HomeMy WebLinkAbout(0080) M&C 21-0388City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
DATE: 06/08/21 M&C FILE NUMBER: M&C 21-0388
LOG NAME: 19NS TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK RED BUS PROGRAM
SUBJECT
(CD 9) Authorize Change in Use and Expenditure of $428,640.00 of Prior Year's Unprogrammed Community Development Block Grant Funds for
the Tarrant Area Food Bank Resources and Education Delivered Bus Program, Authorize the Execution of a Contract for Up to Three Years,
Authorize a Substantial Amendment to the City's 2019-2020 Action Plan, and Authorize the Substitution of Funding Years
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Authorize a change in use and expenditures of $428,640.00 of prior year's unprogrammed Community Development Block Grant to the
Tarrant Area Food Bank Resources and Education Delivered Bus Program;
2. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute a contract with Tarrant Area Food Bank in an amount up to $428,640.00 for the
Resources and Education Delivered Bus Program with a term of up to three years;
3. Authorize a substantial amendment to the City's 2019-2020 Action Plan; and
4. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to substitute funding years in order to meet United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development commitment, disbursement and expenditure deadlines.
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of this Mayor and Council Communication (M&C) is to reallocate available unprogrammed Community Development Block Grant
funds to provide additional funding for a targeted food assistance program.
The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing economic crisis has disproportionately affected communities of color and the poor, worsening already poor
health outcomes. Feeding America, the national association of food banks, has indicated that the percent of Tarrant County residents who are
food insecure has risen from 13.9% to 17.5% during the pandemic.
Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) is renewing its focus on underserved communities within the City of Fort Worth and is working on strategies to
make a long-term impact in these neighborhoods. In a concerted effort to address food insecurity and the number of identified food deserts within
Tarrant County and Fort Worth, in particular, TAFB has proposed a partnership with the City of Fort Worth to serve the most impacted communities,
including neighborhoods in the following zip codes: 76104, 76105, 76106, 76107, 76116, and 76119. The services of TAFB are a critical first step
in positioning families for success. Access to healthy, nutritious food is a basic need that must be paramount in the quest to alleviate poverty and
transform the lives of Fort Worth's most vulnerable residents. The Resources and Education Delivered (RED) Bus Program will play a critical role
in TAFB's efforts to remediate these effects.
The RED Bus Program will take the food bank's service directly to those most in need. At the heart of the program is a mobile service delivery unit
- a specialty built vehicle, which provides space for the display of grocery items and office space for staff. Utilizing this vehicle, TAFB will provide
(1) emergency food distribution; (2) nutrition education; and (3) assistnace for enrollment of eligible families into federal benefits programs such as
SNAP, TANF, CHIP and Medicaid. TAFB will be able to customize the unit to allow for half of it to be designed as a grocery store, providing clients
with a selection of fresh foods to select and take home. The remainder of the vehicle will be equipped with computer space for TAFB's staff to
assist clients with applying for benefits. As a one -stop shop, the unit will be able to travel throughout the community and help to eliminate barriers
to food access. No fees will be assessed to the individuals and families benefitting from the RED Bus Program for any services or benefits. An
estimated number of 500 persons per month (6000 persons annually) will be served through the program at an estimated cost of $33.00 per
person.
The funds will be used for the mobile service delivery staff costs for up to three years. Provision of these funds to TAFB constitutes a proposed
change in use of unprogrammed 2019-2020 Community Development Block Grant funds received from the United States Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD). These funds will be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the benefit programs. This will aid the
preservation of health for vulnerable populations by improving access to healthy food while increasing social distancing and reducing potential
exposure to the virus for the elderly and disabled by reducing need to go to the grocery store or public benefits facilities.
A public comment period on this proposed substantial amendment to the 2019-20 Action Plan was held from April 19, 2021 to April 23, 2021. All
comments received are maintained by the Neighborhood Services Department.
Funds will be allocated as follows:
General Operating Expenses - $428,640.00
Tarrant Area Food Bank is located at 2600 Cullen Street in COUNCIL DISTRICT 9. The program will be available in low -to -moderate income
areas in Council Districts 2, 3, 5, and 8, serving zip codes 76104, 76105, 76106, 76107, 76116, and 76119.
FISCAL INFORMATION / CERTIFICATION:
The Director of Finance certifies that upon approval of the above recommendations, funds will be available in the current operating budget, as
appropriated, of the Grants Operating Federal Fund. The Neighborhood Services Department (and Financial Management Services) will be
responsible for the collection and deposit of funds due to the City. Prior to expenditures being incurred, the Neighborhood Services has the
responsibility to validate the availablitlity of funds. This is a reimbursement grant.
Submitted for City Manager's Office by. Fernando Costa 6122
Originating Business Unit Head: Victor Turner 8187
Additional Information Contact: Sharon Burkley 5785
Sean Stanton 5811