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 4
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $20,000, to Bay Area Urban Eagles, to support its Aviation Career Pathways Program, a comprehensive, hands on initiative designed to introduce and prepare youth and young adults for careers in aviation and aerospace, 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 4 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 4 (Supervisor Gauthier) - Bay Area Urban Eagles: to support its Aviation Career Pathways Program |
$20,000 |
This item is consistent with the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds approved by the Board in December 2018. District 4 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 4 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 Bay Area Urban Eagles, and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $20,000, to support its Aviation Career Pathways Program, a comprehensive, hands-on initiative designed to introduce and prepare youth and young adults for careers in aviation and aerospace. The County Executive’s Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
District 4 indicates that this organization has not previously received Measure K district-discretionary funding.
Bay Area Urban Eagles (BAUE) is a nonprofit organization founded in March 2023 and based in East Palo Alto. The organization is dedicated to expanding access to aviation and aerospace career pathways for all youth and young adults through education, mentorship, and hands-on experiences. BAUE’s programs expose participants to multiple aviation career pathways, including pilot training, Airframe and Powerplant certification, Air Traffic Control, and Airport Operations. This approach allows students to identify and support their interest in career pathways aligned with the aviation sector.
BAUE has served more than 300 participants across the Bay Area, providing programs such as Private Pilot Ground School, flight simulator training, industry exposure, and career connected learning opportunities. BAUE’s mission is to inspire and empower the next generation of aviation professionals by working through barriers to entry and creating clear, supportive pathways into the industry.
This district-discretionary grant will be used to fund the following project or services:
The high cost of entering the aviation field, often reaching tens of thousands of dollars, creates significant barriers that limit access for many young people, particularly those from historically underserved communities. The Aviation Career Pathways Program allows participants to engage in Private Pilot Ground School, FAA knowledge test preparation, Advanced simulator training, Discovery flights and airport immersion, and workforce navigation to help participants transition from interest to actionable next steps. This Measure K grant will support the Aviation Career Pathways program by offsetting core program delivery costs for District 4 participants.
This district-discretionary grant will enable the organization to meet the following unmet need or service gap within the County: early exposure, structured guidance, and financial accessibility to high-growth career pathways in aviation for youth in District 4.
District 4 has informed the grantee organization that this grant is one-time only, and that the organization will need to identify additional funding sources to sustain the program moving forward.
The grantee organization will use the Measure K grant as follows:
• $15,000 to Flight Experience Subsidies to cover flight experience and aviation exposure to 50 District 4 youth/young adult participants
• $2,500 towards curriculum and training materials for the Private Pilot Ground School to 50 District 4 youth/young adult participants
• $2,500 to host up to 2 Career Exploration Activities with facilitated tours, guest speakers, and industry engagement events
The project or services funded by this district-discretionary grant will be implemented or provided from June 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027.
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $20,000
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:
Bay Area Urban Eagles
Michael Mashack, Founder and CEO
3399 Bay Road
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 906-7937
michaelm@urbaneagles.org <mailto:michaelm@urbaneagles.org>
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Serve 50 District 4 youth/young adult participants with structured aviation education and flight exposure |
100% Complete |
|
Facilitate up to 2 career exposure experiences, including airport or industry facility tours and guest speaker sessions over the agreement term. |
100% Complete |
|
Track continued engagement, with at least 50% of participants pursuing next step opportunities such as advanced training, internships, or continued program involvement. |
100% Complete |
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Funding for this project supports youth development, interest, exposure to careers in aviation and aerospace, and increases the potential to improve future economic mobility across San Mateo County. This investment helps build a more diverse and locally rooted workforce, strengthens opportunities in education to employment, and contributes to long-term economic opportunity and stability for all 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.