ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: October 21, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Agreements TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Phillip Burns, Development Services Director
DATE: August 21, 2026
SUBJECT: Agreement with Kern Community Foundation for administration of the Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program ($1,283,950.85)
1. Approve Agreement with Kern Community Foundation ($1,283,950.85) for the administration of the Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program; and
2. Appropriate $1,856,988 of California Volunteers grant funds into City Manager’s Office operating budget.
3. Appropriate $106,715 of California Volunteers grant funds into Development Services Department – Community Development Division operating budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the agreement and appropriation of funds.
BACKGROUND:
The City has received $8,491,334.26 in grant funds across five (5) program years from the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement/California Volunteers for the Bakersfield Youth Jobs Program (BYJP). California Volunteers, in partnership with California cities, works to bring together youth from across the state to address urgent challenges in their communities, learn key skills, and create career pathways to public and community service. As of June 2026, there have been 713 participants, with nearly 150,000 hours served.
On April 1, 2026, the City entered into Standard Agreement No. JP1008-Y2526 with Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement/California Volunteers to receive an additional $1,963,703 in grant funds to continue the BYJP until December 31, 2027. Kern Community Foundation (KCF) has successfully administered the program since 2022 with its extensive network and experience with community projects and recruitment efforts that attract youth from disadvantaged communities, pairing them with meaningful projects at the city and local non-profits to create a lasting impact on the community.
Staff recommend approving the agreement with KCF to add the fifth year of funding ($1,533,950.85 subtracting $250,000 previously advanced to equal a total of $1,283,950.85) and to appropriate $1,856,988 into the City Manager’s Office operating budget as the administration of the program is being transferred to the City Manager’s Office. A portion of the grant funds will be appropriated to Development Services until the transition of grant-funded staff is complete.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This program is fully funded by the California Volunteers grant; therefore, there is no impact on the City General Fund.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Economic Opportunity for All
ATTACHMENT:
Agreement