SMCo Supervisors Approve $50k for Farmworkers for 200 Rain Coats and 200 Wet Weather Boots Using Measure K Funds

AGENDA. From the San Mateo County Supervisor’s meeting on Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022 by Zoom.

TITLE: Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $50,000, to Puente de la Costa Sur to purchase and distribute rain gear to farmworkers along the San Mateo County coast, and authorizing the County Manager, or designee, to execute the grant agreement.

To:  Honorable Board of Supervisors

From:  Michael P. Callagy, County Manager

Subject:  Use of District-Discretionary Measure K Funds – Supervisorial District 3

RECOMMENDATION:

Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time grant of district-discretionary Measure K funds, not to exceed $50,000, to Puente de la Costa Sur to purchase and distribute rain gear to farmworkers along the San Mateo County coast, and authorizing the County Manager, or designee, to execute the grant agreement.

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:

This item is consistent with the criteria for district-discretionary Measure K funds approved by the Board in December 2018.

DISCUSSION:

This is a request to authorize a grant to Puente de la Sur, and resulting grant agreement, in an amount not to exceed $50,000, to provide for purchasing and distributing rain gear, including waterproof coats and boots, to farmworkers along the San Mateo County coast. 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:

• $45,010; July 10, 2018 – June 30, 2019: funding to support Puente’s staff (equivalent to one full-time position) for clinical services and enrichment programs, including: crisis coordination, consultation, and partner collaboration; targeted individual and family short-term therapy; and topic-focused parenting groups

Puente de la Costa Sur is a Core Service Agency that works in close collaboration with the Human Services Agency to provide individuals and families with basic emergency and support services to stabilize their living situations, and it specifically provides farmworkers with a crucial connection to the County.  With the organization’s advocacy and facilitation, District 3 staff have been able to connect directly with farmworkers to identify their support needs.  One issue that has been brought to the forefront is the need for protective rain gear during the winter and rainy months; many farmworkers do not have the resources necessary to procure their own gear.  Puente de la Costa Sur is aware that this issue may be one that can be solved in the long-term through state or federal legislation, but in the short-term farmworkers need gear immediately in order to safely continue laboring in San Mateo County’s agricultural sector.

With the proposed Measure K funding, Puente de la Costa Sur will purchase 200 coats ($105 per coat), and 200 boots ($145 per pair). A total of 200 farmworkers in Pescadero, La Honda, San Gregorio, or Loma Mar will be served through these funds.

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 purposes described above:

Rita Mancera, Executive Director

Puente de la Costa Sur

PO Box 554, Pescadero, CA 94060

650 262 5990

PERFORMANCE MEASURE:

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.

Author: Coastside Buzz

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