AGENDA
ITEM
6 AGENDA
CALEXICO California ITEM
" COUNTY CAL WHERE CALIFORNIA AND MEXICO MEET
CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: July 01, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
APPROVED BY: Benjamin Martinez, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Maribel Castro, Human Resources & Risk Management Manager SUBJECT: Authorize City Manager or his Designee to Sign Training Agreement with the Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program (IVROP) to Place Project Connect Program Participants in City of Calexico's Departments from June 18, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Recommendation:
Authorize City Manager or his Designee to Sign Training Agreement with the Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program (IVROP) to Place Project Connect Program Participants in City of Calexico's Departments from June 18, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Background:
The Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program (IVROP) is seeking to place Project Connect Program Participants in various City Departments. This initiative aims to provide individuals with valuable job skills, prospective career exposure, and preparation for future employment opportunities.
Participants shall be supervised by a designated city employee, and they will not be replacing any former city employee. Furthermore, all work stipends and associated costs-including workers' compensation, taxes, and related expenses-will be disbursed to participants through the Imperial County Workforce Development Office.
The number of hours allocated to Project Connect Participants is determined by the age group of the youth. Specifically, individuals aged 14-17 are allotted 120 hours, those aged 17-19 receive 240 hours, and those aged 18-24 are granted 360 hours.
Discussion & Analysis:
The City of Calexico has a long history of partnering with other agencies to provide work-readiness opportunities. Participants are exposed to career exploration and acquire work skills that may later open future employment opportunities.
IVROP Project Connect Training Agreement 1 | Page
City Staff recommend that the City Council of the City of Calexico authorizes City Manager or his designee to sign training agreement with the Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program (IVROP) to Place Project Connect Program Participants in City of Calexico's Departments for the Period Ending on June 30, 2027.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
Coordinated With:
None.
Attachments):
Attachment A. IVROP Training Agreement Packet.
Attachment B. IVROP Program Handbook.
IVROP Project Connect Training Agreement 2 Page
....
Attachment A
IVROP Training Agreement Packet
Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program
687 State Street • El Centro, California 92243 • (760) 482-2600
PUBLIC/PRIVATE SECTOR TRAINING AGREEMENT
This agreement is made and entered into this 184 day of June _ 20 26 between Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program (hereafter " VROP") and City of Calexico (hereafter "WORKSITE"). The term if this agreement shall be from June 18* _ 20.26 thru June 30kk , 20_27
Participant's Name Job Title:
IVROP agrees to:
1. Pay the participant's wages.
2. Provide Worker's Compensation coverage for the participant.
3. Provide worksite with IVROP Program Handbook, Payroll Schedule and Time Sheets.
4. Asses participant and assure that he/she meets the minimum job requirements/specification.
5. Monitor participant and provide guidance and counseling as deemed necessary.
6. Provide worksite with written notification if terminating training agreement for the following reasons:
a) Failure to comply with IVROP policies and procedures. b) Funds authorized for use by IVROP are reduced or are not available due to action by the State Job Training Office. c) Insufficient work available to keep the participants gainfully occupied during regular working hours.
WORKSITE agrees to:
1. Provide Assurance that it will comply with all IVROP policies and procedures.
2. Provide Assurance that the participant will not be loaned, transferred, sub-contracted, or perform services for any other contracting agency.
3. Provide Assurance that sufficient work, tools and materials will be available for the participant to carry out his/her work assignment.
4. Provide Assurance that participant will receive an on-the-job safety orientation and instruction on proper use of the equipment for reasonable protection against bodily injury and equipment damage
5. Provide Assurance that any accident or injury sustained by the participant, no matter how minor, will be reported to the IVROP staff.
6. Provide Assurance that all provisions of Child Labor Laws will be adhered to.
7. Provide Assurance that the participant's time sheet will be kept daily by the immediate supervisor or alternate supervisor.
8. Provide Assurance that the IVROP staff will be contacted for youth problems on the job (i.e., absenteeism, tardiness, poor work performance, etc.)
9. Provide Assurance that the worksite will comply with regulations ensuring that youth do not displace, cause hours of work to be reduced or infringe upon the rights of regular employees.
10. The Participant shall not exceed 360. _ hours of work.
11. Hold harmless IVROP, its agents, officer and employees from legal liability arising out of errors, omissions or negligent performance by the participant, to include any losses incurred as a result of the student's being assigned duties which require the handling of cash or other monetary instruction.
IVROP Representative Signature: Date: 06/18126
WORKSITE Representative Signature: Date:
Distribution: White - IVROP Yellow - WORKSITE - Pink - PARTICIPANT Revised: 10/20/2006
MECHNE PRINTERS 1A9132
Attachment B
IVROP Program Handbook
PROJECT CONNECT
I. INTRODUCTION
Welcome to PROJECT CONNECT. This is a great opportunity for both supervisors and participants to gain valuable work experience. This program is designed to benetit all those involved.
Case Management/Development Specialists
IVROP staff will be your case manager and here are some of the services that we will provide as part of case management activity:
• Have at least bi-weekly contact with you (participants) to check up on how the program services are going
• Offer you all services as identified on your Individual Service Strategy goal planning worksheet. (ISS)
• Refer to services you need that our program does NOT
offer
• Assist you with any personal, academic, or family
problems that you may have
• Provide guidance, counseling, and help you with any
barriers that may prevent you from successfully completing the program services • Enroll you in all program services that you are eligible to receive such as Individual Training Account (Will be referred to Adult Program) a. Can choose from a variety of training courses.
1. Truck Driving
2. Security guard
3. CMA
b. Must be willing to accept employment in the field
of study after the training.
c. Must complete the entire program and attend
trainings regularly.
d. Participants interested will be screened to make sure they meet minimum qualifications. (Must have good reading and writing skills). e. MUST BE WILLING TO RE-LOCATE IF EMPLOYMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE AREA.
Vocational Program and other certifications/credentials Security Guard, Certified CMA, Truck Driving, Medical Clerical, CPR & First Aid, Food Handlers, etc.
1 PROJECT CONNECT
Supportive Services
IVROP PROJECT CONNECT staff will be able to receive REQUESTS for supportive services; however, no guarantees are made that such a request will be approved. Here is a list of sample supportive services that have been issued in the past:
Assistance with transportation costs (i.e. bus passes)
Work uniforms and other appropriate work attire (must be required by employer) Work related tools including eyeglasses and protective eye wear (required by employer) All requests are subject to funding availability. Supportive services are available to enable an individual to participate in activities authorized under WIOA.
Program Services
A. Leadership Activities
a. Students will participate in different
leadership activities that include but
are not limited to the following:
• Classroom leadership activities
Local and out-of-town field trips
• Fundraisers
Attend City Council Meetings,
School Board Meetings, County Board of Supervisors Meetings, etc.
• Serve as member of the Imperial County Youth Council
Leadership (40 Youth)
40 youth X $100 for every 15 hrs. / Maximum stipend $100 B. Community Service
Must be a non-profit agency
• Stipend is not to pay for community service, but to offset costs of transportation/food you may incur while completing community service
Community Service (45 Youth)
45 youth X $100 for every 20 hrs./ Maximum stipend $100 C. Workshop
• The length of the workshops varies between 1-3 hours
• Must attend at least 3 workshops before getting a stipend • Workshops topics vary as well as location and time
Workshops (80 youth)
80 youth X $100 for attending 3 educational workshops (financial aid, career exploration, mentoring, union, motivational speakers, healthy relationships etc.) 2 PROJECT CONNECT
D. Educational
a. Students referred to as educational services may participate in any of the following educational services. Generally, students are sent to receive this service if they are basic skills deficient, scored lowered than 9.0 grade level in English or math and are out of school youth, or simply requested this service.
• Tutoring
• Must attend all scheduled tutoring
sessions. Must make a noticeable
effort to improve their math and
English skills.
• Study skills
• GED preparation classes
• Local and out town educational field trips
FAFSA assistance workshop
Educational counseling (careers, choosing a
college, choosing a major, applying for
college
Tutoring (50 youth)
50 youth X $100 for passing w/9.0 or above in English and or math OR raising 1 grade level on English and or Math / $200 maximum stipend
E. WIOA Elements
Education offered concurrently and in the same context as workforce preparation activities We are offering internally three vocational training courses in in-demand occupations in which we plan to integrate basic skills and literacy training education (NCRC).
Financial Literacy that includes but is not limited to checking and saving accounts, budgeting and spending, understanding credit, credit scores, and debt (school loans, home loans, car loans, credit cards, saving (rainy day fund, children's education, retirement), buying a house, buying a car and car insurance, taxes (local, state, and federal taxes) and purpose of taxes.
Services that provide labor market information (LMI) Our program counselor and Youth Development Specialist will be tasked with providing workshops, especially to seniors and older youth, and they will be researching careers that they are interested in.
The questions that they will be tasked with answering will be, are there any current job openings locally for that career/job/industry sector? If so, what is the starting wage? What is the projected job growth for that career/job/industry sector for the next 10 years? Career Exploration-IVROP-Project Connect participants will learn about targeted industry clusters through a variety of experiences, including online career guidance programs, labor market information data, field visits to business/industry, pre- apprenticeship training, and assessments that provide a connection between further 3 PROJECT CONNECT
training/education and long-term career advancement, and allow for making informed career pathway decisions.
Activities that help youth prepare and transition to post-secondary education training. Assess A-G requirements, Blackboard and online classes, Importance of attending classes regularly, Limited term financial aid, How and when to drop a class, Remediation courses vs general required courses, Midterms and finals, Time management, Prioritizing, EOPS & Enrolling in college when youth relocate (out-of-state tuition fees).
WIOA Elements (90 youth)
80 youth X $60 per workshop (Max. $180 Stipend)
F. Developmental Assets
IVROP-Project RISE and Connect will work together to provide eligible youth with the opportunity to learn and work towards acquiring the full complement of the 40 assets which support them in becoming academically, socially and emotionally well-prepared for life in the complex and rapidly changing world of the 21 Century.
Intended outcomes of Developmental Assets development for Imperial County youth IVROP-Project Connect participants:
• Youth will complete a pre-test at the beginning of the 3-hour workshops and complete the post-test upon completion of the workshop. • Youth will be encouraged to become Developmental Assets ambassadors and will complete 5 hours of DV ambassadors' activities in coordination with IVROP-Project RISE.
• Upon successful completion of these two activities, eligible youth will receive a certificate of completion and be eligible to receive a $TBA stipend.
II. Work Experience/ Job Shadowing
A. HOURS OF WORK AND LENGTH OF TRAINING
I CAN'T
Participants are permitted to work as follows: THINK NOW...
I'M WORKING
1. Total work experience training will depend on
your age (see chart).
2. Can't exceed the maximum hours per week or
total number of hours for your age bracket (will
do volunteer work if you do)
3. Must follow labor laws and observe work hour
limitations as stated in work permits. (14- &
15-year-olds can't work before 7am or after
7pm.)
(16- & 17-year-olds can't work past 10pm)
4 PROJECT CONNECT
*NO MORE THAN 8 HOURS ON ANY DAY*
TIME SHEETS
students are responsible for filling out their time sheet and/or signing in to class vorkshops, or activities. If you fail to fill out your time sheet properly your check may be delayed, or you will not get paid. Here are things to remember about time sheets.
SIGN TIME SHEET!!!!!!!!! (Extremely Important)
• Fill out all dates for the pay-period
• Do NOT use pencil (black or blue pen)
• Sloppy time sheets will not be accepted
• Must sign in and out for your lunch (Do NOT
log 10-minute breaks)
• If you work more than 6 hours, you must have
lunch.
• Follow your work permit laws and regulations.
Example: 14-year-old works from 4:30 -7:30,
it's 2.5 hrs not 3 hrs (why?)
• See sample time sheet and fill out the sample
time sheet.
