HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-06-25 City Council (6)City of Palo Alto
Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: HUMAN RESOURCES
DATE:JUNE 25, 2001 CMR: 290:01
SUBJECT:REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO CORRECT THE CLASSIFIED
PERSONNEL COMPENSATION PLAN TO INCLUDE BACKUP
CHILD CARE BENEFIT LANGUAGE
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends, that Council approves a resolution correcting the Compensation Plan
for Classified Personnel to add the backup child care benefit language.
DISCUSSION
Presented in a staff report on May 8, 2000 (Attachment B, CMR: 224:00), resolutions
were adopted by the Council adding backup childcare benefits to the City’s compensation
plans.Council approved Resolution 7962, specifically amending the Classified Personnel
Compensation Plan, Section "G" relating to Dependent Care Assistance. The adopted
- language (Exhibit A) was not incorporated into recent revisions to the Classified
Personnel compensation plan, and this report serves to correct the administrative
oversight.
The action proposed in this report corrects Section "G", relating to Dependent Care
Assistance, of the Classified Personnel Compensation Plan.
RESOURCE IMPACT
There will be no cost impact associated with this change.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This recommendation does not represent any change to existing City policies.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act.
ATTACHMENTS
CMR: 290:01 Page 1 of 2
A: Resolution Amending the Compensation Plan
B: Staff Report CMR: 224:00
PREPARED BY: Delores A. Tul-n~, Manager of Employe~ Relations and Compensation
DEPARTMENT
"J~AY C. ROUNDS
2ire_~of Human Resources
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: "--~..~. ~
EMILY HARRISON
Assistant City Manager
CMR: 290:01 Page2 of 2
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OFPALO
ALTO AMENDING THE COMPENSATION PLAN FOR
CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL (SEIU)ADOPTED BY
RESOLUTION NO.8056 AND AMENDED BY RESOLUTION
NO. 8059 TO INCLUDE A BACKUP CHILD CARE BENEFIT
THAT WAS INADVERTENTLY OMITTED
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does hereby RESOLVE
as follows:
SECTION I. Pursuant tothe provisions of Section 12 of
Article III of the Charter of the City of Palo Alt0, the
Compensation Plan adopted by Resolution No. 8056 and amended by
Resolution No. 8059 is hereby amended by revising Section "G"
relating to Dependent Care Assistance, as set forth in Exhibit
"A", attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. This
action will incorporate a benefit into the Compensation Plan
that was previously authorized pursuant to Resolution No. 7962
and was inadvertently omitted in the Compensation Plan as
adopted by Resolution No. 8056 and amended by Resolution No.
8059.
SECTION 2. The Director of Administrative Services is
hereby authorized to implement the amended Compensation Plan as
described in Section i.
SECTION 3. The Council finds that this is not a project
under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore,
no environmental impact assessment is necessary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:APPROVED:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Mayor
City Manager
Senior Asst. City Attorney
Director of Administrative
Services
Director of Human Resources
010619 cl 0032467
EXHIBIT "A"
Dependent Care Assistance
Dependent Care Assistance Proqram. The
City will provide a Dependent Care
Assistance program for employees
according to the provisions of the
Federal Economic Recovery Tax Act of
1981, Code sections 125 and 129.
Backup Child Care.The City will
provide Backup Child Care throuqh a
third-party provider,in accordance
with the "City of Palo Alto Backup
Child Care Plan."
010619 cl 0032467
TO:
FROM:
City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report 5
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY MANAGER . DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER"S
OFFICE
DATE:
SUBJECT:
MAY 8, 2000 CMR: 224:00
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF RESOLUTIONS TO AMEND THE
-C-OMP ENs A-’FI O N-P-L-AN S--TO :IN C-LUD E-BAGKUP- --C-H~- D -C-ARE-
AS AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
REPORT IN BRIEF
An interdepartmental committee was created in 1998 to explore issues impacting
.employee recruitment and retention.¯ Several-work~fe issues, such as employee
responsibilities for child care and eider care and the need for flexible schedules, were
identified. One specific need iidentified was for backup child care, which provides
employees with an alternative when their regular child care arrangements are temporarily
disrupted. Backup child care has been shown to reduce absenteeism caused by child care
problems and to enhance productivity, retention and recruitment. Since a backup child
care center is scheduled to .open .in Palo Alto in the fall, it was determined that the City
could relatively easily address this issue in a way that would be of value to the City
organization and it’s employees. This staff report recommends the adoption of
-resolutions to add a backup child care benefit to the City’S personnel Compensation
Plans. ..
CMR:224:00 Page 1 of 5
RECOMIV~NDATION ’: " p the attached Resolutions to amend the
Staff. recommends that Council ado t
Compensation Plans for Classified Personnel, Fire Department Personnel, Fire Chiefs’
Association Management Personnel, Management and Confidential Personnel and
Council Appointed Officers and Police Non-Management Personnel to add backup child
Care as an employee benefit.
BACKGROUND
In 1998, the City Manager created an interdepartmental committee, comprised of
representatives from the Human Resources, Community Services, and Administrative
Services Departments, to explore ways the City might address its employee retention and
recruitment challenges through the provision of "work/life" benefits, including child care,
eider care and flexible scheduling. As described in the attached December 13, 1999
information staff report (C1VlK:443:99), the Work/Life Committee identified backup child
care as a worthwhile benefit to improve job satisfaction and performance by providing
employees with an alternative when their regular child care arrangements fall through.
¯Backup child care might be utilized, for example, when an employee’s regular child care
provider is ill, regular child care center is closed for an in-service day or when his or her
work schedule has been changed resulting in a temporary gap in child care. Employers
have found that backup care benefits not only those employees with children who use it,
but also their co-workers whose workload can be adversely impacted by the absenteeism
caused by child Care problems. It is estimated that. every one dollar invested in backup
care yields three to four dollars in savings due to improvements in productivity, retention
and recruitment.
ChildrenFirst, the national leader in the design, development and operation of backup
child .care centers, is developing a backup child care center in Palo Alto, scheduled to
open in Fall 2000. As described in CMR:443:99, this center will. provide quality care in
an educational and safe setting for the infants through school-age children of parents
whose employers are membersof the center. In order to secure slots for City employees,
the City has entered into a participation agreement and paid a refundable $5,000 deposit
from the City Manager’s Contingency Fund. As stated in CMR:443:99, this agreement
and deposit are contingent upon Council approval of funding for annual membership and
resolutions amending the City’s compensation plans to include backup child .care as an
employee benefit.
DISCUSSION
This staff report transmits to Council for adoption Resolutions adding a backup child care
benefit to the City’ s compensation plans (see Attachment A). These Resolutions describe
the Benefit Plan Document that will be included in the Compensation Plans for all
Regular Employees (Classified Personnel, Fire Department Personnel, Fire Chiefs’
CM1~224:00 Page 2 of 5
AssociatiOn Management Personnel, Management .and Confidential Personnel and
Council Appointed Officers and Police Non-Management Personnel).
The Benefit Plan Document describes the purpose, policy and procedures-for the bac .lqap
child care benefit. The Plan Document explains that the backup child care benefit is. for
all Regular Employees, who must pre-register their children before they can utilize the
ChildrenFirst center. At the..proposed membership level, City employees, in total, are
entitled to an average of four visits per week or 208 visits per year. Individual City
employees arelimited to 20 visits per year. use of the ChildrenFirst center is on a first-
come, first-served basis and advance reservations are encouraged.. ChildrenFirst will
¯ work closely with the Human Resources Department to review the City’s utilization of
the center to ensure that the City has the right membership level and that usage by
individual employees is appropriate.
The Plan Document also explains the taxable nature of the backup child care benefit. The
City will bear the cost of the membership in the Palo Alto ChildrenFirst center, thus.
providing access to Regular Employees at no charge. However, the backup child care
benefit is taxable based on .the fair market value offlae services utilized by.the employee.
The fair market value of one backup, child care visit has been calculated at $35. This
.amount will be reported as employee income for each child care visit used by the
employee.
The City’s commitment to be a member of the ChildrenFirst center is contingent upon
ChildrenFirst’s success in opening the Palo Alto center. If ChildrenFirst is unsuccessful
in opening a Palo Alto center, all payments made by the City to ChildrenFirst will be
refunded.
RESOURCE IMPACT
At the proposed, membership level, the cost to the ~City of an annual membership in the
ChildrenFirst backup child care center is $26,000 and has been included in the 2000-01
Proposed Budget.~ This is an ongoing cost. If City employee participation in the Palo
Alto ChitdrenFirst center increases and exceeds, initial estimates, a higher level of
membership will be negotiated to allow more usage at a higher cost.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
City membership in a Palo Alto Children_First center will represent the addition of an
employee benefit that will be included in the City’s Compensation Plans.
CMR:224:00 .Page 3 of 5
TIBIELINE .
ChildrenFirst expects to open its PaJo Alto center in Fall 2000. Two monthsbefore the
center’s opening, City staff will work with ChildrenFirst to conduct outreach to City of
Palo Alto employees to encourage registration with ChildrenFirst. In this timeframe,
staffwill also develop any.necessary procedures to administer the benefit, including
utilization review and payroll reporting.,
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A:Kesolufions Amending the Compensation Plans
Attachment B:Information Staff Keport CMK:443:99
PREPARED BY: Audrey Seymour, Senior Executive Assistant
..EMILY ~SON ~
Assistant City Manager
CMP,:224:00 Page 4 of 5
ATTACHMEN, T~
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALO ALTO AMENDING THE COMPENSATION PLAN FOR
MANAGEMENT AND CONFIDENTIAL~ PERSONNEL AND
COUNCIL APPOINTED OFFICERS ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION
NO.. 7890 AND AMENDED BY RESOLUTION NOS. 7897,
7902, 7907, 7914 AND 7945 TO ADD A BACKUP CHILD
CARE BENEFIT
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as
~ollows:
SECTiON.I. Pursuant to the provisions, of Section 12 of
Article III of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto, the Management
Compensation Plan, adopted by Resolution No. 7890 and amended by
Resolution Nos. 7897, 7902, 7907, 7914 and 7945 is hereby amended
by adding Section "P" under "Specia! Compensation" relating to
Dependent Care Assistance, as shown in Exhibit "A".
SECTION 2. The Director Of Administrative Services is
authorized to implement the amended Compensation Plan as described
in Section I.
SECTION 3. The Council finds that this is not a project
under the California Environmental Quality Act a.nd, therefore, no
environmental impact assessment is necessary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:.
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:APPROVED:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:City Manager
Senior Asst. City Attorney Director of Administrative
Services
Director of Human Resources
000419 c! 0032340
EXHIBIT "A"
Backup Child Care
The City of Palo Alt0 will provide-Backup Child Care
through a.third-party provider, in accordance with the
"City of Palo Alto Backup Child Care Plan."
000419 c10032338
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF~THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING THE COMPENSATION PLAN FOR ¯FIRE CHIEFS’
ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL ADOPTED BY
RESOLUTION NO. 7848 AND AMENDED BY RESOLUTION NO.
7900-TO ADD A¯¯BACKUP CHILD CARE BENEFIT
The Council o~ the City of PaloAlto does hereby RESOLVE as
fol!ows:
SECTION ~I. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of
Article III of the Charter of-the City of Palo Alto,- the
Compensation. Plan~ad0pted by-Resolution No. 7848 and amended by
Resolution No. 7900 is hereby amended .by adding Section
relating to Backup Child Care, as set forth in Exhibit "A",
attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 2. The Director ofAdministrative Services is
hereby authorized to implementthe amended Compensation Plan as
described in Section I.
SECTION 3. The Council finds that this is not a project
under the California Environmental Quality Act and~ therefore, no
environmental ±mpact assessment is necessary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS :
ATTEST:APPROVED : ¯
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:City Manager
Senior Asst. City Attorney Director of Administrative
Services~
Director of Human Resources
000419 Cl 0032336
¯EXHIBIT "A"
Backup Child Care ~
The City of Palo Alto "will ¯provide BackuP Child Care
through a third-party provider, in accordance .with the -
"CitY of Palo Alto Backup Child Care Plan."
000419 c! 0032337
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE.COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING THE-COMPENSATION PLAN FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
PERSONNEL (IAFF) ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION NO.. 7730
AND AMENDED BY RESOLUTION NOS. 7772 AND 7901
TO ADD A BACKUP CHILD CARE BENEFIT
The Council of the City of Palo Alt0 does hereby RESOLVE as
follows:
SECTION I. Pursuant to the provisions iof section 12 of
Article III of the charter of the City of Pal~o Alto, the
Compensation Plan adopted by Resolution. No. 7730 and amended by
Resolution Nos. 7772 and 7901 is- hereby amended by. revising
Section "M" relating to DependentCare Assistance, as set forth in
Exhibit "A", attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
sEcTIoN 2. The Director of Administrative Services is
hereby authorized to implement the amended classifications and
salaries as described in Section I.
SECTION 3. The council finds that this is not a project
under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no
environmental impact assessment is necessary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTESTi APPROVED :
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:City Manager
Senior Asst. City Attorney Director of Administrative
Services
Director of Human Resources
000419 cl 003~34
EXHIBIT "A"
,Dependent Care~Assistance
Dependen~ Care.Assistance Program. The.City will
provide a dependent care .assistance program for
employees, according to. the. provisions of the
Federal Economic .Recovery Act of 1981, Code
Sections 125 and 129. The program will be
available to representation unit employees
beginning with pay period number 1 o~ 1994~ and
remain in effect subject to a reasonable minimum.
participation level and availability of ’third
¯ party .administrative services-, at a reasonable
cost.
Backup. Child Care. The City. will provide Backup
Child- Care through a third-party, provider, in
accordance with .the ""City of Palo Alto Backup
Child Care Plan."
000419 c1003~3~
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE.COUNCIL OF-THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING THE COMPENSATIONs. PLAN FOR POLICE NON-~
MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION~ NO.
7788 AND AMENDED BY RESOLUTION NO. 7903 ~TO ADD A
BACKUP CHILD CARE BENEFIT
"-The Council of the city.of Palo Alto doeshereby RESOLVEas
follows:
SECTION I.~ Pursuant tO the-provisionsof Section 12 of
Article III of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto, the
Compensation. Plan adopted by Resolution No.. 7788 and amended by
Resolution ~No. 7903 is hereby amended by adding Section"K" under
"Special Compensation" relating to .Dependent Care Assistance and
BackUp Child Care, .as set forth in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and
incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 2. The Director 6f Administrative Services is
hereby authorized to implement the amendedCompensation Plan as
described in Section I.
SECTION 3. The Council finds that this is not a project
under.the California Environmenta! Quality Act and, therefore, no
environmental impact assessment is necessary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:APPROVED :
City Clerk Mayor
~2PROVED AS TO ~FORM:City Manager
Senior Asst. City Attorney Director of Administrative
Services
Director of Human Resourdes
000419 cI, 0032332
EXHI-BIT "A"
Dependent Care-Assl~stance
1 Dependent¯Care Assistance-Program.. The City will
proVide a dependent care assistance program for
employees according to the provisions of the
Federal Economic Recovery¯ Act of 1981, Code
Sections 125 and 129. The program wil! be
available to~ representat±on unit employees
beginning with pay period number 1 of 1992, and
remain in effect subject to a reasonable minimum
particiPation level and availability of third
party administrative Services at a reasonable
cost. ’ "
Backup Child.~Care. The City~ will provide Backup
Child Care -through a third-party provi~der, in
accordance with the-"City of Palo Alto Backup
Child Care Plan~"
000419 ¢! 0032333
RESOLUTIONNO.
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING-THE COMPENSATION PLAN FOR CLASSIFIED
PERSONNEL (SEIU) ~ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION NO.~ 7782
AND AMENDED BY ’RESOLUTION NOS. 78!2~ 783~, 7872
AND 7904 TO ADD A .BACKUP CHILD CARE BENEFIT
The Counci! of the City of Palo Alto~does hereby RESOLVE as
follows: ’
~ SECTION I. PurSuant to the provisions of section 1.2 of
Article III of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto,-the
Compensation Plan adopted by Resolution No. 7782 and amended by
Resolution Nos. 7812, 7837, 7872 and 7904. is hereby amended by
revising Section "G" relating to Dependent CareAssistance, as set
forth in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and incorporated herein by
reference.
SECTION 2. The Direc~0r of Administrative ~Services is
hereby authorized tO implement the amended Compensation Plan.as
described in Section I.
SECTION 3. The Council finds that this is not a project
under the California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no
environmenta! impact assessment is necessary.
INTRODUCED .AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:~
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:~-
ATTZST:A2PROV~D:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:city Manager
Senior Asst. City Attorney Director of Administrative
.Services
Director of Human Resources
000419 ¢I 0032330
EXHIBIT "A"
.Dependent~Care Assistance
Dependent Care Assistance Program. The City will
provide a Dependent. Care .Assistance program for
employees according to the provisions of ,the
Federal-Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, Code
sections 125 and 129.
