HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/1/2024 Item 7.b, Wendt
24 PM
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:spaulson@capslo.org; Cano, Molly; Taffe, McKenzie; McDonald, Whitney; Tolley,
Meghan; Avakian, Greg; Patty Clarkson; 'Jason Wells'; mlivengood@first5slo.org
Subject:RE October 1 2024 Agenda Item 7.b. Annual Update on Implementation of Economic
Development Strategic Plan
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Dear San Luis Obispo City Council Members:
On behalf of the First 5 SLO County team, I am writing to express shared commitment and gratitude to the City of
San Luis Obispo – elected leaders and sta? – on the critical importance of child care as an economic development
strategy as well as a child development strategy in our community. Specifically, the following items within the
Economic Development Strategic Plan showcase concrete examples of the City’s leadership in our county to pave
the way for an improved child care system that more e?ectively serves the needs of working families and children:
1.5.8. Continue to advocate for solutions to macroeconomic and systemic issues, like housing, transportation,
and childcare, in line with the City’s legislative platform, in economic development related settings at the local,
regional (REACH), super-regional (Uplift the Central Coast), and state levels.
3.1.7 Continue to support new and expanded private childcare options through the use of grant funding and other
programs.
3.1.8 Initiate an update to the zoning regulations to further incentivize and streamline the review and permitting of
day care centers, including consideration of relaxed property development standards.
3.1.9 Proactively evaluate opportunities to partner with Cal Poly, San Luis Coastal Unified School District and
other major employers for employer-supported childcare programs.
3.4.2 Continue to advocate for solutions that can help to address the systemic issues with childcare.
Tonight’s meeting Agenda Ite 7b includes an update on a promising demonstration project in support of 3.1.7
above that provides start-up grant funds and technical assistance to local child care operators. Kudos to
Economic Development sta? and partners at CAPSLO for launching this e?ort. May it continue to grow and thrive
as a mainstay and example of the City’s support for a strong child care business community, not to mention a
model for other cities and the County to consider in the future.
Also included in the City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan is a multi-year collaborative study among the
City of SLO, County of SLO, San Luis Coastal and Cal Poly (see 3.1.9) to examine and consider shared
opportunities to advance child care for both public sector employees and the community at large. Huge thanks to
Parks and Rec sta?, administrative sta? and HR sta? for their shared leadership in carrying this project forward.
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Item 1.5.8 appropriately includes child care as one of the called-out solutions to “macroeconomic and systemic
issues” along with housing and transportation. First 5 and other thought partners are eager to continue working
with the City to connect up strategies for child care in the context of housing – i.e. build strategies that include
incentives for child care infrastructure to be including in housing planning/development. We are also engaging as
conveners and thought partners with regional chambers, child care advocacy groups, Community Foundations
and others to develop regional approaches to working on child care. A current/upcoming example is the Uplift
Coalition Catalyst grant opportunity.
Finally, First 5 is in strong support of the focus in Item 3.1.8 to dedicate time/resources toward updating
zoning/permitting/land use policies and technical assistance practices to make it easier for quality child care
businesses/programs to launch an thrive in SLO -- and by extension in other cities/unincorporated areas as
neighboring municipalities follow the City of SLO’s example.
As always, we at First are here as this community’s champions for children and families.
Please connect with us any time on this or other issues that touch this important population in our county!
Sincerely,
Wendy Wendt, MPA (she/her)
Executive Director
805-781-4058 (o?ice)
805-550-6904 (cell)
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