Report Prepared by: Christopher Jensen, Director, Parks & Community Services
Title
SUBJECT: Awarding LifeLine Community Development Corporation (CDC) the Community Center Use Agreement for McNamara Youth Center for Afterschool Youth Programming for a One Year Term with an Option to Extend an Additional Year, the Agreement Terms also Include an Annual Stipend of $7,500, as Recommended by the Recreation and Parks Commission
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers awarding Community Center Use Agreement- McNamara Youth Center to LifeLine Community Development Corporation to offer daytime and afterschool youth focused programming as recommended by the Recreation and Parks Commission. The term of the Agreement will be for one year with an option to extend one additional year. The Agreement terms also include an annual stipend of $7,500 to use towards the cost of utilities at the center.
Lifeline CDC has proposed implementing Asset Based Community Development (ABCD). This is a process that includes walking the neighborhood, learning the community story, discovering the gifts of the community, learning what neighbors care enough about to act on, bring neighbors together around common goals, implement activities to meet goals, measure success and celebrate as a community.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving the Use Agreement with Lifeline Community Development Corporation for afterschool youth programming at the McNamara Youth Center for a one-year term with an option to extend the term for an additional one-year term; and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager or the Deputy City Manager to execute the necessary documents; and,
C. Authorizing the Finance Officer to make the necessary budget adjustments.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve as recommended by the Recreation and Parks Commission; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by the Recreation and Parks Commission (identify specific findings and/or conditions amended to be addressed in the motion); or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for consideration of specific items (specific items to be addressed in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2023-24 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
In July 2023 the Parks and Community Services Department opened a Request for Interest (RFI) for qualified non-profits to use the McNamara Youth Center. The requested scope included programming with a specific focus on engaging the surrounding community through services that support youth and families, including but not limited to; afterschool programming, daytime services for children 0-5, special camps when school is out of session, and resources for parents and families. The Department received three applications. Applicants included Central Valley Pride, LifeLine CDC, and Steady Studios. All three applicants presented their respective proposal to the Recreation & Parks Commission on August 28th, 2023. The Commission nominated LifeLine CDC with a revised proposal that would include an effort to partner with the other two applicants, Central Valley Pride and Steady Studios, as feasible.
Facility Use and Other Terms
McNamara Youth Center is in a historical part of Merced and has supplied services, events, and resources for the surrounding community for decades. Programming will focus on engaging the surrounding community through services that support youth and families, including but not limited to; afterschool programming, daytime services for children 0-5, special camps when school is out of session, and resources for parents and families.
Lifeline CDC has proposed implementing Asset Based Community Development (ABCD). This is a process that includes walking the neighborhood, learning the community story, discovering the gifts of the community, learning what neighbors care enough about to act on, bring neighbors together around common goals, implement activities to meet goals, measure success and celebrate as a community. The facility will be staffed by LifeLine CDC. LifeLine CDC will provide programming after school for students and families with limitations to private after school programs, care, and activities. In addition, LifeLine CDC will look to infuse programming for community residents as well. LifeLine CDC will partner with other youth serving organizations to offer special camps when schools are in recess so that students and families have accessible activities in South Merced. Activities that have come from this process include routine 0-5 Parent and Me focused activities, weekday afterschool kids activities, and day time young adult and parent resource hours. This approach has been implemented with success in two additional locations by LifeLine CDC, the Meadows Apartment Complex in Merced and the Winton Community Center in Winton California. These locations are similar in socioeconomic and ethnic makeup to the area around McNamara Youth Center.
LifeLine CDC will report program efforts on a quarterly basis to the Parks and Community Services Department which will be shared with the Recreation and Parks Commission and, if requested, City Council, on a quarterly basis. Lifeline’s yearly performance measures will be shared with City Council in consideration of any request to extend the Agreement. Specifics of the report can be found in the Agreement, page 15, under “Communication”.
Per Council direction, this Agreement would be secured for one fiscal year and will be considered for a future year renewal by Council at the end of next fiscal year. The consideration will be based on performance measures reported by the Lifeline CDC.
Recreation and Parks Commission Action
At the Recreation and Parks Commission meeting of August 28th, 2023, the Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of the Agreement with LifeLine CDC to the City Council.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Annually, the City of Merced is responsible for offsetting utilities expenses for this facility, not to exceed $7,500. Funding is available within the Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget for this expense in Fund 2004-Measure Y- 20% Parks and Recreation (Account 20044030-511001). Lifeline CDC will be responsible to pay the cost of facility utility expenses that exceed the $7,500 allowance for the year.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Community Center Use Agreement- McNamara Youth Center and Lifeline CDC
2. LifeLine CDC Application
3. LifeLine CDC Recreation and Parks Commission Presentation