REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on 2021 Senior Meal Program and Related Budget Amendment
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
At the 2021 Council Priority Setting Session, Council confirmed that its top priority is COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.
Shortly after the Shelter-in-Place order was issued by the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department on March 16, 2020, the City implemented two food distribution programs, one for youth and one for seniors. At that time, the City leveraged an existing relationship with Levy Premium Foods, the Convention Center food and beverage service provider, to prepare and package shelf-stable breakfasts and lunches.
The program for youth, entitled “Healthy Meals Santa Clara” distributed meals using a commodity point of distribution (CPOD) model at four (4) locations throughout the City from March 26, 2020 through May 28, 2020. In June 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued waivers to its programs that allowed the school district to obtain food resources to support a grab and go program. As changes to the USDA guidelines allowed the school district to obtain food services resources for youth directly and at no cost to the City, the City ceased its operations.
Launched on March 20, 2020, the Senior Meal Program distributes weekend meal packages via CPOD model at the Senior Center to seniors who regularly attend the City’s Monday through Friday Senior Nutrition Program and to homebound seniors. The homebound senior meal packages are delivered by members of the Santa Clara Fire Department. The Senior Meal Program remains on-going and additional funding is needed to continue program services.
The original purchase order of $700,000 to support the City’s meal programs was supported by private community donations and reallocation of General Fund dollars from the City Manager’s Office budget.
DISCUSSION
As noted above, a purchase order in the amount of $700,000 was established to support the City’s meal programs. Healthy Meals Santa Clara distributed 105,100 meals for the period March 26, 2020 through May 28, 2020. As of February 28, 2021, the Senior Meal Program has distributed 54,668 meals. Total expenses to date are $659,929, leaving approximately $40,000 remaining.
While there have been reports of improved vaccination distribution and COVID-19 related data, the overall stabilization of COVID-19 remains not entirely known with still significant risk of the spread of virus variants and/or peaks . To this end, staff recommends the continuation of the Senior Meal Program through September 2021 which would require the allocation of additional funds in the amount of $130,000.
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)(4) in that it is a fiscal activity that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potential significant impact on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
In response to direction at the 2021 Council Priority Setting Session, staff recommends the allocation of $130,000 from the General Fund Land Sale Reserve to support the Senior Meal Program. This program can be implemented with current staff capacity.
The following budget amendment is recommended to allocate General Fund Land Sale Reserve funds to the COVID-19 Relief Program appropriation in the Other City Departments Operating Grant Trust Fund to support this program.
Budget Amendment
FY 2020/21
|
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
General Fund |
|
|
|
|
Transfers To |
|
|
|
|
Transfer to the Other City Departments Operating Grant Trust Fund |
$0 |
$130,000 |
$130,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reserves |
|
|
|
|
Land Sale Reserve |
$24,250,767 |
($130,000) |
$24,120,767 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other City Departments Operating Grant Trust Fund |
|
|
|
|
Transfers From |
|
|
|
|
General Fund |
$0 |
$130,000 |
$130,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
COVID-19 Relief Program |
$635,926 |
$130,000 |
$765,926 |
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Manager’s Office and Finance Department.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov>
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Consistent with City Charter Section 1305, “At any meeting after the adoption of the budget, the City Council may amend or supplement the budget by motion adopted by the affirmative votes of at least five members so as to authorize the transfer of unused balances appropriated for one purpose to another purpose, or to appropriate available revenue not included in the budget,” approve the following FY 2020/21 budget amendments:
A. In the General Fund, decrease the Land Sale Reserve by $130,000 and increase the transfer to the Other City Departments Operating Grant Trust Fund by $130,000 (five affirmative Council votes required for the use of unused balances); and
B. In the Other City Departments Operating Grant Trust Fund, recognize the transfer from the General Fund in the amount of $130,000 and increase the COVID-19 Relief Program appropriation by $130,000 (five affirmative Council votes required to appropriate additional revenue).
2. Authorize the City Manager to increase a purchase order with Levy Premium Foods by $130,000 for a total of $830,000 for the weekend senior meal program in response to COVID-19 pandemic.
Staff
Reviewed by: Ruth Mizobe Shikada, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager