REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
July 16, 2020
FROM: MAYOR LEE BRAND
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
NELSON ESPARZA, Councilmember
Council District 7
BY: TIM A. ORMAN, Chief of Staff to the Mayor
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to COVID-19 response and the Central Valley Children Services Network:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute a grant agreement with Central Valley Children Services Network for child care services for essential workers in the amount of $2,389,808
2. ***RESOLUTION - Adopting the 1st Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2020-159 appropriating $2,389,808 from the City’s Coronavirus Relief Fund to fund the Central Valley Children Services Network child care program (Requires 5 affirmative votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Mayor, Councilmember Esparza and the City Manager recommend the Council authorize the City Manager to enter into a grant agreement with Central Valley Children Services Network (CVCSN) to provide childcare services for essential workers and to approve the 1st Amendment to the Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2020-159 to fund the project.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
After the Administration presented Council with a Coronavirus Relief Fund Strategic Plan on June 11 that included a child care voucher element, the Central Valley Children Services Network submitted a proposal to Councilmember Nelson Esparza. At the Councilmember’s request, the Administration reviewed the materials and the Administration and Councilmember Esparza both met with the principals of CVCSN, Brooke Frost and Lupe Jaime, to learn more about their budget and proposal for the proposed project. The Councilmember and Administration are more than satisfied that the proposal and budget that are attached to this staff report are an effective use of the City’s CARES Act funding and that this project will help mitigate the serious impacts the COVID-19 pandemic is having on our community.
BACKGROUND
Access to quality child care is vitally important for essential workers and all families in Fresno County. Child care providers are community anchors that strengthen neighborhoods and create the environment for early learning. Children who receive quality early education are ready to enter school and ready to succeed in work and life. During the 2008 recession, approximately 7,000 child care slots were lost in a County that was already significantly short of quality child care. We believe this program, by providing child care vouchers for essential workers, providing PPE (personal protective equipment) and cleaning supplies addresses a substantial need in a comprehensive manner. These childcare vouchers will follow the standard state protocols CVCSN uses to qualify parents or guardians of young children based on income eligibility and essential worker status.
It should be noted that while the proposal and budget show $2,389,808 from the City of Fresno and $1,119,267 from the County of Fresno, these are two stand-alone programs and the City’s program can go forward with or without the County’s program. The City of Fresno program would address child care needs for essential workers who live in the City of Fresno, while the County’s program would address essential workers who live outside of the City limits.
City Controller Michael Lima has reviewed this program and believe it is an eligible expense for reimbursement from the City’s Coronavirus Relief Fund established and funded by the federal government’s CARES Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a project for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Not applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT
This plan will not negatively impact the General Fund. If approved, the grant of $2,389,808 provided for the Central Valley Children Services Network will be distributed from the City’s Coronavirus Relief Fund monies pursuant to the CARES Act.
Attachments:
1st Amendment to the Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2020-159
Central Valley Children Services Network Grant Proposal
Central Valley Children Services Network Proposed Budget
Agreement