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APPROVE MOTION AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT WITH TABLE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR OPERATION OF MERLO GYMNASIUM
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a motion approving and authorizing an Amendment to the Operations Agreement with Table Community Foundation to extend the Agreement for two years and authorize the City Manager to take appropriate actions to carry out the purpose and intent of the motion.
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Summary
The Table Community Foundation (“TCF”) operates the Merlo Gymnasium, located in William Brotherhood Park at 2021 Anne Street. The Operations Agreement has an initial three-year term with two additional one-year options. The initial three-year term will conclude on June 30, 2018. TCF has demonstrated success in improving the quality of life in the neighborhood and staff recommends an amendment to the agreement to continue this work through the final two years of the agreement. The recommended Amendment includes the following:
• Combine the two remaining one-year extensions and extend the term of the agreement for two years;
• Continue the annual subsidy of $85,000 for each of the final two fiscal years;
• Add permission for TCF to have exterior use of the facility for certain team sports and general programming purposes; and
• Update the contact information for TCF.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Merlo Gym is located in William Brotherhood Park, adjacent to Stockton Unified School District’s Merlo Institute and the Dorothy L. Jones Community and Health Center. The 15,000-square foot gymnasium is governed by a joint use agreement and 40-year land lease with Stockton Unified School District (“SUSD”). The Merlo Institute uses the gym during the school day and has the first right of refusal for other uses in afternoons, evenings, and weekends. The City pays utilities and expenses according to the agreement with SUSD. SUSD pays for their portion of repairs, maintenance, and facility costs. The Gym was constructed in 2009 and opened with limited hours by the City until an operator could be selected. The City released a Request for Proposals (RFP) in 2010, which received no responses. Following this, Community Partnership for Families of San Joaquin (“CPFSJ”) operated the gym informally through a pilot program, and in 2012, a formal MOU was established with CPFSJ until 2015. CPFSJ received one-time funds from City Council in 2014 to support use of the facility until an RFP could be released.
An RFP was released in March 2015, and TCF was evaluated as the most qualified respondent. The initial three-year term of the agreement runs from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2018, and includes an $85,000 annual subsidy (Attachment A).
TCF has strengthened South Stockton relationships at the gym and leverages relationships with numerous social service organizations and non-profits. Partners include STAND, City of Stockton Police Department, CUFF/CPSFSJ, Reinvent Stockton, NAACP, El Concilio, Visionary Homes, American Legion Karl Ross Post 15, Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Luneta Post 16. Program attendance over the last three years has been strong. TCF has done an excellent job of creating programs and drawing people from the community to a safe and dynamic space for children and families.
(FY to date)
|
Attendance |
FY 2015/16 |
FY 2016/17 |
FY 2017/18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Afterschool Programs |
3,680 |
4,835 |
3,865 |
|
Summer Camps |
619 |
1,059 |
2,089 |
|
Basketball Court |
22,185 |
32,767 |
22,009 |
|
Instructional Classes |
2,603 |
4,137 |
3,625 |
|
Special Events |
5,751 |
7,153 |
7,982 |
|
Total |
34,838 |
49,951 |
39,570 |
Afterschool Programs
TCF has a daily after-school program which offers arts and crafts, physical activity, snack, tutoring, journal writing, and other enrichment activities. They also offer employment training and counseling. They had an average of 81 students a day in this program.
Summer Camp and Holiday Camp
Summer camp operates the first week of June to the first week of August. The 2017 attendance averaged 169 youth per day who received breakfast, lunch, and a snack. The facility was open 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for Camp attendees and 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for open gym. Holiday Camp is 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for seasonal activities. Holiday Camp averages 103 visitors a day.
Basketball
The Gym provides open gym time for basketball daily from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Instructional Classes
TCF enrichment provides electric violin classes, Brazilian ju-jitsu, and karate. Big Valley Track Team is founded by an Olympian track coach and serves youth ages four to eighteen.
Youth Sports
TCF provides flag football at William Brotherhood Park (among other Stockton locations). For all locations, youth sports served 35,341 students last fiscal year. TCF operates SUSD sponsored basketball games for high school students (Merlo vs. Weber Institute) five days a week. TCF also offers Basketball Tournaments.
Special Events
TCF is committed to providing safe and fun events for families, community-based and nonprofit organizations, and athletes. These events offer participants and agencies an opportunity to build a renewed sense of community and pride around the park and gymnasium. Unity in the Community, National Night Out, Turkey give-away, Legacy Camp, Father’s Day/Mother’s Day events, Easter Egg hunts, and Christmas activities are all free activities to the neighborhood.
Present Situation
The City’s initial term with TCF is approaching the three-year mark, triggering a review of the agreement and decision about exercising the extension option. Staff recommends the two additional one-year options be combined into a two-year option. The proposed amendment to the Operations Agreement includes maintaining the subsidy of $85,000 per year for the final two years (Attachment B). Community Services evaluated TCF’s ability to be financially self-sufficient before recommending the second term be funded. Although the City hoped to eliminate the subsidy for Merlo Gym after three years, the donation and rental revenue TCF receives is not sufficient to provide the services offered to the neighborhood without continued subsidy. This is a neighborhood gym that offers services in the heart of South Stockton, and services provided to the youth in this high-risk neighborhood are highly valued. TCF has been successful in providing needed services. More than 20,000 people attended special events at Merlo in the past three years. Continuing the subsidy is a more affordable option for the City than assuming the management and operations of the Merlo Gym. In support of TCF’s commitment to activities that support community engagement, staff recommends adding language amending the footprint of the facility to allow TCF to use portions of the park as a “home field” and support additional activities consistent with general programming uses. Increasing the footprint facilitates additional interest and encourages a higher level of park use. Adding opportunities for additional use, enhanced facility footprint, and extended term in the Amendment will allow TCF to efficiently serve the community. Special events beyond general programming will continue to be managed through the City’s Special Events permit process.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The financial obligation of this Amendment to the General Fund will provide a continuation of the $85,000 per year subsidy to recreation in South Stockton for the final two years of this agreement. This payment to TCF will be included in the annual budget appropriation to Community Services - Recreation Division 083-3629-590 annual operating budget.
Attachment A - Merlo Gymnasium Operations Agreement
Attachment B - Amendment to the Merlo Gymnasium Agreement