Week in review

Federal stimulus money is letting San Mateo County keep its job centers open in the face of state cuts but criteria associated with the funds mean two sites are off limits to those without a child or an income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

Beginning Dec. 1, the PeninsulaWorks locations in Redwood City and San Carlos will become SMC Works sites and abide by the new income and dependent child requirements. Those in Daly City and Menlo Park will remain unchanged and open to anyone. The shift doesn’t cut off employment resources in the county but means those not meeting the new criteria must travel farther to look for jobs and attend workshops.

Heading north or south for help could be prohibitive for those without transportation or near the Redwood City and San Carlos locations, said Human Services Agency spokeswoman Amanda Kim, but the county’s hands are tied.

"When we receive money to provide certain services it comes with federal and state mandates. We don’t have a lot of leeway,” Kim said.

When the state budget did not restore funding used at the four PeninsulaWorks sites, San Mateo County was able to keep the programs running with stimulus funds earmarked for employment services. The short-term financial assistance from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act requirements comes with the caveats users must be under 200 percent of the federal poverty level — approximately $44,000 for a family of four — and have at least one dependent child.

With regular changes in budget cycles and shakeups in administration, Kim said those working in the field are in a constant state of flux. Will the state return money for programs like PeninsulaWorks? Will the federal money be extended beyond the September 2010 expiration date? Will there be more money for those who fall outside the guidelines?

"We just don’t know,” Kim said.

Pot moratorium remains in place

It may be impossible for a previously-approved medical marijuana collective to open in South San Francisco after the City Council extended a moratorium last night on such facilities for 10 months and 15 days.

The complicated issue arrived in the city as it tries to determine how such collectives might fit into its zoning while balancing the wishes of those who question their impact on the surrounding community with those pushing for the drug’s compassionate use.

The issuance of the permit to open a medical marijuana collective at 175 Utah Ave. stalled after neighbors appealed the decision in October. That appeal has yet to be heard as the council opted for a 45-day moratorium on collectives to review city restrictions, which staff said it needed more time to do. Last night, a 10-month, 15-day moratorium extension was approved to allow staff time to work the idea of potential collectives into a city-wide zoning ordinance. The extension essentially barred the collective from opening since the City Council cannot vote on the appeal during the moratorium. In addition, proponents do not have the cash to continue renting a facility which, in the meantime, will remain empty. An appeal hearing was continued, however, in case the collective is around once regulations are further refined.

Setting up shop, renting a facility and applying to meet city standards coupled with the delay in the issuance of a permit resulted in over $50,000 in cost for the collective. Proponents pleaded to simply have a fair hearing under the rules previously presented, said Scot Candell, a San Rafael-based attorney representing Island of Health, the nonprofit that will run the collective.

"What’s happening is we’ve followed the rules and after we went through everything, you’re changing the rules,” said Candell.

Vice Mayor Kevin Mullin was sympathetic for the argument, but was not willing to budge.

District takes step toward tax request

Recent monetary losses are prompting San Mateo County Community College District officials to request proposals from three to four statistical firms to survey the community about the possibility of one or more local tax options.

Next year will include large budget cuts in the San Mateo County Community College District, which decided to look at a variety of ways to raise money rather than simply making reductions. Three local tax options — parcel tax, bond measure or a maintenance assessment district — could generate funds for the three campuses. Before moving forward, district officials want to poll the community. On Wednesday, the board directed staff to request proposals from three to four statistical companies for such work. A final decision is expected to come from the board in January.

For the coming year, district CFO Kathy Blackwood previously estimated 10 percent to 15 percent in cuts in addition to a loss of federal stimulus funds that never materialized. In addition, the district lost more than $20 million in voter-approved bond money when the County Investment Fund, in which the money was invested, was affected by the abrupt bankruptcy of Lehman Bros.

Passing a parcel tax requires the highest passage threshold at two-thirds, but could generate much money from a tiny tax. For example, a $20 annual parcel tax would mean $4 million to the district, Barbara Christensen, the district’s director of Community and Government Relations, wrote in a staff report.

Money collected from a maintenance assessment district can be used for the maintenance or renovation of outdoor facilities, to cover a portion of the salary costs for buildings and grounds staff or to purchase equipment to maintain those areas. An engineering study is require to create such a district and the measure would need to be passed by a simple majority in an all-mail vote. Ballots are weighted, meaning larger parcel owner’s votes have more input.

Lastly, another bond measure could offset losses in previous years from investments. Bond measures have a 55 percent threshold to pass.

Cold spell sparks need for shelter

The cold spell blanketing the Bay Area in snow and chills is keeping county shelters at capacity, turning away some referrals for lack of space and causing service providers to hope for donations of food and clothing to ease the increased need.

Safe Harbor, the shelter located near San Francisco International Airport, does not typically accept referrals over the weekend and turns clients out at 7:30 a.m. daily. But with the mercury dropping and the 95 beds filled to capacity, the shelter opened its doors and expanded its inclement weather beds for drop-ins from four to five.

"This evening I’m going to look at whether there is space for another cot,” said Maryam Bhimji, director of Safe Harbor.

Bhimji said it’s a balance between caring for as many as possible while not unduly impacting those already there.