REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SUMEET MALHI, Director
Personnel Services Department
SUSAN CHUDY, Program Administrator
Personnel Services Department
BY: DIANE PRINTZ-WHITE, Senior Management Analyst
Personnel Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the third amendment to an agreement in the amount of $100,000 with Fresno Area Workforce Investment Corporation (Workforce) to provide wrap-around services for additional Fellows in the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps program.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the attached amendment to the agreement with Workforce which will increase compensation to Workforce from not-to-exceed $648,680 to not-to-exceed $748,680 to cover additional services provided.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Fresno Area Workforce Investment Corporation, through a service agreement with the City of Fresno, has been providing wraparound services to Fellows in need as part of the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps Program. The second amendment to their agreement increased the number of Fellows Workforce can serve from 40 to 100 with an increase to their available budget. Due to an unanticipated increase in demand, created by the increased participation and costs for wraparound services which are an integral component to overcoming barriers, this third amendment will provide $100,000 additional funding to allow wraparound services to continue to the end of the grant program.
BACKGROUND
On January 27, 2022, the City of Fresno received $7.4 million in funding from California Volunteers
through the Governor’s Office for the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps program. To date, this program has recruited, trained, mentored, and hired over 250 of our most vulnerable youth (“Fellows”) for jobs with the City in order to prepare them for future career opportunities. A key component of the program is the availability of wraparound services to alleviate barriers to successful employment and help Fellows to realize their potential, obtain on-the jobs training for entry level positions throughout City of Fresno departments, and earn a living wage.
On July 21, 2022, City Council approved to enter into service agreements with three local Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to provide wrap-around services for Fellows in the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps Program and to receive allocations from the funding for the Program for the CBOs totaling $851,818 (RFP 3857). As one of the CBO’s awarded, Workforce had agreed to provide services to 40 Fellows for compensation not to exceed $281,550. There has been a strong need by the program Fellows for wrap-around services support. Services that are made available to the Fellows include childcare, work attire, emergency housing, and transportation support including mileage, stipend, bus passes, car repair services, driver's education, and assistance in acquiring a driver's license. Seeing the scope of the need for wraparound services, Workforce agreed in June of 2023 to increase the number of Fellows they served to 100. Due to the high needs of the Fellows for wraparound services, Workforce has projected to deplete their current funding in early February 2024.
On January 11, 2024, Council approved agreements with six Community Based Organizations (CBO) to add more employment opportunities for additional youth. Fellows employed by the CBOs will have wraparound services available based on need.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 this item does not qualify as a “project” and is therefore exempt from CEQA requirements.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Not applicable, this is an amendment to a services agreement previously awarded through the City’s bid process.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund. The Youth Jobs Corps Program is fully funded through a grant award from the California Volunteers through the State of California Governor’s Office.
Attachment: Third Amendment to the Agreement
Second Amendment to the Agreement
First Amendment to the Agreement
Original Agreement