City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 19, 2019
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
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Consideration of the Release of $62,600 from Contingent Reserves for the Department of Community and Human Services for the Expansion of Nutrition Assistance Services for Low-Income Residents at Farmers' Markets During FY 2020.
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ISSUE: Consideration of the release of $62,600 from Contingent Reserves for the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) to support Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach and expansion of the Double Dollars program to include the Southern Towers Farmer's Market during FY 2020.
RECOMMENDATIONS: That City Council:
1) Approve the release of $62,600 from the FY 2020 Contingent Reserves to DCHS for SNAP outreach and expansion of the SNAP Double Dollars Program at the Southern Towers Farmer's Market;
2) Authorize the increase of the 0.4 FTE to 1.0 FTE (SNAP EBT Coordinator, grade 15) and the addition of a temporary staff (Community Services Specialist, grade 12) to increase capacity for SNAP Outreach and to support the expansion of the Double Dollars Program; and
3) Authorize the City Manager to take the necessary actions to implement the recommendations.
BACKGROUND: Through the approval process for the City's FY 2020 Budget, City Council set aside $62,600 in Contingent Reserves for SNAP outreach and the expansion of the Double Dollars program. The release of these funds required staff to ascertain the operations at Southern Towers, the potential to implement the Double Dollars program and increase the opportunity for additional market vendors at the Southern Towers' market and determine the staffing needs.
DISCUSSION: DCHS staff conducted a series of meetings with a vendor, Farmers Market, Community Food Works, and Southern Towers ...
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