ITEM TITLE:
Approval of Valdez Eco-Stewardship Program
SUBMITTED BY: Nicholas Farline, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Director
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: $44,105
Unencumbered Balance: $93,500
Funding Source: 350-0202-55000 Council Contingency Reserve
RECOMMENDATION:
It is the recommendation of the PRCS Director, Parks & Recreation Commission, Prince William Sound College staff and the Superintendent of Valdez City Schools for City Council to direct staff to move forward with the Valdez Eco-Stewardship Program.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
• This agenda item requests Council approval for the proposed Valdez Eco-Stewardship Program (“VESP”) and related internships, within the Parks and Recreation department.
• This program was originally presented to Council during the 2020 budget work sessions. Per Council request, the program was presented during a joint Council / Parks and Recreation Commission work session, during which time Council requested additional details regarding course syllabus, college credit earnings, and cost analysis.
• The additional requested items were presented to Recreation Commission on 1/14/2020 and the Recreation Commission voted 5 yays 0 nays with 2 absent to recommend City Council to direct PRCS staff to move forward with VESP.
• Staff is requesting funding in the 2020 Budget totaling $50,057.
o $5,952 is already embedded in the approved budget (Dual Credit / CSO)
o The remaining $44,105 represents new funding, and is presented as a separate budget amendment resolution.
§ A detailed breakout of costs is attached to this agenda item VESP Costs.
BACKGROUND
• VESP was modeled after a national award winning 4-H program from Washington State. <https://extension.wsu.edu/chelan-douglas/youth/youthdevelopment/ecostewardship/podaward/>
o PRCS Director Nicholas Farline co-authored the 4-H Program of Distinction national award for the above mentioned program.
• VESP is a six (6) week program with one (1) week dedicated to a PWSC college course.
§ Please see attached Summer PWSC syllabus
o The remaining five (5) weeks are a mix of Parks Maintenance projects, natural resource educational projects and community service projects.
§ Please see attached DRAFT VESP ITINERARY
• VESP will consist of eight (8) high school student participants.
o Students will be chosen through an application process.
o Request for applications will go out to Valdez High School, Valdez Homeschool and the Valdez Native Tribe
• Participants leaders will be two (2) college interns
§ See attached VESP PROGRAM STAFF CHART
§ See attached DRAFT 2020 Intern job description
• Participants will receive three (3) college credits upon successful completion of the six (6) night seven (7) day PWSC course
o The class is a general elective. The credits can be used toward a degree in Associates of Arts in General Studies, or towards the Associates of Applied Science in Outdoor Leadership through University of Alaska system.
• Participants will receive one (1) High school elective credit upon successful completion of the six (6) week program
• Participants will receive a $2,000 stipend upon successful completion of the six (6) week program
VESP is the first program in Valdez of its design.
Attachments included:
• VESP Costs
• DRAFT VESP Itinerary
• Summer PWSC Syllabus
• VESP PROGRAM STAFF CHART
• DRAFT 2020 Intern Job description