City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 8, 2016
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend and Reordain Title 12 of the Code of the City of Alexandria in Response to a Change in the Virginia State Code, and to Update the Department Name Throughout Title 12.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of an ordinance to amend and re-ordain TITLE 12 (Education, Social Services and Welfare), Sec. 12-3-1 (Definitions) of the Code of the City of Alexandria in response to a change in the threshold for licensure of family day homes in the Virginia State Code, and to amend and re-ordain TITLE 12, Secs 12-3-1, 12-3-4, 12-3-62, 12-3-64, 12-3-65, 12-3-66, 12-3-67, 12-3-69 of TITLE 12, to update the name of the Department of Social Services to the Department of Community & Human Services.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council pass the ordinance on the first reading on June 14, 2016 and set it for a public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, June 18, 2016.
BACKGROUND: During the 2015 Virginia General Assembly, Virginia Code §63.2-100 was amended to lower the number of children a family day home could care for without having to be licensed from five to four. This means that effective July 1, 2016, family child care homes caring for five children must be state licensed. TITLE 12 of the Alexandria City Code currently defines the number of children a child care home may care for as one through five, with a registration permit issued by the City. This section of the City Code is proposed to be amended to read that a child care home may care for one through four children, in alignment with the new language in the State Code. The rest of the changes are designed to update the department name from the old Department of Social Services to the current Department of Community & Human Services.
DISCUSSION: None.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
ATTACHMENTS: Draft ordinance
STAFF:
Debra Collins, Deputy City Manager
Kate Garvey, Director, Department of Community and Human Services
Caroll Farrell, Chief, Early Childhood Division
Deborah Warren, Director, Center for Children & Families
Jill A. Schaub, Assistant City Attorney