REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
November 19, 2015
FROM: MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO, Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services
BY: SHAUN SCHAEFER, Community Recreation Supervisor II
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services
SUBJECT
Title
Approval of a three year agreement with Baptist Temple Church for lead agency responsibility for recreational programming at Granny’s Park (Council District 7)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the attached agreement for lead agency operation of a neighborhood center with Baptist Temple Church, a community based organization (CBO) for Granny’s Park, and authorize PARCS Director to sign the agreement.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Under the terms of the agreement, Baptist Temple Church (“Church”) will operate Granny’s Park for three years. This agreement will allow Baptist Temple Church to provide services to the Granny’s Park community by giving them access to the modular building on site through 2018. The Granny’s Park service agreement gives permission to the Church to utilize the modular building located in the park in exchange for providing recreational programs to the community between the hours of 3 to 7 p.m. Monday thru Friday. The Church will provide programming in the areas of recreation, leadership, arts and crafts, physical fitness, tutoring, and sports.
The Church will also provide social service programming. Social service programs will include computer literacy, family enrichment, senior activities and vocational development for community participants. The Church will provide community partners with expertise in social service development for both individuals and families. Some programs will be offered outside of normal operational hours. The PARCS Department recommends that this agreement continue through November 30, 2018.
BACKGROUND
The Community Science Program operated its Science Workshop out of Granny’s Park for over a decade from 2002 to 2015 and recently moved to the Highway City Neighborhood Center. The existing Granny’s Park modular building has remained closed since the Science Program moved in 2015. PARCS was approached by Pastor Tom Sims the Church to offer programs and community services at Granny’s Park. The Church has done outreach and provided services to the Granny’s community in the past and has a strong record of success.
The Baptist Temple Church develops community based partnerships that include 4141 Ministries, Care Fresno, Every Neighborhood Partnership, Hmong Baptist Church, Faith Community Church and Lao Baptist Church. These partner agencies in conjunction with the Church would assist in providing community services in the areas of recreation, afternoon snacks, movie nights, neighborhood cleanups, parent education, tutoring, sports, reading skills development, and special events. If approved, the contractual agreement for lead agency responsibility with Church would be for three years.
The exterior of the building and green space surrounding the center will remain the responsibility of the City for maintenance. Enhanced maintenance requested by the Church above the City’s standard levels of service can be accommodated but would require payment by the lead agency for the enhanced service level. The Church will pay for gas, electricity, water, sewer, and garbage. If the Church wishes to conduct religious, political, or other activities outside the scope of services outlined in this agreement, those activities will be subject to a separate rental agreement with the City. This department will reserve the right to make the site available for reservations but will confer with the Church to ensure that their activities are minimally disrupted.
This service agreement has been approved by the City Attorney’s Office and Risk Management.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Baptist Temple Church will provide programming at an existing PARCS site. 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 implemented because this item does not include a bid or award of a construction or service contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this agreement does not impact the General Fund. Baptist Temple Church will pay for all utilities, garbage, sewer, water, and maintenance, and carry the required liability insurance as determined by the City’s Risk Manager. Facility and green space maintenance and field/landscape maintenance will continue to be the responsibility of the City.
Attachment:
Agreement with Baptist Temple Church for Lead Operation of Granny’s Park