TO: HONORABLE MAYOR FROM: Jon Cicirelli
AND CITY COUNCIL Director
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: March 11, 2022
Approved Date
3/11/22
SUPPLEMENTAL
SUBJECT: AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH OFF THE GRID, LLC
FOR FOOD AND NECESSITIES SERVICES
REASON FOR SUPPLEMENTAL
This memorandum provides an update on the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department’s (Department) work with Santa Clara County (County) and community-based organizations to develop a strategy to respond to the ongoing food insecurity in our community.
BACKGROUND
On November 30, 2021, the City Council approved the joint memo from Mayor Liccardo, Vice Mayor Jones, Councilmember Carrasco, and Councilmember Mahan directing staff to consult with the County regarding a shared responsibility for food provision. The memorandum also set the expectation that current food providers will transition to more sustainable approaches to meeting food needs as the pandemic gradually abates.
ANALYSIS
Since August 23, 2021, the Department has attended a monthly Food Security Workgroup led by the County to analyze and discuss the strategy and potential solutions to address the ongoing need for food in the community. As part of the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency Food Initiative, the University of California Cooperative Extension has contributed to the Food Security Workgroup by conducting interviews and focus groups with various community partners to assess food insecurity in our community. The Food Security Workgroup’s next steps include plans to continue surveying charitable feeding programs and conduct additional focus groups to understand residents’ needs for food assistance.
COUNCIL AGENDA: 3/15/2022
FILE: 22-307
ITEM: 2.11
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
March 11, 2022
Subject: Amendment to the Agreement with Off the Grid, LLC for Food and Necessities Services
In addition to participating in the Food Security Workgroup, the Department has met separately with the County to discuss potential approaches. As a result of the most recent City-County meeting, the Department facilitated two meetings with the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency and Second Harvest of Silicon Valley to discuss ongoing food boxing workforce support. The County provided three potential workforce programs to support the Second Harvest Food Bank food boxing model, however the support would be at a staffing level that is significantly lower than what is currently being provided by the City and would not be able to sustain the food boxing program. The Department and County will meet again with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley in several weeks to discuss their operational plans to move away from the labor-intensive food boxing model.
The Department will continue to participate in the regional food network planning that is being coordinated by the County to address the long-term nature of food insecurity in our community.
/s/
JON CICRELLI
Director of Parks,
Recreation and Neighborhood Services
For questions, please contact CJ Ryan, Interim Administrative Officer, at [email protected] or 408-838-1419.