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TEEN IMPACT CENTER UPDATE
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
Information only: no action to be taken.
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Summary
To support the Council’s discussion, staff have prepared a brief presentation summarizing the history and current status of the Teen IMPACT Center.
Background
The Gary and Janice Podesto Teen IMPACT Center (“Teen Center”) was renovated using California State Murray-Hayden grant funds. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in March 2005, and the first day of operation commenced in April 2005. The original Operating Agreement with the Boys and Girls Club was approved by Council on October 19, 2004 (Resolution 04-0731). The Boys and Girls Club operated the Teen Center from its opening until the end of their contract in 2011.
The City published a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Teen Center operations on October 1, 2010. Through this process, the Family Resource & Referral Center of San Joaquin (“FRRC”) was selected as the new operator. The Operating Agreement with the FRRC was approved by Council on June 7, 2011 (Resolution 11-0047). FRRC was under contract to operate the Teen Center through June 30, 2021. FRRC experienced declining participation through 2019 and ultimately closed regular programming in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From April 2020 through the contract expiration in 2021, FRRC operated the Teen Center as a central distribution hub for COVID-19 supplies.
In FY 2021-2022, the Community Services Department planned to relocate the Sports and Special Events units to the Teen Center upon completion of necessary building repairs. In 2022, oversight of the Special Events unit transferred from Community Services to Economic Development. In 2024, the Sports unit offices, located at Stribley Community Center, were redesigned and renovated to better meet their needs. Therefore, the Community Services Department is no longer pursuing additional space for staff.
In November 2023, Economic Development staff released a Request for Interest (RFI)/Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for development and/or partnership opportunities. This solicitation was issued to garner interest in multiple properties throughout the City, including the Teen Center. A total of seven (7) submittals were received specific to the Teen Center. A review committee was formed including staff from both Community Development (CDD) and Economic Development (EDD) departments who scored the proposals against criteria laid out in the solicitation. By June 2024, staff began to engage with the proponent who submitted the highest ranked, most viable proposal to determine a potential avenue of collaboration. The outcome of these discussions ultimately lead to the determination that the condition of the building and the severely outdated infrastructure required significant investment/rehabilitation before any partnership could be formed.
Present Situation
EDD staff continued to identify resources and strategies to activate the Teen Center. The most promising strategy was found in engaging with San Joaquin County Worknet on the development of the County’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The CEDS is a county-wide document that outlines a strategy to foster economic growth and prosperity, identifying targeted actions for improving the region’s economy. The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) requires a project be listed in the CEDS in order to be considered for funding through the EDA. The City was successful in advocating for the CEDS to include a number of promising projects, including the Teen Center. Listed as the “Teen Impact Center Activation” to transform the underutilized space into community-serving facilities that could include workforce development and training opportunities.” The CEDS document was approved by the Board of Supervisors on January 14, 2025 (Attachment A), which will be submitted to USEDA for final approval. Once the CEDS is approved by EDA, the City of Stockton can submit an application for EDA funding under the Public Works Program. This program allows for infrastructure improvements and development of skill-training facilities, creating a potential funding source for the Teen Center if its developed use focuses on engaging youth in workforce development opportunities.
A condition assessment of the Teen Center was performed in 2017 by the Kitchell Company who found the building in overall poor condition and needing an estimated $4,268,272 in repairs to the mechanical systems and code compliance. In 2021 the building had water damage due to winter storms, as a result the roof was replaced with Teen Impact Center Roof Replacement Project No. CR2202. The roof replacement was completed in 2022, no major improvements have been made sense.
Attachment A - 2025-2030 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy