City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MARCH 19, 2014
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER/s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Health for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program for Children.
BODY
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ISSUE: Submission of Grant application for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding from the Summer Food Service Program for Children now administered through the Virginia Department of Health for Virginia program sponsors.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council authorize staff to:
1. Submit the grant application (due April 25, 2014) to the Virginia Department of Health for United States Department of Agriculture for continued funding and an estimated reimbursement amount of $112,000 for program expenses;
2. Affirm that there are no funds available in the City budget to continue these activities once the grant funds are expended; and
3. Execute all necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities has administered the Summer Food Service Program since 1979. In order to participate, program sites must meet the criteria established by the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program of USDA. The site must be "located in a geographical area served by a school or center in which 50 percent or more of the enrolled children are eligible for free or reduce priced meals." Eligible programs will be able to serve up to two of the following meals; breakfast, lunch or snacks at no cost to the participants. The meal program will commence on June 23, 2014, and will operate Monday through Friday, excluding the July 4 holiday and end August 15, 2014.
As with the USDA After School Snack Program, the Department will contract with the Alexandria City Public Schools School Nutrition Services to prepare and deliver meals to 20 summer programs. The locations of these programs are: Charles Houston, Cora Kelly, Mt. Vernon, Nannie J. Lee, Patrick Henry, and William Ramsay Recreation Centers; Power-Up Program at George Washington Middle School; Tancil Court/Ruby Tucker Center, John Adams, James K. Polk, and Maury/MacArthur Playgrounds; Therapeutic Recreation - Teen Scene and Camp Kaleidoscope at Lee Center; Alexandria Olympic Boys and Girls Club; Campagna Kids at three locations; Community Lodgings and Brent Place Apartments.
The Recreation Services Division provides meals to the summer participants in the Power-On and Power-Up and Therapeutic Recreation Out of School Time Programs which operate Monday through Friday from 9am-6pm for seven to eight weeks at neighborhood recreation centers and school facilities throughout the City. The Out of School Time Programs provide recreational activities, enrichment opportunities, field trips, physical fitness and social interaction for 1400 youth ages six to fourteen years. In addition, another 400 youth participate in the program through City youth serving agencies and non-profit organizations under the RPCA sponsorship. The Summer Food Service Program continues the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program to ensure that youth have nutritious meals during the school vacation period. The program provided 2,742 breakfasts, 25,796 lunches, and 34,232 afternoon snacks to youth during the summer of 2013.
RENEWAL GRANT PERIOD: October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014
FISCAL IMPACT: The meals must be served free of charge in order to receive reimbursement from USDA. There is no requirement for the City to provide either cash or an in-kind match for this program. However, the City is responsible for the normal administrative costs associated with this grant. These costs include financial and reporting oversight provided by the administering agency (Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities), as well as by the Office of Management and Budget and by the Finance Department. It should be noted that there are no additional monies available in the City budget to continue these activities once the estimated $112,000 in program funds has been exhausted. However, as has been the case for decades, it is expected that the federal government will renew this funding in future fiscal years.
STAFF:
Debra Collins, Deputy City Manager
James B. Spengler, Director, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
William Chesley, Deputy Director, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
Faye Maslaki, Fiscal Officer, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
Margaret Orlando, Program Supervisor, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
Christopher Bever, Analyst, Office of Management and Budget