Board accepts Measure Q grant guidelines, asks for added transparency and tweaks

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved draft guidelines for the inaugural year of Measure Q, the county’s voter‑approved conservation and resilience tax program, while adding direction on transparency and scoring mechanics.

County staff from the Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience and Parks presented a two‑tier grant structure: smaller “mini” grants (roughly up to $50,000) intended to be low‑barrier for local community‑based organizations and larger community impact grants for projects $50,000 and above. The guidelines also preserve a Pajaro Valley set‑aside and an allocation for San Vicente/Redwoods projects (each capped at up to $600,000). Staff proposed a 15% cap on indirect costs and options for up to a 25% advance for small organizations in particular circumstances.

The presentation emphasized that the county is treating the first year as a learning cycle: applications would open after the citizens’ oversight advisory board (COAB) signs off, a third‑party reviewer will score applications, COAB will review recommendations, and the board will make final awards. Staff noted flexibility to combine an influx of work across two fiscal years if necessary.

In public comment, small nonprofits and land‑trust representatives welcomed the low reporting burden, the indirect cost cap and the idea of multiyear funding in future cycles. Board members probed whether equipment purchases should be allowable costs, why CEQA status rather than completed CEQA documentation was requested, and how public access and recreation should be weighted in tier‑2 scoring.

Supervisor Cummings moved, and the board incorporated language to clarify that the application is a grant process (not an RFP), that COAB recommendations and application materials will be publicly available, that CEQA submissions should indicate status rather than require completed documents, and that staff should refine scoring so public access and recreational benefits are meaningfully considered. The motion passed unanimously.

Staff said they will return to the board with final revisions after the COAB meeting in January and before launching the January application window, and they will present final funding recommendations in May with grant agreements executed by June if possible.

What happens next: Staff will present a refined packet to the COAB on Jan. 14, then open outreach and webinars for applicants; the board will see final recommendations in May before grant execution.