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Home My WebLink AboutCM Volunteer Program 20th AnniversaryCITY OF Agenda Item No: 5_c in, Meeting Date: September 6, 2016 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: City Manager Prepared by: Cory Bytof, Sustainability and City Manager Approval: Volunteer Program Coordinator, Ann Bauer, Volunteer Program Assistant TOPIC: 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY'S VOLUNTEER PROGRAM SUBJECT: RECEIVE INFORMATIONAL REPORT ON PLANS FOR THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY'S VOLUNTEER PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION: Accept the report. BACKGROUND: Volunteers contribute approximately $1 million in service to the City of San Rafael annually. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Volunteer Program. Although the City has been the recipient of citizen volunteer efforts for decades, the City Council formally created the Volunteer Program in 1996. Since that time many thousands of volunteers have contributed time to the City, and arguably help create a more vibrant, engaged, and community -centered governance. When residents and other community members volunteer they become part of the solution to our pressing issues, they become ambassadors for City programs and projects, and they provide skill sets and perspectives that benefit everyone. Volunteers contribute in a variety of ways, both as individuals and in groups, in City departments and in the community at large. For example, volunteers greet people at the Concierge Desk at City Hall, run senior programs at the San Rafael Community Center, and assist with vacation home checks and coastline patrol of the Bay in the Police Department. Volunteers run all the operations at the Friends' Library Bookstore, maintain landscaping in parks, remove invasive plants in open space, and help out at special events like the Great Race. Volunteers serve on Boards and Commissions, they help with fundraisers and campaigns for tax measures, and serve as Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members, among many other activities. In addition, the City manages community service court workers who perform work without pay in order to work off traffic tickets and misdemeanors. ANALYSIS: The Volunteer Program, in conjunction with the City Manager and department directors and staff will be using this anniversary as an opportunity to showcase all the work that volunteers contribute to the City. FOR CITY CLERK ONLY File No.: 235 Council Meeting: 09/06/2016 Disposition: Accepted report SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 We will be spotlighting volunteers, programs, and staff supervisors over a twenty week period, one per week, through mid-December in our 20/20 Spotlight online at www. San RafaelVolunteers.orq. In addition, we will send the spotlights out via email and social media and will ask our partners and volunteers to help us promote their spotlights to other community groups and members. These Spotlights started on August 3rd and have already featured several volunteers from a variety of departments. We will culminate the 20 weeks of spotlights with a celebration at the December 19 City Council meeting where we will invite all past and present volunteers to join us and be recognized for all their efforts and dedication. In the meantime, the City Manager will report on the weekly spotlights during his City Manager's Report at each Council meeting. Should any member of the public wish to learn more they can contact Ann Bauer, our Volunteer Program Assistant, or Cory Bytof, Sustainability and Volunteer Program Coordinator through the Volunteer Program web site or by emailing or calling them directly. FISCAL IMPACT: Volunteers contribute on average approximately $900,000 - $1 million per year to the City through in- kind service. The Volunteer Program uses a per hour dollar value of volunteer time provided by an organization called the Independent Sector, which analyzes data nationwide to calculate valuation based on statistics provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, including fringe benefits. We have found that their valuation equals our estimates almost exactly using wages and benefits for the closest actual City positions. The most recent valuation for California is $27.59 per hour as of 2015. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Accept report. ROUTING SLIP / APPROVAL FORM INSTRUCTIONS: Use this cover sheet with each submittal of a staff report before approval by the City Council. Save staff report (including this cover sheet) along with all related attachments in the Team Drive (T:) --> CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS 4 AGENDA ITEM APPROVAL PROCESS 4 [DEPT - AGENDA TOPIC] Agenda Item # Date of Meeting: Click here to enter a date. From: Cory Bytof Department: City Manager Date: 8/24/2016 Topic: 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY'S VOLUNTEER PROGRAM Subject: RECEIVE INFORMATIONAL REPORT ON PLANS FOR THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY'S VOLUNTEER PROGRAM Type: ❑ Resolution ❑ Ordinance ❑ Professional Services Agreement ® Other: Staff Report APPROVALS ® Finance Director Remarks: MM -approved 8/25/16 ® City Attorney Remarks: LG -Approved 8/25/16. ® Author, review and accept City Attorney / Finance changes Remarks: ® City Manager Remarks: