REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Sunnyvale Declaring Support for Efforts to Provide Universal Child Care
Report
BACKGROUND
Build the Future Santa Clara County is a movement to build a brighter future for all Santa Clara County residents by advocating for affordable, quality child care for all. Partners and supporters include Santa Clara County Board President Susan Ellenberg, Working Partnerships USA, First 5 Santa Clara County, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, a majority of cities in Santa Clara County and other community-based organizations and business. Supporters encouraged the City of Sunnyvale to join this diverse coalition by adopting a resolution declaring support of advocacy, funding, and policies that furthers the goal of providing child care for all.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 5.0 Long-term Advocacy Positions - Socio-Economic
5.4 Health and Social Services
1) Support childcare related legislation that:
• Provides funding targeted to address the child care needs of low income individuals;
• Establishes demonstration projects to test alternative child care delivery models;
• Establishes employer incentives, such as tax credits to encourage employers to share in providing child care for employees;
• Provides adequate funding of existing child care programs, including appropriate cost-of-living increases;
• Establishes the public school system as the primary delivery agent of state sponsored child care programs;
• Establishes quality child care programs by appropriate regulations to protect health and safety, but minimizes regulatory obstacles;
• Provides incentives to increase the quality and wages of child care workers;
• Advocate for and support measures to encourage and involve industry in providing child care and/or child care benefits to their employees.
(2) Support the establishment of quality standards for childcare providers and programs.
Council Policy 5.1.1 Socio-Economic - Goals and Policies
Goal 5.1H Identify pressing health and social needs of the Sunnyvale community, encouraging appropriate agencies to address these needs in an adequate and timely manner.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Adopting a resolution supporting this policy matter is not a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment (CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5)).
DISCUSSION
On behalf of the Mayor, this resolution supporting the Build the Future Santa Clara County child care initiative is presented for approval.
Consistent with existing City policy and the City’s commitment to addressing child care needs in Sunnyvale, the City supports efforts to provide child care to all children and families in Santa Clara County and the State of California. The Recreation Services Division currently offers many programs that support the goal of accessible child care, including half-day and full-day camps during school breaks and summer. Additionally, the City has a partnership with the Sunnyvale School District to provide a variety of after-school recreation programs at select school sites, including the TK-First Grade After-School Program, the Kids Kare Program for students with disabilities, and Fun-on-the-Run, a mobile recreation initiative. Furthermore, the Recreation Services Division collaborates with the Euphrat Museum of Art to offer an after-school arts education program at six Sunnyvale School District schools, held one day per week. For younger children, ages 3-5, the City offers a half-day, play-based preschool program designed to provide children their first experience in a structured environment. The program runs September through early June and is offered at various locations, days and times.
Build the Future Santa Clara County’s mission aligns with the City’s existing policies related to child care. Staff therefore recommends adopting the attached resolution supporting Build the Future’s efforts to advocate for comprehensive and collaborative solutions to address the County’s child care crisis.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact related to the adoption of this resolution.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the NOVA Workforce Services reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Sunnyvale Declaring Support of Efforts to Provide Universal Child Care.
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $250 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
An “X” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
___ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract*
___ Labor or personal employment contract
_X_ General policy and legislative actions
* "Competitively bid" means a contract that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Staff
Prepared by: Michelle Zahraie, Senior Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Michelle Perera, Director, Library and Recreation Services
Trudi Ryan, Director, Community Development Director
Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Tim Kirby, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution