Fiscal Note
There is currently $25,000 budgeted for "MadMarket Double Dollars" administration in the 2015 Operating Budget under Miscellaneous Appropriations. The $25,000 will go directly to DCDHS, instead of directly to a vendor through a competitive bid process. DCDHS will manage the contract with the third-party vendor for operations of the programming.
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Authorizing the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Dane County Department of Human Services ("DCDHS") for the purchase of services ("POS") for the operation and administration of the Electronic Benefits Transfer ("EBT") and MadMarket Double Dollars ("MMDD") programs at Madison and Dane County farmers' markets through the Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Inc. ("CAC").
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WHEREAS, the City of Madison and Dane County recognize the critical role of the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), known as FoodShare in Wisconsin, formerly known as food stamps, in providing a safety net for those individuals and families who struggle to access adequate daily food; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison and Dane County have an interest in preserving current access to farmers' markets for FoodShare participants, and in expanding access to farmers' markets for FoodShare participants through increasing EBT access; and
WHEREAS, the expansion of EBT access at farmers' markets allows for future expansion of the "MadMarket Double Dollars" program, a dollar-for-dollar matching program at farmers' markets for FoodShare participants, a key program in widening the current shrinking safety net; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison and Dane County believe that FoodShare access at farmers' markets has strong health benefits for participants and strong economic benefit for local and regional farmers; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison and Dane County both have $25,000 authorized in their respective 2015 Operating Budgets for the support of EBT and MMDD programming; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison and Dane County partnered to issue a Request for Proposals ("RFP") in 2014 to secure an operator of the EBT and MMDD programs, in which only one entity, Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Inc., responded to operate both programs; and
WHEREAS, the CAC has successfully operated both programs in 2014 and is likely the only organization in a position of capacity to willfully and ably expand the program in 2015; and
WHEREAS, due to the unique circumstances in 2014 with the issuance of the RFP and the new arrangement with Dane County, the Mayor's Office oversaw and managed the contract with CAC, but that it was made clear that would not be the practice in the future; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor is authorized to execute a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Dane County Department of Human Services ("DCDHS") for the purchase of services ("POS") for the operation and administration of the Electronic Benefits Transfer ("EBT") and MadMarket Double Dollars ("MMDD") programs at Madison and Dane County farmers' markets through the Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Inc. ("CAC"); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City and County will jointly fund such an EBT program to the maximum amount of $50,000; $25,000 City of Madison contribution; $25,000 County of Dane contribution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City is authorized to execute a MOU with DCDHS and provide $25,000 from the adopted 2015 Operating Budget under Miscellaneous Appropriations "MadMarket Double Dollars" to DCDHS upon execution of said MOU; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Mayor is authorized to execute, deliver, accept and record any and all documents and take such other actions as shall be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purpose of this resolution in a form approved by the City Attorney.