REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
March 5, 2015
FROM: MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO, Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services
BY: SHAUN R. SCHAEFER, Community Recreation Supervisor II
IRMA YEPEZ-PEREZ, Grant Writer
KAREN M. NORRIS, Administrative Manager
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to a Community Science Program at the Highway City Community Science Center
1. ***RESOLUTION - 36th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2014-95 appropriating $10,000 from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) for the science camps at Highway City Community Center (District 2) (Requires 5 affirmative votes)
2. ***RESOLUTION - 38TH amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2014-95 appropriating $18,000 from the California Tinkering After School Network to continue the Community Science Program at the Highway City Community Center (Requires 5 affirmative votes)
3. Authorize the PARCS Director, or designee to execute grant documents associated with the grants from PG&E, the California Tinkering After School Network, and the Community Science Workshop Network for the Community Science Program at the Highway City Community Science Center
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) Adopt the attached Resolution to accept and appropriate a $10,000 grant from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) for the science camps at Highway City Community Center.
2) Adopt the attached Resolution to accept and appropriate $18,000 from the California Tinkering After School Network (CTAN).
3) Authorize the PARCS Director, or designee to sign all necessary grant documents, subject to prior approval as to form by the City Attorney's Office.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The PARCS Department has received three (3) grant awards totaling $43,000. PG&E has donated $10,000 to offset operating cost of the Science Camps. The California Tinkering After School Network (CTAN) has provided $18,000, and The Community Science Workshop Network (CSWN) $15,000 for a total $33,000 to enable PARCS to open the Highway City Community Science Center located at 5140 N. State Street. Only $18,000 from CTAN is being appropriated. The balance of the grant funds ($15,000 from CSWN) will be included in the FY 16 budget.
BACKGROUND
The Community Science Program was created over 20 years ago as a partnership between the National Science Foundation, Community Science Workshop and the City of Fresno. This partnership has led to the creation of a national model that has been replicated in other cities throughout the United States. The Community Science program promotes "learning through discovery" and helps reduce school learning loss by offering hands-on opportunities in earth science, physics, geology, and chemistry to help reinforce school grade level content standards. Community Science partners with local museums, science centers and community-based, non-profit organizations for assistance with exhibits and education programs. Community Science maintains permanent exhibit space, a workshop area for student projects, while serving a variety of audiences through a comprehensive after school and science program. Community Science has been located at three sites since its inception, which included a doublewide modular trailer at Dickey Park from 1992 to 1999, a small multi-purpose room at the Mosqueda Community Center from 1999 to 2002, and a doublewide modular trailer at Granny's Park from 2002 to the present.
Direct funding for the Community Science Program was eliminated in 2010 due to budget reductions; however the program has been sustained through foundation and grant funds. Community Science also provides a wide variety of fee-based activities and contracted services. In 1998, the City of Fresno PARCS Department and Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) entered into an agreement to offer the Community Science Program at fifteen elementary schools. In 1999, the Science program doubled in size to accommodate thirty elementary schools and the program continues to thrive to this day. The Science Program at Granny's Park ceased General Fund provided programming in July 2009, as part of FY 2010 budget reductions. The Community Science program has re-positioned itself as an after school contract service vendor and is currently operating in FUSD, Fresno County Office of Education and Clovis Unified School District elementary schools. In FY 2015, Community Science provided over $300,000 in service to San Joaquin Valley children through school contracts and grants.
The Community Science Program has outgrown the deteriorating doublewide modular trailer at Granny's Park. The Community Science Program has added equipment, tools, and contracted services commitments that require preparation areas necessary for operating a large informal science operation. The Highway City Community Center located at 5140 N. State Street would provide the adequate space, amenities and easy access from Highway 99 for the Community Science Program.
The Highway City Community Center has been closed for three years as a result of the economic downturn. The PARCS Department has received three (3) grant awards totaling $43,000. PG&E has donated $10,000 to offset operating cost of the PARCS Department PG&E Science Camps. The California Tinkering After School Network (CTAN) has provided $18,000, and The Community Science Workshop Network (CSWN) $15,000 for a total $33,000 in grant funds to continue the Community Science Program, and enable PARCS to open the Highway City Community Science Center located at 5140 N. State Street. Only the $18,000 grant from CTAN is being appropriated, and the balance of the grant funds ($15,000 from CSWN) will be included in the FY 16 budget.
The $28,000 in grant awards from PG&E, CSWN and CTAN, combined with administrative fees from school contracts, will provide the resources to operate the facility for participants to enjoy a sense of discovery and exploration, and offer multiple opportunities to expand knowledge, and imagination necessary to excel in school. Additionally, PARCS has received commitments from current grant agencies (CSWN, CTAN, PG&E and the San Joaquin River Conservancy) for continued funding for the Community Science Program. PARCS will also explore additional grant funding opportunities to further enhance the Community Science Program at the Highway City Community Science Center.
In order to accommodate all the neighborhood children currently participating in the program PARCS will provide shuttle service on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Granny's Park to the Highway City Science Center. It should be noted that the only activities being provided at Granny's Park was the Community Science Program. Therefore, PARCS has initiated discussions with interested community based organizations to operate a five day a daily recreation activities to the community surrounding Granny's Park.
The City Attorney's Office has reviewed and approved as to form the grant award agreements.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The informal science instruction and science camps are programmatic in nature and will be held at the Highway City Community Center, an existing park facility. By definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 this item does not qualify as a "project" and is therefore exempt from CEQA requirements.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Not applicable, this is a grant funded program and does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
Acceptance of the grant funds will have no impact to the General Fund. PARCS benefits from these grant funds that will help to defray the programmatic and operational costs of our Community Science program.
Attachments: Resolutions (2)