TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any necessary documents including subsequent amendments, with Bay Area Community Resources, to participate in the California Climate Action Corps Program, for the placement of California Climate Action Fellows in the City of Long Beach (City) for the 2023-2024 Fellowship cycle, at no cost to the City, for the period of one year, with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On August 9, 2022, the City Council authorized the City to enter into an agreement with Bay Area Community Resources (BACR), for placement of California Climate Action Corps Fellows (Fellows) to provide support to City Departments for the 2022-2023 Fellowship cycle from September 2022 through December 2023. The California Climate Action Corps Program (Program) is a paid Fellowship with placements in public agencies, tribes, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions to drive climate action in frontline communities most impacted by the effects of climate change. Fellows support and lead projects related to urban greening, organic waste and edible food recovery, and wildfire resiliency. The City now seeks City Council authority to enter into an agreement with BACR to participate in the 2023-2024 Fellowship cycle with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager.
The Program was launched in 2020 and is the country’s first state-level program dedicated to fighting climate change. The Program is led by California Volunteers, a state office within the Office of the Governor tasked with engaging Californians in service, volunteering, and civic action. The Program is funded by California Volunteers, Office of the Governor, and AmeriCorps and is operated by BACR, which recruits, hires, and supervises emerging professionals and establishes placements with government agencies, tribes, nonprofit organizations, and colleges or universities in California and is responsible for compensation costs.
The City first entered an agreement for the placement of Fellows in 2021, with placements in the Office of Sustainability and Development Services. The City currently has three (3) Fellows as part of the 2022-2023 Fellowship cycle. To date, the City has had eight (8) Fellows. Fellows participating in the 2023-2024 cycle will begin an 11-month Fellowship period beginning in September of 2023 to include the following potential identified placements and projects:
• Assist the Office of Climate Action and Sustainability with implementation of the Long Beach Climate Action Plan (LB CAP) and support for sustainability programs;
• Assist the Department of Development Services with implementation of green building policies and reach codes; and,
• Support climate and sustainability-related work in other City Departments on LB CAP implementation.
The Program has funding through December 2025 to include two more placement cycles, including the 2023-2024 Fellowship cycle and future state or federal funding may be provided to continue the Program past the current funding end date.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Erin Weesner-McKinley on May 22, 2023 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on May 25, 2023.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
The City desires to continue hosting Fellows as part of the 2023-2024 Fellowship cycle to support climate and sustainability-related work and provide opportunities for full-time green workforce training. City Council action is requested on June 13, 2023, to begin the recruitment and onboarding process for the 2023-2024 Fellowship cycle set to begin in September 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT
BACR has chosen the City of Long Beach to host the Fellows. There is no cost to the City and no required match or in-kind service mandate. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER