DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Senior Nutrition Program
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the following budgetary, grant and associated actions related to the City’s FY 2017 Senior Nutrition Program:
a) acceptance of a continuation grant from the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) in the amount of $1,876,000.00 for the period of October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017;
b) a program budget of $5,366,111.00, including a cash match of $3,437,111.00 included in the FY 2017 Adopted General Fund Budget, and an estimated $53,000.00 in client donations, and a revised personnel complement of 53 grant funded positions for the Department of Human Services;
c) approval for the Director to execute any and all documents related to acceptance of this grant, to include acceptance of additional grant funds, if awarded and matching funds are available in the City’s budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City’s Senior Nutrition Program provides seniors 60 and over with a meal and nutritional information in a congregate setting. The program serves approximately 2,900 meals daily, Monday through Friday, at the City’s Senior Center and Nutrition sites located throughout the community. In FY 2017 the City will open a new center at Southside Lion’s Park located in District 3. With this additional location, the City will operate 10 comprehensive senior centers, 8 senior nutrition sites and will continue to partner with community agencies to provide senior nutrition programs at 41 sites. These partnerships provide optimal access to senior nutrition services by utilizing vendor and volunteer contracts, which were approved in the FY 2015 Adopted Budget.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) operates the program using City General Fund and federal grant funds from the Health and Human Services Commission, awarded through AACOG. The City has received Federal Funds from AACOG since 1973. For FY 2017, AACOG has indicated that grant funds in the amount of $1,876,000.00 are available to the City. This award amount provides level grant funding for FY 2017.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of a continuation grant from AACOG of $1,876,000.00 and a total Senior Nutrition Program budget of $5,366,111.00 to support the provision of congregate meal service to seniors in San Antonio and Bexar County. This council action also recommends a Personnel Complement of 53 positions which reflects 4 additional positions. These additional positions are needed to meet the growing needs of the Senior Services Division and to comply with grant requirements.
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 $.50 per meal and anticipates receiving $53,000.00 in program donations to be used to support the meal program.
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 provision of services to the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of a continuation grant from AACOG of $1,876,000.00 for a total Senior Nutrition Program budget of $5,366,111.00, including a cash match of $3,437,111.00 included in the FY 2017 Adopted General Fund Budget, and an estimated $53,000.00 in client donations to support the provision of congregate meal service to seniors in San Antonio and Bexar County. There is no additional fiscal impact related to this action.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance authorizing acceptance of the Senior Nutrition Program Grant from AACOG; the total program budget; a revised personnel complement of 53 positions for the support of senior nutrition services; and authorization to accept supplemental funds if awarded.