Coastside CERT Funded for First Time with $510k Measure K Funds to Hire 13 Staff over 3 Years including Officers, Leadership, Instructors and Program Communications

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CONSENT AGENDA and VIDEO. From the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, June 25th, 2024 at 9:00am as a hybrid meeting.  SMCo Supervisor’s Board agendas. And video from the Coastside Fire Protection District (CFPD) Directors meeting on Wednesday, June 26th, 2024 at 4:00pm, as a hybrid meeting.

 

 

Staff Report

To: Honorable Board of Supervisors

From: Shruti Dhapodkar, Director

Subject: Measure K: Grant Agreement with Coastside CERT, a local emergency preparedness organization.

 

RECOMMENDATION

Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing a Grant Agreement with Coastside CERT for the support and execution of Coastside CERT operations, for the term of July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $510,000.

 

BACKGROUND

Measure K is the half-cent general sales tax initially approved by the San Mateo County voters in November 2012 and extended in November 2016 for a total of thirty years.

 

In response to Board direction, staff gathered community input regarding priorities for the allocation of Measure K funds. Staff collected feedback from Community Based Organizations, County departments and conducted a countywide survey and listening sessions to obtain resident input. At the October 3, 2023, Measure K study session, staff presented a report produced by InterEthnica, summarizing the results of the surveys and listening sessions which provided valuable input for the Board.

 

On October 17, 2023, after considering the County’s needs and community input, this Board finalized and approved the following priority areas for FY 2024-25 Measure K funding: Children, Families, and Seniors; Housing and Homelessness; and Emergency Preparedness. Mental Health is a component of each priority area rather than a stand-alone item. In addition to the approval of the priority areas, this Board authorized the County Executive to develop and proceed with a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process to obtain applications for funding within the approved priority areas and subcategories identified by the Board.

 

On March 27, 2024, this Board approved recommended applications received pursuant to the NOFO and authorized the County Executive to negotiate agreements with applicants, to be returned to this Board for approval. By this action, the application of Coastside CERT was approved for an award of Measure K funds under the Emergency Preparedness Priority Area. Coastside CERT is a 100% volunteer emergency preparedness organization focused on creating a ready and resilient community along the San Francisco Bay Area coast from the southern side of the Tom Lantos Tunnel (Devil’s Slide) to Tunitas Creek Road. Their work prepares their community to protect lives, the environment, and property through emergency preparation, disaster response, emergency first aid and rescue actions, and public education.

 

DISCUSSION

Coastside CERT’s primary goal is to sustain the currently 100% volunteer Coastside CERT program by funding leadership, consulting & professional services personnel while expanding services to vulnerable populations. Funding for staff and activities will stabilize the Coastside CERT program, ensuring continuity for expanding core training and neighborhood services to the community, including Spanish and Cantonese/Mandarin-speaking residents, farmworkers, teens, and seniors.

The proposed Grant Agreement is submitted to the Board with this memorandum.

The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the proposed agreement and resolution as to form.

 

PERFORMANCE MEASURE

Measure FY 2024-25 Estimated FY 2025-26 Projected
Hire staffing to support CERT activities. Hire one Program Manager, one Program Coordinator, and one Lead Instructor Hire at least six CERT Instructors to lead regular and advanced classes
Train 65 more CERT volunteers Train twenty CERT Volunteers Train an additional twenty-five CERT volunteers
Achieve a minimum 70% class attendance for ACT and “Educate the Coastside” classes Each class will have a minimum of twenty-five attendees Each class will have a minimum of twenty-five attendees
Increase neighborhood safety networks membership Add 100 members Add an additional 100 members
Hold Neighborhood Lead forum and virtual meetings Hold one Neighborhood Lead forum, and two virtual meetings Hold one Neighborhood Lead forum, and two virtual meetings
Track number of bilingual Spanish and Cantonese/Mandarin speakers trained. Create a list of trained CERT members bilingual in Spanish and Cantonese/Mandarin Maintain list of all bilingual CERT members
Attend SMC-CC and BACC meetings Attend monthly SMC-CC and quarterly BACC meetings Attend monthly SMC-CC and quarterly BACC meetings

 

EQUITY IMPACT

Funding for Coastside CERT will stabilize the Coastside CERT program, which will ensure continuity for expanding core training and neighborhood services to the community, including Spanish and Cantonese/Mandarin-speaking residents, farmworkers, teens, and seniors. Coastside CERT will also provide the community with access to classes and trainings in Spanish and Mandarin/Cantonese.

 

FISCAL IMPACT

The term of the agreement is July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $510,000 for the 36-month term (3 years) and will be funded through Measure K funds. The Measure K funds are included in the FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget under Non-Departmental Services but will be transferred to Department of Emergency Management’s budget during the September Revisions budget cycle.

 


 

 

2024 Election

 

The 2024 Board of Supervisors, from left: Ray Mueller (D3), Noelia Corzo (D2), Warren Slocum (D4, BOS President), David J. Canepa (D5, BOS Vice President) and Dave Pine (D1, outgoing BOS President).

Coastside Buzz
Author: Coastside Buzz

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