TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement and any subsequent amendments, with the Trustees of the California State University, on behalf of California State University Dominguez Hills, for the Service Learning Placement Program, to allow for placement of students in internships and experiential learning projects in various City departments, for a term of five years, from October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2023. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
In the FY 19 Budget, the City Council established a Community Engagement and Partnership Bureau (Bureau) in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PRM). The new Bureau consolidated several existing divisions to allow PRM to pursue more community sponsorships, partnerships, and grants, and develop a strategic plan for the ongoing funding and sustainability of park programs.
One of the first partnerships developed by Bureau staff is proposed with California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). This partnership is intended to provide PRM and other City departments with access to CSUDH students through placement in internship programs, as well as opportunities to have the departments work with professors to develop class projects intended to help the City fulfill special project needs. This partnership creates meaningful experiential learning opportunities for CSUDH students where they can apply traditional academic classroom learning within a local government agency to develop professional skills in a real-world work environment for career development and placement. It also provides opportunities for professors to work with local government professionals to create learning activities with real-world deliverables as a part of their course curriculum, while also providing useful products needed by the City.
To engage the students, CSUDH requires that partners like the City complete the CSUDH Service-Learning Placement Agreement, which outlines mutual responsibilities for both the City and CSUDH to ensure the Partnership’s goals are met.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda T. Vu on September 5, 2018 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on September 13, 2018.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on October 2, 2018, to allow the Partnership to be aligned with the beginning of the fiscal year.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this recommendation. Indirect costs associated with the proposed partnership may include the cost of intern supervision and other program support, which will be absorbed within the participating department’s annual budget. It is anticipated this partnership will provide mutually valuable services at relative low-cost to the City, including an important investment in workforce development providing opportunities for college students to gain valuable work experience, which will be quantified each year as a part of PRM’s achievements listed in annual budget documents. While the exact local job impact is unknown at this time, it is anticipated that there may be a temporary positive job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
GERARDO MOUET
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER