To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Agreement with Rising Sun Center for Opportunity for Extern Training Program
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to execute an unpaid extern training agreement with Rising Sun Center for Opportunity to provide career pathway exposure and workforce development in the areas of clean energy and environmental sustainability for externs for the period July 1, 2024 through October 31, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no financial cost to the County outside of staff time to supervise the Rising Sun Center for Opportunity extern.
BACKGROUND:
The Rising Sun Center for Opportunity administers the Climate Careers Externship Program to provide youth who have successfully completed Rising Sun’s Green House Call Summer Program with real-world work experience in cooperation with various local agencies, nonprofit organizations, and research institutions. Through enrollment in this program, participating externs will have the opportunity to build social capital, demonstrate their abilities to perform in a professional environment, develop additional transferable skills, and gain exposure to additional pathways to employment. The extern will receive field experience and instruction from the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development and the County will receive assistance in achieving its Climate Action Plan goals. The extern will update the County’s Green Buildings webpage, thereby supporting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions associated with building materials as set forth in the County’s draft 2024 Climate Action Plan Update. The extern may also update the green building materials display in the County’s Application Permit Center, if time permits.
The agreement specifies that this is an unpaid extern training program, and externs are not employees of the County. The agreement also includes provisions for mutual indemnification.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failure to authorize this agreement would deprive the County of the opportunity to support a local youth workforce development program and the County’s goals related to environmental sustainability.