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 $10,112 to Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto for eviction defense legal services in District 2, 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) 2025-26 budget cycle, divided equally 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) - Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto: eviction defense legal services in District 2 |
$10,112 |
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 Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $10,112, to provide for eviction defense legal services in District 2. 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 November 12, 2024 the Board of Supervisors approved $50,000 in district-discretionary Measure K funds to Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto to protect tenants’ rights and prevent displacement through legal services and rental assistance in District 2
Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA) provides legal services focused on immigration, housing, workers’ rights, and economic security for low-income residents. Their work extends beyond East Palo Alto to other communities in San Mateo County and beyond. CLSEPA seeks to empower individuals, families, and communities through legal education, advocacy, representation, and direct resources. CLSEPA’s team includes attorneys, paralegals, and social workers, in addition to volunteers.
This district discretionary grant will be used to fund the following project or services:
CLSEPA will provide eviction defense legal services to vulnerable populations in District 2, responsive to the rise in evictions in San Mateo County. CLSEPA’s housing program will provide advice, limited scope, and full scope legal representation to residents who may be at risk of homelessness. CLSEPA’s services are accessible in English and Spanish, and in other languages through translation services.
This district-discretionary grant will enable the organization to meet the following need or service gap within the County: housing legal services for vulnerable populations.
District 2 has informed the grantee organization this grant is a one-time only award, and the grantee organization will need to find other sources of funding going forward.
The grantee organization will use the Measure K grant as follows:
|
Item |
Amount |
|
Personnel |
|
Attorneys (50 hrs w/benefits) |
$2,991 |
|
Paralegals (124 hrs w/benefits) |
$5,337 |
|
Social Worker (16 hrs w/benefits) |
$865 |
|
Subtotal Personnel |
$9,193 |
|
Admin Fee @ 10% |
$919 |
|
TOTAL |
$10,112 |
The project or services funded by this district-discretionary grant will be implemented and provided from November 2025 to November 2026. The project is estimated to be completed in November 2026.
Many other community organizations are involved in or contributing funds to this project/these services, including but not limited to Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Give Forward Foundation, and Acacia Center for Justice.
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $10,112
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:
Katrina Logan
Executive Director
katrina@clsepa.org <mailto:katrina@clsepa.org>
650-391-0347
1861 Bay Road
East Palo Alto, 94303
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Provide full-scope legal representation or advice, including counseling families about their legal options and as appropriate, providing legal advocacy and representing tenant families in eviction court, to 50 District 2 tenant families facing threats to their housing. |
100% Complete |
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
These funds will benefit renters who are impacted by housing insecurity and are at risk of homelessness. Renters, on average, have lower incomes compared to residents who own their own homes, and often live paycheck to paycheck. Additionally, people of color and residents from other marginalized communities are more likely to be renters, and face disproportionate and unique barriers to accessing safe, secure, and affordable housing. This allocation will help vulnerable renters in District 2 by providing legal representation and advocacy to keep families housed and rooted in their communities.
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 FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget.