REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GREGORY A. BARFIELD, Assistant City Director
Office of the Mayor and City Manager
BRIAN BARR, Assistant Director
Department of Transportation
BY: DUANE MYERS, Fleet Manager
Department of Transportation/ Municipal Fleet Division
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the Director of the Department of Transportation (or designee) to enter into an Agreement with Fresno Unified School District, to enable the Municipal Fleet Division to become a work-based learning location for non-paid student internships focused on automotive technologies and fleet maintenance through June 1, 2023, with provisions for three one-year extensions, at no cost to the City. This fits within the Mayor’s One Fresno Vision for Youth Initiatives and Economic Mobility, as this includes job training, education, and access to a career path.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends council approve entering into an Agreement with Fresno Unified School District (FUSD), to enable the Municipal Fleet Division to become a work-based learning location for non-paid student internships focused on automotive technologies and fleet maintenance through June 1, 2023, with provisions for three one-year extensions. This agreement expands on the Mayor’s One Fresno Vision for Youth Initiatives and Economic Mobility, as this includes job training, education, and access to a career path.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Transportation, Fleet Division is interested in partnering with the Fresno Unified School District Work based learning location Program. This is an internship program which allows eligible students the opportunity to gain real world experience in automotive maintenance, medium/heavy duty maintenance, and welding. This partnership will specifically afford student interns the opportunity to work alongside mechanics and technicians, on a limited basis, servicing the City’s fleet vehicles and equipment at the Municipal Service Center through June 1, 2023, with provisions for three one-year extensions. Internships will be awarded immediately following the full execution of the Agreement by all parties.
BACKGROUND
The Fleet Division is responsible for purchasing and maintaining approximately 2,400 vehicles owned and operated by City departments. These include light, heavy, and construction equipment. The Municipal Fleet Division is interested in partnering with educational programs to share fleet maintenance practices with interested students.
The non-paid internship program benefits students by providing hands-on experience in the field of vehicle and equipment maintenance. The majority of students have never had a job before, so having them actually clock-in and work at a work-based learning location opens their eyes to vocational career fields and industry expectations. By partnering with FUSD, these student interns learn vocational skills that are sought by the City and many companies in the community and are generally in short supply. Students are genuinely excited, and motivated to learn the content as they experience first-hand the importance of learning these skills. By providing these opportunities, the City will help students become better prepared for higher education, vocational schools, trade schools, or the workforce. More importantly, it helps close the skilled labor gap the industry is experiencing overall.
This program will allow the City to train the future workforce to their specific needs and expectations. In essence, this community classroom allows the City the opportunity for a 3-4 month long hands-on interview with potential future employees. Aside from the benefits to the students, we also receive positive feedback from the surrounding community. This agreement fits within the Mayor’s One Fresno Vision for Youth Initiatives and Economic Mobility, as this includes job training, education, and access to a career path.
The program began in 2018 and continued through the 2019/2020 school year. Four students successfully completed their internships during this period. The program was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic to minimize the spread of the virus.
The City Attorney has approved the contract as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378, the award of this contract does not qualify as a “project.”
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable as this is not a purchase contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
This is non-paid student internship program. There is no fiscal impact to the City and no general funds will be used.
Attachment:
Contract with FUSD