City Council to consider extension of senior meal program
The Vacaville City Council will consider additional funding to extend the Senior Hot Meals Program for older residents who have been homebound because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A resolution extending the program for the remainder of the fiscal year and adjusting the budget to allocate $35,000 for it is on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting.
According to a staff report by Kerry Walker, the city’s Parks and Recreation Director, the California budget for the 202021 fiscal year authorized the state Department of Finance to allocate $500 million to cities to cover for COV ID- related expenses. Vacaville received approximately $1.2 million through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) based on its population.
Early in the pandemic, the city established a Senior Hot Meals Program through a combination of donations and volunteers, and it partnered with local restaurants to have meals delivered to seniors sheltering at home.
“This has proven to be a valuable program not only to serve seniors but to partner with local restaurants,” Walker wrote. “As of the writing of this staff report, there are approximately 55 seniors served meals three days each week, 12 participating restaurants, and 30 volunteers assisting with meal deliveries.”
Because of the demand, the council previously approved $ 27,600 in CRF funding while also waiting for approval from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Community Block Development Grant funds for the program. The CRF has been fully utilized, Walker wrote, and is expected to run through the end of January. However, the city has not received approval from HUD to spend CBDG funds on the program, and additional CRF funds are not anticipated from the state.
“In an effort to be responsive to our community’s needs, especially our most vulnerable seniors, staff is recommending continued funding for the Senior Hot Meals Program through the end of the current fiscal year,” Walker wrote.
The city is requesting $35,000 from the General
Fund reserves to go toward the program until CBDG funds are approved by HUD or if federal or state funds become available. If the CBDG funds are approved, the city would start using those for the program instead.
In other business, the council will consider a resolution authorizing Public Works Director Girum Awoke to enter into an agreement with New Image Landscape Company for citywide landscape maintenance services.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The Zoom link is Cov.zoom.us/s/9956 9804654?pwd=TENqcXhW cnlmYzEwbmt0MkdkTTdWZz09, and the password is 639925. Participants may also join by phone by dialing 267- 831- 0333 or 301715-8592 or toll-free at 877853- 5257 or 888- 475- 4499. Participants may dial *67 before the number if they wish to keep their number from being displayed on the screen.
The meeting may also be viewed on Channel 26 or online at Youtube.com/user/ CityofVacaville/videos.