COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

County Manager’s Office

 

DATE:

February 8, 2010

BOARD MEETING DATE:

February 23, 2010

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

David S. Boesch, County Manager

Peggy Jensen, Deputy County Manager

   

SUBJECT:

County participation in the CaliforniaFIRST State Energy Program grant proposal.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution authorizing Sacramento County, in its capacity as a lead applicant and collaborative entity for the CaliforniaFIRST Program:

 

A)

To apply, on behalf of the County of San Mateo, to the California Energy Commission’s State Energy Program for a total of $16.5 million in grant funds to be allocated among the fourteen counties statewide that comprise the CaliforniaFIRST Program, and

   

B)

To accept a grant award on behalf of the County of San Mateo, and to enter into all necessary agreements and amendments thereto, on behalf of the County of San Mateo to implement and carry out the program for financing the projects described in Exhibit A.

 

BACKGROUND:

The California Statewide Communities Development Authority (CSCDA) has partnered with fourteen counties statewide to develop the CaliforniaFIRST program, a property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing tool. California Communities is a joint powers authority sponsored by the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties. San Mateo County is a member of CSCDA and one of the fourteen participating pilot counties in CaliforniaFIRST.

 

The CSCDA-sponsored CaliforniaFIRST program allows residential, business, or industrial building owners to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades with a contractual assessment levied on their property tax bill. Renewable Funding, a group that helped develop the BerkeleyFIRST solar financing program, will provide program administration and development, application processing, quality assurance, bond issuance, and homeowner resources as part of the CaliforniaFIRST program. This self-sustaining program will grant homeowners an opportunity to offset upfront costs associated with home energy improvements and help transform energy markets in California.

 

In December 2009, the Board adopted a resolution making certain findings and authorizing certain matters necessary to participate in the CaliforniaFIRST Program; authorizing the County of San Mateo to join the CaliforniaFIRST program; and authorizing the California Statewide Communities Development Authority to accept applications from property owners; conduct contractual assessment proceedings and levy contractual assessments within the territory of San Mateo County; and authorizing related actions.

 

DISCUSSION:

CSCDA and Renewable Funding have chosen Sacramento County as the lead grant applicant and collaborative entity on behalf of the fourteen county participants for the CSCDA SEP proposal. Thirteen pilot counties have joined together in a regional proposal that would fund initial setup costs, legal validation, a regional website, interest rate buy down, and administrative and marketing duties at the local level. As part of that leadership, CaliforniaFIRST is requiring each of its fourteen member counties to adopt resolutions authorizing Sacramento County to take certain actions on behalf of the members. The resolution would authorize Sacramento to apply, on behalf of the County of San Mateo, to the California Energy Commission’s State Energy Program for a total of $16.5 million in grant funds to be allocated among the fourteen CaliforniaFIRST counties, to accept a grant award on behalf of the County of San Mateo, and to enter into all necessary agreements and amendments thereto, on behalf of the County of San Mateo to implement and carry out the program for financing the projects described in Exhibit A. Although it is somewhat atypical to delegate this authority, it is a necessary feature of this collaborative effort.

 

Participation in the CaliforniaFIRST program promotes the County 2025 Vision of an Environmentally Conscious Community by offering residents of the unincorporated area a property tax assessment financing option for renewable energy, energy efficiency and water conservation improvements to their properties. The Resolution to participate in the grant proposal has been reviewed and approved as to form by County Counsel.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no cost associated with enabling Sacramento County as the lead applicant and collaborative entity on the County’s behalf. The CaliforniaFIRST program has been awarded $16.5 million in funding from the California Energy Commission’s $110 million State Energy Program grant program. This grant will pay for the initial County startup costs of $12,500 and plus an additional allocation of between $250,000 and $380,000 for local activities. The County would also benefit from regional resources such as a regional website and interest rate buy-down for participating homeowners.