Item # 1 - Potential Partnership with Tresco concerned a presentation made by Tresco, a non-profit organization that specializes in employing the disabled and has more than 500 employees in the Las Cruces area. They provide many services to the disabled free of charge. They have contracts with several agencies and departments at White Sands Missile Range to perform contract janitorial and maintenance services. Seventy-five percent of their labor must be performed by the disabled. Their economic impact to the community is underscored by an annual payroll of $14 million. Each employed disabled person saves the community approximately $6,000 annually in reduced disability related benefits and services. Tresco has created its own community service organization, Action Club similar to Kiwanis, to provide community volunteer service. Tresco suggested the City could partner with them in four specific areas to improve employment opportunities for the disabled and potentially reduce costs for the City. These were:
a. Increase employment for disabled persons by contracting services with Tresco. Because it is a non-profit organization the City can contract with it without competitive bids at fair market value.
b. Provide opportunity within the City government for temporary employment
c. Provide opportunity for people with disabilities to volunteer with City Departments for community service projects which are often a pathway to regular employment.
d. Contract with the City to assist in after school programs for children with disabilities
· Councilor Silva wanted to know what kind of Hispanic outreach and training programs Tresco offered. He was informed that the have designated staff positions that are bilingual and offer training in specific needs areas
· Councilor Sorg liked the win/win scenarios at Tresco and wants to conduct further discussions about after school programs
· Councilor Thomas thinks that contacts with Tresco provide good learning experiences for both Tresco and the other employees.
· Mayor Miyagishima wanted to know whose Workers Comp covered Tresco employees. He was informed that Tresco had the primary responsibility. He wanted to know if Tresco had licensed (electricians, plumbers, etc) and was informed that they did and that Tresco looked for opportunities to find work for them. The Mayor also wanted additional information about Tresco’s role in after school programs and was informed that Tresco staff members could augment or supplement the City of Las Cruces staff and also conduct appropriate training for dealing with persons with disabilities.
Item # 2 – After School Program Update was presented by Mark Johnston. He said six schools and about 250 students are involved in this program. It conducts is activities in the cafeterias of the appropriate schools provided without cost to the City by the Las Cruces Public Schools. Students are selected by lottery and currently everyone who desired to participate has been accommodated. Parents pay $519 per year ($3.50 per day) for the program which runs from 2:30-5:30 pm on school days. The program is based on the “Beyond the Bell Curriculum” used in Southern California. It provides supervision and assistance with homework, teaches “go green concepts” and provides healthy nutritional snacks as part of the program. (Editorial comment: Now we provide students with “nutritional” breakfasts, lunches, and dinners at schools). It is essentially a low-cost baby setting service funded by the taxpayers and costs much less than similar private sector programs that cost on an average of $25 per day. Current annual costs are $147,000 but the program runs a 25% deficit because fees to participate in the program are insufficient to cover the actual costs. Mr. Johnston offered several options for the Council to consider for the next budget year.
a. Encourage Las Cruces Public Schools to become involved in the staffing of the program.
b. Increase the fee from $3.50 to $5.00 per day per participant. This money could be shared with LCPS to cover the additional staffing costs.
c. Reduce the number of participating schools
d. Reduce the part-time staff and reduce programs offered
e. He also stated he would rather add more supervision than increase participation.
· Councilor Thomas said we should consider charging more for the program and Las Cruces Public Schools should support the program Editorial Comment: Why should the LCPS fund this City of Las Cruces program and isn’t their role to educate them in the classroom? Also where would the money come from?
· Councilor Small also supports an increase in fees especially in light of the pending City budget cuts but wanted to know who would perform this service if it wasn’t the City. Mr. Johnston informed him that there are currently other private sector organizations providing similar programs (Boys & Girls Club, FYI, and others). He stated that this program was essential for low-income families that could not pay the higher costs for private after school child care.
· Councilor Connor asked what happens when school is on a half-day schedule or on holidays? She was informed that the program is not available on those days. She also asked if they had considered using senior volunteers to support the program? She was informed that they were working with the Munson Senior Center and with NMSU Engineering Department.
· Councilor Pedroza commented she was impressed with the educational component of the program but wondered if they had considered other staffing options such as College Service Unit Credits for students to earn college credits for volunteer work?
· Councilor Silva asked what are you looking for from the Council? Mr. Johnston stated that the needed budget support, a fee increase, and/or staff reductions. He stated he will have to cut the part-time programs first. He then added that with any fee increase there will be an initial decline in participation.
· Councilor Sorg commented that even with a fee increase this program was cheaper than child care. Editorial Comment: Again this begs the question “Why is the City involved in providing Child Care?”
· Mr. Johnston concluded the presentation.
Item #3 – School Safe Zones was presented by Information Technology Director, Don Bustamante. Mayor Miyagishima has requested the staff to look into creating “safe corridor or streets” for students walking home. The City is considering acquiring and installing cameras along selected streets for surveillance of student behavior. Mr. Bustamante informed the Council that the concept was technologically feasible and the cameras would cost approximately $4000 each for acquisition and installation. There are some infrastructure issues with one of the schools and there are no funds available for this program. Chief Williams also appeared before the Council and said that there is a LCPD officer at each middle school and high school. The Las Cruces Public Schools picks up half of the salary costs for these officers.
· Mayor Miyagishima suggested that perhaps El Paso Electric would consider donating the utility costs for these cameras.
· Councilor Connor commented that there are solar or battery cameras that could be purchased with would reduce the utility costs for the City. It was suggested the City consider using the Department of Justice “secure our schools” grants to fund this project. The problem is that this requires a 50% match and there are no funds available for this project.
Public Comment: As an exception to policy Mayor Miyagishima allowed Mr. James Carlyle, a musician who plays every Thursday for the dances at the Las Cruces County Club to address the Council. He requested that the City work with his group to find a replacement site since the Country Club will not be available. He suggested the Munson Senior center and stated that dancing is a great physical activity for seniors. Mayor Miyagishima directed Assistant City Manager Robert Garza meet with Mr. Carlyle to discuss it.
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