Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Manager
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 $30,000, to One East Palo Alto for the Sponsored Employment Program, which will provide supportive employment for a minimum of 10 youth from East Palo Alto and Menlo Park with barriers to employment, providing an exception to the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds to allow repeat funding within the current budget cycle, and authorizing the County Manager, or his 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”) and County staff have conducted study sessions and community outreach efforts to inform priorities for Measure K spending for FY 2017-19.
On May 16, 2017, the Board approved the FY 2017-19 Measure K allocation plan in which the County anticipates Measure K receipts of approximately $81.6 million annually. The plan included $7 million in one-time loans or grants during FY 2017-19, divided equally among the five supervisorial districts, for district-discretionary needs and projects. District 4 has submitted a request to use its district-discretionary Measure K funds as shown below and described in the Project Summary section of this memorandum:
|
District/Project |
Amount |
|
District 4 (Supervisor Warren Slocum) - One East Palo Alto: funding for Sponsored Employment Program, which will provide supportive employment for a minimum of 10 youth from East Palo Alto and Menlo Park with barriers to employment |
$30,000 |
This item is consistent with the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds approved by the Board in December 2018, with the following exception: the proposed grant, if approved, would be the second grant of district-discretionary funding to the same organization within the current FY 2017-19 budget cycle. The exception from the criteria is necessary in this instance because the funding is critical to allow the organization to continue to provide this job and life skills training for disadvantaged youth with barriers to employment, which provides those individuals a step up towards independence and responsibility as they move into adulthood. The Board may approve this exception to the criteria by adopting the resolution.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
On June 27, 2017, the Board of Supervisors approved resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-specific Measure K funds, not to exceed $30,000, to One East Palo Alto to support the Sponsored Employment Program (SEP) for youth with barriers to employment. On April 10, 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved a second resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-specific Measure K funds, not to exceed $30,000, to One East Palo Alto to support SEP for 2018.
Building upon the success of the last two years (2017 and 2018), One East Palo Alto’s SEP will continue to be a summer employment program for vulnerable low-income youth and young adults in East Palo Alto and Menlo Park. For SEP participants, the program is their gateway to the working world. For most, it gives them access to their first job, their first paycheck, their first understanding of what it means to be an employee, to work as a team, to show up willingly, and to be responsible for their efforts.
The youth participating in SEP want to work, to contribute to family expenses, and to have a real and meaningful work experience. In addition to high quality work experience, the program provides participants with job skills training, mentoring relationships and opportunities to connect with the community. Without SEP, many participants would not be able to find a job and would therefore miss out on this crucial life experience. The program runs for six weeks and participants work 30 hours a week for a stipend of $12-15 per hour, depending on age.
SEP is supported by local corporations, philanthropic organizations and private donors. SEP participants are placed in local businesses and non-profits, often at no cost to the employer, depending on the employer’s ability to pay. Examples of duties include research, filing, child development, and janitorial work.
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $30,000
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:
One East Palo Alto
Kava Tulua, M.A., Executive Director
903 Weeks Street
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
650.980-1809
ktulua@1epa.org <mailto:ktulua@1epa.org>
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Participation of a minimum of 10 young people, ages 14 - 24, employed 30 hours a week for six weeks |
100% |
|
Percent of participants indicating that the program provided them with quality work experience (agree/disagree) |
90% |
|
Percent of participants indicating that the program provided them with beneficial job skills training (agree/disagree) |
90% |
|
Final project report identifying total funds payed to each participant |
December 1, 2019 |
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolution and agreement as to form.
Funding to One East Palo Alto for the Sponsored Employment Program supports the San Mateo County Shared Vision 2025 outcome of creating a prosperous community by strengthening employment skills and opportunities for San Mateo County residents.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient Measure K funds for this specific FY 2018-2019 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2018-2019 Adopted Budget.