City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: August 23, 2022
Agenda Item: 5.D
1 of 7
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Office of Sustainability & the Environment
Subject: Authorization to Accept California Volunteers Grant and authorize the City to issue a Contract with Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant awarded in the amount of $289,178 from California Volunteers to fund a youth climate corps program;
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept the grant and all grant renewals;
3. Authorize the City to issue a subrecipient contract with Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, the fiscal agent for Climate Action Santa Monica for a total amount not to exceed $289,178; and
4. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions section of this report.
Summary
Staff seeks authority to accept a grant from California Volunteers in the amount of $289,178 and to award a subrecipient contract in the amount of $289,178 to Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE), the fiscal agent for Climate Action Santa Monica (CASM), to manage the youth climate corps through May 1, 2024. CASM is a program of SEE and is obligated and responsible for the programmatic duties of the grant, with SEE as its fiscal agent providing administrative services and support. The City’s winning proposal to California Volunteers to participate in the CaliforniansForAll Youth Workforce Development Program has two intertwined goals:
• Engage the community in action that helps to fulfill the City of Santa Monica’s climate goals, and
2 of 7
• Help the youth of Santa Monica reach their fullest potential by connecting them with services that prepare them for the future.
The funding and workplan proposed in this grant-funded program will recruit, train, and employ volunteer youth to take on strategies and actions identified in the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. This effort will be realized through a subrecipient contract with CASM. CASM will work with JVS SoCal and Santa Monica College (SMC) as subconsultants.
Discussion
California Volunteers issued a Request for Proposals for the CaliforniansForAll Youth Workforce Development Program. The program has three goals:
1. Increase youth employment;
2. Develop career pathways; and
3. Strengthen local capacity to address key areas of food insecurity, climate, and COVID-19 recovery.
All participants must be between 16-30 years of age. Per the program guidelines, priority should be given to youth who:
• Have not participated in an AmeriCorps program
• May have difficulty finding employment
• Are low-income
• Are unemployed and/or out of school
• Are or were justice-involved
• Are in or transitioning from foster care
• Are engaged with the mental health or substance abuse system California Volunteers encourages the City to sub-grant to an existing Community-Based Organization (CBO) for all grant-related activities. The City of Santa Monica Office of Sustainability will serve as the point agency for the grant and staff proposes subgranting to CASM, which is an established local non-profit that is qualified to manage the program.
3 of 7
About Climate Action Santa Monica (CASM)
The City of Santa Monica has been collaborating successfully with CASM since 2013.
The partnership, now in its tenth year, began by bringing diverse constituencies together in community-wide forums to explore climate-related problems and opportunities related to energy, water, and transportation. These successful forums engaged more than 1,000 people. In 2020 CASM began hosting online SAMOCAN (Santa Monica Climate Action Network) sessions. In 2016, CASM launched the CASM Climate Corps (Climate Corps). With funding from the City and support from local businesses, individuals, county government and foundations, Climate Corps has graduated more than 90 youth, mostly high school age, and engaged dozens of adult volunteers and agency partners. Climate Corps includes experiential training, project work, and engagement with local leaders and community groups. In the process, youth are connected to adults in government, business, and CBOs to help them develop life and career skills. Projects are executed in teams focused on areas such as energy, organics recycling, extreme heat, water and mobility.
Program Goal and Design
The Executive Director and Program Manager of CASM will staff and supervise the youth fellows. The staffing plan for this grant includes a phased hiring approach that involves:
1. August 2022-June 2023: Onboard two Community Engagement Fellows.
2. June 2023-May 1, 2024: Onboard two additional Community Engagement Fellows. Their term will end by May 1, 2024. These Community Engagement Fellows are more mature and will possess more leadership ability and independent work capacity. They will help with CASM and the CASM Climate Corp.
3. June 2023: Onboard an additional six On the Ground Project Fellows to work part-time (20 hours) per week for six months.
4. January 2024: Onboard an additional crew of six On The Ground Project Fellows to work 20 hours per week through May 1, 2024. Fellows will be paid $20-$22 per hour.
4 of 7
Strategies and actions below related to Santa Monica’s Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) are among those that CASM has supported through its partnership with the City of Santa Monica. These efforts can be advanced with funding from this grant:
Santa Monica’s CAAP goal CASM’s supporting role
Create a Community Climate
Action Network
Santa Monica Climate Action Network (SAMOCAN)
formed in 2020 with 20-25 participants per session
representing 14 organizations.
Convert existing natural gas
equipment and appliances to
electric
Climate Corps energy track 2021 through current year
educates about energy systems and City programs.
