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 5
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $50,000, to Sustainable San Mateo County (SSMC) to add a “City Report Feature” to SSMC’s Sustainability Dashboard, 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 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 5 has submitted a request to use a portion of its district-discretionary Measure K funds as shown below and described in the Project Summary section of this memorandum:
|
District/Project |
Amount |
|
District 5 (Supervisor David J. Canepa) – Sustainable San Mateo County: Adding “City View Report” Feature to SSMC’s Sustainability Dashboard |
$50,000 |
This item is consistent with the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds approved by the Board in December 2018. District 5 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 5 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 Sustainable San Mateo County (SSMC), and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $50,000, to enhance SSMC’s existing Sustainability Dashboard by developing a “City View Report.” The County Executive’s Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
District 5 indicates that this organization has not previously received Measure K district-discretionary funding.
Sustainable San Mateo County (SSMC) empowers local government and community-based efforts with data, solutions, and training to create a sustainable, equitable and climate-resilient San Mateo County for future generations.
SSMC’s “City View Report” tool will support data-driven decision-making by helping local officials, staff, and advocates access and interpret jurisdiction-level and census tract data. The report will highlight both progress toward sustainability goals and disparities in environmental and social fairness, enabling targeted interventions and improved grant readiness for local governments and community-based organizations.
Background
SSMC’s Sustainability Dashboard provides public access to over 90 key indicators across 12 sustainability topics for all 20 cities and unincorporated areas in San Mateo County. While the Dashboard currently includes jurisdiction-specific data, it lacks the functionality to easily isolate, filter, and download data by city or census tract. This limits its usefulness for localized planning and equity analysis. Climate-related challenges such as air pollution, extreme heat, and lack of green space are disproportionately impacting low-income communities, and local governments often lack tools to analyze these intersecting issues.
The proposed City View Report will respond to requests from cities’ and County staff for a jurisdiction-focused, value-centered reporting tool. Integrated into the existing Dashboard, this feature will enhance the ability of users to identify areas of need, monitor trends, support funding applications, and advance equity and sustainability goals across the region.
Project Overview
The City View Report will include:
- Jurisdiction-level summaries with comparisons to countywide benchmarks,
- Census tract-level analysis with paired environmental and demographic indicators (e.g., tree canopy and asthma rates),
- Charts, tables, and brief narratives to support usability, and
- Downloadable Excel files for easy access and use in planning or policy development.
Implementation Plan
Phase 1 (Months 1–2): Gather input from stakeholders, integrate new data from sources like the U.S. Census Bureau and OEHHA, and design a prototype.
Phase 2 (Months 3–4): Conduct focus groups with government staff, CBOs, and residents to refine usability and clarity.
Phase 3 (Months 5–6): Automate report generation and integrate the feature into the Dashboard.
Phase 4 (Months 7–8): Launch the feature with outreach and provide technical assistance for application in local planning and grant writing.
Phase 5 (Month 9): Evaluate use and impact; produce a brief report on findings and next steps.
Timeline:
Project Start: October 2025
Completion: June 2026
District 5 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:
Fund the next critical phase of development, including technical build-out, staff time for project oversight and expanded outreach and training for jurisdictions.
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:
Primary Contacts:
Sustainable San Mateo County
Sarah Hubbard, Executive Director
shubbard@sustainablesanmateo.org
650-743-9776
Terry Nagel
Board Chair
terrynagel@gmail.com
650-678-7082
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Add a “City Report Feature” to SSMC’s Sustainability Dashboard |
100% Complete |
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
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 Approved Recommended Budget.