CC 2021-10-12_10a Supplemental No 1
MEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: WHITNEY McDONALD, CITY MANAGER
SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
AGENDA ITEM 10.a. – OCTOBER 12, 2021 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ALLOCATIONS OF ANTICIPATED
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING NOT PREVIOUSLY
ALLOCATED BY COUNCIL
DATE: OCTOBER 12, 2021
Attached is correspondence received by 4:00 PM for the above referenced item.
cc: Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director
Administrative Services Director
City Attorney
City Clerk
City Website (or public review binder)
Item 10.a. Supplemental No. 1 - Page 1
From:Kris Roudebush
To:Caren Ray Russom; Jessica Matson; Jimmy Paulding; Kristen Barneich; Keith Storton; Lan George; Whitney
McDonald
Cc:wwendt@first5slo.org
Subject:Public Comment 10/12/21- Child Care Economic Impact Report
Date:Monday, October 11, 2021 3:01:58 PM
Attachments:October 2021 WATC Public Comment.pdf
Dear All,
Tomorrow evening I will be in attendance to give general public comments on behalf
of the We Are the Care Initiative. The topic of the comment will be on a recent study,
conducted by BW Research and commissioned by Cuesta College, which analyzes
the economic impact of the child care industry here in SLO County. I wanted to
provide you with the full report for your review- Economic Impact of Child Care in San
Luis Obispo County I have also attached a copy of my comment to be read aloud.
I recognize that unrelated to our general comment, child care will likely be discussed
related to item 10a on the agenda. Representatives from We Are the Care, First 5
SLO County, and local child care partners will be in attendance for this item and
available for questions or consultation.
Sincerely
Kris Roudebush
--
Kris Roudebush, Special Projects Administrator
Pronouns: she/her/hers
First 5 San Luis Obispo County
3220 S. Higuera Street #232
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805-781-4058 https://link.edgepilot.com/s/d2ee8370/fdEfayb2Wk2fJsFyIsXp1w?u=http://www.first5slo.org/
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Item 10.a. Supplemental No. 1 - Page 2
October 2021
We Are the Care Public Comment
Hello, my name is Kris Roudebush from the We Are the Care Initiative.
For the past 2 years, we have shared the importance of child care, and the dire child care crisis that exists in our
state and local community. We have asserted and reinforced the belief that an investment in child care is an investment
in our economy--and in our community. During these past 2 years, we have asked for your support, spread awareness,
and sought to implement change. We come to you today with new data to support these claims.
A recent study, conducted by BW Research and commissioned by Cuesta College, analyzes the economic impact
of the child care industry here in SLO County. This report substantiates what we already know--child care is truly essential
to our society and to our economy. Key findings and conclusions include the following:
1. Most child care workers can work full-time and still not earn a living wage. The living wage for a single adult with
no dependents in SLO County is roughly $38,400 per year. The average earnings for a child care worker in the
county are $27,200- only 71% of the living wage.
2. Child care is expensive, and child care workers likely cannot afford full-cost child care for their own child. The
average cost of child care in the County is roughly $10,000 per year.
3. There is a large need for additional child care capacity in SLO County. The conservative estimate suggests that
2,300 children in the county may have working parents but are not enrolled in a child care program.
4. Meeting 100% of the low-end estimates for the potential need for child care in SLO County would increase Gross
Regional Product (GRP) by more than $108 million annually and support and create 425 jobs from this new
economic activity.
5. Meeting the entirety of the high-end estimate of potential child care demand would have even greater economic
impacts, contributing $734 million to GRP, roughly equivalent to the GRP contributions of Full-Service
Restaurants, Residential Property Managers, and Hotels, combined.
This report will be emailed to you and we encourage you to read it in its entirety. The study makes a strong case that
child care benefits not only children and families, but our community and economy as a whole. For more ways to get
involved with We Are the Care, please contact First 5 SLO County, or go to www.first5slo.org. Thank you so much for your
time and we will be back again soon with more information and updates.
Item 10.a. Supplemental No. 1 - Page 3
From:Wendy Wendt
To:public comment
Subject:Item 10a October 12 2021 City Council Agenda
Date:Monday, October 11, 2021 3:59:41 PM
Dear Arroyo Grande City Council Members: I am looking forward along with several of my
colleagues to being on hand at tomorrow evening’s Arroyo Grande City Council meeting to address
questions you may have in regards to the proposal included as part of Item 10a to include early
childhood investment in the mix of Arroyo Grande local ARPA funding strategies, and specifically
support for child care during this critical recovery period in our community. You will also be hearing
from a member of our We Are the Care initiative earlier in the meeting on the subject of a report
commissioned by Cuesta College that focuses on the economic impacts of child care in our county.
The challenges and opportunities examined in this report reinforce the importance and imperative
of local support child care as both a child development AND an economic development strategy with
sizeable returns on investment.
We will be pleased to provide you with information and ideas as appropriate during tomorrow
evening’s discussion and beyond.
With Kind Regards,
Wendy L Wendt, Executive Director
First 5 San Luis Obispo County
3220 S. Higuera Street #232
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805-781- 4058 (office); 805-550-6904 (cell)
Begin with the Children
-Mahatma Gandhi
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Item 10.a. Supplemental No. 1 - Page 4