others chosen by the FPUD Board of Directors who reside in the FPUD service area and who have a broad perspective and awareness of community activities and needs. The current seven members, appointed by the FPUD board of directors in late 2022, serve either two- or three-year terms that began on January 1, 2023.2-year and 3-year terms.

Other six members:

• Lila Hargrove
• Jerry Kalman
• Leticia Maldonado-Stamos
• Anna Marchand
• Rosie Redmond
• Elana Sterling

Meeting schedule: Meetings are held at FPUD, 990 E. Mission Rd., at 10 a.m. typically on the second Monday of each month, and are open to the public.  Time is allocated at the beginning of each meeting for public comment.

Oct. Workshop Oct. 2, from 5 - 7 p.m.

Oct. 4, 2023, Monthly Meeting, 10 a.m.

Nov. 13, 2023, Monthly Meeting, 10 a.m.

Dec. 11, 2023, Monthly Meeting, 10 a.m.

Watch this page for 2024 meeting schedules and project deadlines.

Here's how it all got started

After several nonprofits approached our Board in 2016 to expand our powers, FPUD was given approval by LAFCO, the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission to pursue providing a community benefit program that would include items such as operating parks & recreation services. LAFCO is the government watchdog agency tasked with overseeing Special Districts like FPUD.

There was a public hearing/protest hearing on June 14., 2022. LAFCO coordinated that hearing, held here at FPUD. This process allowed the public to weigh in on the proposed program. There was not sufficient public protest.

The approval is to expand Fallbrook Public Utility District’s activated functions to include (a) parks and recreation, (b) street lighting, and (c) roads and streets.

You can read more about the LAFCO process here: Current Notices | San Diego LAFCO (sdlafco.org)