REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: AARON AGUIRRE, Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
BY: Aldi RAMIREZ, Assistant Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
SHELBY MACNAB, Business Manager
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions related to Community Services at Sunset Community Center:
1. Affirm City Manager’s determination that Street Saints is uniquely qualified to provide community services at Sunset Community Center for a one-year term.
2. Approve a Service Agreement (Agreement) between the Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS) Department and HandsOn Central California, acting as the fiscal and administrative sponsor for Street Saints, to provide community services for a one-year term at Sunset Community Center, located at 1345 W. Eden Ave, Fresno, CA 93706, for $1 per year.
3. Authorize the PARCS Director or their designee to execute the Agreement subject to approval by the City Attorney (District 3).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council affirm the City Manager’s determination that Street Saints is uniquely qualified, approve the Agreement between the City of Fresno and HandsOn Central California, acting as the fiscal and administrative sponsor for Street Saints for services at Sunset Community Center, and authorize the PARCS Director or their designee to execute the agreement subject to approval by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Street Saints is a non-profit corporation established in 2002 with a mission to restore Fresno to a safe and healthy community. In 2015, the City entered into an agreement with Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (Fresno EOC) as the Lead Agency Operations of Sunset Community Center where Streets Saints provided programming under the fiscal and administrative sponsorship of Fresno EOC. Effective July 1, 2022, Street Saints separated from Fresno EOC to continue their work as a standalone non-profit organization and the agreement with the City was terminated at the request of Fresno EOC. Street Saints wishes to continue providing programming at Sunset Community Center under the fiscal and administrative sponsorship of HandsOn Central California. The PARCS Department has determined that there is public benefit to entering into a final agreement with Street Saints for services as the PARCS Department resumes operations of the center.
BACKGROUND
In 2010 PARCS began entering into Agreements with multiple community-based organizations (CBO’s). These Agreements authorized CBO’s to occupy and operate neighborhood centers throughout the community in exchange for the use of office and programming space at the facility at no-cost to rent. Under these terms, CBO’s provided services to community members and were responsible for the cost of janitorial services and partial costs of utilities. These agreements were initially created in response to the 2008 economic downturn which resulted in a scarcity of resources and the need for greater collaboration to keep community centers operational. On November 18, 2010, the City entered into a Lead Agency Operation agreement of Sunset Community Center with Street Saints for programming. The initial term of the agreement was three (3) years, with two (2), one-year (1) extension options. Upon expiration of the initial terms and available extensions, on August 1, 2015, the City entered into an Operational Services Agreement to be the Lead Agency Operator of Sunset Community Center with Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (Fresno EOC) as the fiscal and administrative sponsor for Streets Saints to provide programming. The initial term for the agreement was three (3) years, with two (2), one-year (1) extension options. In 2019, an amendment to the agreement extended the term to 2024. Effective July 1, 2022, Street Saints separated from Fresno EOC to continue their work as a standalone non-profit organization and the agreement was terminated at the request of Fresno EOC. Street Saints wishes to continue providing programming at Sunset Community Center under the fiscal and administrative sponsorship of HandsOn Central California.
Street Saints promotes safe and healthy communities by strengthening families and encouraging leadership within Fresno. Street Saints has developed programs for youth to build resiliency and promote healthy choices in education, social situations, family and employment. The organization offers programs for young adults designed to empower and train area residents to become community leaders. Street Saints has built relationships, formed cross-sector collaboratives and become attuned to the supports and services desired by the West Fresno community.
The PARCS Department has evaluated the public benefit of entering into service agreements across several centers, assessing the history of services provided, the community need for wrap-around supports provided by non-profit organizations as part of pandemic recovery efforts, and future direction at Sunset. Based on this assessment, PARCS staff have determined that Steet Saints is uniquely qualified to continue services at Sunset during a transitional period of one year. City staff have resumed offering programming at the center, and as a result of this agreement, City staff will occupy additional space at the site to enable programming to expand. After the one-year transitional period, the City intends to fully reoccupy the center. Staff requests the City Council affirm the City Manager’s determination that Street Saints is uniquely qualified to continue services for a final term at Sunset.
Staff also requests approval of the Agreement between the City of Fresno and HandsOn Central California to allow services to continue at Sunset Community Center provided by Street Saints. The proposed Agreement with HandsOn Central California is for a final term of one (1) year through June 30, 2023. As part of the terms of the agreement, PARCS will assume all costs for operations and maintenance including utilities and janitorial. In exchange for the services outlined in Exhibit A of the agreement, Street Saints will be provided space for operations at Sunset for $1 per year. Space allocation is subject to change over the term of the agreement based on PARCS programming needs. PARCS staff will remain on site to offer recreation programming working with Street Saints to maximize impact and avoid any duplication of efforts.
The City Attorney’s office, Risk Department and Purchasing Department have reviewed and approved the agreements as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this item is not a project for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because this service agreement is not the result of a competitive bid. The service provider has been deemed uniquely qualified by the City Manager and staff is requesting Council affirm that determination.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Agreement will have no impact on the General Fund. Services offered by Street Saints are not expected to increase operational and maintenance costs outside of what is already budgeted.
Attachments:
Uniquely Qualified Memo
Service Agreement