REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 20, 2015
FROM: MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO, Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services
BY: IRMA YEPEZ-PEREZ, Senior Management Analyst
KAREN M. NORRIS, Administrative Manager
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION- 6th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2015-104 appropriating $54,000 from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Best Buy, and Irritec USA, Inc. to the City of Fresno Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS) Department (Requires 5 affirmative votes)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the attached resolution to accept and appropriate $54,000 in grants from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Best Buy, and Irritec USA, Inc. for various PARCS programs and maintenance.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PARCS obtained grants and donations totaling $54,000 that includes: $20,000 in grant funds from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) for the Life and Environmental Science Program, and $10,000 for the Organ Wise Guys Program; $5,000 from PG&E for PG&E Science Camps at Highway City Community Center and $5,000 for expansion of the Movies in the Park; $4,000 from Best Buy for the Youth Job Preparation Program; and $10,000 from Irritec USA, Inc. for maintenance at Martin Ray Reilly Park.
BACKGROUND
The City of Fresno Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS) Department has successfully obtained grants and donations to offset program costs and maintenance that included the following:
1. In April 2015 The National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) selected fifteen urban communities for a Parks Build Community initiative in partnership with Disney, ABC 30, and ESPN to help build community support for parks through projects that connect kids and nature. Fresno PARCS competed to obtain $20,000 for park projects based on votes obtained through social media. The projects included: Chandler Park basketball court, Ted C. Wills children’s garden, Woodward Park BMX, and the Highway City Community Science Center’s Life and Environmental Science Program. The Life and Environmental Science Program, which provides hands-on learning opportunities for children to learn about science and the natural habitat along the San Joaquin River, secured the most votes and was awarded the $20,000 from NRPA. PARCS will be able to take up to 500 underserved children from Herndon Town, Highway City Community Science Center, and other City neighborhood centers to explore the habitat, hike, canoe, camp, and remove invasive species along the San Joaquin River.
2. Additionally, PARCS was awarded a $10,000 grant from the NRPA for the Out-of-School Time Programs to provide the Organ Wise Guys (OWG) health and nutrition curriculum to elementary school aged youth at PARCS neighborhood parks and Fresno Unified School District contracted school sites. The goal of OWG grant award program is to educate children and adults about nutrition and healthy living and to prevent childhood obesity, while increasing the number of meals children in low-income areas are served. Rather than learning about organs through text books, OWG uses fictional animated characters and puppets to teach children about their bodies in an age appropriate manner. The main focus of the program is to encourage youth to eat a low fat and high in fiber diet, drink lots of water, get plenty of exercise and better understand how to manage their bodies.
3. On June 24, 2015 PG&E presented a $10,000 celebratory check at the rededication of Highway City Community Science Center. PG&E awarded a $5,000 grant toward the PG&E Science Camps at Highway City Community Center. The camps will provide hands-on learning opportunities in science, technology and the environment for underserved youth. The camps are offered during the school breaks to promote “learning through discovery”.
4. $5,000 was also set aside by PG&E for the Movies in the Park program. Since 2007, this program has successfully attracted over 200 residents every Friday night, for 8 consecutive weeks during the summer months of June through August. Families from all walks of life gather downtown at Eaton Plaza Park with their blankets, chairs, and snacks to watch fun family movies. With assistance from PG&E the movies will be expanded to serve North Fresno residents in their local community park.
5. Best Buy awarded a $4,000 grant to initiate the Youth Job Preparation Program (YJPP) at the Dickey Youth Development Center. Area youth will learn how to prepare a resume, job soft-skills, and financial literacy.
6. Irritec USA Inc., one of the top five major irrigation manufacturers in the world, with headquarters just minutes from Martin Ray Reilly Park, approached City Councilmember Clint Olivier about sponsoring a park project. Irritec has adopted Martin Ray Reilly Park and made a two year commitment to donate $20,000 toward park maintenance. The first installment of $10,000 was issued to PARCS for FY16. An Adopt-A-Park sign with the Irritec logo will be installed at the park to acknowledge their support.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 they do not qualify as a “project” for the purpose of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this item does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund. PARCS benefits from the $54,000 of various grant funds to help defray the cost of maintenance and recreation programs that are provided for community residents.
Attachment:
AAR 2015-104