HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - PROCLAMATION - 03/21/2000 - PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF MARCH AS YOU Mayor
PROCLAMATION
City of Fort Collins
WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has a strong commitment to the improvement of job and educational prospects
for disadvantaged youth and believes a comprehensiveyouth employment experience is critical to achieving those goals; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of labor has long been a supporter and champion of youth and has recently launched
the Youth Opportunity Movement which provides direct funding to cities. July 1, 2000 commences the nationwide implementation
of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and the transition to a new,year-roundyouth employment program from the JTPA
Summer Youth Employment Program; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors supports this transition to a more comprehensive program and year round
services for all youth participants,however,this change has the unintended consequence ofsignificantly reducing available summer
opportunities for youth; and
WHEREAS,every summer,since 1964,our cities'community andfaith based organizations have relied upon youth workers
to staff a variety of programs from day camps and child care to providing assistance to the elderly and disabled; while last year,
with the support of Mayors, the President and the Administration, Congress appropriated sufficient funds to serve 500,000 Young
people during the summer; and
WHEREAS, 14 and 15 year olds, who are primarily only eligible for employmenr through a government sponsored work
�ience, cannot usually be hired for summer work by private sector partners; and
WHEREAS, participation in employment programs can contribute to a safer environment and reduction in high-risk
behavior, additionally, research has shown youth who entered the workforce at an early age are more successful as adult workers.
NOW, THEREFORE,I, Ray Martinez, Mayor of the City of Fort Collins, do hereby proclaim the month of March 2000
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT FOR SUMMER 2000
in the city of Fort Collins and urge all citizens to join the U.S. Conference of Mayors to support emergency supplemental
appropriation to address the shortfall offunds needed to continue serving 500,000youth beginning with the implementation of V1'IA
in the summer of 2000 and advocate increased funding in the Federal FY 2001 budget to meet the projected doubling of program
costs resulting from the comprehensive andyear-round requirements as called for in the Workforce Investment Act.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the City of Fort Collins this 21 st day of Mm-ch,
A.D. 2000.
Mayor
ATTEST.•
•
City Clerk
300 LaPorte Avenue • EO. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 • (970) 221-6505 • FAX (970) 224-6107