Backup Child Care.. .The .City will provide. Backup
Child Care through a third-party provider, in
accordance with the }’City of Palo Alto Backup
Child CarePlan."
000419 c! 003~331
ATTACHMENT B
City of Palo Alto
City Manager’.s .Report
TO:HONORABLE CITYCOUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT:CITY MANAGER’S
OFFICE
DATE: -~ DECEMBER 13, 1999 :CMR: 443:99.
SUBJECT: LETTER OF INTENT TO CONTRACT WITH. CHILDRENFIRST
TO PROVIDE BACK-UP CHILD CARE AS AN EMPLOYEE
~ :BENEFIT -
This is an informational report and no Council action is required.
BACKGROUND
In response to the City’s recent experience with stuff turnover and the difficulty filling
vacant .positions, the City Manager .initiated discussions With staff members in all
departments to better understand .employee issues and concerns. An interdepartmental
committee, comprised of representatives from the Human ReSources, Community
Services, and Administrative Services Departments and the City Manager’s Office, was
formed in 1998 to exploreways the City. might address its employee retention and
recruitment challenges through the provision of "work/life" benefits, including child care
and elder care.
The Work/Life Committeeresearched different types.of programs to address employee
work/life needs, such as .child care, aswell as the cost-benefit to organizations that
institute such programs. The Committee found that employers in the Bay Area and
across the country meet the child care needs Of their employees in a variety of Ways,
including information and referral, employer-sponsored child care centers andback-up
child care. The Committee further found that employers that offer child care benefits to
employees, have.. experienced an improvement in job . satisfaction, commitment,
performance and retention.
The Work!Life Committee identified several ways the City of Palo Alto might improve
morale .and productivity by addressing employee child careneeds. The City is. currently
in the final stages Of a Request for Proposal (KFP) process to select a developer and
operator of a downtown child care center (CMK:276:99). This center will be built on
land provided through a development agreement with the Palo A!to Medical Foundation.
The issue of reserving spotsin the new downtown center for the children of City
CMP,:443:99 ’" Page 1 of 3
ide’nt~d to" meet. the Child ~a~’e. n~eds, of. City staff, City .membership in a b~ick-flp" ctfild
¯ care center, is described below. ..
DISCUSSION ’ "
The.. ough its.external research and discussions with .City staff, the WorlgLife Committ.ee
learned that. many .parents face. significant s~ess...when their regular .childcare
arrangements fall through, and they must find back-up care. Breakdowns in c .hild care
arr.~gemen~are not. infrequent and can arise in a variety of c[rcun~tances, fo~ example:
when the Child!s school or child care center closesfor__a.holiday orin-_service..day;-.the
nanny is sick; .or-the~e h~s. been an uiiantic.ipated change in the employee’s wdrk
schedule.. ’ " .. . .
According to national statistics, mothe.rs lose an average of eight and a half days a ~ear
and fathers lose fi~e days a year of work due to child care problems. Child ca/e-related
absences cost U.S~ companies an estimated $3 billion annual~l..y. -In addition, studies have
shownthat employees look for benefits like child care when.making decisions to ch~uge
or stay in their jobs. Motivated by such statistics, more and more. employers ’are
pr0viding.back-up care and other types of child care services. In.fact, back:up child care
is-the fasteSt.growing segmentof the child care .industry.. Emplqyers have found.that
back-up care .benefits not o~y those employees With children who use. it, but also fl~eir.
.co-w0rkers .whose workload is not adversely impacted by the absenteeism caused by
child’care.probl.ems. It ises~ated that.every o.ne dollar invested in back-up care’yields.
three to four dollars in savings due to improyements in productivity, retention and ¯
recruitment: "
’ AS the Work/Life Committee. was exploring back-up child care as a potential, benefit for
City employees, it -discovered that C.hildrenFirst was p.l~n~ng to develop a back.-.up child
car.e cen~er inPalo Alto. ChildrenFirst is thenational leader in the design, development
and .operation of.back-up child care centers. ’These centers provide qual.i.’ty care.in an..
educational and safe setting for the children ofparen~ whose-employers are members of
the. center.. ChildrenFirs~-centers ser~e children from. the-age of 12 weeks through 12
years. The back-up care provided by ChildrenFirst isintended to supplement, rather than
replace, r~’guIaz, child care-arrangements when, for ..whatever reason, these .arrangements
break down.
Members 0fthe Work/LifoCommittee met with ChildrenFirst’s senior staff and.toured its
Sau Francisco center, The Committge was impressed with several..~pec~s of
ChildrenTirsf’s ~perafion ’" "mcluffm, g:.
¯The focus, ori .high quality, developmentally appropriate child care (not babysitting) ¯ "
¯Exemplary safety standards ...
CM~443:99 Page 2 of 3
¯Well trained and qualified staff
¯Staff sensitivity to the family stre~s that offen accompanies the need for back-up care
¯Thorough outreach to inform employees about the program and sign them up
¯ . Excellent program administration, including record keeping and regnlar reporting.to
members re_garding their employees’ participation
¯Regular cost-benefit analysis showing savings to the City basedon employee usage
ChildrenFirst plans to open a back-up child care ~center in the Palo Alto Squarearea inlthe
Spring of 2000 and is Currentlytalking with Palo Alto and other major employers in
Alto about becoming members. In order to secure-slots for City employees, the City has
...... entered intta: p~i~i~satioii ~igr~e~enthad paid a refuni!able $5,.000 deposit from the City ’. ..........
Manager’s Contingency. Fund... This agreement, and deposit are contingent upon the
COuncil’s approval ofa Budge.t Amendment Ordinance (BAO) for anannual membership
¯ ($21,000 net of the $5,000 deposit) and resolutions amending the City’s compensation
plans to add back-up care as an employee benefit. Staff plans to bring the BAO and
.resolutions to Council in March 2000. The agreement and deposit are also contingent
upon ChildrenFirst’s success in opening the Palo Alto .center. Since the center would be
in a Planndd Community.Zone which does not currently include child care, ChildrenFirst
has applied.to the City for a zoning amendment. The City’s consideration of this zoning
application is, of course, independent of anyCity interest in ChildrenFirst as a provider of
benefits to City employees.
RESOURCE IMPACT
The cost to the City of an annual .membership is $26,000. If City employee participation
in the Palo Alto ChildrenFirst center increases and exceeds initial estimates, a higher
level of membership will be negotiated to allow more usage at a higher cost.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Citymembership in a Palo Alto ChildrenFirst center will represent the.addition of an
employee benefit that Will beincluded in the City’s compensation plans..
ATTACHMENTS
A. ChildrenFirst Brochure
PREPARED BY: Audrey Seymour, Senior Executive Assistant
E~HARRISON
Assistant City Manager
CMK:443:99 Page 3 of 3
Meet the
school vacations¯
provider illness
¯ maternity transition
ju~ duty
snow. days¯
changes. !n flex schedule
business travel
doctor ap_pointments
closing of full-.time center
Your employe.es must~ choose
between their job and
their child’s care every .day.
Give them a winning solution..
Your employees care...
about, their jobs, about their families.
Theyare working and parenting all at once ancl face real competition
to do both well. If their regular child care breaks down for any reason,
they face an impossible choice: staying home or coming to work.
Now there is an easy choice called ChildrenFirst.
You care...
about your employees, abofit your .company.
The choice to offer backup child care keeps your talent working during
their time of greatest need, so that your corporate engine can continue
to run:That choice is ClfildrenFirst.
We care...
about your bottom line, about-children.
One company provides employers with a solution that pays for itself
in months, guarantees parents with peace of mind and convenience,
and nurtures children with the highest quality program., One company
has pioneered the field of backup child care.
That company is ChildrenFirst.
The solution is backup child care.
employers are choosing backup cl-fild
D
" id yOu know that child care-related absences
cost emplo~ers $3 billion: annually.? ,By giving¯
employees the option to come to work when
the babysitter calls in. sick, employers incre~e productivity.
Corporate-sponsored back.up child care translates into tess
absenteeism, better staff retention,, lower training costs, and
higher mbrale. That’s why backup care is the fastest growing
segmentof the child care indus.try
The benefit that
benefits everyone
Backup ~ complements other human
~esoiame initiatives. Be,tides flae obvious
productivity savings, companies am
finding backup daild ca~e ~an be key to
retaining valued.employees mcl avoiding
~ecruitmem md training costs. Backup .
child ca-e helps you:
R.eloc~te employees with
minimal business disruption;
Accommodate flex~le work schedules;
¯Enable critic£ business travd;
.Ease materrdty transit~oi~
Backup child care gets rave review f~m
pa~n~ md ~ ~m co-~rk~
~ut ~ who app~te ~g
¯ e ~ t~ t~mt. It ~ ~e ~t
job ofb~’~ p~so~md
co~ e~. No ~nd~ morn ~d
morn ~p1~ ~t to ~rk £or
~ ~a comp~y~t p~d~ba~
~d~.
