SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve a one-year agreement with Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) and the City of Clearwater for funding youth programs, approve a first quarter budget amendment of $1,000,360 in special program G2706, JWB Youth Programming, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
Body
SUMMARY:
Since 2000, the City has received annual funding from the JWB Children’s Services Council to provide after school and summer programming for youth in Clearwater. Once again, the City has been awarded funding for youth programming for Fiscal Year 2026/2027 from JWB.
The funding provides the “Charting the Course for Youth” program for 281 children at the North Greenwood and Ross Norton recreation facilities throughout the year.
“Charting the Course for Youth” is a program designed to incorporate exercise and nutrition-based activities in an after school and summer camp setting, to improve academic success, encourage healthy lifestyle choices, improve social skills, increase athletic abilities, and develop leadership skills of the participants. The program serves school-aged children at the Ross Norton and North Greenwood Recreation Complexes.
This grant also provides funding for swim instructors for the city’s Safety Around Water Program which provides free swim lessons during P.E. time for McMullen Booth, Eisenhower, Skycrest, and Belleair Elementary Schools.
There is no requirement to continue the program when the grant ends.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
A first quarter budget amendment will establish special program G2706, JWB Youth Programming and provide an increase of $1,000,360 in other governmental revenue to account for both revenues and expenditures for this agreement.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
Approval of the Agreement supports multiple Strategic Plan Objectives, including:
• 1.5: Embrace a culture of innovation that drives continuous improvement and successfully serves all our customers.
• 2.1: Strengthen public-private initiatives that attract, develop, and retain diversified business sectors.
• 2.5: Facilitate partnerships with educational and research institutions to strengthen workforce development opportunities.
• 3.1: Support neighborhood identity through services and programs that empower community pride and belonging.
• 3.4: Inspire citizen participation through civic engagement and volunteerism to build strong, inclusive, and engaged communities.
