CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
February 7, 2022
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: James Makshanoff, City Manager
Submitted By: Benita DeFrank, Neighborhood Services Director SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE FY 2021-22 OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE SENIOR CITIZEN NUTRITION GRANT FUND AND TO ACCEPT FUNDS FROM LA COUNTY ELDERLY NUTRITION GRANT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $55,000 RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Adopt the following resolution:
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-23 - TO AMEND THE FY 2021-22 OPERATING BUDGET TO ACCEPT FUNDS FROM THE LA COUNTY ELDERLY NUTRITION GRANT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $202,118, INCREASE REVENUE ESTIMATES AND APPROPRIATIONS IN THE SENIOR NUTRITION GRANT FUND AND APPROVE THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH BETTER 4 YOU MEALS, INC. TO INCREASE THE NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT BY $453,221, FOR A CONTRACT AMOUNT TOTALING $603,221 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City has been providing free, home-delivered meals to senior adults and adults with disabilities through the County-funded Elderly Nutrition Grant Program during the pandemic. Home-delivered meal service will continue for this vulnerable community until congregate sites at Palomares Park and Washington Park are safe to reopen. Funding will soon be expended due to the high demand for home delivered meals. In order to continue uninterrupted service, the City will need to increase funding by accepting additional funds and increase the existing contract with the caterer.
FISCAL IMPACT: The County has allocated a baseline reimbursement grant funding amount of $207,00. Of this, $147,118 of prior year carryover of California Department of Aging (CDA) CARES funding is available to the City in order to continue providing meals in FY 2021-22. Furthermore, the County has recently made available an additional $55,000 funding towards the program. The carryover, plus the new funding will amend the FY 2021-22 Operating budget to increase revenue estimates (226-4190-40857-00000) by $202,118 and increase appropriations (226-4190-52351-00000) for the same amount.
The $453,221 increase to the Better 4 You Meal agreement would be funded by existing available budget in the Senior Nutrition Program (226-4190-52351-00000) for $51,103, additional funds from the County for $55,000, prior year CDA CARES balance of $147,118 and $200,000 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION:
1) On January 24, 2022, City Council approved Resolution No. 2022-10 appropriating Community Development Block Grant funds to Food Delivery (194-1798-40848-65337). 2) On October 4, 2021, City Council awarded a one-year contract through a Request for Proposal process, to Better 4 You Meals, Inc. for catered meals services in FY 2021-22 in an amount not to exceed $150,000, with two (2) one-year extension options. 3) On August 2, 2021, the City Council approved the First Amendment to the sole source agreement with Better 4 You Meals to increase the not-to-exceed the amount to $300,000.
DISCUSSION:
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Community Services has continued to serve the community’s vulnerable populations through providing free, home-delivered meals to seniors and adults with disabilities. From July 2021 through December 2021, the City provided over 54,000 meals to seniors. Meals are provided in partnership with the County of Los Angeles WDACS through the reimbursement grant-funded Elderly Nutrition Program. The City has been in partnership with the County through this grant program for over 43 years.
The County has allocated $207,000 in baseline reimbursement grant funding and $147,118 in prior year carryover CDA CARES funding to the City in order to continue providing meals in FY 2021-22. In order for the City to continue providing home-delivered meals, additional funding is needed, as funding is anticipated being exhausted early this calendar year.
City Staff requested an increase in funding and the County provided $55,000 to temporarily continue services. This is approximately one month of deliveries. It is anticipated that more funding will be made available by the County in the midst of the ongoing health crisis; however, no guarantees have yet been made.
In the meantime, $200,000 in CDBG funding has been allocated to help further stabilize the program. Staff have reached out to the County requesting additional funding, but have not received a response at the time of this staff report, therefore there will be a reduction of home-delivered meal service from seven (7) meals per week to five (5) meals per week beginning February 3, 2022.
Staff will continue administering the Elderly Nutrition Program in accordance with the latest health requirements and protocols and meals will continue to be provided on a home-delivered basis only. However, it is possible the meal delivery method will change sometime during the fiscal year.
With the infusion of new funding, the contract with the caterer (Better 4 You Meals) will need to be increased by $453,221 to a total of $603,221 to continue service.
COUNCIL PRIORITIES & GOALS: This item supports the 2021-22 City Council Priority 4: Safe and Clean Community; Goal M: Improve safety and cleanliness at parks and public spaces; Step 3: Re-open community centers as public health orders allow, collaborating with community organizations to increase service levels to seniors, families, and youth.
Prepared by:
Monica Belloso, Technical Specialist II
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment No. 1 – Resolution No. 2022-23
Adopt a Resolution to Amend FY 2021-22 Operating Budget to Accept Funds for the LA County Elderly Nutrition Grant Program by $55,000