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 3 and Supervisorial District 4
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $100,000, to Vida Verde Natural Education towards pre-construction work, including permits and surveys, to build a barn to support their outdoor education program and provide farm worker housing, 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 each year during FY 2017-19, divided equally among the five supervisorial districts, for district-specific needs and projects. District 3 and District 4 have submitted a request to use their district-discretionary Measure K funds as shown below and described in the Project Summary section of this memorandum:
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District/Project |
Amount |
|
Even split between District 3 and District 4 (Supervisors Don Horsley and Warren Slocum) - Vida Verde Natural Education: towards pre-construction work, including permits, architectural designs and surveys, to build a barn to support their outdoor education program and provide farm worker housing |
$100,000 |
This item is consistent with the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds approved by the Board in December 2018.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This is a request to authorize a grant to Vida Verde Natural Education and resulting grant agreement in an amount not to exceed $100,000 towards pre-construction work, including permits and surveys, to build a barn to support their outdoor education program and provide farm worker housing. The County Manager’s Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
Vida Verde Natural Education is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 whose mission is to promote educational equity by providing free, overnight environmental learning experiences for students who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity. Vida Verde Natural Education has served over 11,500 students from low-income schools, including students from schools within San Mateo County, with a 3-day, 2-night program on their property in San Gregorio that is specifically designed to positively and powerfully impact their connection to the outdoors, academics, and social and emotional learning.
Vida Verde Natural Education purchased their Hidden Creek property in 2015 with the hope of improving upon and expanding their educational equity in the outdoors program. With the addition of the proposed Education Barn, they will have their own commercial kitchen, public bathrooms, a classroom, an eating area, and upstairs farm worker apartments. The project will make it possible for the school students to reside overnight at Vida Verde Natural Education’s facility and not offsite. The space will enable Vida Verde Natural Education to host at least 30 classes and trips every school year, and provide new summer opportunities for youth, expanding their impact.
Scope of Work and Estimated Costs: the pre-construction work on the education barn includes:
Permitting $15,000
Architectural designs and construction documents $41,000
Design development for building and environmental health permits $33,000
Preconstruction surveys $20,000
Estimated Total: $109,000
The remaining budget over the $100,000 will be raised through donors of the Vida Verde Natural Education.
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $100,000
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:
Shawn Sears
Executive Director
Vida Verde Natural Education - A Home for Educational Equity
3540 La Honda Road
San Gregorio, CA 94074
(650) 747-9288
shawn@vveducation.org
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Pre-construction work for Educational Barn, including design, permitting, and surveys |
Complete |
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
Funding for pre-construction work, including permits, architectural designs, and surveys, for Vida Verde Natural Education’s Education Barn contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Prosperous Community by supporting stable housing for farm workers and fostering community-building and educational opportunities for San Mateo County youth.
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 2018-19 Adopted Budget.