HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/15/2022 11. Mentorship/Internship Program 1
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 11.
For Meeting of: February 15, 2022
ITEM TITLE: Mentorship/Internship Program
SUBMITTED BY: Sara Watkins, City Attorney
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
As part of the settlement of the Montes and Arteaga v. City of Yakima, et al., the City of Yakima
created a Mentorship/Internship program for selected high school students from the Yakima
School District. The program was approved by Council in 2017 and started thereafter. It is
funded through the settlement of the lawsuit and provides a mentorship opportunity for high
school students with Councilmembers, as well as a paid summer internship opportunity. Staff will
provide an update to the mentorship/internship program as well as the general timeline for this
year's program.
ITEM BUDGETED: Yes
STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Public Trust and Accountability
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
D Memo-to Mayor&Councilmembers re Program 1/27/2022 Cover Memo
Chart for Attendance at or Viewing of City Council 1/27/2022 Backup Material
Activities
Addendum to Settlement Agreement in Montes, et al.v. 1/27/2022 Backup Material
City of Yakima
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Office of the City Attorney
City of VaF ima
MEMORANDUM
January 27, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Sara Watkins, City Attorney
SUBJECT: Memorandum on Mentorship/internship Program with the City of Yakima
A. Background information
In 2016,the City of Yakima entered into a SettlementAgreement with the Plaintiffs in Montes and
Arteaga v. City of Yakima, et at, a case addressing the Voting Rights Act. That Settlement
occurred after the Court ruled in Plaintiffs' favor regarding the election districting and voting in
Yakima. The SettlementAgreement included a donation of$100,000 from Plaintiffs to the City of
Yakima "to promote equity and equal opportunity for previously underserved Yakima residents,
as mutually determined by the parties."
The City Council in 2017, with the agreement of the Plaintiffs, voted to use the money in two
different ways. The first use of a part of the money, $25,000, went to pay for the City's Equity
Study. The results of that Study can be found on the City's website here:
httos:!lwway.vakimawa.aov/coun cil/e auity-studv/.
The remaining$75,000 of funding is to be used as follows:
$75,000 of the funds will be used by the City of Yakima for the mentorship-
internship program of the City of Yakima for Yakima School District high school
students. The funds will be used to pay the wages and benefits for the interns
during the time when they are employed by the City. It is anticipated that the
mentorship-internship program will continue for a minimum of three years or until
the $75,000 has been expended.
Due to COVID, there have been no participants for the past two summers. There currently is
enough funding left for one more year of the program—this year's program.
200 South Third Street,2"d Fl.I Yakima,WA 98901
P:509.575.6030 I F:509.575.6160
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Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
January 27, 2022
Page 2
B. The Mentorship-Internship Program
The program is an exciting opportunity for students to learn about and increase their knowledge
of government. It offers high school students the opportunity to study the local government
process up close, and if selected for employment next spring, to gain paid work experience at the
City during the summer. The program has two components: the mentorship program and the
internship program. To participate in the paid internship portion, a participant must first complete
the mentorship program.
1. Mentoring Program involving Participation in Civic Affairs and City Government
Students may apply to participate in the program who are in high school in the Yakima School
District in the 10th, 11th or 12th grade. Seven students will participate in the program. This
means that it is anticipated that there will be 3 students from Davis, 3 students from Eisenhower,
and 1 student from Stanton. However, if one school does not have enough applicants, this may
change. Information has already been sent to each of the schools to explain the program and
encourage students to express interest to the school's counselors. Students have until
February 25th to contact their counselor to express interest, and it is anticipated that counselors
will have chosen students to participate shortly thereafter.
Initially the City Council members will meet with the students, discuss the program and
expectations for those students who will be participating in the mentorship program, and answer
questions. We are anticipating that this will be done as a group on March 15, 2022, the hour prior
to the City Council meeting. Please calendar yourself to be available starting at 4:30 p.m. at City
Hall on that day so you can meet your mentee and answer questions.
