Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Jasneet Sharma, Director, Sustainability Department
Subject: Measure K: Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of Grant Funds from the State of California Energy Commission Clean Transportation Program for Fleet Electrification Charging Infrastructure at County-Owned Facilities
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing the County of San Mateo to accept a $3,625,000 grant from the State of California Energy Commission and enter into a grant agreement to fund the construction of fleet electrification charging infrastructure at County-owned facilities.
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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.
On January 26, 2021, the Board adopted the Government Operations Climate Action Plan (GOCAP) (Resolution No. 077960), a comprehensive strategy to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from County operations and achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. A key emissions reductions strategy is to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure across County facilities and transition light- to mid-duty County fleet vehicles to zero-emission vehicles by 2035. This is anticipated to reduce County-generated emissions by 13.6 percent.
On March 14, 2023, the Board approved the Measure K budget for FY 2023-24, which allocated $5,000,000 of Measure K funds for fleet electrification infrastructure.
On September 18, 2024, the County received a Notice of Proposed Award from the State of California Energy Commission (CEC) Clean Transportation Program in the amount of $3,625,000 to fund the construction of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for fleet vehicles at County-owned facilities. The Clean Transportation Program is a competitive grant program to fund construction of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for use by government fleets and to aid local governments in meeting reduced vehicle emissions climate action plan goals.
On February 25, 2025, the Board adopted Resolution No. 080956 committing $1,972,250 of the $5,000,000 Measure K allocation to meet the 30 percent grant fund match minimum required by the CEC.
On April 10, 2025, the CEC approved the agreement for $3,625,000 of Clean Transportation Program funds to be allocated to the County and for the CEC to execute the agreement with the County via Docusign. Due to the State’s requirement for signature via Docusign, the Director of the Sustainability Department, or Director’s designee, requests authority to execute the agreement on behalf of the County.
DISCUSSION:
The Sustainability Department and the Department of Public Works will collaborate to install 150 EV charging ports at 14 County facilities to make significant process on GOCAP and statewide emissions reductions commitments. Acceptance of this grant will leverage Measure K funds and enable 12 County departments with a total of 294 light-duty vehicles to begin transitioning to a zero-emission fleet. Electrifying these vehicles will eliminate the generation of approximately 586,459 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent annually. Construction at all sites will be completed by FY 2028-29 as required by the grant agreement.
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
This program supports community health by reducing pollution and emissions generated by fleet vehicles.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total project cost is $5,597,250. Grant funding of $3,625,000 is included in the Sustainability Department FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget. The Measure K grant matching funds in the amount of $1,972,250 are included in the FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget. The grant requires a minimum 30 percent match which is met through the Measure K allocation. There is no new Net County Cost associated with this project.