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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 06241986 - IO.4 To F' BOARD OF SUPERVISORS �,�..,} FROM: INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE /I'J�I.,J��,��(�lra Cx)sta DATE: June 23 , 1986 CQ^ SUBJECT: Child Care Task Force Report SPECIFIC REQUEST S) OR RECOMAENDATION(S) & BACNGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Authorize the Community Development Department to issue notices of public hearing for a General Plan amendment establishing a child care element in the General Plan, and designate the County Planning Commission as the body to conduct the hearings since the issue of child care facilities is of countywide significance. 2 . Request the Director of Personnel to report to our Committee on August 11, 1986 the status of efforts to survey employees at Merrithew Memorial Hospital for their interest in child care located near their place of employment. 3 . Request the Director of Personnel to survey County employees working in the Stanwell Drive/Bisso Lane area of Concord to determine their need for child care and their interest in having a child care facility located in the immediate vicinity to their place of employment, and report the results of the survey to the Internal Operations Committee on August 11, 1986. 4 . Request the Director of Personnel to survey County employees working in the downtown Martinez area to determine their need for child care and their interest in having a child care facility located in the immediate vicinity to their place of employment, and report the results of the survey to the Internal Operations Committee on August 11, 1986. 5 . Request the Director of General Services to determine the extent to which currently County-owned or leased space could be made available in the Stanwell Drive/Bisso Lane area of Concord, and in the downtown Martinez area as child care facilities, and report his findings and recommendations to the Internal Operations Committee on August 11, 1986 . 6 . Request the Director of General Services to determine the feasibility of incorporating in all major County building prgrams, including the West County detention facility, Merrithew Memorial Hospital, East County Social Services building, and Superior Court annex, appropriate child care CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT; _ TES SM6NATURE: _ RECOfOMENDAT I ON OF COUNTY ADM I N I STRATOR RECOSBMF7OAT I ON OF BOARD COMM I TTEE APPROVE OTH®I S19HATURELSIA6cy C. FandenJune Sunne W. Mc Peak ACT M ON OF BOARD ON U u n e APPRotlm AS RocOMPEEy®® X ®TMMR _ VarTE CIF SUPQIVISCLS I fEWAT CERTIFY TINT THIS IS A TOME X UNANIUMIS (ABSENT I ) AND COMECT CCPV OF AN AC:T'ICaN TAIEN AYES: NOES: AND E4ITMEA CIS TAE NINlMMS CIF TIFF MKWAp ABSEIQT: ABSTAIN: CIF S1IFEWISCRS CSI TIE uATIE SRJgXW_ CX: Page 3 ATTEST® i4a:�TCHELMCLLMK�GF INE DORM OF QSUPEWSURS AM COUM rY aalzma M1 SmMTCW bN382/7-B3 Page 2 6 . (continued) facilities for employees, visitors, and clients, and report his findings and recommendations to the Internal Operations Committee on August 11, 1986 . 7 . Request the United Way of the Bay Area to share with the Internal Operations Committee on August 11, 1986, their discussions with the Contra Costa Children' s Council leading to the development of a fiscal year 1986-87 contract between the United Way and the Children' s Council. 8 . Request the Social Services Director to report to our Committee August 11, 1986 on the status of the liability insurance crisis confronting foster homes, efforts being taken to deal with the crisis, and any recommendation for actions which should be taken by the Board of Supervisors. 9. Request the Contra Costa Children' s Council to share with the Internal Operations Committee on August 11, 1986 any information they have available on the effect the liability insurance crisis is having on efforts to recruit and retain day care facilities and day care homes in Contra Costa County. 10. Request that the Acting Director of Community Development obtain a copy of the City of Santa Barbara' s ordinance on child care fees and conditions placed on development, and forward copies of it to the Internal Operations Committee by August 11 , 1986. BACKGROUND: On April 29, 1986 , the Board of Supervisors approved a report from our Committee requesting that several reports be made to our Committee. On June 23, 1986, our Committee received a verbal report from the Acting Director of Community Development indicating that the ordinance allowing the development and operation of child care facilities in the unincorporated area of the County for up to 12 children without requiring a land use permit had been approved by the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Bragdon also reported that several cities in the County have similar ordinances in place, or under consideration. He also noted that a General Plan amendment is required before an ordinance can be adopted to impose a requirement for adequate child care facilities or a fee in lieu of providing such facilities as a condition on future developments in the unincorporated areas of the County. Such a General Plan amendment will be modeled on one in place in the City of Concord. Catherine Ertz-Berger of the Child Care Alliance indicated that the Alliance has been in place for about 9 months in response to the interest of the Child Care Task Force in addressing the problems of the accessibility and affordability of child care in Concord. The Alliance is presently pursuing four programs: 1) A vendor voucher program to subsidize child care for eligible parents. Thirty-five families with 50 children presently are being aided. Page 3 2 ) Financial assistance to provide training to child care providers. Thirty-four providers have taken advantage of this program. 3 ) Low-interest loans to assist providers in remodeling or expanding their facilities. Thus far, seven loans have been made to six providers. 4) Public education and awareness focused particularly on private sector employers to help them become more aware that they need to have some interest in the whole subject of child care. . The Alliance has also surveyed 800 private sector businesses to determine their interest in the provision of child care. Ms. Ertz-Berger noted that most employers are more interested in providing child care to their employees as an option as a part of a cafeteria plan of additional employee benefits. Many employers are concerned about on-site child care because of potential liability exposure. Supervisor Fanden expressed her concern that the County as an employer has not done more to meet the child care needs of its employees. Ms. Lydia Cameron, Chair of the United Way' s Contra Costa County Agency Relations Committee, noted the steps United Way is taking to meet with the Children' s Council to agree on goals and objectives and negotiate a fiscal year 1986-87 contract, steps which should be completed by August 1. Mr. Jornlin and his Contracts Administrator, Elizabeth Hutchins, summarized the contracts the Social Services Department has with the Children' s Council. Reference was made to a letter to our Committee from Rosemary Mans of the BankAmerica Foundation commenting on their contracts with the Children' s Council. Supervisor Fanden also expressed her concern for the impact that the liability insurance crisis was having on the availability of day care providers and on the County' s ability to recruit and retain foster homes. As a result of these discussions, we are making the above recommendations. cc: County Administrator Social Services Director Community Development Director Personnel Director General Services Director Lydia Cameron, United Way Jann Morris, United Way Catherine Ertz-Berger, Child Care Alliance Joan Kelley, Children's Council Rosemary Mans, BankAmerica Foundation