Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Carolyn Bloede, Director, Office of Sustainability
Subject: Measure K Agreement with Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing the execution of a Measure K Grant Agreement with the Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District (FSLRRD) to provide funding, for the term November 9, 2021 through June 30, 2023, in the amount of $1,000,000.
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BACKGROUND:
On March 9, 2021 and March 23, 2021, the Board of Supervisors held two study sessions at its regularly scheduled public meetings at which the County Manager’s Office presented on anticipated Measure K revenues and Board priorities for Measure K allocations for the upcoming two-year FY 2021-23 budget cycle. At these meetings, the County Manager’s Office stated that there was an estimated $13 million in Measure K funding available for each of the two fiscal years for the Board to prioritize for one-time expenditures. After these study sessions, the Board directed the County Manager’s Office to take appropriate actions for the Board to allocate $1 million in the FY 2021-23 budget cycle to support the Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District (FSLRRD) for “bridge funding” to assist the district until it obtains long term, permanent funding.
DISCUSSION:
Sea level rise is one of the most serious consequences of climate change and it will have a significant effect on San Mateo County, which has more property and assets at risk from rising seas than any other county in the California. The County has taken steps to protect communities from the impacts of sea level rise including flooding, coastal erosion, and degraded water quality. In 2016, the County established a Flood Resilience Program under the San Mateo County Flood Control District (SMCFCD) to develop Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with multiple jurisdictions for three project sites: Bayfront Canal; Belmont Creek; and Navigable Slough (South San Francisco, San Bruno, unincorporated San Mateo County).
In 2019, special legislation (AB 825) modified the SMCFCD to create the FSLRRD, a new agency. The effort to establish FSLRRD involved coordination with all 20 cities in the county, and was a collaborative process led by the City and County Association of Governments. The FSLRRD was established on January 1, 2020 to expand cross-jurisdictional work to address sea level rise, flooding, coastal erosion, and water quality. Since its inception, the FSLRRD has continued the work of the SMCFCD and is overseeing maintenance in the Flood Control Zones which were previously led by the County from 1959 through 2019. By connecting and aligning the efforts of multiple jurisdictions, the FSLRRD reduces the duplication of efforts, facilitates the sharing of expertise, and creates a unified voice to position the County to secure state, federal, and private funds.
The FSLRRD currently receives funding from County and city contributions and is seeking a long-term source of revenue. The Measure K funding will be used to pay the operating expenses of FSLRRD, including staff salaries and benefits, rent, and information technology services. The outcome of the fund expenditure includes measurable progress toward the following four projects to:
• Complete construction of, and maintain, the Bayfront Canal and Atherton Channel Flood Protection and Ecosystem Restoration Project (Bayfront Canal Project), funded in part by the County pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding between the County, the San Mateo County Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District, and three local cities as approved by the Board of Supervisors in Resolution No. 077852. The funds granted under this Agreement shall not duplicate County funds previously allocated to the Bayfront Canal Project.
• Manage the countywide flood early warning system and create Flood Emergency Action Plans in three areas: Colma and San Bruno Creek Watersheds, Belmont Creek Watershed, and Bayfront Canal and Atherton Channel area; and install stream gauges in the south coast area.
• Develop multi-jurisdictional projects to protect multiple cities along the Bay shoreline of San Mateo County from creek and Bay flooding under a future condition with sea level rise.
• Identify long-term solutions to reduce substantial sea level rise and erosion impacts facing three miles of shoreline along the Pacific Coast from Mavericks Beach to the Mirada Road bridge, including the County area of Princeton, state and federal assets, and the Pillar Point Harbor.
Accompanying this memorandum is a form of agreement pursuant to which the County will allocate $1,000,000 to FSLRRD provided that the funding will be used only in connection with operating expenses incurred during FY 2021-2022 and FY 2022-2023. Payments will be made to FSLRRD upon presentation of evidence of grantee incurring qualifying expenses related to operating expenses during the term of the agreement.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Measure K funding in the amount of $500,000 has been included in the Office of Sustainability’s Adopted Budget for FY 2021-2022 and funding in the amount of $500,000 has been included in the FY 2022-2023 Preliminary Recommended Budget. There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agreement.