Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Shruti Dhapodkar, Department of Emergency Management
Subject: Measure K: La Honda Fire Brigade
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a grant agreement with the La Honda Fire Brigade for the purchase of five advanced resource containers and supplies for the south coast of San Mateo County in an amount not to exceed $300,000 for the term July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027.
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BACKGROUND:
Measure K is the half-cent general sales tax initially approved by the San Mateo County voters in November 2012 and extended through November 2016 for a total of thirty years.
In response to Board direction, staff gathered community input regarding priorities for the allocation of Measure K funds. Staff collected feedback from Community Based Organizations, County departments and conducted a countywide survey and listening sessions to obtain resident input. At the October 3, 2023, Measure K study session, staff presented a report produced by InterEthnica, summarizing the results of the surveys and listening sessions which provided valuable input for the Board.
On October 17, 2023, after considering the County’s needs and community input, this Board finalized and approved the following priority areas for FY 2024-25 Measure K funding: Children, Families, and Seniors; Housing and Homelessness; and Emergency Preparedness. Mental Health is a component of each priority area rather than a stand-alone item. In addition to the approval of the priority areas, this Board authorized the County Executive to develop and proceed with a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process to obtain applications for funding within the approved priority areas and subcategories identified by the Board.
On March 27, 2024, this Board approved recommended applications received pursuant to the NOFO and authorized the County Executive to negotiate agreements with applicants, to be returned to this Board for approval. By this action, the application of the La Honda Fire Brigade was approved for an award of Measure K funds under the Emergency Preparedness Priority Area. La Honda Fire Brigade is a volunteer Fire Department in La Honda and exists to protect lives and property in a unique environment in the rural area of San Mateo County. They respond to fires, disasters, and emergencies. This funding will allow them to be better equipped to effectively respond to remote fires in the areas and assist citizens who live in this area of the County.
DISCUSSION:
This funding from Measure K will allow La Honda Fire Brigade to purchase and outfit five advanced resource containers (ARCs) strategically placed throughout the south coast of the County. The ARCs are fully self-contained units providing internal backup power supplies and emergency communications equipment such as Starlink satellite receivers and Ham Radios. The lack of emergency communications has been identified as a critical missing component in response to disasters along the south coast and has hindered the ability of the La Honda Fire Brigade to communicate with the County’s Emergency Operations Center. The ARCs will also be available to other entities that share the same communications issues and respond to and/or provide services in disasters. Those entities include, the South Coast Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the Red Cross, and the County’s Human Services Agency. These ARCs will have disaster supplies necessary for CERT to support communities in the area for extended periods of time. Placed in remote communities, these containers will empower citizen volunteers and emergency responders to prioritize risks efficiently. This approach ensures that smaller communities are not compromised during a crisis and will help to minimize potential damage and loss of life. This approach will help to reduce response time. The locations for these ARCs over the three-year period will be Pescadero, Kings Mountain, La Honda, Loma Mar, and Middleton Track.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
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Measure |
FY 2024-25 Estimated |
FY 2025-26 Projected |
FY 2026-27 Projected |
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Grantee will procure two ARCs in Fiscal Years 2024-25 and 2025-26, one ARC in Fiscal Year 2026-27, purchase tools and equipment to outfit each container, identify locations for placement, and place them in those locations. |
Grantee will procure two ARCs, purchase tools and equipment to outfit each container, identify locations for placement, and place them in those locations. |
Grantee will procure two ARCs, purchase tools and equipment to outfit each container, identify locations for placement, and place them in those locations. |
Grantee will procure one ARC, purchase tools and equipment to outfit container, identify location for placement, and place it in that location. |
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the proposed agreement and resolution as to form.
EQUITY IMPACT:
These measures will allow the La Honda Fire Brigade and other disaster response and/or service providers to more quickly respond to the most rural areas of the County in a disaster or emergency. The La Honda Fire Brigade and other disaster response and/or service providers along the south coast serve many Spanish speaking communities which are often adversely impacted when power and communications are disrupted. The equipment in the containers will provide them with adequate emergency communications and get additional resources to these areas quicker.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $300,000 for the 36-month term (3 years) and will be funded through Measure K funds. There are no Net County Cost impacts.