Fiscal Note
The 2015 adopted operating budget of the Community Develpment Division (CDD) provides funding of $20,000 for administrative expense. Participating agencies will have their budgets adjusted to transfer funds to CDD to support costs of the full contract. A budget amendment in the form of a Resolution will be presented for Council's approval later in 2015. There is no net impact upon the levy.
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Approving the provision of up to $20,000 in staff and administrative cost associated with the Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program and up to $70,000 in youth intern salary and fringe costs (range of $50,000 to $70,000 depending on the number of youth interns and the hours worked) to Commonwealth Development Inc. and authorizing the Mayor and the City Clerk to enter into an agreement with the Commonwealth Development Inc. to implement the program.
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Background:
In 2014, the City implemented the Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program, which provided paid City internships opportunities for young persons. City agency budgets were amended to provide levy-neutral, aggregate funding of approximately $50,000 for the program, administered by the Community Development Division. In 2015, an additional $20,000 is provided for contracting and administrative expense; additionally, it is anticipated that City agency sponsorship will range from $50,000 to $70,000, depending upon the total number and mix of full-time and part-time interns. Agency budgets will subsequently be amended later in 2015 (via a Resolution, subject to Council approval) to accommodate the appropriate budget adjustments, but there is no net impact on the City levy.
WHEREAS, the poverty rate for people with a bachelor's or graduate degree is 5%, while the poverty rate for those with less than a high school diploma is 34%; African-Americans in our community are more than four times as likely to be without a high school degree than the white population; the unemployment rate for African -Americans in Dane County is greater than 25%, and the poverty rate for Black children is nearly 75%; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Employment Plan has identified youth internships as one of the strategies to address these disparities; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Madison Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program will provide on the job experience, exposure to the world of work, and career awareness to high school age youth who face barriers to employment through placement in a City Department with direct support from a non-profit intermediary; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Madison has identified approximately sixteen City government Departments, Divisions and Offices that will host approximately 30 high school age interns in the summer of 2015; and,
WHEREAS, the Community Development Division conducted a competitive request for proposal process to select a non-profit intermediary to recruit, train and support high school age youth for an 8-week summer internship in a City of Madison Municipal Government Department or Division; and,
WHEREAS, a review panel evaluated the four proposals submitted by the deadline of December 11, 2014 and finalized its recommendations at a meeting on December 17, 2014 as follows:
Commonwealth Development Inc.: up to $20,000 for staff and administrative costs associated with recruiting, training and supporting up
approximately 30 youth interns; and up to $70,000 for youth interns salary and fringe costs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council hereby approves the funding allocation as detailed above; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute agreements with the above listed agencies for the described activities.