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Authorize the County’s contribution of $1,000 from the FY2024/25 General Fund contribution allocated to District 1 to benefit the following organization: Support for Actively Rising Youth (SFARY) ($1,000)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Supervisor Hannigan requests that the Board of Supervisors authorize the County’s contribution of $1,000 from the FY2024/25 General Fund contribution allocated to District 1 to benefit the following organization: Support for Actively Rising Youth (SFARY) ($1,000).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
It is anticipated that during the FY2024/25 Budget Hearings, the Board will appropriate funding for individual districts to make non-County contributions to support community service programs. As part of that funding, District 1 recommends distribution of the $1,000 available as follows:
Support for Actively Rising Youth (SFARY) - $1,000
Support for Actively Rising Youth (SFARY), is a 501 C 3 nonprofit organization that was established, and is dedicated to, empowering youth to thrive and make positive changes in their lives and in their communities. This funding will assist in an important opportunity that will enable our youth to have a greater impact in preparing our community to be more resilient in the face of disaster.
The flagship program is the Firefighter Youth Academy (FYA) which focuses on public safety career readiness. The FYA places a strong emphasis on community service and disaster preparedness. The FYA goes beyond traditional education, providing hands-on training in first-aid/CPR, fire behavior/extinguishment, and earthquake/disaster preparedness. This knowledge equips the student/cadets with the ability to effectively support and aid their community while they prepare for a future career as a first responder.
SFARY partners closely with the Vallejo Fire Department, the Vallejo City Unified School District and various community-based organizations. The goal is to provide high school students with a foundation towards becoming certified EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, or nurses. FYA offers immersive experiences that foster trust, respect and a sense of commitment towards serving their community. The cadets become greater assets for their family, their school and their neighborhoods.
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) is a national effort by FEMA to ensure that our communities are prepared to take care of themselves when first responders are unable to provide services under extreme circumstances. The National CERT Association is having its annual conference in Washington DC from July 21st through 26th. SFARY would like to send a delegation of youth leaders who are dedicated to serving their community. Not only will our deserving youth be recognized and honored for their success in Vallejo, they will also be trained to teach the CERT curriculum, in English and Spanish, to their student peers and the Vallejo community at-large.
The cost to send a youth delegation to the National CERT Association in Washington DC is $15,000. This $1,000 support and participation will directly contribute to building a more resilient community while providing career readiness and public safety employment opportunities for our youth.
To learn more, visit the website at www.FirefighterYouth Academy.org
Guidelines for Grant Funding Requests:
During the annual Budget Hearings, the Board appropriates funds to each supervisorial district, to allow Board members to support community service programs. The Board directed County Counsel to provide guidelines on how to recommend funding for qualifying agencies or programs. The guidelines are as follows:
1) Each supervisor must submit the proposed expenditure to the County Counsel and the Auditor/Controller for initial review.
2) The Board must approve the expenditure by a majority vote.
3) The Board must determine that the expenditure is for a public purpose.
4) The Board may authorize an expenditure of public funds to a nonprofit organization so long as the County retains ultimate control over the exercise of judgment and discretion of the intended program.
5) To ensure accountability, all expenditures are subject to periodic audit by the Auditor/Controller; and
a) If the recipient provides an activity, program or service (“activity”), it shall provide an activity report within 30 days of the activity that states the number of persons attending (if applicable) or participating activities carried out, feedback from participants (if applicable) and benefits of the activity. The recipient’s failure to provide a report may result in its being considered ineligible for future funding.
b) If the recipient is purchasing property or making improvements, it shall use the funds for only the specified purposes and allow representatives of the county to inspect and/or audit the purchase or the contractor’s performance, the facility or the portion improved with the funds and/or the records pertaining to the expenditures. The recipient shall retain for inspection and audit purposes any and all books, receipts, documentation and other records of the expenditures for three (3) years from date of receiving funds.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost associated with preparing the agenda item is nominal and absorbed by the Department's FY2023/24 Working Budget. This expenditure will be applied against the FY2024/25 Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to authorize this appropriation; however, this is not recommended as this item is consistent with Board policy.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
This report was prepared in coordination with the County Administrator’s Office, County Auditor-Controller’s Office and County Counsel.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION