EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: May 17, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Patrick Heisinger, Interim City Manager
BY: Patrick Heisinger, Interim City Manager
SUBJECT: Proposed Strategy for Final Disbursement of Remaining Measure C Funding Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Accept the staff report and provide direction regarding the proposed approach for completing disbursement of the remaining Measure C funds; and
2. Appropriate a maximum of $15,000 in Measure C funding to support the Senior Center’s reopening efforts.
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
Priority No. 1: Enhance Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Priority No. 6: Create a Healthy and Safe Community
Background
Since 2007, Measure C funds have been distributed to community-based organizations that provide critically needed services to children, youth, families, seniors, formerly incarcerated individuals, and victims of domestic violence. To date, the City has collected and reinvested $7.2 M in Measure C funding.
In accordance with the Measure C program, the City Council established a “Crime-Fighting Act Oversight Committee” (Committee) to review, audit, and make recommendations to the City Council about programs that the City should fund. For ten (10) years, the Committee worked with City staff to evaluate proposals and formulate funding recommendations.
On September 1, 2020, the City Council directed staff to issue a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) no later than October 1, 2020, to expend the remaining balance of Measure C funding.
To date, the NOFA has not been issued.
At this time, approximately $214,000 remains in the City’s Measure C funds.
Analysis
Typically, the process of distributing Measure C funds would initiate with the issuance of a NOFA to identify proposals that could benefit from Measure C funding. On average, a City NOFA would involve the commitment of $350,000 - $400,000 and would require approximately six (6) to nine (9) months for the staff, Committee, and City Council to complete annually.
Due to the current capacity limitation of both the funds (lower balance) and City staff (due to vacancies), staff recommends a streamlined approach to ensuring the appropriate disbursement of the remaining Measure C funds.
Rather than issuing another NOFA, staff recommends that the City invite proposals from two reputable programs that have the ability to utilize and leverage Measure C funding to achieve a greater impact in the community: Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) and One East Palo Alto/El Concilio’s Sponsored Employee Program (SEP).
Upon receipt, staff would review and evaluate the proposals. If the proposals meet the standard of Measure C usage, staff will return to the City Council in July 2022 with specific funding recommendations. Further, staff would like to formerly recognize the Committee’s work over the years supporting the Measure C program and will do so when returning to the City Council in July 2022.
Proposal to Support the Senior Center’s Reopening Efforts On Friday, May 6th, the Mayor and Interim City Manager met with representatives from the Senior Center to discuss Senior Center’s plans for reopening. During that meeting, the Senior Center identified several minor improvements that need to be done prior to the Senior Center reopening.
Staff recommends the City Council appropriate a maximum of $15,000 to support the Senior Center’s reopening efforts. The City will complete the minor improvements and purchase any furniture that may be needed. The Senior Center will not receive any funding, directly.
Staff and the Senior Center and working together to identify a day in mid-June when both entities can celebrate the Senior Center’s reopening. When available, staff will provide the City Council with more information on this event.
Fiscal Impact
There are adequate funds remaining in the City’s Measure C fund to cover the $15,000 contribution for the Senior Center reopening.
Public Notice
The public was provided notice by making the agenda and report available on the City’s website and on a bulletin board located at City Hall: 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto.
Environmental
The action being considered does not constitute a “Project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378 (b)(5), in that it is a government administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
Attachments
1. Resolution