DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Senior Nutrition Program
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the following budgetary, grant and associated actions related to the City’s Senior Services Program:
a. submission of the application and acceptance of grant funds from the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) in the amount of $ 1,778,000.00 for the Senior Nutrition Program;
b. a total program budget of $5,245,111.00 to include a cash match of $3,437,111.00 contingent upon Council approval of the FY 2019 General Fund Budget, an estimated $30,000.00 in client donations, and a personnel complement of 50 grant funded positions;
c. approval for the Director of the Department of Human Services to execute grant contract amendments related to carry - over funds, line item budget revisions, modifications to performance measures, no cost extensions, supplemental grant funds in an amount up to 20% of the total amount awarded; reimbursement increases or decreases due to a change in the number of participants served; one-time equipment purchases or defined program services; and changes in regulations.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City's Senior Services Program annually provides services to 32,000 seniors 60 years and above. Services include a midday meal in a congregate setting, as well as health and wellness activities, exercise, arts, computer instructions, nutritional education, case management and social activities. The program serves approximately 2,700 meals daily, Monday through Friday, at the City's Senior Centers and Nutrition Sites located throughout the community.
The City operates 10 comprehensive senior centers, 8 Senior Nutrition Sites and will continue to partner with community agencies to provide senior nutrition programs at 35 nutrition sites. These partnerships provide optimal access to senior nutrition services by utilizing vendor and volunteer contracts.
The City of San Antonio has been the recipient of this grant since 1973. It is anticipated that the grant award for FY 2019 would be $1,778,000.00, which is the same amount as the current fiscal year.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes the submission and acceptance of a continuation grant of $1,778,000.00 from AACOG and a total Senior Nutrition Program budget of $5,245,111.00, including a cash match of $3,437,111.00 contingent upon Council approval of the FY 2019 Adopted General Fund Budget, and an estimated $30,000.00 in client donations to support the provision of congregate meal service to seniors in San Antonio and Bexar County. A personnel complement of 50 positions, which is the same number of positions in FY 2018, is included to support this program.
DHS, as required by Older Americans Act (OAA) grant regulations, provides participants the opportunity to voluntarily contribute to the cost of services. DHS currently suggests a donation rate of $0.50 per meal and anticipates receiving $30,000.00 in program donations to be used to support the meal program.
This ordinance also authorizes the Director of the Department of Human Services to execute any and all documents related to the submission and acceptance of this grant, to include acceptance of additional grant funds up to a limit of 20% of the grant, if awarded and matching funds are available in the City’s budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
If awarded funds are not accepted, AACOG would need to identify another contractor to receive the funds. The process of identifying a new contractor to implement services would take a minimum of three months and may delay the provision of services to the senior community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the submission of the application and acceptance of grant funds from the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) in the amount of $1,778,000.00 for the Senior Nutrition Program for a total program budget of $5,245,111.00, including a cash match of $3,437,111.00 contingent upon Council approval of the FY 2019 Adopted General Fund Budget, and an estimated $30,000.00 in client donations.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance authorizing the submission of the application and acceptance of grant funds from AACOG, the total program budget, a personnel complement of 50 positions and authorization to accept supplemental funds up to 20% if awarded.