REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
February 9, 2016
FROM: KRISTINA CHAMBERLIN, Assistant Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
BY: IRMA YEPEZ-PEREZ, Senior Management Analyst
KAREN M. NORRIS, Administrative Manager
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
1. Authorize the Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department to accept a grant for $30,000 from the Cy Pres Grant Administrator CRT Settlement Fund for technology Improvements at the Frank H. Ball Neighborhood Center (District 3)
2. ***RESOLUTION - 42nd amendment to the Annual Appropriations Resolution (AAR) No. 2016-118 appropriating $30,000 from the Cy Pres Grant Administrator CRT Settlement Fund for technology Improvements at the Frank H. Ball Neighborhood Center (Requires 5 affirmative votes)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council authorize the Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS) Department to accept a grant for $30,000 to improve computer access and connectivity at the Frank H. Ball Neighborhood Center, authorize PARCS’ Assistant Director or designee to sign all necessary documents to accept and implement the grant, subject to prior approval as to form by the City Attorney’s Office, and adopt the 42nd amendment to the Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2016-118 to appropriate $30,000 from the Cy Pres Grant Administrator CRT Settlement Fund for such projects.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PARCS applied for and was awarded a $30,000 grant from the Cy Pres Grant Administrator CRT Settlement Fund to help improve computer access and connectivity at the Frank H. Ball Neighborhood Center in West Fresno. Now PARCS seeks Council approval to accept the grant funds and complete the 42nd amendment to the Annual Appropriates Resolution necessary to implement the proposed technology Improvements.
BACKGROUND
The CRT Settlement Fund is the result of five settlement agreements by the Attorney General of the State of California, with Hitachi, LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Toshiba, the makers of the cathode ray tubes (CRT) that are widely used in computers and display monitors. The Attorney General’s Office filed a civil lawsuit alleging the five makers operated a price-fixing scheme from 1995 to 2007 that violated California’s Antitrust Laws, California’s Unfair Competition Law, and the common law doctrine of unjust enrichment. The Settlement Agreement established a Settlement Class Fund of $1,032,113 to benefit up to 35 grants of approximately $30,000 each awarded through the Cy Pres Grant Administrator.
The PARCS Department has been awarded $30,000 as part of this competitive grant process to purchase and install new computers and Wi-Fi service at the Frank H. Ball Neighborhood Center in West Fresno. Up to 42% of residents in zip code 93706, where the Neighborhood Center is located, fall below poverty level, and many of the families do not have access to the internet at home where children and youth can complete homework, search for jobs on-line, or learn to navigate technology tools.
Since 2006 PARCS has partnered with the Information Service Department (ISD) to provide end-of-life computers that are no longer used by the City and established a Computer Lab at Frank H. Ball Neighborhood Center. The computer system is over 15 years old and provides slow performance that may frustrate and discourage participants from using technology. The current equipment with the antiquated CRT monitors has even become a challenge for the City’s Information Services Department to provide support and the delays cause the center to shut down all computers. The grant funds will be used to purchase and install six new computers and upgrade the current DSL line to improve connectivity and offer improved bandwidth.
Staff recommends Council authorize PARCS to accept the grant funds, and the Assistant Director or designee to sign all necessary paperwork, and approve the 42nd amendment to the Annual Appropriations Resolution 2016-118 to appropriate the grant funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING
Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines §15378 the purchase of equipment does not qualify as a “project” for the purpose of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this item does not include an award of a construction or consultant contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
PARCS will benefit from the $30,000 purchase of new computer equipment. There is a small cost savings to the City’s General Fund. The average current monthly service fee for the current DSL modem is $143 and the new anticipated fee will be $65 for DSL and wireless service.
Attachment:
AAR 2016-118
CRT Settlement Award Agreement