COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

County Manager’s Office

DATE:

March 24, 2009

BOARD MEETING DATE:

March 31, 2009

SPECIAL NOTICE:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

David S. Boesch, County Manager

SUBJECT:

Economic Urgency Initiative – Update and Request to Appropriate Funds

RECOMMENDATION:

A)

Accept a report on the status of the Economic Urgency Initiative

B)

Adopt a resolution authorizing the County Manager to approve funding requests for emergency assistance to a maximum of $500,000 through December 31, 2010

C)

Adopt an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) transferring $500,000 from Non-Departmental Reserves to Non-Departmental Grants and Contributions

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all.

Goals 5 and 7: Residents have access to healthcare and preventive care; help vulnerable people – the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at-risk youth and others – achieve a better quality of life.

BACKGROUND:

In response to the economic downturn and unprecedented demands for critical human services, your Board has initiated efforts with community partners and stakeholders to mount a coordinated response to urgent needs focusing on food, shelter, healthcare and employment.

DISCUSSION:

As a result of the facilitated discussion on February 10 and subsequent discussions with community partners, the County has developed an Economic Urgency Assistance Program that will provide funds for emergency safety-net services on a dollar-for-dollar match basis against outside funding. Funds will be used to support emergency safety-net services such as emergency shelter, food, energy, clothing, counseling, and associated services and supplies, and will be made available to qualifying nonprofit organizations, the majority of which already have contractual relationships with the County.

Requests for funding will be reviewed against predetermined criteria by the Health, Employment and Food/Shelter teams from this effort and recommendations forwarded to the County Manager for approval. The County Manager will provide your Board with periodic updates.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) transfers $500,000 from Non-Departmental Reserves to Non-Departmental Grants and Contributions account for this purpose through December 31, 2010. Funds will be matched dollar-for-dollar against outside funding. If funds in excess of $500,000 are ultimately needed, another ATR will be prepared for Board consideration and approval.