455 EAST CALAVERAS BOULEVARD, MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA 95035-5479 G ENERAL INFORMATION: 408-586-3005, WWW.MILPITAS.GOV
6/6/2023
ATTACHMENTS AFTER AGENDA
PACKET DISTRIBTUION
Written Comment from Santa Clara County Office of Education Item 15, Revised Attachment No. 4a
CITY OF MILPITAS
City Clerk,
City of Milpitas
455 E. Calaveras Blvd.
Milpitas, CA 95035
June 5, 2023
WRITTEN COMMENT: Support for Licensed Family Child Care Home (FCCH) providers in Milpitas
Dear Mayor Montano and City Councilmembers,
Licensed Family Child Care Home (FCCH) providers are skilled early learning professionals, typically women of color, whose small businesses provide an essential service in Milpitas.
According to data from the California Department of Social Services, 18 FCCH have closed in Milpitas since the beginning of the pandemic. These closures negatively affect children’s academic and social development, and directly reduce family member’s workforce participation, increase absenteeism, and have negative impacts on employers and the local economy.
The City of Milpitas can support these essential small businesses by:
1. Updating City Policies to Reflect that FCCH is a Residential Use of Property Using a home as an FCCH is an accessory use of a residential property (Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1597.43(a)) and is a use by right for the purposes of all local ordinances (Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)).
2. Waiving All Local Fees and Charges to Operate an FCCH Upfront costs are a disincentive to open these low margin businesses and may conflict with California Health & Safety Code: “A local jurisdiction shall not impose a business license, fee, or tax for the privilege of operating a small or large family daycare home (§ 1597.45(b)).
3. Including FCCH in Small Business Programs, Supports and Grant Opportunities FCCH providers are small business owners who need access to the same supports as other entrepreneurs. Intentionally including them in outreach to existing small businesses programs will strengthen their ability to serve Milpitas families.
Thank you for considering these actions. Please feel free to contact Dr. Matthew Tinsley, Director, Strong Start at the Santa Clara County Office of Education ([email protected]) with any questions.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Dewan, Ph.D.
County Superintendent of Schools
Milpitas
Support Family Childcare Homes in
Milpitas can support these essential small businesses by:
Updating city policies
to reflect that an FCCH is a
residential use of property
Waiving all local fees
and charges to operate
an FCCH business
Including FCCH
providers in small business
programs, supports and
grant opportunities.
19% of licensed childcare
capacity in Milpitas for
children 0-5 is in FCCH.
17 of 86 FCCH
closed during the
pandemic in Milpitas,
slowing economic recovery.
Family Child Care Homes (FCCH) are small businesses
primarily owned by women who are Black, Indigenous or people of color (BIPOC), who provide childcare in their homes.