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:
title
Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $50,000, to Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) for domestic violence legal support, 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) - Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA): Domestic Violence Legal Support |
$50,000 |
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 CORA, and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $50,000, to provide for domestic violence legal support. 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 April 11, 2017, the Board of Supervisors approved $34,000 in district-specific Measure K funds to CORA to provide supervision for community advocates in support of two new, population-specific programs.
• On May 9, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved $70,000 in district-discretionary Measure K funds to CORA to support a full 24/7 hotline and additional mental health training for hotline staff.
Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA), founded in 1977, provides support and legal assistance to survivors of domestic violence. CORA’s trauma-informed services include a 24-hour hotline, safe housing, counseling, and legal aid.
This district-discretionary grant will be used to provide comprehensive legal services to domestic violence survivors, with priority given to District 2 residents. Legal aid empowers survivors to obtain protective orders, secure safe housing, maintain their employment, and navigate custody matters.
CORA will partner with Bay Area Legal Aid (BayLegal) to provide a range of trauma-informed services including legal information, emotional support, document preparation, court preparation, and full legal representation. CORA and BayLegal will both provide civil legal advocacy and legal representation services to survivors of intimate partner violence in family law cases. CORA will refer individuals to BayLegal for advocacy and/or representation services when CORA is at capacity and unable to provide the individual with the level of legal assistance they require. With this grant, both CORA and BayLegal will prioritize District 2 residents and will refer to one another should one agency be unable to support the resident. CORA’s Manager of Legal Services and BayLegal’s Managing Attorney will monitor referrals and compliance with all grant deliverables.
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. The grantee organization will use the Measure K grant as follows:
Budget:
• $26,145.63 Personnel
o $2,902 for a Senior Managing Attorney at 0.02 FTE
o $17,142.33 for a Staff Attorney at 0.18 FTE
o $2,113 for a Legal Advocate at 0.04 FTE.
o $3988.30 Personnel benefits at 18% (total)
• $20,000 Consulting and professional services
o Bay Area Legal Aid (.028 FTE Managing Attorney, .06 FTE Staff Attorney, and .03 FTE Advocate).
• $586.17 Other
o $228 Mileage (calculated at 29 miles per month at a rate of $0.655 per mile for 12 months)
o $155 for client assistance-related and litigation fees/costs, such as e-filing, transcripts, and subpoenas.
o $203.17 for bar membership fees for one attorney.
Subtotal Direct Costs: $46,731.80
Administrative costs (12.5% of personnel): $3,268.20
The project or services funded by this district-discretionary grant will be implemented or provided between December 15, 2024 and June 30, 2025 and is estimated to be completed by June 30, 2025.
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $50,000
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:
CORA - Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse
2211 Palm Avenue
San Mateo, California 94403
Lynn Schuette
lynns@corasupport.org <mailto:lynns@corasupport.org>
650-652-0800
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Trauma-informed legal information, emotional support, and referrals regarding domestic violence law and procedures are provided for 18-22 victims over the grant term via CORA's legal helpline. |
Complete |
|
Civil legal advocacy, including document preparation, court preparation, and legal advice and counsel are provided by CORA or BayLegal for 5-7 survivors, addressing various family law issues. |
Complete |
|
Full legal representation in court is provided by CORA or BayLegal for 3-5 domestic violence survivors. |
Complete |
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
EQUITY IMPACT:
Domestic violence disproportionately impacts women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those experiencing economic hardships. With these funds, CORA seeks to provide comprehensive legal services to empower individuals who are typically underserved in the legal system.
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.