Council approves child care resolution

City Council approved a resolution aimed at reducing the cost of child care by making it easier to build and open child care centers Thursday. The resolution, which was sponsored by Council Member Delia Garza, asked the city manager to explore a new path to more child care in the city by looking at fees, permitting and zoning regulations for child care centers. Though the resolution was approved on consent, and didn’t garner much discussion during the meeting proper, a press conference held prior to the meeting and available on the city’s website in its entirety featured Garza, Mayor Steve Adler, Council Member Alison Alter, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo, the United Way’s Sara Reeves and others discussing why the resolution was so important. “We know that there are simply not enough slots available in affordable, high-quality child care facilities in the city,” said Garza. “This resolution … can directly address the lack of capacity at child care facilities. We will ask the city manager to coordinate between several city departments and figure out how we can make permitting and zoning work better so new facilities can open quickly and meet demand.”