Report Prepared by: Jennifer Arellano, Recreation Supervisor, Parks and Recreation
Title
SUBJECT: Staff Update on the Request for Interest Process for McNamara Youth Center and Stephen Leonard Youth Center and Contract Extensions with the Currently Lessees, Symple Equazion and Soccer Academy of Merced, Inc., through June 2021
REPORT IN BRIEF
Staff update on McNamara Youth Center and Stephen Leonard Youth Center Contracts
RECOMMENDATION
Recreation and Parks Commission- Adopt a motion extending the current leases for McNamara Youth Center and Stephen Leonard Youth Center to June of 2021, and begin the request for interest process for both centers in March 2021.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Deny; or,
3. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
DISCUSSION
At the September 28, 2020 Recreation and Parks Commission Meeting the decision of the commission was to proceed with a request for interest process for both youth centers at the conclusion of the current lessees’ contracts. After reviewing this decision, and evaluating the lack of notice given to the youth centers, and the inability of the centers to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic, staff is requesting that the Parks & Recreation Commission reconsider its previous recommendation, and consider a recommendation to extend the current leases to June of 2021 and begin the request for interest process for both centers in March 2021. New leases would then begin in the new fiscal year, July 2021. This would allow for appropriate notices to be provided to current leases and allow for current services to continue within the community through the end of the fiscal year. With this change, all leases for youth centers would be on the same annual time frame.