Item Number: 14
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: October 6, 2026
Submitted By:
Tony Camargo, Deputy City Manager
Subject:
Consultant/Professional Services Provider Agreement with Goodwill Industries of Southern California for Workforce Development and Employment Readiness Services Funded by the Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway Grant Recommendation:
That the Honorable City Council:
(1) Approve a Consultant/Professional Services Provider Agreement with Goodwill Industries of Southern California for Workforce Development and Employment Readiness Services;
(2) Authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute the associated agreement with Goodwill Industries of Southern California in an amount not to exceed $130,750; and
(3) Authorize the City Manager to make any non-substantive changes as deemed necessary by the City Attorney.
Fiscal Impact:
The proposed agreement will use the $130,750 already allocated to contract services within the $300,000 Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway (CCEP) grant accepted and appropriated by the City Council on May 19, 2026 (Attachments B & C).
This action requests no additional appropriation.
Account code Description Amount
2707501E-43110-20596
(Revenue)
CCEP grant revenue
(previously approved total)
$300,000.00
2707501E-52300-20596
(Expenditure)
Contract services allocation
for Goodwill agreement
$130,750.00
Strategic Plan Goal:
This item aligns with Goal D of the Strategic Plan; specifically, Strategies 1, 3, and 4, which state that, in order to achieve the goal of reducing homelessness, the City should expand on the existing homelessness outreach network to effectively engage the homeless community in services; evaluate the effectiveness of coordination of homelessness services; and complete construction and open the Wellness Center campus including low-barrier emergency shelter, recuperative care facility, medical clinic, and wraparound supportive services.
Background:
Grant Acceptance
On May 19, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 26-047 accepting a $300,000 CCEP grant from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for the Old Town Beautification and Workforce Empowerment Initiative (Attachment B). The Council also adopted Resolution No. 26-048 amending the Fiscal Year 2025–2026 budget to accept the CCEP funds (Attachment C). The initiative combines cleanup and beautification work with employment pathways for Wellness Center clients facing barriers to employment. Of the grant award, $130,750 was allocated for contracted workforce development services; the remaining funds support supplies and City staff costs.
Workforce Development Funding
The original grant application identified the Wellness Center operator, Symba Center, to provide the workforce development component. This component includes job readiness, résumé development, interview preparation, workplace expectations, soft skills, training and hands-on experience associated with environmental cleanup activities. Following implementation discussions from June through August 2026, Symba Center notified the City on August 25, 2026, that it would not perform this component because of concerns about administering stipends, wages and other payments to participating clients. The services therefore require another qualified provider. Caltrans has approved the substitution of Goodwill Industries of Southern California (Goodwill) for this portion of the approved project.
Discussion:
Workforce Development Program
The agreement with Goodwill will provide workforce development and employment readiness services for up to 15 Wellness Center participants. Goodwill has experience serving people who face barriers to employment and has provided similar workforce development services for the City in prior years. Its services will help participants build job readiness skills, gain work experience and pursue longer-term employment. The City will administer the agreement and monitor services and invoices against the approved grant budget.
Procurement Process
The City Manager approved staff’s September 17, 2026, memorandum, requesting authorization to proceed directly with Goodwill under Victorville Municipal Code Section
2.28.280(c), titled “Contracts – Informal process.” Under the informal professional services process, departments generally contact at least three qualified firms, but that provision allows the City Manager to authorize a specific service contract. The memorandum documents why Goodwill was selected including the workforce component was part of the approved project, Symba Center withdrew from that component, Caltrans permits a qualified replacement, Goodwill has relevant experience, and the grant has a fixed performance period. All reimbursable project activities must be completed by July 30, 2027. The City Manager’s approval addressed the provider selection; this Council action authorizes execution of the agreement.
The proposed agreement with Goodwill uses the existing $130,750 contract services allocation. The Caltrans grant agreement does not identify Symba Center as the required provider, so the provider change will not require an amendment to the previously executed agreement.
Therefore, staff recommends that the Honorable City Council approve a Consultant/Professional Services Provider Agreement with Goodwill for Workforce Development and Employment Readiness Services, authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute the associated agreement with Goodwill in an amount not to exceed $130,750 and authorize the City Manager to make any non-substantive changes as deemed necessary by the City Attorney.
Staff remains available for any questions you may have.
Prepared By:
Mica Schuler, Economic Development Administrator
Attachments: A. Agreement with Goodwill Industries of Southern California B. Resolution No. 26-047, Acceptance of CCEP Grant
C. Resolution No. 26-048, Budget Amendment
D. 09.17.26 Memo to the City Manager - CCEP Workforce Partner Procurement