STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Quality of Life
AGENDA DATE: September 9, 2020
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): All
DEPARTMENT: Park & Recreation Department
EXECUTIVE: John D. Jenkins
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SUBJECT
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A public hearing to receive comments on readopting and continuing in effect Chapter 12, "City Youth Program Standards of Care," of the Dallas City Code, to re-establish standards of care for certain city youth programs in compliance with state law; and, at the close of the public hearing, adopt an ordinance re-establishing and continuing in effect the standards - Financing: No cost consideration to the City
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BACKGROUND
Section 42.041(b)(14) of the Texas Human Resources Code, as amended, allows city-sponsored youth recreation programs to be exempted from the state's day care licensing laws if the City adopts standards of care for those programs and complies with other requirements of that legislation. One requirement is that the City Council hold a public hearing annually on the City's youth program standards of care and adopt an ordinance re-establishing and continuing in effect the standards.
Ordinance No. 23159, adopted by the City Council on June 11, 1997, created Chapter 12 of the Dallas City Code in order to exempt City of Dallas youth programs from State child-care licensing requirements and provide minimum standards by which the City operates youth programs. Chapter 12 was readopted on June 10, 1998, by Ordinance No. 23534; on June 9, 1999, by Ordinance No. 23907; on June 14, 2000, by Ordinance No. 24281; on May 23, 2001, by Ordinance No. 24611; on May 22, 2002, by Ordinance No. 24943; on May 28, 2003, by Ordinance No. 25269; on June 9, 2004, by Ordinance No. 25628; on May 25, 2005, by Ordinance No. 25998; on June 14, 2006, by Ordinance No. 26376; on June 13, 2007, by Ordinance No. 26800; on June 11, 2008, by Ordinance No. 27222; on June 10, 2009, by Ordinance No. 27565; on June 9, 2010, by Ordinance No. 27911; on May 25, 2011, by Ordinance No. 28217; on May 23, 2012, by Ordinance No. 28670; on June 12, 2013, by Ordinance No. 29036; on May 28, 2014, by Ordinance No. 29358; on May 28, 2016, by Ordinance No. 30106; on September 13, 2017, by Ordinance No. 30650; on August 22, 2018, by Ordinance No. 30976; on September 11, 2019, by Ordinance No. 31329, Chapter 12 will expire on September 11, 2020 unless sooner terminated or extended by ordinance of the City Council.
The Director of the Park and Recreation Department implements, administers, and enforces Chapter 12, which applies to youth programs sponsored by the City, whether offered after school, during the summer, or during holidays. A coordinator initiates an inspection report for each program to confirm that standards of care are being met. The youth program coordinators and leaders must meet certain qualifications pertaining to age, education, and experience and are provided orientation and training relating to working with children. Each program must operate with a participant to leader ratio of 1:20 and must follow guidelines pertaining to safety, fire, and health as set forth in the standards of care.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On May 5, 2016, the Park and Recreation Board authorized a public hearing to be held on May 25, 2016.
On May 11, 2016, City Council authorized a public hearing on May 25, 2016, by Resolution No. 16-0730.
On May 25, 2016, City Council held a public hearing to receive comments of readopting and continuing in effect Chapter 12 “City Youth Program Standards of Care”, of the Dallas City Code, to re-establish standards of care for certain city youth programs in compliance with state law and authorized approval of an ordinance to readopt Chapter 12 of the Dallas City Code by Resolution No. 16-0867.
On August 3, 2017, the Park and Recreation Board authorized a public hearing to be held on September 13, 2017.
On August 23, 2017, City Council authorized a public hearing on September 13, 2017, by Resolution No. 17-1497.
On September 13, 2017, City Council held a public hearing to receive comments of readopting and continuing in effect Chapter 12 “City Youth Program Standards of Care”, of the Dallas City Code, to re-establish standards of care for certain city youth programs in compliance with state law and authorized approval of an ordinance to readopt Chapter 12 of the Dallas City Code by Resolution No. 17-1497.
On August 2, 2018, the Park and Recreation Board authorized a public hearing to be held on September 12, 2018.
On September 12, 2018, City Council held a public hearing to receive comments on readopting and continuing in effect Chapter 12, “City Youth Program Standards of Care”, of the Dallas City Code, to re-establish standards of care for certain city youth programs in compliance with state law and authorized approval of an ordinance to readopt Chapter 12 of the Dallas City Code by Resolution No. 18-1301.
On August 1, 2019, the Park and Recreation Board authorized a public hearing to be held on September 11, 2019.
On August 28, 2019, City Council held a public hearing to receive comments on readopting and continuing in effect Chapter 12, “City Youth Program Standards of Care”, of the Dallas City Code, to re-establish standards of care for certain city youth programs in compliance with state law and authorized approval of an ordinance to readopt Chapter 12 of the Dallas City Code by Resolution No. 19-1280.
On August 6, 2020, the Park and Recreation Board authorized a public hearing to be held on September 9, 2020.
On August 26, 2020, City Council authorized a public hearing to be held on September 9, 2020, by Resolution No. 20-1267.
FISCAL INFORMATION
No cost consideration to the City.