Title
Human Services Department recommending adoption of Resolution authorizing the Director of Human Services, or successor, to sign all documents necessary to enter into a Contract 09C-1808 with California Department of Community Services and Development, in an anticipated amount of $168,728, for El Dorado County, for the provision of U.S. Department of Energy American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (DOE ARRA) program services for weatherization during July 1, 2009 through September 30, 2011; and further authorizing said Director, or successor, to execute further documents relating to same, including amendments thereto, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, that do not exceed the $1,550,962 amount of the projected total allocation or the expected term stated above, to sign subsequent required fiscal and programmatic reports and to perform any and all administrative responsibilities in relationship to said Contract.
Resolution 117-2009
FUNDING: Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act DOE Funds.
Body
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
|
|
Total Estimated Cost |
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$ 1,550,962 |
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|
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Funding |
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|
Budgeted |
$ 1,550,962 |
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New Funding |
$ |
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Savings |
$ |
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Other |
$ |
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Total Funding Available |
$ 1,550,962 |
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Change To Net County Cost |
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$ 0 |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: No change. This expected funding is included in the Department's FY 2009-10 Budget Request. There is no match requirement.
Reason for Recommendation:
The Board has indicated that they wish El Dorado County to access any available American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. The California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) is responsible for administering U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) ARRA funding in California. Due to requirements associated with Federal Stimulus funding that are passed along by the Federal Government to the State of California, then to the local jurisdictions, time has been and continues to be critical in preparing to expend this available revenue source.
Human Services (DHS) submitted a Local Plan to CSD on April 9, 2009 outlining how El Dorado County will use DOE ARRA funding during the anticipated term of July 1, 2009 through September 30, 2011. In accordance with ARRA intent, the Local Plan proposes to weatherize approximately 207 homes, creating approximately 32 local jobs during contract term, with DHS staff performing outreach, intake and eligibility determination and referring eligible applicants to contracted vendors that will conduct home assessments and install appropriate weatherization measures. Because the DOE ARRA funding requires adherence to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements for field workers, it is not feasible for DHS to hire additional workers to assess and weatherize homes. A County Request for Qualifications is in process to identify potential vendors to serve one or more of seven identified service areas, and DHS intends to have contracts in place by July. The Local Plan may be amended to allow DHS to hire staff to perform direct weatherization services should CSD be successful in their effort to obtain an exception to the prevailing wage requirement for California. CSD has submitted a State Plan to the Federal DOE that incorporates information from all agencies in California that are eligible to receive this funding and submitted the required Local Plan. ARRA activities are expected to commence effective July 1, 2009. Weatherization services promote energy conservation and generate long-range savings for low-income households while strengthening housing stock.
CSD plans to offer grant contract 09C-1808 (Contract) to El Dorado County on or about June 1, 2009 in the anticipated amount of $168,728, a portion of the projected total allocation of $1,550,962, to provide DOE ARRA Program weatherization services to eligible residents of El Dorado and Alpine counties during the expected term of July 1, 2009 through September 30, 2011. On May 6th, CSD announced that DOE ARRA contracts must be executed and returned to CSD by June 23, 2009. This deadline cannot be accommodated within the usual or even emergency parameters of our local contract approval and Board Agenda process.
On May 13, CSD issued an email with contract numbers and proposed initial allocations for each jurisdiction "to assist us in obtaining our Board resolutions" authorizing execution. Based on past experience, the, DHS anticipates that CSD will issue multiple incremental amendments to reach the full projected funding allocation.
The Department is recommending that the Director of Human Services be authorized to execute the DOE ARRA Contract with CSD and any amendments thereto up to the projected $1,550,962 allocation. This requested Resolution will allow El Dorado County to return the initial executed DOE ARRA grant contract and subsequent amendments, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, to CSD within the required timeframe to ensure receipt by El Dorado County of this significant resource.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
Board Clerk to provide Human Services at Briw Road with three (3) certified Resolutions.
Upon receipt of DOE ARRA Contract from CSD, Human Services to obtain necessary approvals and execute and distribute contract as appropriate.
Contact: Janet Walker-Conroy, Acting Director, 642-7275, Jasara Bento, 642-7312
Concurrences: County Counsel