COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

DATE:

October 29, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

November 18, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director, Environmental Services Agency

SUBJECT:

Acceptance of a Donation from the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation in the Amount of $35,110 for Improvements to a Portion of the Office at Flood County Park

Recommendation

For the Board to:

1.

Adopt a resolution:

(a)

Accepting a donation of $35,110 from the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation for improvements to a portion of the office at Flood County Park.

(b)

Authorizing the Director of Environmental Services to execute and submit any agreements or other documents related to the donation and subject project.

2.

Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request in the amount of $35,110 for the Improvements to Flood County Park Office Project.

Background

County policy requires gifts (other than real property) of a value of over $2,500 or gifts that have significant conditions or stipulations to be acknowledged in writing by the division head and referred to the Board of Supervisors for acceptance or rejection.

In 1998 the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved the formation of the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation. The purpose of the Foundation is to support the work of the County Parks Division in a variety of ways, including raising funds for capital projects. The agreement between the Foundation and the County calls for such funds to be turned over to the County Parks Division for use for designated capital projects or programs.

Since its inception, the Foundation has raised or received pledges for over $3.2 million in funds for various park improvements. An annual work program is developed jointly between the Foundation and the Parks' Division that identifies priority projects. Once funding for specific projects is complete the Foundation conveys funding to the County for acceptance by the Board of Supervisors.

Discussion

Under the agreement with the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation, the County provides the Foundation office space for $1.00 per year. The Foundation has been located in a portion of the office at the Flood County Park for the past five years and anticipates remaining at that site.

The Foundation proposes to fund numerous improvements including a remodel of their office facilities, energy saving improvements including replacement of an older furnace, new windows and light fixtures, and abatement and replacement of flooring, which contains asbestos.

The work will be done by the Department of Public Works, Construction Services Section.

Vision Alignment

Improvements to the Flood County Park office will enhance the efforts of the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation, which keeps the commitment of Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment and goal number 14: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship. The improvements to the Flood County Park office by enhancing the efforts of the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation keeps this commitment as the Foundation raises funds for the purchase of open space, environmental education, vegetation management, and improvements to existing Parks features. Also, the Flood County Park office improvements keeps the commitment of Leaders work together across boundaries to preserve and enhance our quality of life and Goal number 24: Residents accept individual responsibility for contributing to the quality of life of the County as a whole. The improvements to the Flood County Park office by enhancing the efforts of the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation keeps this commitment as the Foundation seeks private as well as public donors to provide funding that enhances park facilities, which contributes to the quality of life of the County as a whole.

Fiscal Impact

There will be no cost to the County for this project. The donation will cover the entire cost of the proposed work at Flood Park. The ATR accepts the $35,110 donation into the Parks Acquisition, Conservation and Development Fund, and appropriates the same amount for completion of the project.