Agenda

Return

C. 86

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Robin Lipetzky, Public Defender
Date:	October 17, 2017

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Funding for Stand Together CoCo

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 10/17/2017

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Robin Lipetzky, (925) 335-8035

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: October 17, 2017
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Defender, or designee, to accept funding from philanthropic organizations, in an aggregate amount of $585,000, to support Contra Costa's "Stand Together CoCo" program to support legal services for immigrants residing in Contra Costa County for FYs 2017/18 and 2018/19, and DIRECT the Public Defender, to return to the Board to accept additional funding as required by Government Code Section 25355.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The County will receive several one-time grants in an aggregate amount of $585,000. These funds are contingent on agreement by Contra Costa County to commit $500,000 in Count funds to support Stand Together Coco in each of fiscal years 2017/18 and 2018/19. The project has an estimated operating cost of $575,00 for FY 2017/18, and $1,070,000 for FY 2018/19.

BACKGROUND:

On May 9, 2017, as part of the action to adopt the FY 2017/18 Recommended Budget, the Board of Supervisors referred to the Finance Committee for review and consideration a proposal for funding an immigrants rights program in Contra Costa County. The Finance Committee heard a presentation on this program from Ali Saidi, Deputy Public Defender, on June 26, 2017. The Finance Committee heard an updated version of the proposal on August 16, 2017. At the time, Mr. Saidi provided the Committee with formal letters of intent and commitment submitted by multiple private charitable foundations expressing their intention to support the program, contingent on the County's agreement to contribute $500,000 annually to support the program in both FY 2017/8 and 2018/19.

The philanthropic organizations that have pledged commitment to the project are:

Y & H Soda Foundation: $275,000
The San Francisco Foundation: $100,000
The California Endowment: $100,000
East Bay Community Foundation: $50,000
Firedoll Foundation: $50,000
Richmond Community Foundation: $10,000
Total: $585,000

The Finance Committee accepted and supported the proposal as presented, including the letters of commitment/intention. The Finance Committee directed staff to forward the item to the full Board for discussion. On September 19, 2017 the Board voted unanimously to commit $500,000 in AB109 Public Safety Realignment funds to the project for each FY 2017/18 and 2018/19.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If not approved, the County will not be able to accept the private funds necessary to implement Stand Together CoCo, and immigrants residing in Contra Costa County will remain without legal services.