City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 3, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Education 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 administered since 2018 by the Virginia Department of Education for Virginia program sponsors.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to submit the grant application (due June 15, 2020) to the Virginia Department of Education for United States Department of Agriculture for continued funding and an estimated reimbursement amount of $139,000 for program expenses; and
2. 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, am snack, lunch or pm snack, at no cost to the participants. The meal program is proposed to commence on July 6, 2020, and will operate Monday through Friday, excluding the July 4 holiday and end August 21, 2020.
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
Summer programs which are able to operate based on the guidelines for the COVID-19 phased reopening at the time the program is offered. The locations of these programs may be: Charles Barrett, Charles Houston, Leonard Armstrong, Mt. Vernon, Nannie J. Lee, Patrick Henry and William Ramsay Recreation Centers; Therapeutic Recreation at Lee Center; Campagna Center Programs; ARHA Ruby Tucker Center; ARHA Wythe Street, and Casa Chirilagua. Other City based youth serving organizations may participate under RPCA sponsorship upon request and in accordance with the program requirements.
The Recreation Services Division provides meals to the summer participants in the Power-On and Power-Up Programs, Camp Adventure and Therapeutic Recreation Out of School Time Programs which operate Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at neighborhood recreation centers and school facilities throughout the City. This year, ACPS Food Services has agreed to provide meals through August 21. The Out of School Time Programs provide recreational activities, enrichment opportunities, field trips, physical fitness and social interaction for youth ages six to fourteen years. In addition, more 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 2019 summer program provided 4,570 breakfasts, 12,105 lunches, and 15,470 afternoon snacks to youth.
RENEWAL GRANT PERIOD: October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020.
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 $139,000 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
Faye Maslaki, Division Chief/Finance, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
Margaret Orlando, Division Chief/Recreation Services, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
Analyst, Office of Management and Budget