Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: 4/5ths _
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Shruti Dhapodkar, Director of Emergency Management
Subject: Measure K: Appropriation Transfer Request for the Pescadero Elementary School Emergency Power Project
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) in the amount of $452,000 from Measure K Reserves to Department of Emergency Management to be disbursed as grant funding to support the installation of an emergency generator for the Pescadero Elementary School.
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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 town of Pescadero is very vulnerable to power outages. Over a two-year period between 2021-2022 there were more than 400 power outages, 25 of which lasted more than 24 hours in duration and the average power outage duration was eight hours. While the longest outage lasted two weeks, the grid in the Pescadero community is down for approximately 18% of the year which impacts day-to-day life and functions. These power outages are particularly challenging for the Pescadero Elementary School, which lacks a generator to maintain critical systems including heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, communication, and technology.
In December 2025, the Board adopted Resolution No. 081587 approving the transfer of $500,000 from Measure K Reserves to the Department of Emergency Management and also adopted Resolution No. 081552 authorizing the Director of the Department of Emergency Management, or designee, to negotiate and execute a grant agreement with the La Honda Pescadero Unified School District (District) to fund the Pescadero Elementary School Emergency Power Project (Project).
The Project is comprised of the design, procurement, installation, and testing of a temporary emergency generator or other appropriate power source, transfer switch, and any related infrastructure improvements that are necessary to facilitate operation of emergency power at Pescadero Elementary School.
The contract between the District and its vendor was delayed, causing the grant agreement to be negotiated and executed in August 2026, after FY 2025-26, in an amount not to exceed $452,000, and a new ATR is required to advance the Project.
DISCUSSION:
This is a request to transfer funds, in the amount of $452,000, to the Department of Emergency Management to facilitate the Project to improve resiliency and reduce impacts on students and their learning.
The Department of Emergency Management has entered into a grant agreement with the District to facilitate the planning, design, and site preparation of the contract, exclusive of the procurement of the generator, in an amount of $452,000. If federal funding becomes available, the County may directly procure the generator and provide it to the District through a separate agreement. Should the County procure a temporary roll-up generator, it could be an available resource for emergency use elsewhere in the County when it is not in use or reasonably anticipated to be needed by the Pescadero Elementary School.
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
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Description |
Target |
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Pescadero Elementary School will track the number of instructional days supported by the emergency generator during community power outages. |
10 days annually |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The Project supports vulnerable residents of an underserved community that has historically been disproportionally impacted by disasters and power outages.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost increase associated with this ATR or the grant agreement. Approval of the new Appropriation Transfer Request in the amount of $452,000 will move funds from Measure K Reserves to the Department of Emergency Management’s FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget.