DATE: August 6, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Raman Bath, County Librarian
SUBJECT: Retroactive California Library Association Grant Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to ratify the County Librarian’s previous execution of a retroactive agreement and acceptance of grant funds from the California Library Association, effective July 1, 2019 through August 9, 2019 ($17,000);
2. Authorize the County Librarian, or his designee, to sign expenditure forms and activity reports for this agreement; and
3. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing FY 2019-20 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Library Grants Org 7517 in the amount of $17,000 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The California Library Association (CLA) has awarded a grant to the Library in the amount of $17,000, effective July 1, 2019 through August 9, 2019. The grant agreement was submitted contingent upon your Board’s approval. Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Library to accept the grant funds, which will provide the Library the opportunity to expand the number of Lunch at the Library program sites, and improve the quality of programming at current program sites. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose to decline the grant award from the CLA, which will result in the Library not continuing with expansion of the Lunch at the Library Program sites nor improving the quality of programming at current sites.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended agreement is retroactive to July 1, 2019 because the Library became aware of this extended opportunity through email correspondence with the CLA on May 22, 2019, and the funds need to be spent and related programming completed by the end of the Lunch at the Library program on August 9, 2019. The Library submitted a signed agreement to the CLA on June 4, 2019 to accept funds. The Library received the funds on June 24, 2019 and is bringing this before your Board within the agenda item processing timelines.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The $17,000 grant from the CLA will be used for small tools and instruments ($8,000) and materials ($9,000). The grant does not require a match or in-kind contribution; however, staff costs to administer the Program will be included in the FY 2019-20 Recommended Budget Org 7511. The budget resolution in the third recommended action will increase appropriations and estimated revenues in the Library Grants Org 7517 for FY 2019-20 in the amount of $17,000.
DISCUSSION:
The CLA is a non-profit charitable organization that provides professional development and advocacy support for its members and the California library community at large. CLA works with libraries across the state to offer summer meal programs that provide nutritious meals and enriching activities to children and teens up to age 18 to help combat hunger and obesity while also preventing summer learning loss in low-income communities. In January of 2019, the California State Library (CSL) awarded CLA a local assistance grant to support expansion and enhancement of the Lunch at the Library Program this summer. The Lunch at the Library Program grant is a project of the CLA, supported by CSL with funds from the State of California. The grant funds allow the Library to expand the number of Lunch at the Library program sites, as well as improve the quality of programming at current sites.
On July 31, 2017, your Board approved an agreement for the Lunch at the Library Program with Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission (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 provides the meals, and the Library provides the facility and volunteers to serve the meals. Library Staff provide supervision and an introduction to library services and resources to children and teenagers age 18 and under.
The Library currently offers the annual Lunch at the Library Program at seven branch sites (Betty Rodriguez, Central, Mendota, Orange Cove, Sanger, Selma, and Sunnyside Libraries), and with the additional funds added an eighth site via the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission’s (EOC) “Food Express” bus at the West Fresno Branch. Further sites will not be added this summer but may be added in the future. Meals are provided in partnership with the Fresno EOC, through the USDA Summer Food Service Program. To qualify as a site, the library branch must be located in an area where at least 50 percent of children in the area are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. In qualifying library branches, meals are served to all participants up to age 18 without need to show proof of income or eligibility. The Lunch at the Library Program is an annual event that offers enriching activities that improve children’s literacy skills. During the programs, the library gives away books and provides various prizes to event participants.
The Library became aware of this extended opportunity through email correspondence with the CLA on May 22, 2019 and was not required to submit an application. The Library submitted an agreement signed by the County Librarian to the CLA on June 4, 2019 to accept the grant funds. The Library received the funds on June 24, 2019 and is bringing this before your Board within the agenda item processing timelines. The second recommended action will ratify the Librarian’s previous signature on the grant agreement, which the Librarian signed in order to meet the grant funding deadline. The CLA requires the funds to be spent and related programming completed by the end of the Lunch at the Library Program on August 9, 2019, and a final expenditure statement will need to be completed by mid-September 2019.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #30 January 31, 2017
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with CLA
On file with Clerk - Resolution (Org 7517)
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck