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 $30,000, to Green Foothills Foundation dba Green Foothills to hold Healing in Nature events in District 3, 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 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 Ray Mueller) - Green Foothills: Hold Healing in Nature events in District 3 |
$30,000 |
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 Green Foothills and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $30,000, to hold Healing in Nature events in District 3. The County Executive’s Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
Green Foothills was founded in 1962 with a mission to protect open spaces, farmlands and the natural resources of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties through environmental advocacy, education, and grassroots action. Green Foothills launched the “Healing in Nature” series in 2022 in response to a call to action from the Amah Mutsun Tribe’s Chairman Valentin Lopez who challenges both indigenous and non-indigenous people to focus on healing relationships within oneself, with one another, and with the Earth.
Because many historically marginalized individuals have been excluded from opportunities to engage with the natural environment and in environmental advocacy, this series is designed to help address those historical exclusions. Healing in Nature brings people together for rich meditative experiences as participants learn about the local ecology and the conservation movement.
This project will gather groups of 30-45 San Mateo County residents to participate in each of three Healing in Nature sessions in District 3. These outings will provide ecological education, mindfulness activities, storytelling, and yoga, and provide special outings for people with limited mobility and disabilities, families with children, and Spanish-speaking groups. All outings will be accessible to the public. Cultural mindfulness training curriculum will be shared with all participants.
The full cost of the Healing in Nature program countywide is budgeted at $185,000. The proposed Measure K funding will be used to support the costs of providing three Healing in Nature sessions. The estimated per session cost is $10,000, or $300 per attendee, and the breakdown of costs for the three sessions is shown in the table below.
Personnel costs |
$23,000 |
Contracted Services for Docents and Healers |
$6,000 |
Supplies and Materials (Docent shirts, Art supplies, etc.) |
$500 |
Travel costs |
$500 |
Total Requested: |
$30,000 |
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:
Green Foothills Foundation dba Green Foothills
Megan Fluke, Executive Director
3921 East Bayshore Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
650-968-7243
megan@greenfoothills.org
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
Description |
Target |
Hold 3 Healing in Nature sessions in District 3 by June 2024 |
Complete |
Achieve having 90 total San Mateo County residents participating in the three District 3 Healing in Nature sessions |
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 Adopted Budget.