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STRONG COMMUNITIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018-19
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RECOMMENDATION
This item is an informational item submitting the Strong Communities Advisory Committee Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2018-19 to the City Council.
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Summary
Stockton’s voters approved a one-quarter cent sales tax dedicated to enhancing City recreation and library programs, services, and facilities known as Strong Communities (Measure M) on November 8, 2016. The measure also established a citizens’ advisory committee to determine whether expenditures were made consistent with program guidelines and to provide an annual report to the City Council and the public.
The Measure M Annual Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19 (Attachment A) is presented to the City Council in compliance with the program guidelines.
DISCUSSION
Background
Stockton’s voters approved Strong Communities (Measure M) November 8, 2016. This one-quarter cent (0.25%) transaction and use tax (sales tax) went into effect on April 1, 2017. Strong Communities is a special tax dedicated to enhancing City recreation and library programs, services, and facilities. The ordinance authorizing the tax requires an audit performed by an independent certified public accountant and the establishment of an advisory committee to ensure proper use of the revenues. The Strong Communities Advisory Committee has the responsibility to determine whether expenditures were made consistent with the ordinance. Furthermore, the Council Policy establishing the advisory committee requires an annual report to be submitted to the City Council.
The attached Strong Communities Annual Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19 (Attachment A) is presented to the City Council for review in compliance with the ordinance and committee policy.
Present Situation
Total revenues in FY 2018-19 were $12,077,940. The Strong Communities expenditure budget for FY 2018-19 was $12,409,585. Of this total allocation, the City spent $6,688,531. Recreation and Library Programs represented 88% of all expenses, 11% was used for Administration and the State of California to collect the tax revenues, with the remainder used for capital projects.
The City used Strong Communities funds to:
- Expand hours at libraries and community centers
- Hire/promote 6 full-time and additional part-time staff to support expanded hours and programming
- Extend Pool Hours for “Family Nights”
- Provide access to streaming films for library users through the Kanopy platform
- Host 19 Ultra Friday Nights with extended evening hours
- Provide online bill payment and other features through the RecTrac program
- Increase participation in the Summer Reading program with 62,204 books read
- Remodel Troke Library Children’s Area
- Complete re-seeding project at Stockton Soccer Complex
- Conduct assessments and complete modifications to improve safety at facilities
- Bring Holiday Park swimming pool up to code so it can be reopened when appropriate
- Submit application for Proposition 68 Grant to renovate McKinley Park
- Open Micro Libraries in Rue and Stribley Community Centers
- Provide free Wi-Fi in all community centers
- Partner with YMCA for Jump into Summer Healthy Kids Day with over 1,000 in attendance
- Partner with Stockton Unified School District to host Family Literacy Camp for ESL families at Seifert Community Center
- Offer LENA Start program which promotes the building of early literacy skills in infants and toddlers (0-32 months) in concert with the University of the Pacific’s Beyond Our Gates program
- Offer Hit, Pitch, and Run program for community youth in partnership with the San Francisco Junior Giants
- Present English Conversation Club and Bilingual Storytimes to community members through the use of Zoom technology
- Provide free meals (lunch, snacks, dinner) with support from Stockton Unified School District
- Provide the first Winter Reading program for children ages 6-12 where 22,050 books were read with support from the Stockton Heat
- Partner with the Stockton Police Department to have Sentinels and Cadets at Oak Park and Sousa Pools to build trust and relationships within the community
The financial information included in this Annual Report is based on the annual audit. The City received an unmodified (clean) opinion. Staff reported the FY 2018-19 audited Schedule of Revenues, Expenditures, and Change in Fund Balance to the Council Audit Committee and to the City Council in December 2019, and the Strong Communities Advisory Committee on February 13, 2020. The Strong Communities Advisory Committee discussed and approved the FY 2018-19 Annual Report for presentation to the Council and the public at its September 24, 2020, meeting.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
There is no financial impact from the presentation of this report.
Attachment A - Strong Communities Advisory Committee Annual Report FY 2018-19