Report Prepared by: Michelle Reid, Recreation Supervisor
Title
SUBJECT: Approving Request from the Chance Dobbins Sr. Charity for the Co-Sponsored Rental Rate of $695.50 for the Merced Senior Community Center for Club 67 Monthly Dances
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers approving a request for the co-sponsored rate for the rental rate of $695.50 of the Merced Senior Community Center by the Chance Dobbins Sr. Charity to host Club 67 monthly dances on one Friday per month.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving the recommendation of the Recreation and Parks Commission for a co-sponsorship request rate of $695.50 from the Chance Dobbins Sr. Charity for the Merced Senior Community Center to host Club 67 monthly dances one Friday per month; and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by staff (identify specific finding and/or conditions amended to be addressed in the motion); or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items (specific items to be addressed in the motion; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
DISCUSSION
The Parks and Community Services Department received a request from Elisabete Dobbins, CEO and Owner of the Chance Dobbins Sr. Charity organization and Club 67, a special needs community activity. Ms. Dobbins requested use of the Merced Senior Community Center at the co-sponsored rate for one Friday per month to host the Club 67 social night and dance from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The request includes one hour before the event and one hour after the event for set up and clean up. Six total hours have been requested for co-sponsorship each month for the activity.
The Charity and Club are requesting either the first or second Friday of the month, however, there are already rentals of the Senior Center on some Fridays this year. Additionally, renters who have booked the facility on a Saturday have the option to pay to come in on a Friday evening to set up, which may interfere with the dance’s first or second Friday request. In these instances, the Club 67 event will be moved to a Thursday or alternate date chosen by the City and Charity.
The Merced Senior Community Center is available on some of the requested Fridays, and there will be no interference with regularly scheduled senior programs. There is an established co-sponsorship rate for use of the Senior Center, which will recoup all City expenses for hosting the event at the facility. The Chance Dobbins Sr. Charity will be required to provide liability insurance regardless of which fees are approved.
The regular and co-sponsored rates for this type of event are as follows:
Regular Rate: Co-Sponsored Rate:
$300 refundable deposit $150 (deposit on file)*
$900 hourly rate ($150 per hour) $450 hourly rate ($75 per hour)
$125 set up fee $62.50 set-up fee
$366 cleaning fee $183 cleaning fee ________
Total = $1,691 Total = $845.50
*Fee not reflected on Co-Sponsorship Application (Attachment #3)
The request was taken into consideration by the Recreation and Parks Commission at its January 22, 2024, meeting. The Commission unanimously approved the co-sponsorship request, as well as staff’s recommendation that not all events can be held on a Friday, and the co-sponsorship approval is made on a yearly basis. The Chance Dobbins Sr. Charity and Club 67 will need to apply annually for the co-sponsorship rate. Staff seeks Council approval for the co-sponsorship of the monthly dances through FY 24/25, with the Charity returning to the Recreation and Parks Commission in May 2025, to renew their request, and the item presented for Council consideration in July 2025.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No appropriation of funds is needed.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Chance Dobbins Sr. Charity/Club 67 Co-Sponsorship Request Letter
2. Senior Center Standard Rental Application
3. Club 67 Co-sponsorship Application