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
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $50,000, to Abundant Grace to support the Full-Circle Food Justice Program, and authorizing the County Manager, 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.
On March 9, 2021, and March 23, 2021, the Board of Supervisors (Board) held study sessions on Measure K expenditures and anticipated revenue for fiscal years (FY) 2021-23. The Board appointed Measure K sub-committee, consisting of Supervisor Pine and Supervisor Canepa, convened the study sessions to, among other things, work with staff to facilitate the Board’s development of Measure K priorities and continuing initiatives for FYs 2021-23. The Board approved $5 million in one-time loans or grants for the FY 2021-23 budget cycle, divided equally among the five supervisorial districts, for district-discretionary needs and projects. District 3 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 3 (Supervisor Don Horsley) - Abundant Grace Coastside Worker to support the Full-Circle Food Justice Program. |
$50,000 |
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This is a request to authorize a grant to Abundant Grace Coastside Worker, and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $50,000. Abundant Grace will use this Measure K grant to operate its Full Circle Food Justice Program, by contributing to worker stipends ($25,000) and program administrative expenses ($3,000), and for the purchase of six water tanks and related materials ($22,000). The County Manager’s Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
District-discretionary Measure K funding for this organization has previously been provided as listed below:
• Fiscal Year 2018-2019: $20,000 for farm employment opportunities such as the Organic Farm Employment Project.
• Fiscal Year 2019-2020: $40,000 for farm employment opportunities and $300,000 to support purchase of a building to serve as a workforce development center.
Abundant Grace Coastside Worker employs 75 people experiencing homelessness throughout the year at their Full-Circle Food Justice Program. Over 20,000 pounds of fresh organic fruits and vegetables are distributed each year for free to local low-income farmworker families on the Coastside. The Full-Circle Food Justice Program brings employment to those experiencing homelessness and food to hungry families together, with lots of support from the community.
During the past year, the creek and three of four wells on the Abundant Grace property were running dry by July. During that time, the fields were only half full of crops, and the Abundant Grace team was scrambling to plan for the coming year. The calculations show that if Abundant Grace adds six 5,000-gallon water tanks to their existing infrastructure, harvests can extend through the end of the season in December even if the drought continues.
Funds from this Measure K grant will be used to operate Abundant Grace programs at the farm by contributing to the wages for the participants in the program and the purchase of water tanks for farm programming into the future.
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 purpose described above:
Eric Debode, Executive Director, Abundant Grace Coastside Worker
P.O. Box 702
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 458-7907
ericdebode@gmail.com
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
Target |
|
Continue the Full-Circle Food Justice Program |
Complete |
|
Install additional water tanks |
Complete |
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 2021-22 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2021-22 Adopted Budget.