City Council Agrees to Seek Child-Care Study Grant

Taking the first step toward achieving Mayor Maureen O’Connor’s promise of improved child care for city employees, the San Diego City Council agreed Tuesday to apply for a $25,000 state grant to fund a comprehensive study of its options.

But the vote did not come without lengthy public questioning from some council members who said they are tired of studies and want to see action on the pressing concern.

At the urging of Councilman Ron Roberts and others, the council agreed to speed O’Connor’s call for a city child-care coordinator by referring that proposal to a council committee immediately. The child-care study, in contrast, could take six to eight months.

“I’m concerned about studying it for another eight months, and the need grows on a daily basis,” Councilman Wes Pratt said.

“We’re ready to go. In fact, the women of this city have been ready to go for five years,” Councilwoman Abbe Wolfsheimer said.

During her annual State of the City address Jan. 9, O’Connor pledged that the city would “take the lead” in providing on-site child care for city employees, reading and recreation programs for school-age children and a “children’s czar” to coordinate child-care opportunities.

The application, due Friday in the state Department of Education, seeks $25,000 to determine how the city can best promote inexpensive, quality child care, said Max Drumheller, an associate analyst in the city’s Office of Community Services.

At the urging of council members, it will also include references to the city’s plans for a child-care coordinator, a “public-private partnership” to promote child-care opportunities and an advisory board on child-care issues, Drumheller said.

Existing child-care opportunities for city employees include the downtown Bayside Children’s Center, which gives priority to city workers.

With only 10 of the $25,000 grants available, the city faces stiff competition for the funds. About 150 other cities and counties are applying, including the County Board of Supervisors, O’Connor said.