Important note: The following recommendation was approved by the Board of Supervisors on July 21, 2015. The Board approved an amendment extending the agreement through June 30, 2017. That report is attached below.

To:             Honorable Board of Supervisors

From:         Marlene Finley, Parks Director

Subject:     Measure A agreement with the Student Conservation Association for Geographic Information System Program

Recommendation:

Adopt a resolution authorizing the County Parks Director to enter into an agreement with the Student Conservation Association to provide a Geographic Information System Program, for the term of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, in an amount not to exceed $130,000.

Background:

In November 2012, San Mateo County voters approved Measure A, a ten-year half-cent general sales tax, to maintain the quality of life for all County residents by providing essential services and maintaining and/or replacing critical facilities. The Board addressed these critical needs in the initial two-year cycle by allocating Measure A funds to the Big Lift and Prevention and Early Intervention for At Risk Children; a new Public Safety Dispatch Center; procurement of new fire engines and safety equipment; after school and summer reading programs; capital improvement projects and maintenance of county parks and more.

Using the Shared Vision 2025 guiding principles, the San Mateo County Manager’s Office established a FY 2015-2017 Measure A application process to enable County Departments and community-based organizations to submit letters of intent for programs and projects.

In March 2015, the Measure A Subcommittee reviewed all the letters of intent and made recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. San Mateo County Parks received $5.0 million for FY 2015/2016 and for FY 2016/2017 from Measure A. Parks was asked to include a prioritized list of six grants to six grantees for $2,632,000 in the two year budget. This proposed agreement is one of the six Measure A grants being brought to your Board.

Since 1957, the nonprofit Student Conservation Association (SCA) has served as America’s conservation corps protecting and restoring national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces in all 50 states. Since 2008, County Parks and SCA have built a tremendous partnership to provide educational opportunities for high school-aged youth and young adults with hands-on conservation and natural resource management in San Mateo County Parks.

Discussion:

For FY 2015/2016, three SCA GIS programs elements will be implemented using Measure A grant funds, cash and in-kind donations from San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation, SCA, and Job Train.

1)                  Senior GIS Intern. The Senior GIS Intern reports to the Natural Resources Manager in the Parks Department. During this one year internship, the Senior GIS Intern is responsible for collecting, cleaning and organizing all GIS files on the San Mateo County Parks Geodatabase.

2)                  Summer GIS Intern. The Summer GIS Intern is primarily responsible for assisting and directing two Summer GIS Youth Crews who will collect GIS data for San Mateo County Parks. During this three month internship, projects identified for the crews include, but are not limited to trail and trail condition mapping, invasive species monitoring and mapping, and facilities monitoring and mapping.

3)                  Two four-week Summer GIS Youth Crews. The GIS crews (one in north county and one in south county) will have six crew members and two adult leaders.

SCA will provide bi-annual reports and payment requests at the end of the summer season and at the end of our school year. The bi-annual reports and payment requests will be based on task orders related to habitat restoration or facility improvement work.

Performance Measures:

Measure

FY 2014-15 Actual

FY 2015-16 Projected

Miles of County Trails Surveyed

N/A

32

SCA crews will collect data on trails, trail condition mapping, and invasive species monitoring and mapping to be managed and organized on a San Mateo County Geodatabase.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolution and agreement as to form. 

Approval of this resolution will contribute to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of an Environmentally Conscious Community as GIS SCA youth crews will collect GIS data  for San Mateo County Parks for a Geodatabase, which will become an important tool for the Parks Department to use in park planning for conservation and protection of natural resources.

Fiscal Impact:

The funding agreement has a not-to-exceed amount of $130,000 which will be used for GIS Programs. Funding comes from the Parks Measure A Grant List previously approved by your Board. There is no impact to the General Fund.

Important note: This is a copy of the official report -- item 7 on the Board's agenda.