Why backup child ca~e? Because you
caze.., about youz employees,’about’your
bottom line.
Backup child care serves more and costs less*
Capital cost to em.p.l~er ..
Typical number (parent empIqyees served
Typical number of registered chiidren served
Child Care Center
$0
.All
Full-time Work-sReChild .Care Center
U~ to $2 million
lOO
2000 150
N0onedoes..it better. ’ ¯ ..
- .Wh3i Child enFirst i; Americ.a’s leader .in backup. Child.care.
tom the da~the. doors opened in-1992.,0ur name
has beensyn~.nymohs with quality: !n partnefshi~
: with ~usiness, we pionee.red the~fietd.of b~ckup
~hild care. We set the standard for.excellence and we continue
to raise the bar."We think that the uniqiie .needs ofbackup
child care are so important thatwefocus on it ezcluiivety:
..When it ’comes to b"ackup. ch!td care, here’s how We
" d~ne quality:
¯American Express Company..
¯ Dayton Hudson Corporation
¯ The .Gillette Company
¯ PdcewaterhouseCoopers LLP
¯ .Sal;a LeeBakery
¯ - Skadden, Arps
ARCO
Colgate-P.almo.liv~ Company
TheCond~ Nast Publications, Inc.
¯ Taco Bell Corp.
¯ Viacom Inc.
Qutstandingnurturing
Th~ c~.maec~,’?~ between teacher and
ckild matters most.We ]tire educators.,
tha~ possess the human qualitle~ we, deem
.i=vom~, t to outs==~g
¯ padea¢, e, ommimaeat, tolemace,
op~ and persev=anc~ Thdx’:
attention t.o de.taft is .tmpardl~Ied.
Trained profess.iomls
Every’ one 0£ Our ~id ~ze center
pmf~o~ "
ba~dor’s de.e; 40~ of ~ ~
~efs de~;
¯ .comistent ca~;.
" ¯ All staff are t=iaed and ~ceive
on-goii~g education in the" special
rcquixements .of.bacbap child c~xe.
99% Client retention since ihcevtion
Sffe :and s~c’m:e environment,
Our ’center~ ar~ locate~t ir~ ¯lass A. office
¯, ~ace in..dlscreet l.ocadom with double-
. locked emrances and sectwity c.ameras
and staff=d with onsite securi~r
~dministrators.
State-dr-the art cehter design
Our Centers are ~a~’~lly ddsig~ed to
accommodate the vaz:ious needs of
child~a from.~ ~e~ ~u~
~of ~ cent~,’ C~kst cmt~
~ d~edto ~e sep~om md
~dom.
U~qu~ ~e~t"se~ces
0~.~ s~ed ~mt se~ce ¯
de~ent ~ &sdy.~ ~U t0
pm~ to meet ~ b~ objec~v~.
~t ~U ~t ~e ~se out of~ese~ce.
Top ac&~ditation record¯
All eligible Childm~irst cente=
accredited by NAEYC (National.
Associg..don £6r’th~ £ducation of Young
Chitdr=i) co-,pa=d to less ti~
perc. ent oi~all other.p’riv~re r~Id care
’d
"Our children are our most .precious possession.
So when aneed arises, it’s comforting for all of us at Avon
-to~ know that ChitdrenFirst is there to provide .the kind. of
safe and secure backup child care services our children need and deserve~
Quite ~simpt~_.__hildrenFirstl is high.-quality child c.are,at its best!"
.:."Backup child care is about increasing productivity
for the employee and the employer. It benefits us all day’to-day
and.has a positive impact on. the bottom line. It is one of the most. important
and widely-used resources of our worklife program at Morgan:"
ExceIlene~ in Bac.~ Child Ca~
Ch~drenI:irst is the n,~tioml leader ia the design, d.evelopment,
a~d operation of corporate-sponsored backup ckild caze centers.
Backup child caze is used by employees when their
prima~ child care arrangements are unavailable.
75 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110
617.646.7000