Title
Agreements for operation of the 2004 Summer Food Service Program for Children (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is required to enter into the agreements necessary for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine to operate the 2004 Summer Food Service Program for Children. These agreements include a grant and food donation agreement with the Califomia Department of Education (CDE), an operational agreement with the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD), and site sponsor agreements with other agencies and nonprofit organizations (Attachment A).
Since 1980, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine has operated a summer food program that provides free lunches to low-income children 19 years of age and younger who, in the absence of the program, would not receive their normal school lunches during summer vacation. In addition to the City, the participation of other agencies is necessary for the program to run successfully. These agencies include the CDE, which provides funding as well as donated food, the LBUSD, which prepares the meals each day, and other agencies that provide the facilities where the food is served.
The 2004 Summer Food Service Program will run from June 21, 2004 through August 20,2004. Funding for the program will be provided by the CDE, which will reimburse the City up to $276,000, depending on the number of meals served. This funding will enable the program to provide over 105,000 meals, or about 2,300 meals per day. The Department's payment to the LBUSD for food preparation and delivery is projected to be approximately $220,500, which represents a cost of $2.10 per lunch. The remaining $55,500 covers the Department's costs to administer the program and serve the lunches. The meals will be provided at 33 sites throughout Long Beach, and two sites in Signal Hill (Attachment B).
As was the case for prior program years, the opportunity to participate in the 2004 Summer Food Program was offered to those organizations that had previously participated. Currently, nine non-City agencies have committed to participate, and additional sites cannot be included without increasing program costs. The Department anticipates that the current non-City agencies will meet their commitment to the program, and, in the event that additional sites are available, participation opportunities will be publicized through organizations such as the youth Services Network or the South Coast Ecumenical Council.
The CDE requires the City to execute a grant agreement to receive reimbursement and enter into site sponsor agreements with the agencies that provide food service facilities. These agencies are required to indemnify the City from liability arising from their participation in the program, to secure necessary insurance as deemed appropriate by the City's Risk Manager, and to comply with the regulations set forth by the CDE.
This letter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Donna Gwin on April 22, 2004, and Budget Manager Michael Killebrew on April 26, 2004.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on May 4, 2004, to allow sufficient time to execute the agreements prior to the beginning of the 2004 Summer Food Service Program.
FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funding is budgeted in the General Grants Fund (SR 120) in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PR) for the 2004 Summer Food Service Program. The funding comes from a grant provided by the California Department of Education.
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1) Authorize the City Manager to execute a grant agreement and a food donation agreement with the Califomia Department of Education for the 2004 Summer Food Service Program;
2) Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with the Long Beach Unified School District for food preparation for the 2004 Summer Food Program;
3) Authorize the City Manager to execute sponsor/site agreements with the agencies listed on Attachment A; and,
4) Authorize the City Manager to accept funds, implement, amend, and administer the agreements to implement the program.
Respectfully Submitted,
PHIL T. HESTER
DIRECTOR OF PARKS. RECREATION AND MARINE