HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-03-10 - AGENDA REPORTS - YOUTH EMPLOYMENT (2)CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE: March 10, 1998
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval
Item to be presented by: Adele Macpherson
SUBJECT: PROPOSITION A - YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PLAN
DEPARTMENT: Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
City Council approve the Youth Employment Plan to comply with requirements to receive
Proposition A funds.
BACKGROUND
On June 26, 1997, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a district policy
regarding employment of at -risk youth. The policy, referred to as the Youth Employment Plan,
is a condition for receiving Proposition A funds and must be approved by the City Council.
On October 28, 1997, City Council accepted the Youth Employment Goal and approved the
expenditure of $745,820, over a 20 -year period, for the employment of at -risk youth. The youth
employment plan for the City of Santa Clarita, as it relates to the City's minimum obligation
for receiving Proposition A funds, is reimbursable from the County of Los Angeles. Staff is
committed to meeting this goal in less time by implementing a program that meets all the
requirements of the County's Youth Employment Plan. The proposed program contains two
components as follows:
Total Youth Employment Minimum Obligation
$745,820
Year -Round Youth Employment
14,078
Summer Youth Employment
61,800
Total Annual Expenditure
$ 75,878
Santa Clarita Youth Employment Program
The goal of the City's program is to empower youth to overcome socio-economic barriers through
practical work experience. The focus of the program is to provide a service to at -risk youth
selected through a collaborative effort by City staff, school district personnel, the Sheriffs
Department, and the Probation Department. The program is designed to give our City's youth
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valuable work experience, academic enrichment, potential for future employment, and maturity
skills.
The Youth Employment Program includes two components for at risk youth to participate in
employment. The first component offers year-round employment for at least three youths
between the ages of 14-21 in the area of parks maintenance. These youth will learn all aspects
of parks maintenance, on Proposition A funded projects, including plant installation and
maintenance, sports field preparation, proper use of recycled materials in landscape
maintenance, and irrigation repair and maintenance. The youth will job shadow City parks
maintenance employees who will act as mentors. The youth will work a minimum of 15 hours
per week and the pay rate will start at minimum wage with the possibility for merit pay
increases.
The second component accommodates an additional 60 at risk youth during regular breaks from
school. Youth will be employed up to 200 hours each at minimum wage. These youth will be
taught important skills for conducting themselves in employment and life. Taken together, the
youth employment program will ultimately empower youth to overcome barriers through work
experience.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other direction as determined by City Council
FISCAL IMPACT
None by this action. Program costs are as follows.
* Year Round Youth Employment - $14,078
(reimbursable from Proposition A Funds)
* Summer Youth Employment - $ 61,800
(budgeted in City General Fund account number 7400-7424)
Total program budget of $ 75,878 to be credited annually to the City of Santa Clarita's Youth
Employment Goal for the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space Districts
Proposition A requirement.
PM:rallada
council\propaxpt