Create equitable access to
clean energy programs
SAMOCAN event and advocacy for Solar in Multifamily
Buildings. Climate Corps energy project on Community
Solar development.
Implement community choice
energy (CCE)
CASM steering committee members researched and
educated on CCE formation 2014-2018, serve on CCA
Community Advisory Board 2020 – current.
Increase local solar for
residential and commercial
tenants
Solar Brunches in 2018-2020 exchanged solar
experience among neighbors.
Implement citywide organics
recycling
Organized volunteers and Climate Corps to engage in
outreach for green bin organics recycling in 2021
through current.
Zero waste outreach and
education
Conducted surveys related to plastic straw ban and
promoted reusable bags at Farmers’ Markets.
Expand safe routes programs Ongoing campaign through Climate Corps to reduce car traffic to Santa Monica High School.
Prioritize transit-oriented
affordable housing
Climate Corps surveyed about and publicized Expo Line,
CASM represented community for green housing
development.
Promote low carbon, low
waste lifestyles
Engaged over 2,000 people in surveys and
conversations at public events about energy,
transportation, waste, and water choices and impacts.
Increase climate and ecoliteracyHosted climate forums and educational events since 2013.
5 of 7
Youth Recruitment/Development
Youth will be recruited through the channels of the project partners with JVS SoCal and SMC playing lead roles, as they have established programs that can help reach youth meeting the grant’s criteria. Additionally, both JVS SoCal and SMC are key partners in the City-funded programs for “at-promise” (vulnerable/at-risk) youth. As such, they are a part of and familiar with the local and regional network of youth-serving organizations that serve the Santa Monica community and can help recommend local youth for the program. Recruitment may also occur through the City of Santa Monica’s online jobs board which the Community Development Department (CDD) promotes through email distribution, social media, and its website. CDDalso hosts job fairs. Local affordable housing organizations and other CBOs would be invited to promote the program and help recruit participants.
CASM, through its connection to the community, recognizes that several youths are marginally or intermittently enrolled in school – or employed. Youth who reside in the community who have had trouble finding steady employment or have had difficulty remaining in school would be eligible for participation. Youth residing in a census tract identified by CalEnviroscreen 4.0 or as low income will be an acceptable criterion for qualification as well. Of those served, priority will be given to youth that reside in Santa Monica and/or attend a Santa Monica-Malibu Unified District school in Santa Monica.
JVS SoCal will identify youth to refer to Climate Corps for consideration as program Fellows and will welcome referrals from Climate Corps of youth needing employment readiness services. Through the JVS SoCal-operated West Los Angeles America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) location in Culver City, JVS SoCal will provide engaged youth with soft skills and job readiness training, including creating a resume, practicing and preparing for interviews, reviewing personal hygiene and timeliness expectations, professional presentation and dress; better budgeting habits; and career exploration to determine long term interest in sustainability careers. JVS SoCal will provide or refer youth to local partners for wraparound services beyond the scope of JVS SoCal’s services, such as for mental health or substance use needs or housing assistance. JVS SoCal will assist youth with reengaging in school and enrolling in an academic program. 6 of 7
JVS SoCal will co-enroll program Fellows into the adult program at the West Los Angeles AJCC for additional job readiness services and employment training opportunities for young adults ages 18+ and will leverage these resources for the CASMCC. JVS SoCal is well positioned to provide these services given their long track record of providing similar programming to Santa Monica youth through their Cityfunded programming for local at-promise youth.
Santa Monica College will assist with recruiting in partnership with JVS SoCal, support alignment of course options and certificates with the real-life work experience and provide career counseling as needed. As Santa Monica’s local institution of higher education, SMC is also an integral part of programming for at-promise Santa Monica youth, bringing the knowledge of the local landscape and youth and family partner organizations involved in serving the older youth population.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
5/28/19 (Attachment A) Climate Action and Adaptation Plan 6/9/22 (Attachment B) CaliforniansForAll Grant Agreement Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to accept a grant from California Volunteers and to award a subrecipient contract with Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs, the fiscal agent for Climate Action Santa Monica to manage the youth climate corps through May 1, 2024.
FY 2022-23 Grant Budget Changes
Establish Revenue Budget Appropriate Funds
Account Number(s) Amount Account Number(s) Amount
20500010.416250 $289,17820500010.556620 $289,178
Total $289,178Total $289,178
Contract Request
FY 2022-23
Request Amount
FY 2022-23 Budget
Department Account #
Total Contract
Amount
$289,178 20500010.556620 $289,178
7 of 7
If renewals are awarded, budget changes would be included in subsequent year budgets, contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Ariana Vito, Sustainability Analyst
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (Web Link)
B. CalifornianForAll Grant Agreement