DATE: January 31, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Laurel C. Prysiazny, County Librarian
SUBJECT: Agreement with Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission for At-Risk After-School Meal Program and Summer Food Service Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission (FCEOC) for an At-Risk After-School Meal Program and Summer Food Service Program, effective upon execution not to exceed five consecutive years, which includes a three-year base contract and two optional one-year extensions ($0); and
2. Authorize the County Librarian or designee to terminate the Agreement upon providing a 30 day advance written notice.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the first recommended action will allow the Library to enter into an Agreement with FCEOC for an At-Risk After-School and Summer Food Service Program, in which nutritious pre-packaged meals are provided free of charge at library branches to children and teenagers age 18 and under. FCEOC will provide the meals and the Library will provide the facility and volunteers to serve the meals. The second recommended action will authorize the County Librarian or designee to terminate the Agreement upon providing FCEOC with a 30 day advance written notice.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended Agreement, the Library would not participate in the At-Risk After-School and Summer Food Service Programs with FCEOC to promote healthy nutrition for youth. FCEOC would then need to find other locations and volunteers to serve the meals.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions or monetary compensation under the recommended Agreement. The Library will provide an in-kind contribution of $1,342 annually for each library site participating in the At-Risk After-School Meal Program and $746 annually for each library site participating in the Summer Food Service Program. The in-kind contribution covers a percentage of salaries and benefits for one Senior Library Assistant with indirect costs calculated at 10%. The Library’s salary, benefits, and overhead costs are part of the Library’s FY 2016-17 Org 7511 Adopted Budget and are funded through Measure B and property tax revenues. The Library will absorb in-kind services provided by staff as programming charges for the total combined annual amount up to $20,880 for ten sites.
DISCUSSION:
FCEOC is one of the largest poverty-fighting organizations in the nation. FCEOC provides programs that give families the immediate help they need to survive daily crises while also providing long-term support for improving lives. FCEOC is a local meal program provider funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The California Summer Meal Coalition (CSMC) and the California Library Association (CLA) partner at the State level to connect meal providers and local libraries in an effort to simultaneously support nutrition and learning through the Lunch @ the Library program. CLA recommends county libraries partner with local USDA meal providers to meet the nutrition and educational needs of children. FCEOC provides nutritious snack-sized meals at no net cost and delivers them to participating organizations. Since 2012, the Library has partnered with FCEOC, CSMC and CLA to provide the popular Lunch @ the Library program to help bridge nutrition and learning loss over the summer months. Lunch @ the Library began as part of the Library’s regular programming with no formal contract between FCEOC and the Library. As the Lunch @ the Library grew, the agencies began considering a contract to identify costs and services on a larger scale.
On June 7, 2016, your Board approved a Resolution allowing the Library to accept a donated refrigerator valued at $963 from CSMC and the Institute for Local Government (ILG). The CSMC/ILG donated the refrigerator to allow the Library to meet FCEOC/USDA safe food storage requirements for the summer meals program. In November 2016, the Library and FCEOC discussed a contractual partnership for the Lunch @ the Library program to set up an At-Risk After-School and Summer Food Service Program. FCEOC selected the Library as a partner due to the wide variety of branch locations that reach both the urban and rural areas of Fresno County.
Upon approval by your Board, the Library will provide the facility where the meals can be refrigerated and served at scheduled times. The At-Risk After-School Meal Program will be offered on weekdays, three days per week, with hours depending on the local school’s schedule. The Summer Food Service Program will be offered five days per week, Monday through Friday. Both programs will operate during the Library’s normal business hours. Children too young to attend school can also benefit from the programs. The Library anticipates participating in the meal programs for 1.5 hours each time meals are served. This includes preparation, serving the meals, and clean up. Library volunteers will serve the meals and library staff will provide supervision and an introduction to library services and resources. Volunteers may also assist youth with homework as needed.
FCEOC plans to begin the At-Risk After-School Meal Program at the Betty Rodriguez Library located at 3040 N. Cedar Ave. This location is near several schools including McLane High School and Wishon Elementary School. The library facility is new and has a community meeting room to serve meals. The Summer Food Service Program will be a three month long program available at the following libraries: Betty Rodriguez Regional Library, Central, Sunnyside Regional Library, Orange Cove Branch Library, Mendota Branch Library, Fowler Branch Library, and the Sanger Branch Library. It is estimated that in FY 2017-18 the number of library locations where the meal programs are offered may increase to 10 sites. The eventual goal is to offer meal programs at up to 15 library locations.
Upon approval by your Board, FCEOC and the Library will implement the At-Risk After-School Meal Program in February 2017 and continue the Summer Food Service Program in the summer of 2017. The Agreement allows either party to terminate the Agreement by providing a 30 day advance written notice. The second recommended action authorizes the County Librarian, or designee to terminate the Agreement on behalf of the County, which will remove the need for an additional board agenda item to terminate the contract, and reduce the number of days required before a 30 day notice can be mailed to the vendor.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #38, June 7, 2016
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with FCEOC
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck