City of Gonzales
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: October 7, 2024
FROM: Carmen Gil, City Manager
THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Memorandum of Understanding with Hartnell College Foundation for Student Opportunity and Achievement Rising Across the Salinas Valley (S.O.A.R.) Youth Ambassadors Pilot Program
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council Approve and Authorize the City Manager to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between the City of Gonzales and Hartnell College Foundation for support and engagement in the Youth Ambassador Pilot Program – Student Opportunity and Achievement Rising across the Salinas Valley (S.O.A.R); and accept a $10,000 grant to offset participation costs.
BACKGROUND
Student Opportunity and Achievement Rising across the Salinas Valley (S.O.A.R) is a Youth Ambassador pilot program that will engage our Gonzales Youth Council (GYC) in an Asset Mapping pilot program where they will work alongside advisers and local professionals to assess assets and gaps in the areas of workforce readiness, career pathways, financial literacy and social-emotional development. It emerged from community engagement conducted by Hartnell College, Hartnell College Foundation, the Monterey County Workforce Development Board, Santa Cruz Human Services and the James Irvine Foundation. Their findings exhibited that first-generation youth require more guidance on career pathways and good paying jobs that support upward mobility.
Their analysis, coupled with further research led them to look for alignment opportunities in the Salinas Valley where youth were already civically engaged and working on similar areas that could support youth/student advancement. Due to the well-known work and impact that the GYC has had over the years, it was a no-brainer to connect the two instead of reinventing the wheel and starting a new effort from scratch.
AGENDA
ITEM
9 REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
Moreover, because S.O.A.R.’s work is aligned with the work that our GYC is engaging in and the youth had already been involved in some of the early conversations and training, it made sense to bring them in as key partners. To offset some of the costs associated with their participation as well as the cost of the program advisers, Hartnell College Foundation has awarded the City a small grant in the amount of $10,000.
Our participation in this program just proves that the work of the GYC is having a lasting impact not only locally in our city, but also in the larger institutions in the county that impact student lives. Further, this program takes a page from the work that was done four years ago by our GYC working with CSUMB’s Dr. Lovell and her student researchers. As Dr. Lovell will be a lead partner in this work, proving that what was started back in 2020 is still producing positive results till this day.
Explain Recommendation and How it Supports the Vision
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small-town charm.
Explain: Participating in this opportunity will support our efforts to enhance leadership development and career exploration opportunities for our local students and will help to inform us as to what is thriving in our area and what is still missing.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment, and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community.
Explain: Participating as partners in this work will further our mission of supporting youth leadership and development while positively impacting larger systems in the county.
City services will be delivered in a cost-effective, respectful, and friendly manner to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents and the promotion of business, recreational, housing and employment opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Explain: See explanation above.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety Yes No N/A
• Housing Yes No N/A
• Recreation Yes No N/A
• Environment Yes No N/A
• Education X Yes No N/A
Explain: Staff believes that this is a great opportunity to expand the engagement of our GYC with other local partners while helping to assess what the Salinas Valley has to offer and where there are still areas for improvement.
ALTERNATIVES
Alternative 1 – The City Council could direct staff to modify the MOU.
Alternative 2 – The City Council could determine that they don’t want to partner on this project.
However, that is not recommended at this time as the efforts are directly aligned with what the GYC is excited about and is working on. In addition to this partnership providing us with a little bit of money ($10,000) to offset leadership development costs.
BUDGET IMPACT
If the Approved, the city will receive $10,000 to help offset the costs to participate in the program and some money will go to cover administrative and advisor costs. The $10,000 will be applied to Fund 550 (Youth Development) and will supplement some of the other funds we have been using to cover these costs.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that the City Council Approve and Authorize the City Manager to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between the City of Gonzales and Hartnell College Foundation for support and engagement in the Youth Ambassador Pilot Program – Student Opportunity and Achievement Rising across the Salinas Valley (S.O.A.R); and accept a $10,000 grant to offset participation costs.
Attachments:
1. MOU with Hartnell