HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 10194Resolution
IN SUPPORT OF BUILD THE FUTURE SANTA CLARA COUNTY
WHEREAS, the Council for a Strong America issued a report in early 2023 which details that the shortage of infant-toddler child care costs the United States $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity, and revenue every year; and WHEREAS, this shortage translates to a $15 billion economic threat to California and a $3 billion threat to Santa Clara County; and
WHEREAS, a family living in Palo Alto needs to pay an average of $38,400 per child year for infant care, $30,600 per year for one preschooler's child care; and $10,500 per year for one school age student’s afterschool child care; and WHEREAS, the two most significant monthly expenses faced by working families are rent and child
care; and WHEREAS, the lack of an affordable child care option leads to underemployment, greater housing
instability, less consumer spending, depressed business productivity and the near impossibility of seeking, securing and maintaining employment; and
WHEREAS, investing in affordable child care provides vital infrastructure to working parents and supports early childhood development, allows families to remain the Bay Area, creates a stronger economy, improves business productivity and consumer spending, decreases poverty, leads to safer communities, and provides additional revenue for cities; and WHEREAS, cities have a direct interest in building strong local economies, supporting and benefiting from local small businesses, attracting and retaining families and employers; and WHEREAS, one of the most impactful tools we can deploy to solve our greatest economic and societal challenges is investing in broadly accessible, high quality child care immediately; and
WHEREAS, investments in the child care sector should prioritize supporting our most underserved children and their families, as demonstrated locally with the City’s Child Care Subsidy Program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto has actively demonstrated the importance of Early Care and Education since the 1970’s by commissioning and working on goals linked to a series of Child Care Master Plans, in addition to our support for ongoing work of the Palo Alto Early Care and Education Committee (PAACECE), the City’s key arm to work on child care issues; and WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto has long recognized the importance of early learning and education as articulated in the Comprehensive Plan 2030 Policy #’s T-2.5 and C-1.15; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto understands that the ability to afford quality child care is a crucial need for its workforce and has implemented a program which assists regular employees with child care
expenses; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Palo Alto continue to support efforts to provide access to high-quality child care to all children and families in Palo Alto; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the City of Palo Alto will continue to empower City departments to, as applicable, promote child care businesses in the city and provide support for providers who desire to operate within the city; and
RESOLVED, that the City of Palo Alto will continue to empower and promote the importance of child care businesses through the work of the PAACECE which advises the City on early care issues under the oversight of the Community Services Department and provides support for providers who desire to operate within this city; and RESOLVED, that the City of Palo Alto joins with Build the Future Santa Clara County through PAACECE in advocating for solutions to address our child care crisis, including but not limited to
working with a diverse array of partners for the purpose of addressing this economic and social crisis.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: September 16, 2024 ATTEST: APPROVED: ___________________ _________________ City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: ___________________ _________________ City Manager City Attorney