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 $62,302 to San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department for disaster communications improvements in District 2, 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 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) - San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department: disaster communications improvements in District 2 |
$62,302 |
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 San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department, and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $62,302, to provide for disaster communications improvements in District 2. The County Executive's Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
District 2 indicates that this organization has not previously received Measure K district-discretionary funding.
This district discretionary grant will be used to fund the following project or services:
The San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department (SMCFD) seeks to improve communications between first responders during and following a disaster or high call volume day by purchasing radio frequency licenses, and purchasing and installing a Base Radio Repeater and antennas. This project will allow first responders to communicate with each other via radio without clogging up county radio channels or relying on county repeaters.
SMCFD will subcontract with Telecommunications Engineering Associates (TEA) to help manage the project and will subcontract with Radio Soft, Inc. to identify available VHF radio frequencies.
This district-discretionary grant will enable the organization to meet the following need or service gap within the County: disaster communications infrastructure.
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 |
|
Direct Costs |
|
Radio Frequencies: Telecommunications engineering services to identify two VHF radio frequencies suitable for use with a new VHF repeater system |
$2,350 |
|
Base Station Equipment |
$8,599 |
|
VHF Radio Repeater System |
$28,947 |
|
VHF Voting Receiver |
$22,406 |
|
Subtotal Direct Costs |
$62,302 |
|
TOTAL |
$62,302 |
The project or services funded by this district-discretionary grant will be implemented and provided between December 2025 and December 2026. The project is estimated to be completed December 2, 2026.
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $62,302
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:
San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department
Eric Mackintosh, Deputy Fire Chief
emackintosh@smcfire.org <mailto:emackintosh@smcfire.org>
650-522-7900
2121 S. El Camino Real, Ste B100
San Mateo, CA 94402
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Purchase and install base station equipment, VHF radio repeater system, and VHF voting receiver |
100% Complete |
|
Identify two VHF radio frequencies suitable for use with a new VHF repeater system |
100% Complete |
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately those that are most vulnerable to natural disasters due to historical and geographic inequities. Additionally, seniors and people with disabilities are often those most at risk during an emergency event. Ensuring that our emergency preparedness systems are resilient protects our most vulnerable residents.
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.