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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10211986 - T.5 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on October 2.1`, 1986 by the following vote: AYES: Fanden, McPeak, Schroder, Torlakson, Powers NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: Adoption of a Child Care Component RESOLUTION NO. 86/623 of the Community Facilities Element of the County General Plan The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County RESOLVES THAT: There is filed with this board and its clerk a copy of Resolution No. 49-1986 adopted by the Contra Costa County Planning Commission discussing a Child Care Component to the County General Plan. On October 21, 1986, this board held a hearing on said amendment as discussed . by the County Planning Commission Resolution No. 49-1986 to the Community Fa- cility Element. Notice of said hearing was duly given in the manner required by law. The board at the hearing called for testimony of all persons inter- ested in the matter. One person spoke in favor of the proposed plan. The board members, having fully considered this amendment, determined to amend the County General Plan by adopting this Child Care Component to the Community Facilities Element as recommended by the County Planning Commission. The text amendment is shown as Attachment A. 1 hereby certify that this Is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: /At. .10 lye � PHIL BATCHELOR,Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator By ,Deputy JWC/jn 4:childcar4 Orig. Dept.: Community Development Department CC: Director of Public Works County Counsel County Administrator RESOLTUION NO. 86/623 ATTACHMENT A CHILD CARE AMENDMENT TO THE COUNTY GENERAL PLAN Amend the Community Facilities Element of the County General Plan to pro- vide text on the issue of child care as shown below: CHILD CARE POLICY STATEMENT It is the policy of Contra Costa County to assist and encourage the devel- opment of adequate, affordable and quality child care in this community. In pursuit of this goal , Contra Costa County will strive to simplify regu- lations and the permitting process, minimize fees, and shorten the approval process. It is the policy of Contra Costa County to approve permits for child care facilities unless there is a demonstrated reason not to. Contra Costa County supports the principle of parental choice for child care and the need for a variety of options available in the community, including schools, child care centers, family day care homes, employment sites, and along transit routes. Contra Costa County encourages the participation of parents, providers, public officials and employers in the planning and decision making process relating to the provision of child care facilities. CHILD CARE BACKGROUND The concept; of child care is based on the premise that children both need, and have a right to, safe, healthy, and caring environments. Child care needs were first recognized by government during World War II as a result of the contributions men and women made to the war effort. In response to the changing work force characteristics, the Federal Government moved to ensure safe, healthy, and caring environments for children by funding child care programs. The continued interests of both men and women in maintaining employment, the need for two-income households to meet the increased costs of living, and the growing number of single-parent households again calls for govern- ment to assure that the needs of children are met through the provision of child care programs/facilities. Such child care programs and facilities must provide for the variety of ages' and interests of children throughout the County. Currently in the County, there is an imbalance between the location of ex- isting facilities and where potential users wish to have them. Users of child care services have an expectation as. to the quality of those services which. may not be matched by individual child care operator's performances. Additionally, the issue of affordibility of services is important to a sub- stantial` portion of the County's population requiring such services, be- cause it can provide limitations on the child care services available to them. • ' When these issues are coupled with the difficulty of locating child care services within residential areas and with the anticipated growth and development within the County, the need for a child care program becomes apparent. 2 - Further, with the liability insurance crises and concerns over child abuse, the providers of such services are becoming discouraged. People attempt to find child care facilities located near their home or work. As major of- fice, commercial , and controlled manufacturing uses are being established within the county the need for child care facilities and programs will continue to increase and may exceed the available resources without the assistance of government. In order to address the existing need for child care facilities and pro- grams, as well as those which will arise in the future, it is necessary to seek the assistance of all segments of the community, including, but not limited to developers, employers, private foundations, public entities and agencies, as well as the use of public resources. The existing need has not been satisfied to date and there is no indication that it will be met in the immediate future. Each new development incrementally adds to the need for these facilities and programs. IMPLEMENTATION The government and the private sector need to recognize the issue and take appropriate steps to address the issue. County implementation of the above policy statement should include the following steps: 1. Foster public awareness of the variety of needs and availability of resources for child care. 2. Encourage and participate in efforts to coordinate child care programs and fund raising efforts to meet child care needs throughout the Coun- ty, through the establishment of the countywide child care organiza- tion, as recommended by the Child Care Task Force. 3. Encourage the location of child care facilities in residential neigh- borhoods, employment centers, at school sites, hospitals, religious facilities, parks, and along transit routes. 4. Examine County regulations and the permitting process affecting child care facilities, with the purpose of simplifying regulations, minimiz- ing fees, expediting the permit process, and providing technical as- sistance to applicants. 5. Use conditions of approval to require the development of a program to address child care needs generated by development projects; a program .could include such elements as resource and referral , individual and collaborative development of new services and/or development fees. JC:jn gpa:child 9/17/86