20200810-4biii: Support for action on response to Council Resolution 20200729-089 — original pdf

Recommendation

BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Early Childhood Council Recommendation Number: 20200810-4biii Support for action on response to Council Resolution 20200729-089 WHEREAS, on July 29, 2020, City Council adopted resolution 20200729-089 directing the City Manager to collaborate with the Austin-Travis County COVID-19 Child Care Task Force to report on the state of child care and supervision and support for children and youth in our community and include actionable recommendations by August 13, 2020 to address the current and imminent challenges; and WHEREAS, the resolution directs the City Manager to collaborate with local school districts to make City facilities such as libraries and recreation centers available to local school districts and working families for the duration of virtual instruction due to COVID-19 should that be helpful; and WHEREAS, Austin Public Health staff and members of the Task Force are finalizing that report which, as directed by Council, will include recommended measures for stabilizing the local child care system and actions that may be taken at the local, state, and federal levels, including an assessment of the viability of establishing a Child Care Stabilization Fund that may award immediate and ongoing stabilization grants and other solutions to increase equitable access to quality child care; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Early Childhood Council encourages the Austin City Council to support the recommendations in the forthcoming report to Council in response to Council Resolution 20200739-089 and act in a timely manner to fund and implement them. Date of Approval: 8/10/2020 Record of the vote: 7-0-0 Attest: