Resource Conservation District Awarded 3-year $600k Grant to Improve Montara 2nd St. Stormwater Runoff, Planning Hwy 1 Sea Level Rise and Hwy 1/92 Fire Fuel Reduction

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

CONSENT AGENDA. 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.

 

Staff Report

To: Honorable Board of Supervisors

From: Nicholas J. Calderon, Parks Director

Subject: Measure K: Grant Agreement with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District

 

RECOMMENDATION

Measure K: Adopt a resolution authorizing:

A) The President of the Board of Supervisors to execute a grant agreement with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District (“RCD”) to plan and permit at least four projects along critical emergency access corridors and roads; to provide program oversight, coordination, and administration; and to provide technical assistance to San Mateo County land managers and/or residents, for the initial term of July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, with County-held options to renew for two additional one-year terms, and in a total amount not to exceed $600,000; and

 

B) The Parks Director, or the Parks Director’s Designee, to exercise the County-held contractual options at their discretion and to execute contract amendments which modify the contract term and/or services so long as the modified term or service is/are within the current or revised fiscal provisions.

 

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, County 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 those 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 the RCD was approved for an award of Measure K funds under the Emergency Response Priority Area.

 

DISCUSSION

The San Mateo Resource Conservation District (“RCD”) is a non-regulatory, public entity that provides landowners and land managers with technical support during the implementation of restoration projects that achieve watershed protection goals.

 

Grant monies awarded by the proposed agreement will enable the RCD to improve the safety and resiliency of vulnerable San Mateo County communities against risks posed by wildfire, coastal erosion, sea level rise, stormwater runoff, and other environmental hazards. The RCD will improve community safety and resiliency by planning and permitting at least four projects that will mitigate environmental hazards along emergency access corridors and roads.

 

Potential project sites have been identified and prioritized in consultation with the Department of Emergency Management, Department of Public Works, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, San Mateo County Fire, local fire districts, and community members. These projects include improving stormwater drainage and erosion to protect 2^nd Street in Montara; planning for improvements to Highway 1 in areas vulnerable to sea level rise; and fire fuel reduction along Highway 1 in Pacifica, Highway 92 near Skyline Boulevard, and Alpine Road in La Honda.

 

 

Additionally, grant monies will be used to provide technical assistance to San Mateo County land managers and/or residents, including how to implement measures outlined in the County of San Mateo’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. Technical assistance will be provided to land managers and/or residents on a case-by-case basis, depending on community needs.

 

These services involve site visits by RCD staff with land managers and/or residents to identify hazards related to stormwater runoff, vegetation management, geologic hazards, flooding, erosion, and other hazards. Land managers and/or residents will then be advised of actions that can be taken to reduce or mitigate the identified hazards. The RCD anticipates providing technical services to 20 land managers and/or residents over three years.

 

The majority of grant funds (59.3%) will go towards professional and consulting services to help with emergency preparedness projects. Approximately 26.7% of funds will be spent on RCD personnel costs to advance and develop emergency preparedness projects; 13.0% of grant funds will go to administrative and overhead-related costs; and approximately 1.0% of funds will be used on materials and supplies to support outreach and educational events.

 

PERFORMANCE MEASURE

Measure	FY 2024-25 Estimated	FY 2025-26 Projected	FY 2026-27 Projected
Percentage of San Mateo County land managers and/or residents receiving RCD services stating that the services they received made them feel better prepared for a disaster.	85%	90%	90%

 

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

 

EQUITY IMPACT

Grant monies will be used to improve emergency access and evacuation routes for vulnerable communities in San Mateo County. The RCD will meet with residents from high-risk communities so they have the opportunity to learn more about projects and available resources. Overall, the RCD will target those communities most at risk of being affected by environmental hazards.

 

FISCAL IMPACT

The initial term of the agreement is from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. The County will have the sole option to extend the term of the grant agreement for up to two (2) additional one (1) year terms: (i) from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, and (ii) from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, such options of which the County (through the Parks Director or their designee) may exercise by providing written notice to the San Mateo Resource Conservation District on or before May 31 of each year the grant agreement is in effect.

 

The agreement is for grant amounts not to exceed $600,000 in total, which is limited to $200,000 per fiscal year plus any remaining unclaimed grant amounts from the previous fiscal year(s) if approved by the County in writing. Thus, if the County does not exercise its option to extend the grant agreement beyond its initial 1-year term, grant disbursements would be limited to no more than $200,000.

 

The entire agreement amount will be funded through Measure K funds. The Measure K funds will be included in the FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget under Non-Departmental Services but will be transferred to the San Mateo County Parks Department’s budget during the September Revisions budget later this calendar year.

 

There is no Net County Cost associated with approving this recommendation.