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CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Acceptance of Youth@Work funds from the Los Angeles County, Department of Economic Opportunity and award of contract to Glendale Youth Alliance Motion:
1. Accepting the Youth@Work funds from the Los Angeles County, Department of Economic Opportunity in the amount of $158,100; and authorizing the City Manager, or a designee, to enter into and execute all agreements, amendments, certifications, and documents necessary to accept and implement the funding, subject to the approval by the City Attorney.
2. Authorizing the City Manager, or a designee, to enter into and execute a Contract with Glendale Youth Alliance in an amount not to exceed $142,600 from the Youth@Work grant for the period of July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, subject to the approval by the City Attorney.
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Consent Calendar
Approved for September 29, 2026 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Verdugo Workforce Development Board (VWDB) has a long-standing history of designing and implementing workforce programs in the Verdugo Workforce Development Area, which consists of the cities of Glendale, Burbank and La Cañada Flintridge.
The Los Angeles County, Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) awarded the VWDB funding of $158,100 from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, to provide work experience and job preparation training for students under the Youth@Work program.
The VWDB has received this funding for over a decade to support students with the most barriers to employment with work-based learning opportunities.
From July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, the VWDB will award Youth@Work grant funds to Glendale Youth Alliance (GYA) in the amount of $142,600 to recruit, enroll, and provide work experience for up to thirty-seven (37) participants. 5b 2
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RECOMMENDATION
That City Council:
(1) Accept the Youth@Work funds from the LA County, Department of Economic Opportunity in the amount of $158,100; and authorize the City Manager to enter into and execute all agreements, amendments, certifications, and documents necessary to accept and implement the funding;
(2) Authorize the City Manager to enter into and execute a Contract with Glendale Youth Alliance in an amount not to exceed $142,600 from the Youth@Work grant for the period of July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
ANALYSIS
The Verdugo Consortium is a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) comprised of the cities of Glendale, Burbank, and La Cañada Flintridge. The Verdugo Workforce Development Board (VWDB) is the planning and policy body for the Consortium. Its purpose is to provide employment and training programs within the three cities and to allocate and award Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds toward its goals. Through the JPA, the City of Glendale has responsibility for the administration of all Consortium activities, including the execution of contracts with vendors to deliver workforce services.
The County of Los Angeles, Department of Economic Opportunity provides annual funding to the Los Angeles Basin Workforce Development Boards to provide summer and year-round youth employment programs for their respective workforce regions under the program Youth@Work. The Youth@Work Program has broader eligibility criteria for its participants than the WIOA federal youth funds and allows for greater participation of the youth in our region who are English Language Learners, Foster Youth, Homeless Youth, and Youth on Parole without the restrictions of income.
The Youth@Work grant funding for FY 2026-2027 is for $158,100 from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, to serve up to thirty-seven participants ages 14 to 24, with an average 160 hours of paid work experience in placements that match the participants’ interests and aptitudes as well as and personal enrichment training, requiring the program have a Career Pathway focus.
GYA, the VWDB’s youth services provider, will administer the work experience component of the program and receive $142,600 for staffing and operational expenses, including the administration of the youth payroll. Since 2000, GYA has been operating youth employment programs and has established business relationships with local employers which will enable successful connection between these employers and students to have a dynamic work base learning experience.
The remaining $15,500 will be used by the VWDB to cover administrative expenses that includes oversight of the program.
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STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
The VWDB is responsible for accepting grant awards and providing initial approval to enter into contracts, prior to submission to City Council for approval. As such, this item was discussed at the public workforce board meeting held on August 26, 2026, at the Verdugo Jobs Center, where stakeholders were given the opportunity to participate and comment on this item. At this meeting, the Board approved the acceptance of the grant award as well as the contracts needed to perform the grant requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Youth@Work grant award totals $158,100, of which $142,600 will be used for the contract with Glendale Youth Alliance. The grant award was already appropriated during the FY 26-27 budget process; therefore, no new appropriation is requested at this time.
The City Council approved funding is outlined below:
Existing Appropriation
Amount Account String Funding Source
$158,100 GL: 43110-2060-CSP-0020-P0000
PL: CSP01686AG
Workforce Fund-Local Grant
Department Cost Center Program
Community
Services &
Parks
Projects
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5), as it constitutes an organizational or administrative activity of government that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment; thus, it is not subject to CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15060(c)(3).
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
This item is exempt from campaign disclosure requirements.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
1. The City Council may decline to adopt the motions as recommended herein. This would result in the inability to comply with grant requirements.
2. The City Council may consider any other alternative not proposed by staff.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
Onnig Bulanikian, Director of Community Services & Parks 5b 4
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Prepared by:
Judith Velasco, Workforce Development Administrator
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit 1: Minutes of the meeting of the Verdugo Workforce Development Board, August 26, 2026.