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Home My WebLink AboutAGENDA REPORT 1992 0401 CC REG ITEM 08LMOORPARK iTFne 8. L. 799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark, California 93021 (805) 529- 686� RK Counc' Mc-ti �� 199 ,.CTION: TO: The Honorable City Council �Y FROM: Donald P. Reynolds Jr., Management Analyst DATE: March 26, 1992 SUBJECT: Consider Expansion of the Women, Infants and Children's Program, ("WIC°) Background Ventura County Public Health Agency has requested permission to use the Citrus Room for a second day per month for the WIC program, and if Council concurs, staff will generate a letter in support of this request which includes additional stipulations as proposed in staff's recommendation. If approved by Council, the program would provide services on the fourth Tuesday of each month, (in addition to the existing arrangement for the second Tuesday of each month), beginning in July of this year. The WIC program provides counseling and nutritional services to low income mothers, infants and children County -wide, and in Moorpark. WIC compensates the City by paying the flat rate of $25 per use. This rate is less than "Group 1" rental fee for the Citrus Room, ( "Group 1" applies to local non - profit organizations), which is currently $20 per hour plus a $35 set up charge. The flat fee rental rate has been applied because this is an important service for Moorpark residents, assisting them with prenatal care and preventative health counseling for children and mothers. This is the only service available of this kind for low income persons living in Moorpark. WIC has been using the Citrus room since FY 1984/85. The program is budgeted to serve 10,000 persons in the County, and between 200 and 250 persons receive the service each month in Moorpark. If a person from a different City misses the appointment in their City, they may come to the Moorpark facility. There is currently no facility in Thousand Oaks, and approximately half of these beneficiaries travel to Simi Valley and half to Moorpark. Between 100 and 160 Moorpark residents rely on the Moorpark site for services. Discussion In February of this year, it was requested by WIC that the City provide a second and possibly a third day for the services in Moorpark, (Attachment "A"). The cities of Fillmore and Simi Valley PAUL W. LAWRASON JR. JOHN E. WOZNIAK SCOTT MONTGOMERY BERNARDO M. PEPEZ ROY E. TALLEY J :. Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Councilmember Councilmember Councilmembe have already increased their service days from one to two times per month. Ms. Mullahey, (Ventura County Public health, Public Health Nutritionist), estimates that because of budget limitations, accommodating a second day of service would reduce the daily needs to between 80 and 100 persons per day, (not increase the number of persons receiving the service). After meeting with Ms. Mullahey to discuss this matter, staff requested that she investigate two possibilities; 1) a facility for Thousand Oaks' residents, and 2) the potential of using the Casey Road school facilities. Because the program-requires an extended commitment (of 6 to 12 months), Thousand Oaks was unable to provide a public meeting place for the agency, (their facilities can only be reserved on a short term basis), however, Ms. Mullahey did receive a commitment from a church to provide one day of service per month. After touring the Casey Road site, Ms. Mullahey reported that no provisions could be provided, (tables and chairs), to facilitate the counseling and training activities, thereby ruling out this option. Staff presented to Ms. Mullahey two concerns from the City; 1) parking, and 2) City needs for the Citrus Room. The matter has been discussed between various staff members and the conclusion is that by adding a second day of the month, as long as that day was the same day of the week as the current use, (Tuesday) , the increase in service availability does not pose an immediate scheduling problem. Several options were presented by Ms. Mullahey regarding the parking issue, but staff requested that further action be postponed until the effects of opening a second day of service could be evaluated to see if the reduced number of persons served on each day actually occurs, which would thereby reduce the impact on parking. It appears as though the staff of the WIC program has taken steps in the best interest of their clients, and is willing to pay the same $25.00 flat rate the second day per month if approved by Council. Staff has considered this arrangement and recommends that the City extend the additional commitment six months beginning in July, 1992, (adding another Tuesday of service) and if no conflicts occur, allow the program to proceed two days per month for successive subsequent 6 month periods as approved by the City Manager. During this period, the City would reserve the right to terminate either one or both of the days per month with a 60 day written notice as determined by the City Council. This would allow the City a flexible arrangement in case a recreation program or another City need arose during this time, which is not possible to determine now. Recommendation That the City Council authorize staff to direct a letter to the Director of the WIC program, which includes the language proposed in this report as follows: 1) City to commit to the f irst six months of fiscal year 1992/93 of WIC services by allowing the use of the Citrus Room for the program to occur on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, and extend this commitment in subsequent six month intervals subject to approval by the City Manager; 2) Provide for a 60 day termination for the availability of the Citrus room for either one or both requested days of service per month by written notice from the City, contingent upon approval by the City Council; 3) The City will receive a flat rate of $25.00 for each day of room rental; 4) That if needed, representatives of the Ventura County Public Health Agency will work with the City to mitigate parking concerns at City Hall during WIC service days. Attachment A- Ventura County Health Agency Request to Extend the WIC Program r AttachmgnLA VCPH 01 Ventura County Public Health A Division of the Ventura County Health Care Agency February 12, 1992 Mr. Steven Kueny City Manager, City of Moorpark 799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark, CA 93021 Dear Mr. Kueny, The Womensf Infants and Childrens Nutrition Program would like to expand its clinic services in your community. At present we hold a WIC clinic once a month, on the 2nd Tuesday in the Citrus Room. We would like to schedule a second clinic and a third, if possible, therefore meeting two -three times a month in Moorpark. We are requesting the 4th Tuesday of each month in addition to the 2nd Tuesday clinic for which we are already scheduled. The 3rd clinic day would need to be scheduled on a different day of the week but the day is negotiable. July is our target date to have additional clinics throughout Ventura county. Therefore, discussion and confirmation need to be completed at an early date in order to have a two or three month lead time to complete our scheduling calendar. Debbie Broussalian has been very helpful during the past several months in our clinic expansion plans. Your consideration is most appreciated. The Citrus Room is an excellent facility for our clinics and the location is ideal. At your convenience I would like to meet with you or speak with you via telephone. My office number is 652 -5912 or the toll -free number is 529 -2060, x5912. Thank you very much. Sincerely, Rosemary MEllahey RD Public Health Nutritionist WIC Program 3147 Loma Vista Road Ventura, CA 93009 3147 Loma Vista Road • Ventura, California 93009 * (805) 652 -5916