The students are expected to "job shadow' with their City Council member while the Council
member is participating in City Council activities on three different times through the rest of the
school year for approximately one to two hours on each occasion. These can be City Council
meetings, study sessions, or other external committee meetings in which a councilmember
attends, such as the Homeless Coalition. The student is required to attend at least one hour of a
City Council meeting or City Council committee meeting during the mentorship. Those students
who attend the meet and greet on March 15th will be encouraged to stay for the City Council
business meeting and check that item off of their list of requirements.
2. Paid Internships at City of Yakima
If a student participates in and meets the expectations of the mentoring program during the school
year, the student is eligible to apply for a paid internship position working at the City of Yakima
during the summer months. Full time and/or part time positions will be available for the seven
students who participated in the mentorship component, if they meet the requirements and apply
for employment. The application and hiring process for the paid internship positions will start in
approximately late May 2022. The interns who are hired will begin employment in June 2022.
Interns hired for the summer will be matched with the offices of City staff based on the needs of
the City and their interests. In the past, interns have been matched in the Community
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Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
January 27, 2022
Page 3
Development Division, Legal Department, and Public Works Department. Interns share these
basic responsibilities and also may take on a variety of special projects.
• Attend some City Council committee meetings and City Council meeting
• Attend meetings, hearings, and court matters with staff members
• Assist with daily office work and City work tasks, which could involve field work
• Participate in intern classes, workshops and training
• Maintain professional, non-partisan conduct
C. Your Role in the Process
Councilmembers are at the center of the mentorship portion of this program. One of the goals of
the program is to allow high school students to experience what it is like to be a councilmember
and leader of the City, how government operates, and what it takes to run a city the size of Yakima.
Here are some things you can do to ensure that your mentee has a good experience and
completes the mentorship portion of the program, making them eligible for the paid internship
over the summer:
1. Maintain contact with your mentee throughout the rest of the school year.
2. Send your mentee the link to the public NOVUS agenda packet for each council
meeting and/or study session and encourage them to attend.
3. If you serve on community committees as part of your role as a councilmember, invite
your mentee to one of those meetings.
4. Be available to answer questions about your role as a councilmember and city
government in general.
Each mentee will be provided paperwork to complete the mentorship program. A copy of that
paperwork is attached for your reference.
Although the Legal Department facilitates this program, it is the Councilmembers who are
responsible for ensuring that the mentorship experience is positive for the participants. If you
have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
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2022 Mentorship/Internship Program
for High School Students with the City of Yakima
Attendance at or Viewing of City Council Activities
Date of Times City Council Activity Total
Attendance (at least 1 hour, (minimum of 3 Council activities by / /2022) Hours
or Viewing such as 5:30—
(by 15th) 6:30 pm)
Total of Above Hours:
(3 hours minimum required)
I viewed Yakima City Council meetings or activities on the listed dates and times.
Signature: Date:
Printed Name:
During this school year, the students are expected to `job shadow" or watch the City Council
members while the Council members are participating in City Council activities on three different
times through the school year by May 15th for approximately one to two hours on each occasion.
The student either will watch by live streaming the Council meeting or watch the Council meeting
video at least three different times by May 15t'. City Council meetings usually begin at 5:30 p.m.
on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Other City Council meetings may be scheduled at
other times.
Revised 1/27//2022
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Addendum to Settlement Agreement
This Addendum to the Settlement Agreement between the City of Yakima,
which Settlement Agreement was approved by the City Council by the adoption of
City Resolution No. R-2016-051 on April 5, 2016 (hereafter "Settlement Agreement",
with Rogelio Montes and Mateo Arteaga (hereafter "Plaintiffs") is made and entered
into by and between the City of Yakima (hereafter the "City") and the Plaintiffs.
Whereas, the Settlement Agreement was in the case of Montes and Arteaga v.