Paid and unpaid work experience (124 Youth)
14-17 (9th-11th Grade In-school youth)
20 youth/ 12-$160 Stipends for every 10 hrs./$1920 max stipend (120 hrs. maximum) 17-19 (11th - 12th Grade & Out of school youth
20 youth/16 - $240 stipends for every 15 hrs./ $3840 maximum stipend (240 hrs. maximum)
18-24 Out of school youth
84 youth/ 18 - $320 stipends for every 20hrs/ $5760 maximum stipend (360 hrs maximum)
B. WORK ATTENDANCE
Supervisors will arrange work schedules in advance. Participants must begin work in a timely manner and report to work each day. In school participants may not work on days of absence (excused or unexcused) or suspension and must notify supervisor of absence. (If participant attends work, they will be removed from work experience.) C. EMPLOYABILITY ENHANCEMENT WORKSHOPS (PRE-
EMPLOYMENT)
Parispants shall be required to attend the EMPLOY ABILITY ENHANCEMENT 5 PROJECT CONNECT
The purpose of these workshops is to teach participants how to properly seek, obtain and maintain employment. Workshop hours will be conducted prior to job placement.
A STIPEND WILL BE AWARDED UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF WORKSHOP HOURS. Workshops take place throughout the year at varied times.
The workshops are a minimum of 20 hours in the following areas.
Career decisions
Labor market information
Job applications/ Resumes
Job interviews
Keeping your job
Interpersonal relations
Work Readiness/Customer Service Academy (130 youth)
130 X $150 upon completion of 20-hr. Work Readiness Class or Customer Service Workshop D. FOLLOW UP SERVICES
IVROP case managers will provide follow-up services for up to one year after you exit the program. You are considered exited once you have completed the entire WIOA requirements and have completed an exit interview with your case manager. Follow-up services may include:
• Phone calls, home visits, worksite visits
• Questions about your current situation (working, attending school, etc) • Offer help with job leads, or other available services II. PROGRAM RULES
1. Participants must report to work regularly I ALWAYS follow and on time every day. If you are going to
be absent or late, notify your supervisor The RÚLES
and case manager immediately. Do not
have anyone else call for you.
2. Dress appropriately for the job. Your supervisor will inform you of proper dress code.
3. Participants will be disqualified for inconsistent attendance in school, classes or mandated workshops.
4. Participants will be dismissed from work experience after two unexcused absences. (From courses, worksite, workshops, etc.)
5. Participants will be dismissed from work experience after three unexcused tardies.
A tardy constitutes being late five minutes.
6 PROJECT CONNECT
6. Participants will be dismissed for stealing, vandalism, possession or being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol while involved in program activities.
7. Participants will be dismissed for violating the rules or standards of behavior of the worksite agency (i.e., leaving work without permission, dress code, etc.)
8. Participants may be dismissed for insubordination or disorderly conduct.
9. On-the-job injuries must be reported
immediately. Participants may be RUlES
suspended for a minimum of three days if
they fail to notify supervisor or PROJECT
CONNECT staff of any on-the-job injury
within 24 hours.
172125
IV SUPERVISOR AND PARTICIPANT
Supervisors will provide an orientation on the first day of work in the following areas:
1. What to do in case of an emergency such as a fire, earthquake or other disaster.
2. On-the-job safety.
3. Proper dress code.
4. Expected work behavior.
5. The work to be done and how to perform the work, including job title and duties.
6. Proper use and maintenance of equipment.
7. Proper procedures for attendance and punctuality.
* Discuss any problems or concerns right away so that they can be cleared up easily.
A. WORK MATURITY EVALUATION RECORD
Every time sheet will require the supervisor to evaluate the participants in the following areas:
• Grooming/hygiene EVALUATION
• Following directions
• Communication É OUTSTANDING
•M ABOVE EXPECTATIONS
Quality of work
1 MEET EXPECTATIONS
Work quantity
BELOW EXPECTATIONS
• Dependability UNSATISFACTORY
• Working relationships
• Personal behavior
• Attendance/Punctuality
Poor or marginal ratings are unsatisfactory. These ratings will prompt the PROJECT CONNECT staff to contact both participant and supervisor to discuss the ratings on the evaluation. PROJECT CONNECT staff will monitor and visit regularly to review those areas in which improvement is needed.
In order to receive an overall passing or satisfactory evaluation, you may not have more than one unexcused absence or tardy. The supervisor and participant must review the 7 PROJECT CONNECT
evaluation prior to signing. Evaluations can be changed, but only if both supervisor and participants are in agreement.
B. SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
Sexual harassment can be in the form of unwelcome words or actions of a sexual nature.
Most instances involve a man harassing a woman. However, sexual harassment can come in any combination.
It is behaviour which is SOME EXAMPLES:
Unwelcome • Threats or insults
* Offensive or suggestive
Unsolicited comments
• Messages with sexual content
Repeated • Pressure for dates
• Offensive jokes or teasing
Offensive • Offensive or suggestive
gestures or looks
Intimidating
• Displaying posters, photos or
Humiliating drawings of a sexual nature
• Cornering or trapping
Threatening Touching private parts,
pinching, grabbing or
fondling
No suggestion is being made that any of these incidents will occur at work; however, if anyone experiences any type of problem, inform the PROJECT CONNECT staff IMMEDIATLEY. The participant will be transferred from the work site and the incident will be reported to the proper authorities.
C. POLITICAL OR RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES
Participants will not be involved in any religious or political activities during working hours.
D. HANDLING CASH AT WORK
Participants shall NOT handle cash or other monetary instruments. If they must, the supervisor must always monitor the participant and be aware of item eleven of the agreement.
DRINKING WATER
The supervisor shall make every effort to provide drinking water to participants. This is mandatory if duties are performed outdoors.
G. REST PERIODS
Participants should take at least 10 minutes of rest for each four hours of continuous work. There CANNOT be more than FIVE hours of continuous employment without a lunch break. By law a lunch period MUST be at least 30 minutes (if lunch is not taken, 8 PROJECT CONNECT
30 minutes will be removed from your timesheet). These breaks may be longer to match the worksite's policies.
V. PAYROLL PROCEDURES
The pay period will cover a four-week period. Supervisor and participant will be provided with a pay schedule.
PROJECT CONNECT staff will be responsible for
issuing paychecks. If there is a concern or question
regarding the shortage of pay, bring it to the attention of the PROJECT CONNECT staff. Your time sheet will
be reviewed and if warranted, the pay corrections may
be made on the following pay date.
If your paycheck is stolen or misplaced, notify the
PROJECT CONNECT staff immediately. An
investigation will be conducted. If for some reason, you cannot pick up your paycheck and you designate someone else to pick it up for you, that person must have a written statement signed by you authorizing release of your paycheck. The individual must also provide some form of identification; otherwise, PROJECT CONNECT staff will not release your paycheck.
Work Schedule Examples: IN OUT LUNCH IN OUT
8:00 12:00 1:00 5:00
10:30 12:30 1:00 5:15
Review time sheet prior to submission and do not use military time. The time sheet is NOT VALID if not signed by supervisor and participant. The time sheet must be completed in ink. A pencil should not be used to record the hours. Round off all entries to the nearest 15 minutes.
A. Stipend
Participants will be paid via stipend. YOUTH MUST COMPLETE THE ENTIRE STIPEND BEFORE GETTING PAID. It can take up to a month for a student to get their first check.
B. HOLIDAYS
Holiday will not be paid unless it actually worked on that particular day.
C. VACATION
Clients do not accrue vacation, if time-off is need it, clients need to request it according to their worksite rules.
D. SICK LEAVE
9 PROJECT CONNECT
Sick leave will not be paid. Sick leave is absence from work due to illness.
MAKE-UP TIME
Make-up hours are permitted without exceeding the maximum work hours allowed per week.
F. ON-THE-JOB INJURY
Injuries on the job must be reported to supervisor and PROJECT CONNECT staff immediately. Participants will be covered by Workers Compensation Insurance, which would pay the medical bill only if the injury occurred on the job.
G. HEALTH AND SAFETY
Health and safety rules are posted at each of your agencies for your safety. Please read and observe them. Your worksite supervisor shall explain the agency's safety policies and procedures.
Here are a few safety tips to consider when working:
1. Be cautious when working at heights. When climbing a ladder, make sure that the base is firmly on the ground.
2. When using toxic fluids such as cleaning
solvents or duplicating fluids, make sure
they do not get on your skin. SAFETY
FIRST
3. When opening file cabinet drawers, open
and close one at a time.
4. Sharp objects should be handled carefully
and properly
5. When working around electrical
equipment, make sure it is in good
SAFET condition and there are no
exposed wires. Have your job
supervisor check over the
equipment before you use it.
6. Be cautious of wet floors. They are slippery and dangerous.
7. Goggles or eye shields must be worn when there is danger of debris or toxic fluids coming in contact with the eyes.
Here are a few things to consider when lifting to avoid injury:
1. Consider if the load is too heavy for one person to lift.
2. Use a correct lifting stance before lifting any heavy objects.
3. Assure that fingers and toes are not in a position where injury could result, if an object should shift weight and fall. 10 The wrog vey! The right wry!
PROJECT CONNECT
VI. MONITORING
The PROJECT CONNECT staff will be performing the required monitoring of the program. These activities will include on-site observations and interviews with participants and supervisors.
VII. EXPECTATIONS
PROJECT CONNECT staff will make every effort to place participants in the occupation of their choice. In the event that those desired jobs are not available, staff will offer other available jobs to participants.
VIII. CIVIL RIGHTS
There will be no discrimination in the PROJECT WORKERS
CONNECT program. You must receive equal
treatment. You will not be segregated or treated RIGHTS differently from other employees because of your race,
sex, color, age, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, retaliation, while you are being ARE registered, interviewed, counseled, tested, working or
attending classes as part of this program. If you feel HUMAN that you are being treated unfairly, first discuss the
concern with your supervisor. You may contact the RIGHTS! PROJECT CONNECT staff for a solution. If the
problem is not resolved, you may request a review of your grievance by the IVROP Superintendent at 482-2600.
IX. Performance based program
IVROP PROJECT CONNECT is funded on a performance based. Youth who enter any activity must be sure that they will be able to complete such activity. Before enrolling, consider your school workload (homework, study time, special projects, etc), extracurricular activities (sports, clubs, band, etc.), college classes, parents (are they allowing you to enroll in an activity), etc. Funding for future programs could be at risk if you enroll in an activity and do not complete it successfully. Our project main goals are:
1. Youth graduating from school (must pass CAHSEE)
Youth have dropped the program in the past for the following reasons:
1. Changed my min
2. My parents didn't really want me to work (didn't par • I don't need money anymore
6. I didn't like my supervisor at work
11 PROJECT CONNECT
7. I didn't like my case manager
IX. IMPORTANT PERSONNEL INFORMATION TO REMEMBER
IVROP PROJECT CONNECT STAFF
Edwin P. Obergfell Adrian Gonzales
Superintendent Program Manager
[email protected] [email protected]
760.482.2600 (El Centro) 760.482.2640 (El Centro)
Viridiana Rodriguez Yosei Valenzuela
Project Specialist Development Specialist
[email protected] [email protected]
760.482.2632 (El Centro) 760.344.7701(Brawley)
Jose Perez Luis Perez
Development Development
Specialist Specialist
[email protected] [email protected]
442-252-7266 (calexico) 760.482.2653 (El Centro)
Daniel Rocha Arthur Araujo
Job Development
Specialist Life Coach
[email protected] [email protected]
442-252-7266 (Calexico) 760.344.7701(Brawley)
Michelle Torres Fressia Guerrero
Clerk Typist III Development
Specialist
[email protected] [email protected]
760.482-2606 760.482.2619(El Centro)
Daniela Jimenez Ashley Guerrero
Clerk Typist I| Tutor
[email protected] [email protected]
760.482.3120
... -
12 PROJECT CONNECT
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