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278237 WHITE - CITY CLERK i���yyy �j'� PINK - RINANCE � �� `�_{� CANARY - DEPARTMENT � COUIICII �) BLUE - MAYOR C� ITY OF SAINT PAUL File NO. . ouncil Resolution Presented By ' • Referred To Committee: Date Out of Committee By Date WHEREAS, the McKnight Founda�ion has generously offered the City of Saint Paul the sum of $1,000,000 to assist the City in its endeavor to combat high and rising unemployment within the City; and WHEREAS, the contribution and its utilization and adminis�ration have been established in a written document entitled "Work Opportunities Project", a copy of which is attached hereto and ma.de a part of this resolution; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Ma.yor and the Council of the City of Saint Paul hereby extend their deepest and heartfelt thanks to the McKnight Foundation for its generosity and commit the government of the City of Saint Paul to the expenditure of the $1,000,000 gift in accordance with the guidelines established under the Work Opportunities Project. COUNC[LME[�I Requestgd by Department of: Yeas Nays Hunt Levine [n Favor Maddox McMahon B showalter - � __ Against Y Tedesco Wilson fEB �. 1 1981 Form pproved C' ne Adopted by Council: Date _ � Certified assed b Co .il S retary BY B � �G1�G� '�i�� Ap o by A7avor. D te � F� 162 ' Approv by Mayor for Su m' io to Council By _ — By �U�i.iSHED FEB 2 0 1982 • S � �ir���"� ' WORK OPPORTUNITIES PROJECT Administered by the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota and the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota Under grants from the McKnight Foundation A, Existing Problems The current economic recession has resulted in high and rising unemploy- ment rates across the country and in the Saint Paul and Minneapolis area. While the unemployment statistics are startling, they do not truly reveal the stagna.tion of economic activity, the extreme difficult in finding employ- ment and the consequent desperate circumstances into which too many area residents find themselves thrust. Unemployment Insurance benefits are of relatively short duration and are being exhausted in many cases. Unemployed workers who apply for welfare often find that they are not eligible for even minimal welfare payments. Job seekers compete and struggle for the relatively few full and part-time jobs that are available. Many do not find employment even if they are willing to take very low wages compared to what they had earned. These regrettable conditions affect all levels of the labor force from the ma.rginally skilled to professional workers. Out-of-school youth and young adults are particularly hard hit as they lack the experience and employment history necessary to compete in the current labor market. In past times that were comparable to these, publicly funded programs have stepped into the breach in an attempt to meet the economic needs and the work experience needs of those most severely in need of assistance. Today such programs don't exist, there is no safety net and people are taking whatever means at hand to survive in the world in which they find themselves. -1- . B. Project Overview The project will create work opportunities under a Work Relief project for at least 400 unemployed Saint Paul and Minneapolis residents who are in desperate need of immediate economic assistance. Temporary jobs and the providing of public services will be the major objectives of the project, but future employability development of the workers will be a secondary objective. The project would be administered in Saint Paul by the City of Saint Paul, Division of Ma.npower Programs in cooperation with Independent School District No. 625. The project will be administered in Minneapolis by the City of Minneapolis in cooperation with the Minneapolis Park Board and various community agencies. Much of the actual operation and work activities of the project would be carried out through non-profit agencies and neighborhood multi-service centers and recreation centers geographically dispersed within the cities. The work performed would be community improvements and services to the public which would require relatively minimal worker skill levels. The specific work activities would be identified and scheduled as the project proceeds. Generally, the activities carried out would contribute to the quality, accessability, energy efficiency, safety and aesthetics of the cities and its neighborhoods. A grant of one million dollars to each city will fund the project for a six month period. Certain costs will be contributed by participating agencies. The project will 'begin 15 days following the approval of the project proposal. The project, due to its nature, scope and objectives, will be classified as a Work Relief project as opposed to regular employ- ment. -2- . � ��, � ,,. ; � �� . , < , r` �� . C. Program Objectives • To make a positive impact on the unemployment situation in the Saint Paul and Minneapolis area through a six month community improvement and public service Work Relief project. • To identify and employ at least 200 Saint Paul and 200 Minneapolis residents who are unemployed and severely in need of economic assistance. • To provide employability development services and job search assistance to job ready individuals during their employment in the project. • To provide the community and the neighborhoods with community improvements and public services which would enhance the quality of life in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, improve the availability and accessability of services, such as transportation, recreation and health. • To improve the energy efficiency of buildings used in community services by public and private non-profit agencies. • To improve community safety. • To enhance the aesthetics of the Saint Paul and Minneapolis Communities. • To provide a positive economic impact on the local economy through the infusion of this money as wages and hence as spendable income in our economy. D. Program Strategy To identify, screen and employ at least 400 unemployed Saint Paul and Minneapolis residents as participants in the subject Work Relief project. Work opportunities would be provided for up to six months and would in the case of any individual terminate at such time as the individual were to become employed in regular employment. Efforts will be made to match workers with work activities that will enhance their transition into regular employ- ment. Seminars for job ready workers in areas such as vocational planning, motivation and attitudes, job seeking and job keeping skills and job search services will be provided. Work activities will be developed in private and public non-profit agencies and institutions to meet community service needs and to the extent possible, match the capabilities of the unemployed individuals. -3- E. Targeted Population The program will be targeted so as to identify and employ those un- employed people who have an immediate and desperate need for economic assistance. These will be Saint Paul and Minneapolis residents unemployed for at least 30 days who would meet low income criteria. Low income criteria means that the individual or family has an income which is less than 85% of the Lower Living Standard as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act. The following table depicts that income level by family unit size: Lower Living Standard Table 85% Level Family Size Annual Income 1 $ 4,290 2 $ 7,030 3 $ 9,660 4 $11,920 5 $14,070 6 $16,450 In addition they would be individuals who are not eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits and who are not eligible to receive welfare benefits or comparable forms of public assistance. The program would be aimed at out-of- school young adults and other adults. Applicants will be selected based upon severity of their need. F. Recruitment and Hiring The number of positions created by the project is quite significant, but when taken in terms of total need it is apparent that it would not meet the expected demand for such positions. In Saint Paul, it is planned that people who are on enrollment lists with city agencies providing employment -4- . � � .< �� s:� ,:`j r f� � �, and training services will be given priority consideration for approxi- mately 50% of the positions. Recruitment for the remaining 50% of the positions will take place city-wide with the various neighborhood areas being allocated a portion of the available positions. In response to phoned inquiries, applications will be sent out to persons who appear to meet the program eligibility criteria. In Minneapolis, recruitment will take place throughout the City including through couIInunity-based organizations and Park and Recreation Centers. Al1 applications will be reviewed and approved by project administration to assure objectivity and uniformity in the selection and employment process. All workers hired for the project will be required to complete appro- priate application and employment forms and including a form which notifies them that this is not regular employment, that it does not pay any fringe benefits, that it is a Work Relief project, and that they consequently will not accumulate any Unemployment Insurance credits. They will be asked to sign a statement acknowledging that it is their understanding that they will not be eligible for Unemployment Insurance as a result of working on this Work Relief project and that they agree to not apply for Unemployment Insurance as a result of participating in the project. G. Program Operation Saint Paul The Saint Paul Division of Manpower Programs will provide general administrative services including planning and monitoring services relating to the project, The Saint Paul Independent School District No. 625, through the Center for Youth Employment and Training, will provide project operations management, and coordination services including payroll and other record -5- keeping activities. Saint Paul workers under the program will be paid through a special payroll under the Independent School District No. 625 fiscal system. Neighborhood multi-service centers geographically dispersed within the City along with public and private non-profit agencies will coordina.te work activity and provide direction and supervision to individual workers and work crews under the project. Appropriate work activities will be solicited from public or private agencies, including city agencies, private agencies, neighborhood councils, etc. Minneapolis The Minneapolis Employment and Training Program will provide general administrative services including planning and monitoring related to the project. Workers providing services to community-based organizations will be paid by the City of Minneapolis. Workers providing services to the Minneapolis Park Board will be managed and paid by that agency. The Minneapolis Park Board and community-based organizations will coordinate work activity and provide direction and supervision to individual workers and work crews under the project. Appropriate work activities will be solicited from any private non-profit agency. Proposed work activities will be reviewed, prioritized and scheduled, taking into consideration the appropriateness of the proposed work activity, availability