REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JERRY DYER, Mayor
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
THROUGH: GEORGEANNE WHITE, City Manager
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
BY: TJ MILLER, Director
Personnel Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the CaliforniansForAll Youth Workforce Development Grant program:
1. Approve the 2021 CaliforniansForAll Youth Workforce Development Grant
2. ***RESOLUTION - Adopting the 53rd amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2021-178 appropriating $232,500 for the One Fresno Youth Workforce Development Grant (Requires 5 Affirmative Votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
3. ***RESOLUTION - 6th Amendment to the Position Authorization Resolution (PAR) No. 2021-179 adding three (3) positions to the Personnel Services Department (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council approve the 2021 CaliforniansForAll Youth Workforce Development Grant for the “One Fresno Youth Workforce Development Program” (“Program”), adopt the 53rd amendment to AAR No. 2021-178 appropriating $232,500; approve the 6th Amendment to Position Authorization Resolution No. 2021-179, adding three (3) grant-funded positions to Personnel Services; and authorize the City Manager to execute all related documents to the administration, modification, monitoring and closeout of the Sub-Recipient Agreement. The classifications of the three (3) grand-funded positions are as follow: one Senior Management Analyst, one Staff Assistant and one Senior Human Resources Technician.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The CaliforniansForAll Youth Workforce Program is a Governor’s initiative administered by CaliforniaVolunteers in partnership with cities across California. The City of Fresno (“City”) applied for funding to implement a youth workforce development program for youth ages 16-30 in the city of Fresno. This program will recruit, train, mentor and hire residents (“Fellows”) for jobs with the City over a 2-year period in order to prepare them for future career opportunities.
On January 27, 2022, Mayor Dyer along with other Big City Mayors across California’s thirteen largest cities, participated in a virtual news conference announcing $7.4 million awarded to the City of Fresno for the One Fresno Youth Workforce Development program. The grant program period will begin once the grant agreement is executed through June 30, 2024.
BACKGROUND
Authorized through the federal Serve America Act (2009) and Executive Order S-24-06, CaliforniaVolunteers is the State Service Commission for California. CaliforniaVolunteers is responsible for engaging Californians in service, volunteering, and civic action to tackle our State’s most pressing challenges and lift-up all communities.
As a part of Mayor Dyer’s vision for ‘One Fresno’ and specific initiatives related to youth in our city, a workforce development program that invests in the next generation of workers and leaders in the city of Fresno is an essential piece. The primary goal of the Program is to provide inclusive economic investment that includes creating opportunities for our most vulnerable youths, so that they might ultimately realize economic mobility. The Program will assist us in reaching this goal by providing resources necessary to invest in our young people in an inclusive way.
Strategic objectives to meet this goal include:
• Identifying the highest need 16- to 30-year-old youth and providing opportunities for entry-level employment in city government, as well as career paths for future upward mobility
• Removing existing barriers of vulnerable residents for training and employment with the City
• Providing job training, case management and mentorship through existing partnerships for all Fellows in the Program
• Providing Fellows with tools for success in future employment with the City or other outside organizations
• Providing a living wage for Fellows throughout the duration of the program
The Program will focus on successful skills development, mentorship, and case management for our most vulnerable youths, which will ultimately change the path of our future workforce. Built on four core components 1) recruitment, 2) training and skills development, 3) mentorship and case management and 4) employment, the Program will enable the City youth ages 16 to 30 who may have difficulty finding employment to gain skills, experience, and have a source of income over the course of two years and potentially beyond. This Program will help participants expand their horizon for gainful employment opportunities. Our desire is to offer a solution and an alternative to connect youths with training, on-the-job skills, mentorship, and ultimately gain a meaningful work experience within the city that will translate to future employment and career opportunities
The City has identified an array of entry-level positions and career paths in various City departments. These pathways will provide both hands-on and technical training to equip each Fellow with experience and know-how to qualify for future permanent employment with the City, and potential employment with other organizations. The City will partner with local Community Based Organizations (“CBOs”), chosen through a Request For Proposals (RFP) process, that have an expertise serving the targeted populations. CBOs will provide recruitment, training, case management, and general wrap-around services. We anticipate a wide variety of individual needs surfacing during the recruitment process due to varying educational levels, job experiences, and backgrounds. We are also partnering with Fresno Adult School, an educational institution that is committed to providing free career technical education and training. The ideal career development program will depend on each Fellow’s interest and position. Additional online training will be provided at the beginning and throughout the Program.
Other important wrap-around services for Program Fellows include transportation to and from work, in-person training classes, childcare services, and food vouchers for Fellows in need, thus removing as many barriers to employment as possible.
The City has developed a comprehensive staffing plan for this Program to ensure Fellows can explore City departments and positions in which they are interested. Our current staff will be augmented to provide project support in the form of data collection, analysis and metrics tracking, program reporting, and communications, monitoring and oversight of the Fellows within the Program. Fellows will have a direct link to Program staff to help mitigate any barriers and issues they are experiencing while employed. A key focus of our process included identifying positions that can garner transferrable skills and paths that provide upward mobility within City departments. There will be over 100 Fellows trained, mentored, and employed in year-round, seasonal, or summer programs.
The duties that will be performed by the three (3) grant funded positions through June 2024 will include, but may not be limited to:
Senior Management Analyst: performs data collection, cost analysis, and research, as well as prepares financial reports, consistent with project goals, objectives and required metrics; ensures compliance with grant requirements; and assists with non-financial grant reporting duties.
Staff Assistant: monitors utilization and reassignment of Fellows, as well as any issues that arise; assists Grant Program Administrator with program operation, including general communication and data collection in support of City's media and communications team, obtaining testimonials for metrics reporting and other related duties; and serves as a liaison between Personnel Managers and Fellows in participating Departments.
Senior Human Resources Technician: assists Personnel Services staff with onboarding Fellows upon entry into the program, as well as offboarding at the conclusion of the Fellows’ work experience; and assists with training coordination, tracking and related support services.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378 this item does not qualify as a “project” and is therefore exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act requirements.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered based upon conditions of state funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. The program will be funded solely by the Grant, with funding distributed on a reimbursement basis.
Attachments:
1. 53rd Amendment to the AAR No. 2021-178
2. 6th Amendment to the PAR No. 2021-179