Agenda

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FINANCE COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	10/03/2022
Subject: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ONE-TIME MEASURE X INNOVATION FUND
Submitted For:	Monica Nino, County Administrator
Department:	County Administrator
Referral No.:	22/5
Referral Name:	Measure X Innovation Fund Implementation Proposal
Presenter:	Julie Enea, Sr. Deputy CAO	Contact:	Julie Enea (925) 655-2056

Information

Referral History:

On November 3, 2020, voters in Contra Costa County approved Measure X, a countywide, 20-year, half-cent sales tax. The ballot measure language stated the intent of Measure X as “to keep Contra Costa’s regional hospital open and staffed; fund community health centers, emergency response; support crucial safety-net services; invest in early childhood services; protect vulnerable populations; and for other essential county services.”

The Measure X Community Advisory Board (MxCAB) was established on February 2, 2021, to advise the Board of Supervisors on the use of Measure X funds. On November 16, 2021, the MxCAB presented a report and funding recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. Among the many recommendations for funding approved by the Board of Supervisors that day was a one-time allocation of $2 million to establish an Innovation Fund to seed pilot programs and innovative projects. Guidelines/policies for the fund had not yet been developed but it was recommended that the funding be made available to County departments, cities, and community-based organizations in response to local service needs.

The MxCAB suggested that Innovation Funds be prioritized for community-embraced and community-based programs and services and, minimally, to support the Measure X funding goal of Equity in Action (Goal #2): “We strive to be a community that prioritizes equity and removes structural barriers that cause inequities and poverty, so that all residents can thrive.”

The recommendation included allocating these funds to the County Administrator’s Office for development of Innovation Fund guidelines for review by the Board’s Finance Committee prior to issuing a request for proposals. It is also anticipated that recommendations for allocation of funds would also be reviewed by the Finance Committee prior to submittal to the Board of Supervisors for approval.

Referral Update:

Attached is a presentation prepared by the County Administrator’s Office with suggestions for policies, guidelines, and procedures in the following areas:

Guiding principles distinguishing innovation projects from general application of best practices
Quality standards for Innovation Fund proposals
Program categories (see Attachment 1 for examples of innovation in each category from other jurisdictions)
Eligibility requirements
Phased process and suggested implementation schedule

The County Administrator's Office proposes a bid process modeled on similar County competitive programs such as the Keller Mitigation Fund Program and the Commercial Cannabis land use permit selection process. These programs utilized an internal review committee assembled at the discretion of a County lead department to solicit and evaluate proposals and make funding recommendations to the Board of Supervisors at a regular public meeting. Such a review committee would be assembled by the County Administrator and would likely be composed of selected County staff and could include representatives of County MACs, the Office of Education, local industry, and a local farm bureau, depending upon the final guiding principles determined for the program and the nature of the proposals.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

CONSIDER proposal for policies, guidelines, and procedures to implement the one-time Measure X-funded Innovation Fund and AUTHORIZE the County Administrator to proceed with a Request for Proposals for innovation projects, consistent with the approach outlined in the presentation and reflecting any further direction provided by the Finance Committee.

Fiscal Impact (if any):

No additional fiscal impact. $2 million allocated on a one-time basis for the Innovation Fund from Measure X sales tax proceeds. Administrative and web portal costs will be borne by the County Administrator’s Office.

Attachments
Attachment 1 to Staff Report on Mx Innovation Fund
Presentation on Proposal to Implement Measure X Innovation Fund