Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
Subject: Measure K: Agreement with StarVista for sustainability funding for the San Mateo County Pride Center
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with StarVista for the San Mateo County Pride Center for improvements to facility safety and functionality and service delivery for the term October 17, 2023, through June 30, 2025 in an amount not to exceed $500,000, and authorizing the County Executive, or designee, to execute the grant agreement.
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BACKGROUND:
Measure K is the half-cent general sales tax initially approved by San Mateo County voters in November 2012 and extended in November 2016 for a total of thirty years.
The Board of Supervisors (Board) held study sessions on Measure K expenditures and approved the allocation of Measure K funds for the FY 2023-24 budget, including allocating $500,000 for LGBTQ Support for the San Mateo County Pride Center.
DISCUSSION
The San Mateo County Pride Center is the first of its kind in San Mateo County and provides intensive support services to individuals and families in the LGBTQ+ community.
Located in centrally located downtown San Mateo, the Pride Center is a partnership between StarVista (fiscal sponsor), Outlet of Adolescent Counseling Services, and Peninsula Family Service, in collaboration with San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. The Pride Center provides a broad range of services with three main components: 1) Clinical -individual, group, couples and family counseling, peer support groups, case management; 2) Social/Community -event and gathering space, education, trainings; and 3) Resource center -library, referrals, web-based media center. More information about the Pride Center can be found at www.sanmateopride.org <http://www.sanmateopride.org>.
The Pride Center provides vital clinical services, including therapy (accepting MediCal, and offering sliding scale and pro bono services), case management (including housing support, access to food, transit and healthcare, etc.), peer groups (e.g., Trans folks, queer women, gay men, etc.) and monthly legal name and gender marker change workshops.
The Pride Center also provides a variety of community programs, including training and education (topics include SOGIE/LGBTQ 101, Trans 101, Pronouns 101) and consultations (assisting organizations with human resources policies, resolutions for county, state and county law input, external event safety and security guidance). The Pride Center also supports or co-sponsors significant community events (e.g., Pride month, Trans Day of Remembrance, San Mateo County Park outings, movie nights, karaoke nights).
The Pride Center also offers free onsite services such as public computer access, LGBTQ+ lending library, food pantry, clothes, and gender affirming garments (e.g., chest binders, gaffs).
Measure K funds are being provided to the Pride Center to support the Center’s long-term sustainability. Specifically, the Pride Center will use the Measure K funds to expand programs and services including additional programming, additional community events to reduce social isolation, and hiring an additional therapist to directly support clients and reduce a lengthy waitlist. Additional staff will also help increase access to safe and affirming spaces for the LGBTQ+ community.
As a result of the recent wave of hate legislation and increasing LGBTQ+ hate crimes across the county, the Pride Center intends to focus some of its new community events and programs on supporting the Trans community and LGBTQ+ youth.
Measure K funds will also be used to implement capital improvements to increase accessibility, safety, security, visibility, and functionality of the Pride Center (e.g., furniture upgrades, safety and security upgrades, kitchen improvements).
County staff has informed the grantee that this grant is one-time only, and that the grantee will need secure other sources of funding going forward.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure(s) |
Target |
|
Program and services expansion including additional programming and community events (Contractor to provide a report upon invoicing). |
Complete |
|
Capital improvements to increase accessibility, safety, security, visibility, and functionality of the Pride Center (furniture upgrades, safety and security upgrades, kitchen improvements). (Contractor to provide a report upon invoicing) |
Complete |
|
Hire an additional therapist to directly support clients. |
Complete |
EQUITY STATEMENT:
The Pride Center is a place of safety and provides trusted services, which is critical to keeping individuals of all identities safe and connected to essential resources. This Measure K funding will assist the Pride Center in making necessary improvements to enhance safety and functionality of the facilities and service delivery.
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient Measure K funds for this specific FY 2023-24 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2023-24 Adopted Budget.