Title
Staff Report for a Resolution Authorizing the Appropriation of $40,000 from the 2014-15 General Fund Economic Uncertainty Reserve to the Senior Services Budget to Supplement Funding for Older Adult Education Classes Offered at the Senior Community Center through a Partnership with the San Leandro Adult School
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a resolution appropriating $40,000 from the General Fund Economic Uncertainty Reserve to the Senior Services Budget to support Older Adult Education classes offered at the Senior Community Center through a partnership with the San Leandro Adult School.
BACKGROUND
On January 20, 2009 the City of San Leandro entered into a MOU with the San Leandro Adult School. The parties agreed to work collaboratively to provide older adult education classes in City facilities and other locations.
On April 2, 2011 the Senior Community Center opened to the public and older adult education classes previously held at the Marina Community Center were relocated to the Senior Community Center.
On March 10, 2015 the City of San Leandro was notified by the San Leandro Adult School that in accordance with the State budget, funding was no longer authorized for older adult education, impacting services statewide. Former adult education priorities under state law, such as older adult programs and parent education, will no longer receive direct state funding effective July 1, 2015.
Analysis
Older adult education programs offer a variety of courses aimed at keeping seniors mentally and physically fit. Older Adult Education classes currently offered at the Senior Community Center are well attended and are the primary source of programming for the Senior Community Center's state of the art computer lab. Approximately 30 hours of Older Adult Education programming are offered at the Senior Community Center on a weekly basis, which is nearly 40 percent of the activities offered.
Fees for the Older Education Classes, similar to Older Adult recreational activities, are offered to the participants at a nominal fee. Courses offered by the San Leandro Adult School cost participants $15 - $25 each semester. While raising participant fees was a consideration, staff does not recommend it due to the significant impact it would have on the senior population attending the classes. Historically, when fees for the senior population have been raised by the Recreation and Human Services Department or by the School District it has caused a significant decrease in course attendance.
Staff recommends that the Older Adult Education Classes at the Senior Community Center be continued by entering into a Consulting Services Agreement with the San Leandro Adult School for the period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. The City of San Leandro would be responsible for providing free classroom space for Older Adult Education and $40,000 in instructor fees. The total cost of Older Adult Education is $60,000 annually; approximately $20,000 in revenue is generated by class fees creating a $40,000 shortfall. The San Leandro Adult School would continue to offer classes for older adults at the San Leandro Senior Community Center.
Further discussion and review will be given to a potential ongoing partnership between the City and the San Leandro Adult School. Given the short notification from the State, this agreement will allow for classes to continue through June 30, 2016 to give both parties time to evaluate the success of the partnership and explore other funding and programming opportunities.
Fiscal Impacts
The fiscal impact would be $40,000 to the General Fund.
Budget Authority
Budget authority will be granted if the City Council approves appropriating $40,000 to the Senior Services account 010-61-006 from the General fund Economic Uncertainty Reserve for fiscal year 2014-15.
ATTACHMENT
None.
PREPARED BY: Breyana Riggsbee, Recreation and Human Services Acting Director, Recreation and Human Services Department