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 $150,000, to Abundant Grace Coastside Worker to provide funding for its 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 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) - Abundant Grace to provide funding for its Full Circle Food Justice, Farm Apprenticeship, and Conservation Crew programs. |
$150,000 |
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 third grant of district-discretionary funding to the same organization within the current FY 21-23 budget cycle. The exception from the criteria is necessary in this instance because of the increased need for assistance, support, and resources to the farmworker community in response to the impacts of the winter storms and Half Moon Bay shooting on local farmworkers and their families.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This is a request to authorize a grant to Abundant Grace Coastside Worker (“Abundant Grace”), and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $150,000, to provide funding for the Full Circle Food Justice, Farm Apprenticeship, and Conservation Crew programs. 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:
• On August 7, 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved district-discretionary Measure K funding, in the amount of $20,000, for farm employment opportunities such as the Organic Farm Employment Project.
• On October 22, 2019, the Board of Supervisors approved district-discretionary Measure K funding, in the amount of $40,000 for farm employment opportunities, as well as a $300,000 district-discretionary Measure K loan to support the purchase of a building to serve as a workforce development center.
• On November 16, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved district-discretionary Measure K funding, in the amount of $50,000, for the Full Circle Food Justice Program.
• On July 26, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved district-discretionary Measure K funding, in the amount of $50,000, for the Full Circle Food Justice, Farm Apprenticeship, and Conservation Crew Programs (with an exception to allow for repeat funding within the current budget cycle).
Abundant Grace Coastside Worker serves 80 people experiencing homelessness throughout the year at their Full-Circle Food Justice Program, which addresses both workforce and employment needs along with tackling food insecurity. Through its Full-Circle Food Justice Program, Abundant Grace also works in partnership with local organizations to distribute over 20,000 pounds of fresh organic fruits and vegetables for free each year to local low-income farmworker families on the Coastside. About 1,600 low-income residents receive free, fresh produce through this program annually.
Through its Farm Apprenticeship and Conservation Crew programs, Abundant Grace provides hands-on apprenticeship and training to San Mateo County residents, offering each 7-week program 4-6 times each year.
In the Farm Apprenticeship program, a group of five participants meets one day per week for 7 weeks to learn specialized farm skills (such as greenhouse management, herb and flower growing, pest management on an organic farm, irrigation, tool and machine maintenance). Participants are also provided weekly mindfulness meditation and a staff-guided, personal “future authoring” course (to think deeply about the next six months to a year, their priorities, what necessary changes to make to achieve their goals). All sessions are approximately 3 hours long and are staffed by Abundant Grace’s program manager and two farm managers.
In the Conservation Crew program, a group of five participants meet one day per week for 7 weeks to work 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. As with the Farm Apprenticeship program, Abundant Grace focuses on achieving group success and working together through individual struggles.
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 to holistically improve health outcomes and opportunities for residents.
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 $150,000
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:
Abundant Grace Coastside Worker
Eric Debode, Executive Director
P.O. Box 702
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 458-7907
eric@abundantgracecw.org <mailto:eric@abundantgracecw.org>
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Description |
Target |
|
Operate Farm Apprenticeship and Conservation Crew programming offerings to San Mateo County residents from June 2023 - June 2024. |
Complete |
|
Through Full Circle Food Justice Program, serve 80 homeless people year-round, and also harvest and distribute 20,000 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 Adopted Budget.