City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 2, 2021
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 submission of the grant application (due June 15) to the Virginia
Department of Education for United States Department of Agriculture for continued funding and an estimated reimbursement amount of $100,000 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. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be
required.
BACKGROUND: The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA) has administered the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) 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 will commence on June 28, 2021, and will operate Monday through Friday, excluding the July 4 holiday and end August 13, 2021.
As with the USDA After School Snack Program, the Department will contract with the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) School Nutrition Services to prepare and deliver meals to 16 Summer programs. Due to the expanded waivers provided to school systems to provide meals to students during the pandemic, ACPS can provide meals throughout the summer outside of congregate meal settings. Since ACPS and RPCA cannot both sponsor meals at the same locations, RPCA and ACPS will work closely together to ensure that meals are provided at all summer program sites either under ACPS or RPCA sponsorship through the summer months. The locations of these programs are Charles Barrett, Charles Houston, Leonard Armstrong, Mt. Vernon, Nannie J. Lee, Patrick Henry, and William Ramsay Recreation Centers; RPCA programs at George Washington Middle School, John Adams School, F.T. Day School, and Minnie Howard School; Therapeutic Recreation at Lee Center; Campagna Kids at George Mason and Patrick Henry Schools; ARHA at Ruby Tucker Center; and the Boys and Girls Club. 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 RPCA Out of School Time Programs which will operate Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm for seven weeks at neighborhood recreation centers and school facilities throughout the City. The hours of operation and number of weeks have been adjusted this year due to Covid guidelines and the early opening of ACPS schools on August 23. The RPCA Out of School Time Program, operating as Modified Summer Camp Programs during the pandemic, provides recreational activities, enrichment opportunities, physical fitness, and social interaction for youth ages six to fourteen years. In addition, RPCA sponsors summer programs offered by the Campagna Center, Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and the Alexandria Boys and Girls Club in the SFSP.
FISCAL IMPACT: The meals must be served free of charge in order to receive reimbursement from the 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 $100,000 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.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
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