REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: AARON A. AGUIRRE, Director
Parks, After School, Recreation, and Community Services Department
EDWARD CHINEVERE, Assistant Director
Parks, After School, Recreation, and Community Services Department
BY: TOU FUE XIONG, Business Manager
Parks, After School, Recreation, and Community Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - Adopting the 40th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2024-122 to appropriate $149,922 from the California Public Utilities Commission to fund Digital Literacy Education and Digital Access to the Parks, After School, Recreation, and Community Services (PARCS) Department (Requires 5 Affirmative Votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend that the City Council approve and adopt 40th amendment to AAR No. 2024-122 appropriating $149,922 from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) California Advance Services Fund (CASF) Broadband Adoption Account to fund digital literacy education and digital access.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The PARCS Department has been awarded a grant from the CPUC totaling $149,922 to provide digital literacy education and digital access. Staff are seeking approval to appropriate the full grant award of $149,922 to the Department's Fiscal Year 2025 budget.
BACKGROUND
On May 23, 2024, the Fresno City Council approved a resolution (File ID 24-704) authorizing staff to apply for a grant of up to $200,000 from the CPUC to provide digital literacy education and digital access. PARCS submitted the grant application and received a notice of award on November 27, 2024. The grant is focused on providing programming to seniors and individuals with disabilities.
During the project period, PARCS will provide 8 hours of digital literacy education to around 260 Fresno residents and distribute approximately 120 take-home devices to eligible low-income residents who complete all 8 hours of digital literacy education as required by the grant. Program sites are located in neighborhoods with demonstrated low rates of access to broadband internet at home and were chosen based on the presence of current weekly programming for seniors and adaptive recreation participants. Digital literacy programming will take place over a 24-month period at seven community centers, including the Link, Pinedale, Ted C. Wills, Mosqueda, Inspiration, Mary Ella Brown, and Lafayette. Appropriating the funding into the Fiscal Year 2025 budget will allow PARCS to initiate the program.
This item has been reviewed by the City Attorney’s Office and Budget and Management Department.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this item is not a project for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable since this item will not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The General Fund will not be impacted by this project. PARCS will be responsible for a 15% project match (up to $30,000), which PARCS will provide in-kind in the form of existing salaries and utilities.
Attachment:
Resolution - 40th Amendment to AAR 2024-122