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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
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County Manager’s Office
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DATE:
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December 6, 2007
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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December 18, 2007
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SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
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None
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VOTE REQUIRED:
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Majority
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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John L. Maltbie, County Manager
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SUBJECT:
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Report on San Mateo County’s 2007 State Fair Exhibit
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Accept the report on San Mateo County’s 2007 State Fair Exhibit
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VISION ALIGNMENT:
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Commitment: Realize the potential of our diverse population.
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Goal(s): Civic engagement – including voting, public service, charitable giving, volunteerism and participation in public discussions of important issues – is uniformly high among the diverse population.
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San Mateo County’s 2007 State Fair exhibit contributed to this commitment by encouraging employees and community partners to showcase their creativity in a way that spotlights the County’s leading efforts to reduce energy consumption while highlighting the region’s scenic beauty.
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BACKGROUND:
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The 154th California State Fair opened August 17 for a 16-day run at the Cal Expo fairgrounds in Sacramento. The State Fair includes a unique program to showcase the state’s diversity: the California Counties competition. Counties compete for medals, recognition and award money by creating original and often elaborate displays that highlight history, recreational opportunities, agriculture or industries, among other options. Numerous counties hire professional builders to make exhibits.
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Judges evaluate each display for content, marketability, craftsmanship and creativity.
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San Mateo County has participated in the competition for many years. Most recently, the County received bronze medals in 2004 and 2005 and a silver medal in 2006. San Mateo County had never received a gold medal in the competition.
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DISCUSSION:
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County employees and community partners wanted to showcase factors that set San Mateo County apart. They decided upon the County’s leading efforts to reduce energy consumption and its scenic beauty.
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The team decided to showcase the County’s “green” efforts by creating a model home filled with salvaged, sustainable and recycled materials and detailed information on the County’s green-building accomplishments. This provided the opportunity to educate fair visitors about steps they can take to reduce energy consumption at their own homes.
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The team built a 15-foot tall replica of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse, complete with rotating beacon. The lighthouse was placed next to a garden that featured San Mateo County’s “As Fresh As It Gets” campaign to encourage the use of locally grown and harvested food.
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Every effort was made to use local products and involve the community. Even whimsical butterflies displayed throughout were created by children at the daycare center on the grounds of the County’s government complex. Amateur and professional photographers loaned or donated striking pictures of San Mateo County.
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The team called the exhibit: San Mateo County – The Green Leader.
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The State Fair judges awarded the exhibit a gold medal, the first in the County’s history.
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The team consisted of a wide array of organizations, County departments and individuals. The 2007 team included the San Mateo County Farm Bureau, San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau, San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation, Bright Horizons/Marin Day Schools, San Mateo County Historical Association, Eco Design Resources, California State Parks, Smith & Fong Company, Big Creek Lumber, Scott Buschman Photography, Frank Balthis Photography and Solar City. County government participants included Supervisor Jerrry Hill’s Office, RecycleWorks, Parks, Public Works, Controller’s Office, County Manager’s Office, Environmental Health and Planning and Building.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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The FY 2007-08 budget included $8,000 in appropriation for the State Fair booth and related activities. A total of $4,000 was spent on the exhibit from this account. Additionally, RecycleWorks and Public Works participated with in-kind contributions. The County’s Gold award paid $5,948.95.
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