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 3
RECOMMENDATION
title
Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $50,000, to Abundant Grace for the Full Circle Food Justice, Farm Apprenticeship, and Conservation Crew programs, 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 Executive, 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 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 for the Full Circle Food Justice, Farm Apprenticeship, and Conservation Crew Programs. |
$50,000 |
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 2021-23 budget cycle. The exception from the criteria is necessary in this instance because the increased need for community assistance due to the pandemic.
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 to support Abundant Grace’s Full Circle Food Justice Program, Farm Apprenticeship Program, and Conservation Crew Program. The County Executive’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.
• Fiscal Year 2021-2022: $50,000 for the Full Circle Food Justice Program.
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. The Farm Apprenticeship and Conservation Crew programs focus on more technical training on the farm, self-reflection, personal responsibility, future authoring, as well as native plant restoration and carbon sequestration. The 7-week sessions for these programs run 4-6 times each year. The Conservation Crew runs one day per week for 7 weeks for the same group of 5 people. This gives Abundant Grace a chance to intensively focus on the team, group success, and individual struggles. The crew works in the wilderness areas of the farm, removing invasive species, planting trees, clearing trails, and restoring a pond. Participants learn about climate change, carbon sequestration, and hear from outside speakers from non-profit environmental groups. Similarly, the Apprenticeship also runs one day per week for 7 weeks for a group of 5 people, with a focus on learning specialized farm skills (such as greenhouse management, herb and flower growing, pest management on an organic farm, irrigation, tool and machine maintenance). Participants also are trained in weekly mindfulness meditation, and everyone participates in a staff-guided, personal “future authoring” course to think deeply about the next six months to a year, their priorities, what necessary changes in order to succeed. All sessions are approximately 3 hours long and entail staffing by the program manager and two farm managers.
Many participants are cross-supported through other County-funded projects like the Coast House Shelter, ABODE, and El Centro. Abundant Grace collaborates regularly with these partners. Abundant Grace data shows 20 of its participants are now housed thanks to Coast House and ABODE, and 8 participants are in recovery thanks to El Centro.
Funds from this Measure K grant will be used to fund the Full Circle Food Justice Program, Farm Apprenticeship Program and Conservation Crew Programs.
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
eric@abundantgracecw.org
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
Target |
|
Operate weekly farming through Full Circle Food Justice Program from February - December; operate Farm Apprenticeship and Conservation Crew programming for 4-6 sessions during the year. |
Complete |
|
Harvest and distribute 15-20 thousand pounds of fresh produce to low-income families on the Coastside. |
Complete |
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient Measure K funds for this specific FY 2022-23 Measure K request. These funds are budgeted in the Non-Departmental Services FY 2022-23 Approved Recommended Budget.