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 3
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $20,000, to Pacifica Historical Society for the restoration of a historic railcar, and authorizing the County Executive, or designee, to execute the grant agreement.
body
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 3 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 3 (Supervisor Ray Mueller) - Pacifica Historical Society for a restoration of the historic railcar |
$20,000 |
This item is consistent with the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds approved by the Board in December 2018. District 3 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 3 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.
DISCUSSION:
This is a request to authorize a grant to the Pacifica Historical Society, and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $20,000, to provide for the restoration of a historical railcar. The County Executive’s Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
The Pacifica Historical Society is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to preserve coastal history through maintaining archives and a museum in the Sharp Park district of Pacifica. In addition to showcasing the story of the Ohlone people, the early settlers, and later development along the coast, the museum has also been an inexpensive gathering place for local artists, community groups and residents, as well as an educational institution. Programs are regularly held for the schools and public, and the museum receives visitors from throughout San Mateo County and California.
This district-discretionary grant will be used to restore the last remaining passenger car of the Ocean Shore Railroad, currently in the possession of and maintained by the Pacifica Historical Society. The Ocean Shore Railroad ran from San Francisco, through Pacifica, and along the San Mateo County coast to Santa Cruz. As the only museum on the coast illustrating the unique history of the Ocean Shore Railroad, the restored railcar will be a powerful attraction for visitors and tied to an educational curriculum for school groups to learn about the early days of transportation in the county.
The Pacifica Historical Society intends to incorporate the railcar into future programming of the museum by moving the car to its new permanent location adjacent to the museum and elevating it on a truck bed with wheels. The cost of permitting the move and restoration is estimated at $15,000 and the cost of raising the railcar onto wheels is estimated at $5,000.
District 3 has informed the grantee organization that this grant is one-time only, and that the grantee organization will need to find other sources of funding going forward.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
|
Description |
Target |
|
Restoration of historic Ocean Shore railcar |
Complete |
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 2025-26 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services Adopted Budget.