CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
9/25/2023
1 SUBJECT:
Acceptance of County of San Mateo Measure K Grant for $20,000 for support for the Coastside News Group, Inc.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a Resolution “Accepting a Measure K Grant in the amount of $20,000 from the County of San Mateo and approving the Measure K Grant Agreement to provide support for the Coastside News Group, Inc., through a one-time grant.”
STAFF CONTACT:
Kevin Woodhouse, City Manager
650-738-7409
[email protected]
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
The Coastside News Group, Inc. (CNGI) is the primary source for local news about the San Mateo County coast and serves the approximately 60,000 residents from Pacifica to Pescadero.
Based in Half Moon Bay, the organization publishes the weekly Half Moon Bay Review and Pacifica Tribune newspapers (both in print and online), as well as the monthly Coastside magazine. For many on the coast, the destructive storm season and tragic mass shooting, in addition to the CZU fire and pandemic response in recent years, has highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong journalistic presence and various means of public information for the coastside area and its residents.
CNGI offers unique and area-specific content such as breaking news alerts on road closures, power outages, and weather events; coverage of local public meetings of the city councils, school boards and special districts; front-line reporting on climate change issues such as sea level rise and wildfires; and regular news stories on rural, agricultural and farmworker issues.
However, the aftermath of the pandemic and the ongoing decline of traditional newspaper advertising revenue, have led to the need to look for additional sources of funding to sustain the essential work of unbiased, local news coverage to keep residents informed.
The County of San Mateo and City of Pacifica have relied heavily on the resources provided by local news outlets to promote civic engagement, provide emergency and crisis response resources, and general community building. As envisioned by County District 3 Supervisor Mueller, this one-time grant of $20,000 from the County to the City would support CNGI operational expenses that allow for a continuance of newsgathering and strengthen a critical local media institution. This grant will serve as a foundation to encourage philanthropic pledges so that CNGI may build a diverse a sustainable funding stream and invest in the County’s broader information ecosystem.
The proposed Grant Agreement would require that the City, as the Grantee, apply the grant funds to support the Coastside News Group, Inc’s operational costs from October 3, 2023 Pacifica City Council 2
September 25, 2023
through June 30, 2024, to enable Coastside News Group to provide local news and resources to Pacifica residents, primarily through the Pacifica Tribune newspaper (both in print and online), as well as the monthly Coastside magazine.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
The City Council could choose to not accept the grant or enter into the agreement.
RELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND WORK PLAN:
Acceptance of the grant to support the Coastside News Group supports the City Council’s Strategic Plan Goal to “Broaden public communications and collaboration.” FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the City for passing through grant funds to the Coastside News Group, Inc.
ORIGINATED BY:
City Manager's Office
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Attachment A: Measure K Grant Agreement between the City of Pacifica and County of San Mateo (PDF)
Pacifica City Council 3
September 25, 2023
RESOLUTION NO. _____
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFICA ACCEPTING A MEASURE K GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000 FROM THE COUNTY OF
SAN MATEO AND APPROVING THE MEASURE K GRANT AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE COASTSIDE NEWS GROUP, INC., THROUGH A ONE-TIME GRANT WHEREAS, the Coastside News Group, Inc. (CNGI) is the primary source for local news about the San Mateo County coast and serves the approximately 60,000 residents from Pacifica to Pescadero; and
WHEREAS, the Pacifica Tribune newspaper and the Coastside magazine provide essential local news coverage and public information to help keep Pacifica residents informed and engaged on local issues; and
WHEREAS, County District 3 Supervisor Mueller has proposed a one-time grant of $20,000 from the County to the City to support CNGI operational expenses to allow for a continuance of newsgathering, to strengthen a critical local media institution, and to serve as a foundation to encourage philanthropic pledges so that CNGI may build a diverse and sustainable funding stream and invest in the County’s broader information ecosystem; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Pacifica that the City Council accepts a Measure K Grant in the amount of $20,000 from the County of San Mateo and approves the Measure K Grant Agreement to provide support for the Coastside News Group, Inc., through a one-time grant.
• • • • •
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a special and regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pacifica, California, held on the 25th day of September 2023, by the following vote:
AYES, Councilmembers:
NOES, Councilmembers:
ABSENT, Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN, Councilmembers:
_________________________________
Tygarjas Twyrls Bigstyck, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________ _________________________________ Sarah Coffey, City Clerk Michelle Kenyon, City Attorney