Item 6-D

City Council Meeting June 9, 1998 Santa Monica, CA

TO: Mayor and City Council

FROM: City Staff

SUBJECT: Recommendation to Adopt a Youth Employment Plan for Projects Funded Under Los Angeles County Safe Neighborhood Parks Propositions of 1992 and 1996: Beach Improvement Group (B.I.G.) Project, Palisades Park, Phase II and South Beach Improvements Project; Reed (formerly Lincoln) Park Improvements; Joslyn Park Improvements; Park Facilities Maintenance Project, Phase I and II

Introduction

This report requests City Council approval of a Youth Employment Plan, included as Attachment A, for projects funded by the Los Angeles County Safe Neighborhood Parks Propositions (Proposition A) of 1992 and 1996.

Background

The City of Santa Monica has been granted funds under the Los Angeles County Safe Neighborhood Parks Propositions of 1992 and 1996. These funds, totaling $7,703,304 support the following projects: Beach Improvement Group (B.I.G.) Project for Palisades Park, Phase II, and South Beach Improvements; Reed Park (formerly Lincoln Park) Improvements; Joslyn Park Improvements; and Park Facilities Maintenance Project, Phases I and II. In August, 1997, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a requirement that, as a condition for receipt of funds under the Safe Neighborhood Parks Propositions of 1992 and 1996, each grantee shall be required to fulfill its spending obligation on employment of at-risk youth as determined by the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District. The City is required to adopt a Youth Employment Plan which explains how the City will meet its spending obligation for all of the projects that are funded by the 1992 and 1996 Propositions.

Discussion

The City has been granted funds from the 1992 and 1996 Propositions under two types of grant programs: Specified Project Grants which were named in the Propositions and Per Parcel Discretionary Grants that are allocated proportionally based on the number of land parcels in the City. The following chart summarizes the amount and type of grant and the project for which it has or will be used.

Amount Project

1992 Proposition A

Specified Grant $4,960,000 Palisades Park, Phase II

South Beach Improvements

Per Parcel Grants $ 151,250 Joslyn Park Improvements (Park

Maint. Facility Project, Phase I)

$ 546,180 Reed (formerly Lincoln) Park Improvements (completed)

1996 Proposition A

Specified Grant $1,700,000 Palisades Park, Phase II

South Beach Improvements

Per Parcel Grants $ 345,875 Park Maintenance Facility Project, Phase II

Total $7,703,305

Under the provisions of the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District policy, the City's Youth Employment Goal (YEG) calculation is equal to ten percent of the City's total grant allocation: 10% of $7,703,305 = $770,330. Since the City has completed the Reed Park Improvements and fulfilled the youth employment obligation on that project, the YEG is reduced by $54,618 (10% of $546,180) for a total of $715,712. The City has the option of meeting its YEG by employing youth under one of four methods: (1) employment of youth during design and construction of Proposition A funded improvement projects, (2) employment of youth in maintenance at sites of Proposition A projects, (3) employment of youth in the operation and programs at sites of Proposition A projects, or (4) new employment of at-risk youth funded by the City at any site.

City staff is recommending that the City meet its YEG obligation under option # 4, City-funded youth employment programs, since this approach provides both employment stipends and the support services that strengthen job retention and permanent placement. The programs provide apprenticeship and employment opportunities as well as employment preparation and skill development, social service support, and case management. Programs include the Citywide Youth Employment and Training Program, the Santa Monica High School Alliance, and the Santa Monica College - Pico Partnership. Program costs incurred after August 7, 1997 are eligible to fulfill the City's Youth Employment Goal. As shown in the attached Youth Employment Plan, the total eligible employment stipend costs for these programs for FY 1997-98 is $275,620 (pro-rated to reflect costs after August 7, 1997), and the proposed expenditure for FY 1998-99 is $300,676. The anticipated expenditure for 1999-00, the third year of the approved Community Development Plan three-year funding cycle, is $300,676. The total youth employment expenditure projected for these three years is $876,972 which satisfies the City's YEG of $715,712.

Budget/Financial Impact

The recommended action does not have a budget or financial impact.

Recommendation

Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Youth Employment Plan

for projects funded under Los Angeles County Safe Neighborhood Parks Propositions (Proposition A) of 1992 and 1996: Beach Improvement Group (B.I.G.) Project, Palisades Park, Phase II and South Beach Improvements; Reed (formerly Lincoln) Park Improvements; Joslyn Park Improvements; Park Facilities Maintenance Project, Phase I and II.

Prepared by: Barbara Stinchfield, Director

Judith Meister, Beach Manager

Betty Macias, Senior Administrative Analyst

Department of Community and Cultural Services

Attachment (Available at the Santa Monica City Clerk's Office or at any of the Santa Monica Public Libraries): A: Youth Employment Plan