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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Accept funding per Agreement NI-2223-29 from the California Department of Aging (CDA) for the Senior Nutrition Infrastructure Grant;
2) Delegate authority to the HHSA Director, or Assistant Director of Human Services, on behalf of El Dorado County, to execute Senior Nutrition Infrastructure Grant NI-2223-29 Agreement (FENIX 7161) with the CDA for the retroactive term of October 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023, in the amount of $645,001, to be expended after Board approval;
3) Authorize the HHSA Director, or Assistant Director of Human Services, to execute further documents relating to Grant Agreement NI-2223-29 (FENIX 7161), contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, including amendments which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement;
4) Authorize the HHSA Director, or Assistant Director of Human Services, to administer any subsequent administrative documents, including any required fiscal and programmatic reports;
5) Approve a budget transfer increasing revenue and appropriations within the HHSA Fiscal Year 2022-23 budget in the amount of $645,001 (4/5 vote required); and
6) Approve the addition of $619,951 in fixed assets, $225,000 in building improvements and $394,951 in equipment as listed below.
FUNDING: 100% California Department of Aging Senior Nutrition Infrastructure Grant NI-2223-29 (EDC 7161).
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The El Dorado County Senior Nutrition Program provides a daily hot lunch to seniors aged 60 years and older. The lunches are cooked at the two central kitchens located in Placerville and South Lake Tahoe. Meals are currently provided at six (6) dine-in congregate sites, available for take-out and home delivery. During the coronavirus pandemic, the need for meals increased dramatically, and the Senior Nutrition Program is cooking an average of 860 meals per day. This increase has added to the workload of the Senior Nutrition staff as well as wear and tear to the existing equipment. The California Department of Aging does not provide sufficient funding for new equipment and improvements in efficiencies. Equipment/appliances are replaced when they become unrepairable.
The California Department of Aging (CDA) Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) grant program provides funding for capacity and infrastructure improvements for senior nutrition programs which includes equipment, technology, and electric vehicles. This program is the result of an advocacy proposal to the Legislature by Meals-on-Wheels. Local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) agencies were required to submit grant proposals to CDA for approval prior to receiving funding agreements. All of the AAA agencies throughout California were awarded this funding.
The intent of this grant opportunity is to fund capacity and infrastructure improvement for senior nutrition programs, which prioritizes the purchasing, upgrading, or refurbishing infrastructure for the production and distribution of congregate or home-delivered meals. Eligible activities include but are not limited to: production-scale commercial kitchens, warming, refrigeration, or freezer capacity and equipment, food delivery vehicles, improvements and equipment to expand capacity for providers of meals, and technological or data systems infrastructure for monitoring client health outcomes.
The County of El Dorado (County) Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), as the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA), submitted an initial proposal for funding on June 27, 2022, and subsequentially, upon CDA request, resubmitted on July 8, 2022. The revised proposal was approved by CDA on August 9, 2022. On September 30, 2022, CDA issued Standard Agreement NI-2223-29 to the County for the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Senior Nutrition Infrastructure Grant Program in the amount of $645,001 for the term of October 1, 2022, through December 31, 2023. Receiving this funding will allow the El Dorado County Senior Nutrition Program to increase efficiencies in the kitchen and upgrade current equipment. HHSA will not begin expending these funds until accepted by the Board.
The project includes transferring $225,000 in funding to the Accumulative Capital Outlay (ACO) Fund for improvements to the kitchens including HVAC and dishwasher area improvements. Legistar item 22-1819 is being brought to the Board on the same day as this item and includes an updated ACO workplan for the Board to approve that includes the kitchen improvement project. The grant funding will also be used to purchase $394,951 in Fixed Asset Equipment for the Senior Nutrition Program. The Board is being asked to approve the addition of the following fixed assets: one $35,000 blast chiller, one $50,000 conveyor dishwasher, one $75,000 electric vehicle outfitted for meal delivery, one $90,000 electric all wheel drive vehicle outfitted for meal delivery in rural areas, one $14,951 automatic slicer, one $35,000 commercial refrigerator/freezer, one $35,000 tilt grill, and a $60,000 nutrition analysis software project. The funding will also be utilized to purchase miscellaneous equipment in an amount up to $25,050, which will include an ice maker, heavy duty carts, and a meal count software program.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve the acceptance of the HCBS Senior Nutrition Infrastructure Grant, the Senior Nutrition program would not be able to purchase the proposed and CDA approved equipment using this specialized funding. If the grant funding is not accepted, any purchases of needed equipment, replacements or upgrades would require the use of standard CDA funding outlined in the Board approved Senior Nutrition Budget which includes County General Fund.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel, Facilities (installation of equipment), and
Information Technology (software purchases/development).
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no General Fund Cost associated with this agenda item. If the budget transfer is approved, sufficient appropriations will be added to the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget and will be included in future budgets for the term of the grant.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to return one (1) certified copy of the meeting minutes to HHSA Contracts Unit at 3057 Briw Rd, Suite B.
2) Obtain the Chair’s signature on the budget transfer form and forward to the Chief Administrative Office for processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
County Strategic Goal: “Good Governance.”
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Interim Director, Health and Human Services Agency