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 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 $30,000, to Leadership Council San Mateo County for the provision of scholarships for its Leadership Immersion programs, 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 1 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:
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District/Project |
Amount |
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District 1 (Supervisor Dave Pine) - Leadership Council San Mateo County for Leadership Immersion program scholarships |
$30,000 |
This item appears to be consistent with the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds approved by the Board in December 2018. It should be noted that Supervisor Dave Pine, who is proposing this grant request, serves as a member of grantee’s Advisory Council, essentially a ceremonial council made up of senior leaders in the business, nonprofit and government sectors. The Advisory Council meets four times a year to be briefed by grantee on the progress of the organization. Advisory Council members do not play a role in the organization’s governance, nor do they have any governing responsibilities - formally or informally - for the organization. A District 1 staff member also serves on grantee’s Selection Committee as one of a group of volunteers which reviews applications and make recommendations for program selection.
Based on this information, it would appear that Supervisor Pine’s and his staff’s roles do not conflict with the Board-adopted criteria governing Measure K district discretionary grants, where they do not serve as an officer, director, or play a policy role for the grantee organization.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This is a request to authorize a grant to Leadership Council San Mateo County (LCSMC), and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $30,000, to provide for scholarships for LCSMC’s Leadership Immersion programs - the CORPS program for senior leaders and the Emerging Leader program. The County Executive’s Office will administer and manage the proposed agreement.
LCSMC aims to connect, inspire, and educate established and emerging leaders from the business, nonprofit, and government sectors to find solutions for the challenges facing San Mateo County communities. LCSMC seeks to elevate and empower leadership talent countywide.
LCSMC’s Leadership Immersion programs (CORPS and Emerging Leaders programs) are 10-month cross-sector experiential programs which focus on civic understanding, leadership skills development, and relationship building. Through these programs’ Community Acceleration projects, participants provide consulting and strategic assistance to nonprofit organizations in San Mateo County. (The recipient nonprofit organizations apply to LCSMC for assistance, and class participants select projects and complete the work during the course of the program, applying key skills learned in the class.)
A typical Leadership Immersion cohort would include 70-80 participants across both programs, representing business, nonprofit and government sectors throughout San Mateo County. LCSMC makes a concerted effort to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all facets of the organization including governance, programming, and participation.
LCSMC is committed to ensuring that cost is not a barrier to participating in its programs, keeping program cost low with grants and sponsorships, and only charging participants $2,800 for tuition when the actual average cost of running the programs is $4,500 per person. With scholarship funding, LCSMC can eliminate financial barriers for anyone participating in the programs.
Applications to the two programs rose this year compared to this time last year - from 77 to 90 applications - with a significant (128%) increase in scholarship requests. This year, 28 applicants requested tuition assistance totaling $56,500, up from $24,750 being requested the previous year. The pool of 90 applicants includes 61 leaders of color wishing to join a Leadership Immersion program, and 5% are LGBTQ and 1% are nonbinary. At least 22 applicants who identify as Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC) are requesting scholarships. Individuals seeking financial assistance also include small business owners and nonprofit leaders. Tuition income represents a significant portion of LCSMC’s budget. Scholarship funding would allow LCSMC the financial ability to accept greater numbers of diverse applicants into the program.
The total cost of the Leadership Immersion programs ranges from $180,000-220,000 for each of the two programs, for a total annual cost of $360,000-440,000. LCSMC receives funding from three primary sources: participants’ tuition, county/city funding, and grants. For FY 2023-24, LCSMC has secured funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), multiple cities within the County of San Mateo, and the County of San Mateo. LCSMC is also seeking additional funding from the Gilead Foundation and Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF).
Measure K funds would be used specifically to provide at least 21 scholarships of up to $1,400 per person (covering 50% of recipients’ tuition costs) to maximize the diversity of program participants. Without scholarship assistance, fewer candidates from underrepresented groups would have the ability to participate in the program. Expanding opportunities to enroll more program participants as well as more diverse candidates will also provide the community with more leaders-in-training who can work on Community Acceleration Projects benefiting the community.
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:
Leadership Council San Mateo County
Kaarin Hardy, Co-President/Co-Founder
c/o Economic Advancement Center
366 Grand Avenue
South San Francisco, CA 94080
(650) 307-0429
www.leadershipcouncilsmc.org <http://www.leadershipcouncilsmc.org>
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
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Description |
Target |
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Fund scholarships for at least 21 participants in LCSMC’s Emerging Leader program and CORPS program for senior leaders |
Complete |
|
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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.