City of Yakima, et al., United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Washington Case No. CV-12-3108-TOR; and
Whereas, the Settlement Agreement in Section 3 provided that"Plaintiffs also
agree to donate $100,000 of their fee award back to the City of Yakima to promote
equity and equal opportunity for previously underserved Yakima residents, as
mutually determined by the parties. Plaintiffs agree to donate the $100,000 within
ten (10) days after the parties reach agreement on the use of the funds;" and
Whereas, the parties have reached an agreement on the use of the $100,000
(hereafter the "funds");
Now, therefore, the City and the Plaintiffs agree to the following use of the
$100,000, under the conditions set forth:
1. $75,000 of the funds will be used by the City of Yakima for the
mentorship — internship program of the City of Yakima for Yakima
School District high school students. The funds will be used to pay
the wages and benefits for the interns during the time when they are
employed by the City. It is anticipated that the mentorship —
internship program will continue for a minimum of three years or
until the $75,000 has been fully expended.
2. $25,000 of the funds will be used by'the City of Yakima to pay for the
services performed by Washington State University on the project
described in the "Sponsored Project Agreement" between the City of
Yakima and Washington State University (City Contract No. 2017-
088).
3. The City will provide an annual report on the funds to plaintiffs'
attorneys on or before October 1st of each year, beginning on or before
October 1, 2017 and continuing annually until a final report is
provided when the funds have been fully expended. The annual
Addendum to Settlement Agreement - 1
7
report is to include a narrative about the internship-mentorship
program and the services performed by Washington State University
on the project described in the "Sponsored Project Agreement"
between the City of Yakima and Washington State University for
which the funds were used, a summary of the use of the funds during
the prior twelve months, and the number of high school students who
participated in the internship program during the prior twelve
months. The City will account for the funds using specific accounting
codes that keep the financial activity associated with the funds
separate from other City expenditures.
4. No amendment or modification of this Addendum regarding the use
of the funds shall be effective unless in writing and executed by the
parties.
5. This Addendum may be signed in counterparts by the parties. If the
Addendum is signed by the parties in counterparts, it will be
considered a fully executed Addendum. This Addendum is effective
on the date it is executed by all parties.
CITY OF YAKIMA PLAINTIFFS
By:
Cliff M e, City Manager Rogelio Montes, Plaintiff
Date: l 404( Date:
ATTEST: 144 6-2k) C�
" teo Arteaga, Plainti f
42-4_
4' ' � b „ SB & t . at �7
ity Clerk
City Contract No. 2016-074 Aoldl;rd,;0i
Resolution No. R-2017-nf3 b
Addendum to Settlement Agreement - 2
8 •
program and the services performed by Washington State
University on the project described in the "Sponsored Project
Agreement" between the City of Yakima and Washington State
University for which the funds were used, a summary of the use of
the funds during the prior twelve months, and the number of high
school students who participated in the internship program during
the prior twelve months. The City will account for the funds using
specific accounting codes that keep the financial activity associated
with the funds separate from other City expenditures.
4. No amendment or modification of this Addendum regarding the use
of the funds shall be effective unless in writing and executed by the
parties.
5. This Addendum may be signed in counterparts by the parties. If
the Addendum is signed by the parties in counterparts, it will be
considered a fully executed Addendum. This Addendum is effective
on the date it is executed by all parties.
CITY OF YAKIMA PLAINTIFFS
/.cS ((ia.
,
By: '
Cliff Moo City Manager Rogelio'., on es, Plaintiff
Date. 3-1(2`l-3- _ Date: cA aGl 1 ap 1
ATTEST:
', '. 'Mateto teaga, Plaintiff
By- 820 ,\( k: 19alte:, x
. ti
C' Clerk ,, ,'Z
(City Contract No. 2016-074 Actaerv,u ' ,
Resolution No. R-2017- 0$(0
Addendum to Settlement Agreement - 2