ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 10, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Agreements TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jennifer M. Byers, Economic & Community Development Director DATE: August 27, 2025
SUBJECT: Kern Community Foundation Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program
1. Amendment No. 2 to Agreement No. 2024-244 with the Kern Community Foundation (not to exceed $3,805,303.68) for administration of the Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program.
2. Appropriate $2,153,015.60 of California Volunteers grant funds into Economic and Community Development Department operating budget.
3. Appropriate $244,358.40 of California Volunteers grant funds into City Manager’s Office operating budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of agreement amendment and to appropriate funds.
BACKGROUND:
Since March 2022, the City of Bakersfield has received $6,527,631.26 in grant funds from the Office of the Governor, California Volunteers for the Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program (BYJP). In May 2025, the City was awarded additional grant funds of $2,397,374 to continue the BYJP until end of year 2026. In total, these funds include four program years from July 2022 to December 2026.
California Volunteers, in partnership with California cities, bring together youth from across the state to help address urgent challenges in their communities, learn key skills, earn money, and create career pathways to public and community service. As of June 2025, there has locally been 296 participants, with nearly 100,000 hours served, with 69 participants finding permanent employment and 118 with plans to enroll in a full-time educational opportunity.
On September 11, 2024, the City Council approved Agreement No. 2024-244 in the amount of $1,591,980.22 to Kern Community Foundation to serve as the program manager and implement the Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program. Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 2024-244 increased the amount to not exceed $1,845,887.42 to include additional wrap-around services.
With the additional funding from California Volunteers, staff proposes Amendment No. 2 to Agreement 2024-244 with Kern Community Foundation to add the fourth year of funding in the amount of $1,959,416.26 (not to exceed $3,805,303.68) and to appropriate $2,397,374 to the Economic and Community Development and the City Manager’s Office operating budgets.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This program is fully funded by the California Volunteers grant, thus this has no impact on the City General Funds.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Economic Opportunity for All
ATTACHMENT:
1. Amendment to Agreement