Travis County Commssioners Court
June 1, 2004
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Item 25
Number 25 is to consider and take appropriate action on the following requests regarding the f.y. '04 summer youth employment program. A is the f.y. '04 contract and b is the transfer of funding for the contract.
>> can we indicate this before -- didn't we indicate this before? On 31 the request from the county clerk regards a security issue really and we probably ought to take 31 up in executive session along with the other executive session items under the security exception. That way we could freely discuss it and then come back in open court. Sorry about this, steven. 25 a and b.
>> what we're proposal social security an amendment to the current contract. We are now in the [indiscernible] provision of the current contract and we're also requesting transfer of funds from the regular salary line item to the contract [inaudible].
>> I had some specific questions. What was the full amount of this program combined city-city last year?
>> last year it was -- actual there any 500 and --
>> 65.
>> but that was a reduction from the previous year.
>> right. But I’m just trying to get to where were we just simply from last year. So it stayed steady from last year. In terms of the split now is very heavily, for once, flipped, with Travis County providing most of the money versus the city of Austin in terms of the split.
>> yes.
>> and what do we have in terms of follow-up related to last year when that occurred to make sure that the children -- certain percentage of children who live outside the city of Austin are part of the capturing of some of these jobs?
>> we've continued our efforts that started probably four, five years ago where we do extensive outreach through our community centers to ensure a level of participation with children outside of the city of Austin in Travis County.
>> last year when -- in terms of who does the hiring and all this kind of stuff, was the city of Austin actually handling the payroll duties last year?
>> yes.
>> and is there some way to ensure that the kids that when we get their paychecks understand this money is not just from the city of Austin, it's a jointly funded program? I know that sounds minor, but if you get the paycheck and the only thing it says is city of Austin, one would think that the city of Austin is the one that is paying your tab and that couldn't be further from the truth.
>> we could make some efforts in that regard. As a matter of fact, we're starting orientation this week so we can make special effort to make certain that the parents and the youth understand that it is a joint effort. I think that's clear in some ways because Travis County staff were the ones who actually managed the oversight of the program as far as all the administrative and the training. So except for the payroll function that is correct is premerrill the function of the city provides at this point. All other functions are provided by Travis County.
>> I wonder if [indiscernible] would be a good place to start.
>> and have we seen the forms that basically talk about this program to make sure that Travis County and the city of Austin are getting the full and proper creditor their participation in this program?
>> absolutely.
>> okay.
>> all of our brochures we have both the city and Travis County and information on staff so it's very clear that it's a joint effort.
>> very good.
>> when is orientation?
>> actually it starts today. So but we'll have two sessions so we'll have an opportunity to talk to staff about making sure.
>> won't call meeting after this.
>> that's right. Laugh.
>> where does that take place?
>> actually, I’m not certain.
>> was ital [indiscernible]? It was last year.
>> yeah, it was.
>> as far as the transfer for the stipend, it's phroepld to come from the regular salaries line item. If you look within the youth and family services division, yes, they do have enough salary savings to transfer. I believe a position was kept open specifically to generate that phoefpblt however, if you look at the whole general fund budgees of h.h.s., They are coming close to not -- the projections show they are coming throws to not meeting the budgeted salary savings. So we're looking at the big picture on general fund. This may exacerbate that situation in transferring additional funding out of the personnel budget. And p.b.o. Wanted to inform the court of that situation.
>> I think we have to look a little closer because we actually get salary dollars from the city. We had actually gotten salary dollars from the city of Austin to fill a coordinator for youth with disabilities. We kept that position open because, number one, we didn't have enough money to fill that position, and our current staff is full I willing that function. And so therefore we need to demonstrate to the city of Austin that we are using their money for this specific program. And so therefore we are proposing to move those dollars into the stipend for youth. If this were another program, a regular county program that's not jointly funded by the city, I think what she's saying would be totally appropriate. But because of the nature of how this program is funding, it's not an exact fit.
>> final question t number of employees that oversee this, it's four full-time and 10 seasonal employees?
>> that's correct.
>> how do that differ shaeut in terms of last year in terms of the number of people that were hired to be the support team? It's the same.
>> so help me understand if it's the same number, this contract is saying that the number of youth hired is dropping from 750 to 600 youth. Instinctively one would say if you have 150 less kids, there would be less people needed to do the supervisory work.
>> that's true except that, as I said earlier, they took on the added responsibility with the current staff load of doing the extra work that's required to recruit and supervise the youth with disabilities. And so embedded in that contract is their requirement to actually hire a certain amount of youth with disabilities who in fact require more staff work. Now, we kept that position vacant, actually it was an efficiency move by our administration's part. So to ensure that we would avoid laying off someone that we hired. But deborah and her program manager had the challenge of still fulfilling the elements of the contract that require the significant number of kwaout youth with tkabgtsz that they were going to have. That's why the staffing legals have remained the same.
>> [indiscernible] identify that many with disabilities?
>> yes. We've actually in the last year we served 75, I believe. The goal was 60. This year we've already kraoe kraoutd over 80.
>> who fills the temp positions?
>> the temp positions are filled by generally teachers that are off during the summer. And their role is to act as lee liaisons twapbs the job site and Travis County.
>> so all of them are adults?
>> all are adults.
>> what valerie was saying a few minutes ago, if we have to [indiscernible] the recommendation, then the department has to keep working on salary savings to meet projections.
>> yes. And I can share my forecast with them to see if they can take any actions and perhaps taking other vacancies open to generate the savings that they need looking at the whole general fund budget.
>> but I hear the department committing to you is exactly that.
>> i'll help with that personally, judge. [laughter]
>> [indiscernible].
>> I will. You got salary savings.
>> make a motion to approve 25 a and b.
>> we have one other suggestion for getting the word out on the collaborative effort between the city and the county, that we could put some information into the payroll envelopes. So that's another good way to advise and get the word out.
>> yeah, you have to actually bring that as an item to the Commissioners court.
>> it will be through the city's payroll distribution.
>> [inaudible].
>> youth checks. Any more discussion on the motion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Thank you very much.
Last Modified: Wednesday, June 2, 2004 7:47 AM