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 1
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $50,750, to the Boys & Girls Club of North San Mateo County to support an emergency child care program for essential workers in response to COVID-19, providing an exception to the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds to allow for advance payment, 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.
On February 12, 2019, the Board of Supervisors (Board) held a study session on Measure K expenditures and anticipated revenue for fiscal years (FY) 2019-21. The Board-appointed Measure K sub-committee, consisting of Supervisor Pine and Supervisor Canepa, convened the study session to, among other things, work with staff to facilitate the Board’s development of Measure K priorities and continuing initiatives for FY 2019-21. The Board approved $3.75 million in one-time loans or grants each fiscal year for FY 2019-21, divided equally among the five supervisorial districts, for district-discretionary needs and projects. District 1 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 1 (Supervisor Dave Pine) - Boys & Girls Club of North San Mateo County to support an emergency child care program for essential workers in response to COVID-19 |
$50,750 |
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 Boys & Girls Club has requested partial up-front payment of the grant to help cover start up operating costs for the initially enrolled children. The Board may approve this exception to the criteria by adopting the resolution.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This is a request to authorize a grant to the Boys & Girls Club of North San Mateo County (BGCNSMC), and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $50,750 to support an emergency child care program for essential workers in response to COVID-19. The County Manager’s Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, on March 19, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-33-20 directing all residents immediately to heed State public health directives to stay home, except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of essential critical infrastructure sectors and additional sectors designated by the State Public Health Officer as critical to protect health and well-being of all Californians. The San Mateo County Health Officer has also issued a number of orders which continue to require County residents to shelter-in-place to combat the spread of COVID-19.
According to the San Mateo County COVID-19 Child Care Response Team - which is focused on providing resource information to both families and child care providers during the COVID-19 health emergency, and is comprised of staff from the County Office of Education, First 5 SMC, Community Equity Collaborative, The Childcare Partnership Council, Center for Early Learning and the County Board of Supervisors, working in coordination with the Child Care Coordinating Council of San Mateo County (4Cs), the designated Resource and Referral Agency for Child Care in San Mateo County - the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent school and child care closures have significantly impacted essential workers’ ability to find child care that promotes the safety, health and well-being of their children from birth through age 14. In the first few weeks of the shelter-in-place order, many families were able to make short-term arrangements to care for their children at home. However, as shelter-in-place orders remain in effect and school sites remain closed to students, the response team expects to see increased demand, as more activities are phased-in as essential or permitted businesses, and many essential workers, especially those that are in the healthcare field, are being asked to work extended hours, exacerbating their child care challenges.
The Boys & Girls Club of North San Mateo County (BGCNSMC), which has been operating for nearly 70 years and comprises 5 clubhouses in north San Mateo County, proposes to establish such an emergency child care operation at its Clubhouse located at Orange Park in the city of South San Francisco. To that end, BGNSMC applied for and passed an intensive certification process from California’s Health and Human Services Department of Social Service to be allowed to operate a day care.
The program is required to comply with the prevailing San Mateo County Health Officer Shelter-in-Place Order, or any such order that may be in effect at the time of operation. To comply with current requirements for social distancing, BGNSMC proposes to offer child care to up to 60 kids in distinct groups of 10 or less. The program would also adhere to strict protocols related to cleaning/disinfecting, registration and check-in, handwashing, etc.
Under these parameters, the program can operate for six weeks at a cost of $1,950 per child. Unfortunately, many critical infrastructure workers, who need child care, cannot afford to pay that amount. The Club proposes to offer spots to qualified families at a cost of $500 per child, and is seeking financial support to cover the remaining costs. (A family will be considered qualified if the parent/guardian is permitted to work outside the home under the San Mateo County Health Officer Shelter-in-Place Order, including any revisions to the Health Order that may occur during the term of the County's grant agreement with the Boys and Girls Club.)
This grant would be used to partially subsidize the cost of providing care to 35 children. If approved, $36,250 of the grant, representing a portion of the tuition for 25 children, would be provided up-front to cover initial expenses for launching the program. Disbursement of the remainder of the grant is contingent on the confirmed enrollment and participation of 10 additional children in the program.
Other donors are also contributing to the program, such as Silicon Valley Community Foundation and Broadcom Foundation.
Budget - The cost of providing six weeks of care to one student is $1,950, calculated on the pro-rated costs of salaries and benefits, supplies, utilities, and custodial services. Families will be required to pay $500 per child. The grant request is to subsidize the remaining $1,450 per child.
The program is scheduled to run Monday-Friday from 7:30 am - 6:00 pm from May 15-June 26, 2020. Additional weeks may be added if additional financial support is identified.
Total Measure K Request: Not to Exceed $50,750
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:
Contact
Rolando Madrid, Senior Director of Programs
Boys & Girls Club of North San Mateo County
rmadrid@theclubs.org <mailto:rmadrid@theclubs.org>
Cell: (708)427-1632
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Enrollment of 25 kids from eligible families for 6-week program |
Completed |
|
Enrollment of an additional 10 kids |
June 15, 2020 |
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient Measure K funds for this specific FY 2019-20 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2019-20 Adopted Budget and FY 2020-21 Recommended Budget.