REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Contract with County of San Mateo for Disaster-Related Employment Services
Report
BACKGROUND
On February 16, 2017, President Trump signed an emergency disaster declaration for the State of California as a result of the severe winter storms that occurred in January. The President's action authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate all disaster relief efforts that have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures in the counties of Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San Mateo, and Santa Barbara.
The State of California Employment Development Department requested a National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) to assist affected local areas through disaster relief employment or temporary jobs. As the local workforce investment board serving San Mateo County, NOVA was eligible to apply for a share of this funding. NOVA received an award of $1,000,000 to place 55 individuals into temporary jobs to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts in San Mateo County.
Pursuant to federal law (29 USCA Section 3122), the City Council is the “chief elected official,” and the “local grant recipient” and “fiscal agent” for NOVA and the Local Workforce Development Board. In filling these functions, City Council’s past practice for contracts exceeding $100,000 has been to approve the award of the contract and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 5.1.1: Socio-Economic - Goals and Policies: Education and Training Goal 5.1F: Provide job training and employment services, within constraints of operative Federal regulations and available Federal funding, to address the locally-determined employment and training needs of economically disadvantaged residents and others with special needs.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental, organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
DISCUSSION
Before applying for this funding, NOVA reached out to the County of San Mateo to determine its interest in participating in this project and to document the need for clean-up and recovery efforts. The County had created an extensive list of repair projects and has declared an ongoing state of emergency due to widespread damage. Based on the need, the State awarded NOVA $1,000,000 that may only be used to hire workers into temporary jobs for the clean-up and repair of public or private non-profit facilities. The County proposed projects related to repairs at its water treatment and storage sites, and cleanup of damage impacting public road systems as well as park trails and roads.
The workers must be eligible under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) as dislocated workers, and must have been laid off or out of work for at least 27 weeks. NOVA plans to serve 55 individuals during the term of the grant, which operates through September 30, 2018.
Funding in this project must be directly related to temporary jobs for disaster recovery. NOVA is using a third party employer of record to provide onboarding and payroll services. The County of San Mateo will incur costs related to the supervision of the temporary workers, as well as supportive services such as safety gear. These costs are budgeted at $284,000 over the life of the grant.
FISCAL IMPACT
The source of funds for the services is WIOA funds. Since funds are obligated to programs only based upon appropriations dedicated to NOVA, sufficient WIOA funds will exist to cover all anticipated obligations of day-to-day program operations. If funding is cut, then program services will be accordingly reduced.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve the award of a contract in an amount not to exceed $284,000 to the County of San Mateo to provide services related to NOVA’s disaster-related employment project through September 30, 2018 and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract when all necessary conditions have been met.
Staff
Prepared by: Jeanette Langdell, Employment Training Manager
Reviewed by: Kris Stadelman, Director, NOVA Workforce Services
Reviewed by: Walter C. Rossmann, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENT
1. Contract with San Mateo County for Disaster Related Employment