Agenda Item Wording:
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Renewal authorization for the Environmental Clean-Up Opportunities Transitional Jobs Program - Authorization for the City Manager to approve a 3-year agreement with the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County to continue the Environmental Clean-Up Opportunities Transitional Jobs Program through Fiscal Year 2027/2028 in the amount of $765,960.00 from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund.
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Deadline for Action: 5/19/2025
Submitting Department: Public Works
Contact Name and Phone Number: Jason Serpa, Public Works Manager, jason.serpa@visalia.city, 713-4533; Nick Bartsch, Public Work Director, nick.bartsch@visalia.city, 713-4052
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a 3-year agreement with the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County (WIB) to continue a Transitional Jobs Program benefiting the community through more clean-up and recycling, and aiding Visalia's homeless population by bridging job training opportunities. The total amount of the contract is $765,960.00, funded by the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund (441), to pay the City's share of the Environmental Clean-up Opportunities (ECO) program costs.
Background Discussion:
In 2017, the City of Visalia and the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County (WIB) established a program that would allow members of Visalia's homeless and low-income population to acquire the work skills necessary to obtain gainful employment while simultaneously addressing a community need, cleaning up illegally dumped material and recycling appropriate materials. Program participants are vetted and referred to the program by community partners, such as the Rescue Mission.
Upon entry in to the program, participants spend up to three months working as part of a Community Services and Employment Training, Inc. (CSET) work crew, and are guided by a crew supervisor who helps prepare ...
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