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Authorize the County’s contribution of $500 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 5 to benefit Solano Community College’s Veterans Resource Center
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Supervisor Skip Thomson requests that the Board of Supervisors authorize the County’s contribution of $500 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 5 to benefit Solano Community College’s Veterans Resource Center.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
During the FY2018/19 Budget Hearings, the Board appropriated $5,000 to allow District 5 to support community service programs. District 5 recommends the distribution of the remaining funding as follows:
Solano Community College Veterans Resource Center ($500)
Solano Community College (SCC) is an approved educational institution by the California Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau for Private and Vocational Education, under Title 38, United States Code and Department of Defense. The SCC is also home to the Veterans Resource Center (VRC).
The VRC provides assistance to Veterans, Active-duty, Reservists, National Guard, and eligible dependents of Veterans and Active-duty in their pursuit of an education, obtaining their Veterans Education Benefits (including VA work-study), Department of Defense Tuition Assistance, and My Career Advancement Account Scholarship opportunities for military spouses. The VRC assists students with filing for benefits, counseling through their Veterans Counselor and Active-duty Counselor, as well as acting as the liaison between the Department of Veterans Affairs and students.
The SCC VRC serves 4 locations, including the Fairfield campus, Vacaville and Vallejo centers, as well as Travis Air Force Base. The VRC relies solely on community donations to fund events for the VRC. Funds will be used for the following:
Open House
On Wednesday, May 1, 2019, the VRC hosted an open house to welcome guests to their new building, which was paid for from Measure Q Bonds. Measure Q Bond - Student/Veterans’ Affordable Education Job Training/Classroom Repair Measure, was passed in 2012. Members of the Solano Community College Student Veterans Organization (SVO) visited several California community college’s and California State University’s VRC’s to determine what was needed at the SCC VRC. The information gathered was used to design the SCC Veterans Resource Center. The new VRC will now proudly hold a study/tutoring/presentation room, recreation room, private patio, computer lab, breakroom, Serenity Room, and 6 private offices.
Purple Heart Proclamation
The new VRC is housed in the Sciences building, which is currently under renovation, as well. On August 21, 2019, from 4pm - 6pm, a ribbon-cutting will take place for the official opening of the Sciences portion of the building. On this day, as well, in recognition of Solano Community College’s support of military members, including veterans and their families, the American Legion will proclaim SCC as the first Purple Heart Community College on the west coast. This proclamation will be presented to the VRC.
On April 27, 2012, President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13607, establishing the Principles of Excellence for Educational Institutions Serving Service Members, Veterans, Spouses, and Other Family Members. SCC provides services to active Service members, Veterans and their families, works with the Department of Veterans Affairs and proudly participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, the post-9/11 General Infantry Bill. Because SCC celebrates its rich military connection and is home to thousands of Veterans, some of
which are recipients of the Purple Heart Medal, SCC has been designated a Purple Heart Community College.
Guidelines for Grant Funding Requests:
During the 2018/19 Budget Hearings, the Board appropriated $25,000, $5,000 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:
This expenditure is included in the District 5 FY2018/19 Adopted Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to authorize this expenditure. 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.