Title
Staff Report for Resolution Authorizing Appropriation for Youth Sports Facility and Program Enhancement for FY2014-15.
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a resolution appropriating funds to establish a one-time Youth Sports Facility and Program Enhancement of $30,000 for FY2014-15 to assist organizations with established hardships and to supplement field renovation projects.
BACKGROUND
On October 28, 2014 the Mayor and City Council announced that the City had secured nearly $1.4 million from the State to enhance park and open space. The grant funding will be allocated to fund projects at two community parks: Siempre Verde Park and Thrasher Park, as well as to create a new interactive art exhibit in the heart of downtown.
The Youth Sports Facility and Program Enhancement will designate an additional $30,000 towards program and facility improvements to benefit the community during the upcoming 2015 field season.
Analysis
The one-time Youth Sports Facility and Program Enhancement will designate $15,000 to directly subsidize the field rental fees for Youth Sports Non-Profit agencies who have established a financial hardship. An application process will invite qualifying agencies to apply for a 50% field use subsidy for the 2015 field season. The subsidy will be available to all non-profit 501(c)3 organizations who serve San Leandro youth and use City fields for organized play.
The remaining $15,000 would be used to supplement the current renovations scheduled for Thrasher Park. Thrasher Park is already scheduled to receive modernized play equipment and a taller safety fence to prevent balls from entering the play area. These renovations were made possible through a portion of the $1.4 million grant received for park renovations. The supplemental funds provided through Youth Sports Facility and Program Enhancement ($15,000) would include the addition of an expanded dug out and shade structure.
The Youth Sports Facility and Program Enhancement will benefit those youth sports organizations with the greatest need by minimizing the financial impact to those with hardships while establishing a park improvement project that will benefit the park and field users and the community as a whole.
Fiscal Impacts
The cost of the Youth Sports Facility and Program Enhancement totals $30,000:
$15,000 - Hardship Assistance Program for non-profit Youth Sports Leagues
$15,000 - Facility Enhancement at Thrasher Park
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$30,000 Total
Budget Authority
Appropriation of $15,000 for the park renovation portion of the facility enhancement must be allocated from the Economic Uncertainty Reserves. The fee structure as adopted in the Master Fee Schedule will be waived by 50% for qualifying non-profit organizations resulting in a $15,000 reduction in revenue collected.
PREPARED BY: Breyana Riggsbee, Recreation and Human Services Acting Director, Recreation and Human Services Department