Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
Subject: Use of District-Discretionary Measure K Funds - Supervisorial District 2
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $20,000, to City of Foster City for emergency rent relief for Foster City residents, 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 funds for the fiscal year (FY) 2025-26 budget cycle, divided equally among the five supervisorial districts, for one-time district-discretionary needs and projects. District 2 has submitted a request to use their district-discretionary Measure K funds as shown below and described in the Project Summary section of this memorandum:
|
District/Project |
Amount |
|
District 2 (Supervisor Noelia Corzo) - City of Foster City: emergency rent relief for Foster City residents |
$20,000 |
This item is consistent with the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds approved by the Board in December 2018. District 2 indicates that this organization is either a public agency operating within the County or a nonprofit organization registered and in good standing with the California Attorney General. District 2 indicates that the sponsoring Board member, member’s family, and member’s supervisorial staff do not serve as an officer, director, or play a policy role for the grantee organization.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This is a request to authorize a grant to City of Foster City, and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $20,000 to provide for emergency rent relief for Foster City residents. The County Executive's Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
District-discretionary Measure K funding for this organization has previously been provided as listed below:
• On January 14, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved $35,000 in district-discretionary Measure K funds to the City of Foster City for the Foster City Emergency Rental Assistance Pilot Program.
• On July 21, 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved $45,250 in district-discretionary Measure K funds to the City of Foster City for a Certified K-9 Unit for the Foster City Police Department.
• On September 22, 2015, the Board of Supervisors approved $200,000 in district-specific Measure A funds to the cities of San Mateo, Foster City, and Belmont for park renovation projects in Beresford Park (City of San Mateo) and Leo Ryan Park (City of Foster City), and for a park creation project (Davey Glen Park in the City of Belmont), with funds equally divided between the cities.
This district discretionary grant will be used to fund the following project or services:
The City of Foster City frequently receives inquiries from residents who need financial assistance to pay rent and are often on the verge of losing their housing. Currently, these residents are referred to Samaritan House for services. However, due to a high need for emergency rental assistance across the County, many residents are unable to access emergency rental assistance in time.
On January 14, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved a district-discretionary Measure K grant to the City of Foster City to establish an Emergency Rental Assistance Pilot Program. The City expended the pilot program funds very quickly, and the City applied for additional one-time funding to continue the program. Recognizing the need for ongoing funding for emergency rental assistance, the proposed grant agreement includes a performance measure requiring City of Foster City staff to propose ongoing funding for the program. City staff will propose a line item of no less than $10,000 for emergency rent relief in the City’s budget for the 2026-2027 year to assure continuation of this program. However, this proposed addition is subject to City Council approval of the budget for fiscal year 2026-27, which will take place in May or early June of 2026.
Through this grant, the City of Foster City will provide awards for rent and utilities in the form of rent credit paid directly to landlords with a maximum of $3,000 per award. The awards are for one month of tenant’s rent and the cost of utilities (the greater of the approved utility allowance for the property and unit size or the total of actual utility bills submitted with the application) for those living in a BMR unit or the amount of the deposit as verified by the landlord (for those with approved applications for BMR housing).
This district-discretionary grant will enable the organization to meet the following need or service gap within the County: emergency rental assistance.
District 2 has informed the grantee organization, this grant is a one-time only award, and the grantee organization will need to find other sources of funding going forward. The grantee organization will use the Measure K grant as follows:
|
Item |
Amount |
|
Direct Costs |
|
Rent Relief Awards |
$20,000 |
|
Subtotal Direct Costs |
$20,000 |
|
TOTAL |
$20,000 |
The project or services funded by this district-discretionary grant will be implemented and provided between November 2025 and November 2026. The project is estimated to be completed November 18, 2026.
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $20,000
The release of funds will be contingent on the execution of an agreement providing for the County’s confirmation of the expenditure of funds for the purposes stated herein. The County will disburse the funds to the following organization for the purposes described above:
City of Foster City
610 Foster City Boulevard
Foster City, CA 94404
Stefan Chatwin
schatwin@fostercity.org <mailto:schatwin@fostercity.org>
650-286-3220
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Provide rent relief awards to at least six (6) qualified households |
100% Complete |
|
City staff will propose a line item of no less than $10,000 for emergency rent relief in the City’s budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. |
100% Complete |
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Marginalized communities are often those most deeply affected by rising housing costs. As rents rise dramatically throughout the county and residents are faced with the threat of eviction, those displaced from their communities are disproportionately residents of color. Emergency rental assistance provides a lifeline to prevent families and individuals from being displaced and keeps them rooted in their communities. Additionally, this program is specifically targeted to help the senior community, veterans, those with disabilities, and families.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient Measure K funds for this specific FY 2025-26 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget.