Fremont City Council Meeting: 12/12/23 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Human Services Department Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5057) DOC ID: 5057
Updated: 12/5/2023 6:25 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 1
ENHANCING VISION 2026 FUND SERVICE AGREEMENT - Authorize the City Manager or their Designee to accept $250,000 in Enhancing Vision 2026 funds recommended by the Offices of Supervisors Haubert and Marquez and to Enter into an Agreement with Alameda County to provide the SparkPoint Fremont program; and Appropriate Anticipated Program Expenses.
Contact Persons:
Name: Alina Kwak Suzanne Shenfil
Title: Family Resource Center
Administrator
Director
Div/Dept: Human Services Department Human Services Department Phone: 510-574-2004 510-574-2051
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: Alameda County Supervisors David Haubert (District 1) and Elisa Marquez (District 2) have each recommended that $125,000 in the Alameda County Enhancing Vision 2026 (EV 2026) Fund, for a total of $250,000 over two years, be allocated to support the Fremont Family Resource Center’s (FRC) SparkPoint program. The purpose of this report is to authorize the City Manager or her designee to accept the funds, upon approval by the Board of Supervisors, and enter into an agreement with Alameda County in the amount of $250,000; and appropriate $125,000 in anticipated FY 2023/24 expenses.
BACKGROUND: The Alameda County EV 2026 Fund supports the goals of a healthy environment, thriving and resilient population, safe and livable communities, and a prosperous and vibrant economy. This funding may be recommended by individual Alameda County Supervisors to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. The City of Fremont is represented by both Supervisors Haubert (District 1) and Marquez (District 2). The Alameda County Health Care Services Agency (HCSA) administers the service agreements for these services.
The Fremont Family Resource Center (FRC)’s SparkPoint Fremont and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers clients tools and support for financial empowerment.
SparkPoint Fremont provides free 1:1 financial coaching and education to primarily low - income families and individuals, though the program is open to all. SparkPoint Fremont works with individuals and families to meet their basic needs, increase their income, build their credit, increase their savings, and reduce their debt. Financial coaches work one-on- one with clients on career coaching to secure employment, connect them to workforce development services, provide microenterprise assistance to start small businesses, and establish banking relationships with local banks and credit unions. They work with the client to recognize behavioral outcomes, set goals, brainstorm strategies, and set realistic action plans. Clients work with their financial coach ranging from six months to three years to create a path towards long-term financial prosperity.
A program of SparkPoint, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program assists with filing over 1500 tax returns annually for Alameda County residents with the work from over 100+ volunteers and FRC staff who coordinate, manage, recruit, and train volunteers and Council Staff Report (ID # 5057) Meeting of December 12, 2023 Updated: 12/5/2023 6:25 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 2
staff and ensure quality control of tax transmissions to the IRS. Since 2002, $57 million has been returned to the community in tax refunds. Support from the Vision 2026 Fund will ensure the continuation and financial sustainability of the program.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: Some common barriers experienced by clients in the SparkPoint Fremont program are job loss; change in family status that affects income/resources for the family, immigration and/or language barriers that present challenges to getting employment and/or learning about resources. Some clients may also experience physical and mental health issues that serve as barriers to securing employment.
Measurable goals for the SparkPoint Fremont program include:
• helping 130 unduplicated individuals and families reach their financial goals by providing one-on-one financial coaching to Alameda County residents; • providing free tax preparation services to a minimum of 1,500 low- and moderate- income families;
• provide one-on-one financial coaching to 30 unduplicated ethnically diverse participants who are unfamiliar to financial systems; and • providing a minimum of 12 financial education workshops.
This additional funding will ensure that the SparkPoint Fremont program will continue to offer the community expanded language capacity and financial coaching through a multi- lingual part-time financial coach and additional temporary VITA staff during tax season.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no impact on the General Fund. EV 2026 funding augments existing grant, FRC lease income, and federal funding for SparkPoint services and will cover staffing, operating, and indirect costs. This funding was not anticipated at the beginning of the fiscal year; thus, staff recommends the City Council recognize the EV 2026 revenue and appropriate $125,000 in anticipated FY 2023/24 program expenses in the Family Resource Center Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The acceptance of a grant from the County of Alameda to provide SparkPoint services is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), without limitation, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15378(b)(2), (4) and/or (5) (administrative or fiscal activities of a governmental agency that will not cause a potentially significant direct or indirect impact on the environment; 15183 (projects consistent with the general plan or zoning) and/or 15061(b)(3), (the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment). The operation of the SparkPoint program will not cause a significant effect on the environment. Each of the foregoing provides a separate and independent basis for CEQA exemption.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Authorize the City Manager or her designee to accept and enter into an agreement, in the amount not to exceed $250,000, with the County of Alameda, upon approval by the Board of Supervisors, to provide support for the SparkPoint Fremont program.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5057) Meeting of December 12, 2023 Updated: 12/5/2023 6:25 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 3
2. Recognize the revenue and appropriate $125,000 in the Family Resource Center Fund (Fund 108).