of workers and equipment, seasonal considerations and immediacy of the need. Generally, work activities will be labor intensive activities that can be carried out without the use of inechanical equipment. As is necessary, meetings will be held to explain the scope and purpose of the project so that it is fully understood and that appropriate work opportunities that will provide meaningful community improvements and public services will be identified and carried out. -6- . . , -, , j` • • � � f I ti.:R�./ It is intended that work activities will be in addition to work presently being accomplished by public or private agencies. The supervision of workers will be carried out in two ways. First, if one or more individual workers are assigned to a particular agency to carry out an extended project, we would expect that agency to contribute necessary supervision on an in-kind basis. If workers are organized into a work crew and carry out a diverse set of work activities, a work crew leader will be assigned to that activity. Workers under this Work Relief project will be paid at the rate of $4.25 per hour and will not receive the fringe benefits usually associated with regular employment. Work will be on a full-time, 40 hour a week basis and workers will be scheduled on an 8 hour a day, 5 day a week basis. In Saint Paul, hand tools and equipment necessary for carrying out the work activities will be purchased, rented or borrowed as is most feasible so that the variety of work activities can be carried out in a timely fashion and workers as necessary will be supplied with transportation, protective or cold weather clothing. H. Employability Development Workers will be reviewed in terms of performance on the Work Relief project and past experience to ascertain their readiness for regular employ- ment if that should be available to them. Workers so identified will be required to participate in seminars relating to their employability develop- ment, such seminars and services would include: • Vocational Planning • Motivations and Attitudes • Job Seeking and Job Keeping Skills • Job Search and Placement -7- To the extent that it is possible assist workers in moving off of the program when they are ready for jobs and when there are jobs available, additional workers can be assisted by providing them with a work opportunity. In addition, workers will not become complacent feeling they have. a long- term job, I. Monitoring On-site monitoring of work activities at the agency level will be carried out periodically during the operation of the project. Written evaluations of the workers will be completed by each supervisor. Self- evaluations by the workers will be completed so that program administra- tion has a clear idea how the workers see themselves and the program. -8- • � � / ' � �/ G� � _� Work Opportunities Proiect Information on How to Apply for a Job Unemployed residents of Saint Paul or Minneapolis may be eligible for temporary full-time jobs performing needed public services under the newly funded Work Opportunities Project._ The jobs will be created in the Saint Paul and Minneapolis communities and they will pay $4.25 an hour, for 40 hours per week. To be considered for a job you must: • Live within the city limits of Saint Paul or Minneapolis • Have been unemployed for at least 30 days and not be in school • Meet low income criteria for individual or family • Be ineligible for other types of short-term financial support such as Unemployment Insurance benefits • Be ineligible for welfare benefits or comparable public assistance For more information, or to apply for a job under this new program call: If you live in Saint Paul - 298-0084 If you live in Minneapolis - 348-5712 If you call and want to apply, a few questions will be asked. If it ' looks like you're eligible an application will be mailed to you to be completed and returned within five days. _� - � ' :� � L J `�'4�i ~� � � � ♦ Project Proposal Budget Work Opportunities Project City of Saint Paul Project Workers (Wages) $ 838,896. (26 wks. x 40 hrs. at 4.25 an hr. _ $4421 per work slot) (218 slots - assuming 15% attrition and absenteeism) Project Crew Leaders (6) (Wage 5.25 and fringe) 40,650. Project Coordinators (2) (Wage, fringe and mileage) 22,500. Workers Clothing 4,000. Wo-rkers Transportation 3,000. Work Lunch Supplement 8,000. Supplies and Equipment 9,000. Computer Payroll Processing 4,000. Workmens Compensation (4% Rate) 34,954. Employability Development and Training Services 10,000. Administration 25,000. $1,000,000. ,,�t=YO. CITY OF SAINT PAUL �+'���� 1 :� '; OFFICE OF THE MAYOR M I{'ii ° Q . � ���� 347 CITY HALL SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA 55102 GEORGE LATIMER (612) 298-4323 MAYOR TO: Council President Ruby Hunt Councilman Leonard Levine Councilman Ron Maddox Councilman George McP�iahon Councilwoman Joanne Showalter Councilman Victor Tedesco Councilman Bill Wilson FROM: Dick Broeker� DATE : February 5 , 1982 SUBJ: McKnight Foundation Funded Work Opportunity Program As you are aware, the City of Saint Paul has been awarded a $1 million grant through the McKnight Foundation to fund a six-month work opportunity program designed to get immediate assistance to unemployed individuals and families who are receivina no other type of assistance. I am attaching a copy of our foundation grant application completed by Dick Thorpe of the city' s Manpower Division. In order to receive the $1 million, the City Council is being requested to approve the appropriate resolution. If you have questions or suggestions on the program, please call Dick Thorpe directly - 298-4904. DB/lm cc: Dick Thorpe �O