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:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $19,500, to Empowerment Through Action at Hillsdale, to provide one tuff shed and lead positions for the 24-25 school year for Peace Pantry, Community Garden, and Community Closet, 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) 2024-25 budget cycle, divided evenly 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) - Empowerment Through Action at Hillsdale: one tuff shed and lead positions for 24-25 school year for Peace Pantry, Community Garden, and Community Closet |
$19,500 |
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 Empowerment Through Action at Hillsdale, and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $19,500, to provide one tuff shed and lead positions for the 24-25 school year for Peace Pantry, Community Garden, and Community Closet. 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 October 6, 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved $30,000 in district-discretionary Measure K funds to the Hillsdale High School Foundation to provide opportunities for under-represented children to participate in the Empowerment Through Action program and provide participating students with an adult mentor and access to a range of extracurricular activities. (Hillsdale High School Foundation previously served as the fiscal sponsor for Empowerment Through Action.)
Hillsdale High School has a program called Empowerment Through Action (ETA) that offers various social support programs to students and families in need. The program primarily serves low-income families living in nearby neighborhoods, including Hillsdale Garden Apartments and Los Prados. Empowerment Through Action at Hillsdale is also a 501(c)(3) that will receive and administer funding.
ETA offers several services including a Peace Pantry that provides weekly groceries to 140 families, a community garden that distributes fresh produce, and a community closet offering seasonal clothing and essential items.
The program is currently volunteer run, but the Empowerment Through Action at Hillsdale is seeking funding to create three stipended lead positions to oversee operations and ensure its sustainability. Ultimately, with increased staff capacity, Hillsdale High School hopes to eventually expand the program to feeder schools and potentially all of San Mateo/Foster City. Additionally, funding is requested to fund a 10x10 Tuff Shed to store Peace Pantry equipment and supplies to support program expansion. ETA will also establish an Emergency Relief Fund to support families at risk of becoming unhoused, though dollars reserved in this fund will come from other sources.
District 2 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.
Funds will be expended by June 30, 2025.
Budget:
• $6,000 for 10x10 Tuff Shed installed for Peace Pantry Equipment, storage, small carts and supplies
• $4,500 stipend for Peace Pantry Lead Position from January 1, 2025 to June 25, 2025
$4,500 stipend for Community Garden Lead Position from January 1, 2025 to June 25, 2025
• $4,500 stipend for Community Closet Lead Position from January 1, 2025 to June 25, 2025
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $19,500
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:
Empowerment Through Action at Hillsdale
C/O HHS Peace Pantry/Brett Stevenson
63 Bovet Rd #218
San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 558-2618
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Provide weekly groceries to 140 families every Friday |
Complete |
|
Produce organic fruits and vegetables at a rate of 2,000 pounds per year to distribute to families every Friday |
Complete |
|
Distribute cultural food staples provided by Mi Rancho Market 2x per month |
Complete |
|
Provide seasonal clothing to students and families enrolled in Peace Pantry (i.e., back to school clothing, homecoming and prom clothing, winter clothing, work wear, interview clothing and Hillsdale School Swag). |
Complete |
|
Provide essential items to students and families (soap, laundry detergent, toothpaste, hygiene products, deodorant, shampoo etc.) |
Complete |
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
EQUITY IMPACT:
Empowerment Through Action’s Peace Pantry, Community Garden, and Community Closet programs provide essential goods to low-income families in San Mateo experiencing food insecurity and economic insecurity. The majority of students and families served identify as Latinx and reside at Hillsdale Garden Apartments, Los Prados Neighborhood apartments, and other nearby apartment communities. By providing essential goods such as food and clothing, ETA reduces financial strain on these families, who are often new to the country and District 2.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient Measure K funds for this specific FY 2024-25 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget.