City of Gonzales
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: July 18, 2022
FROM: Carmen Gil, Community Engagement & Strat. Partnership Dir.
THROUGH: Carmen Gil, Interim City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 2022-51 in Support of Measure K's Oversight Committee's List of Recommended Programs and Services
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
• Receive a staff report regarding Measure K’s Oversight Committee budget recommendations for FY 2022-2023;
• Accommodate public comment period;
• Discuss the staff report and spending priorities; and • Adopt Resolution No. 2022-51, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving the Measure ‘K’ Oversight Committee’s Recommended List of Services and Programs to be Funded with Tax Proceeds Received from the Measure ‘K’ Transition and Use Tax, During Fiscal Year 2022-2023, Including Funding Allocations
BACKGROUND
In November 2014, 65 percent (65%) of Gonzales voters approved Measure ‘K’, enacting a one-half percent (0.5%) transactions and use tax. Included with the passage of the Measure ‘K’ Transaction and Use Tax (TUT) was the formation of an Oversight Committee to monitor and provide advisory recommendations to the City Council regarding the use of the tax revenues. Formation of the Oversight Committee was instrumental to the passage of Measure ‘K’ and necessary to maintain the public transparency needed for the use of these funds.
REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
AGENDA
ITEM
12 After careful consideration Measure K’s Oversight Committee is recommending the list of program and services below to be supported with Measure K funds in FY 22/23. They have determined that the list supports the City’s Vision and Mission and critical City programs and services.
Exhibit ‘A’ is the Committee’s recommended list of projects to be funded in FY 2022-2023 with TUT funds.
The TUT budget in 2018/2019 was $525,000; the budget in 2019-2020 was $575,000; the budget for 2020-2021 was $620,000; in 2021-2022, it was $705,000; and in 2022-2023, it is $750,000 a 6.40% increase from the previous year.
Recommended FY 2022-2023 Funding Priorities
Exhibit ‘A’ of the Resolution is a matrix that details the recommended projects and programs for FY 2022-2023. The programs are broken down as follows:
• Group 1 are “High Priority” projects that are recommended for continued funding; • Group 1A are Additional Project/Program recommended for FY 2022-2023 • Group 2 are projects/programs gathered from City Department heads and general discussions with the City Council, as well as ideas gathered from the Community.
Recommended for FY 2022-2023 - Group 1
1. Fund the debt service for the renovation of the Community Pool. ($130,000) On March 7, 2016, the City Council approved a financing plan for the Community Pool Improvement Project. The approved financing plan includes private placement financing of approximately $1.5 million for a period of fifteen (15) years at an interest rate of 2.88%. The annual debt service payment is slightly less than $130,000, which staff recommends be funded through the proceeds received from the Transaction and Use Tax. This obligation will carry-forward to cover the annual debt service until the debt service is paid off or as long as the tax is in place.
2. Fund Youth Services/Development Activities ($95,000), including: (a) Youth Services Development Staffing; (b) Gonzales Youth 21st Century Success Initiative (GY21CSI), including:
Kinder readiness, 3rd grade reading and writing proficiency, and 8th grade math proficiency, and incorporates the Gonzales Youth Council. The City Council continues to consider the funding of services for youth programs and development to be of a high priority.
After School ‘Kid-Power’ Program ($45,000). In 2017, the City of Gonzales created Kid Power to complement the Gonzales Unified School District after-school program known as A.S.E.S (After School Education and Safety Program). The ‘Kid-Power’ program now stands independent of A.S.E.S and has become a staple in the community.
The program provides recreational enrichment and homework, and other educational assistance and programming. In line with the City’s youth initiative, the funding has allowed the City to provide additional resources and programs for youth.
Gonzales Day Camp ($60,000): The City’s Recreation Department’s Summer Day Camp has been a community favorite since its inception in 2016. As proposed, the day camp will continue to provide the means for parents, and families to have reliable day care for their children for the entire 8 weeks that school is not in-session during the summer months. As envisioned, the program will have a 1 to 12 adult-to-child ratio with 1 Summer Camp Intern for each group of children. Children would be grouped by ages to keep activities age appropriate.
Summer Day Camp will include daily swimming, environmental education, STEM activities, character education, service learning, arts and crafts, group games, daily reading activities, walking trips to parks and the library, participation in popular City activities such as Fun in the Garden, and the Kid’s Safety Academy, once a week field trips and City-sponsored learning activities.
To keep the cost affordable for families, maintain and expand the program1, the proposed budget and recommended Measure ‘K’ funds allocation is $60,000, which will be used to offset the cost of staff for the program which sees 100-225 participants. With the cost of staff offset, the price is approximately $75 per week. Because the program will be funded with City of Gonzales tax monies, the reduced rate program will continue to be limited to those who can show proof that at least one parent or guardian either lives or works in Gonzales. The benefit of this funding cannot be understated because it allows the program to be provided for $75 a week to Gonzales residents which translates to $15 per day for an enriched recreational and educational experience. Bottom line for $15 a day, parents get peace-of-mind because they are able to drop off their child as early as 7:30 a.m. and pick the child up as late as 5:30 p.m.; which is considerably less expensive than childcare and most programs of this kind. Continuing funding for this activity will help the City meet its Youth Development goals by: providing jobs and internship opportunities to more youth; meeting the needs of working families for reliable and consistent childcare; prevent “summer slide” in education; allowing more space in the Summer School program for youth who truly need academic assistance; expose the youth participants to all of the wonderful programs the City has developed; create an open environment for youth to use hands on learning in areas that they might not otherwise be exposed to; provide opportunity to participate in service learning projects to help the community; and most of all, build lifelong relationships with staff and others who serve as positive role models.
3. Community Participation Grants ($30,000): This program has been very successful and has become a staple in the community. This funding allows local community groups, and advocates to perform a service for the community through various unique community activities (e.g., Senior Services, Adult Learning, Child Services, Educational Advancement, Quality of Life and Economic Development).
4. Police Department Community, Business and Neighborhood Watch Program ($5,000):
Neighborhood Watch enlists the active participation of residents and business, in cooperation with law enforcement, to reduce crime throughout the City. The objective of the program is to educate community residents and business owners regarding their roles and responsibilities in the prevention of crime, and to encourage them to take active measures to prevent crime. The program calls upon residents and business owners to step forward and assist the police in organizing the community into a cohesive unit working toward the goal of building a safer, crime-free neighborhood. Under this program, Police Officers supply crime information to the community and instruct residents in various crime prevention techniques.
5. Senior Programming ($25,000): Based on input from the community, MKOC and staff is continuing to recommend funding to support senior programming. In FYs 2020-2021 / 2021- 2022, support for this program was used to reach out to senior citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure their needs were met and to help provide them with additional services and resources. In FY 2022-2023 efforts to establish a Community Senior Action Team and strengthen partnerships with existing community efforts like ‘Adventure Seeking Senior’ will be picked up again.
6. Continue Tree Replacement Program ($30,000): This would be the 5th year of this program. It has resulted in several trees being replaced at Central Park and other public areas to improve safety and enhance the visual environment. For example, there are numerous trees around town that need to be replaced. If approved, the proactive tree replacement program will allow us to do so as needed.
7. Olinga “Wings of Knowledge” Youth STEM program ($30,000): Setting aside funds for this program would assure the continuation of STEM programming available to Gonzales Youth. This STEM program has resulted in our youth constructing water sensors in partnership with local farmers and a weather station in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that has been placed into production and is supplying data into the NOAA weather prediction algorithms that leads directly to improving the local forecast. Even during COVID, with the required restrictions, this program was still able to operate successfully.
8. Salinas Valley Promise Scholarship Program ($15,000): This program began in FY 2019-2020 and is a partnership with Hartnell College. This program is heavily focused on keeping young students in college during the most critical first two years. The impact of this program cannot be overstated in that in the academic year 2019-2020 it saw approximately half (55) of our graduating seniors move into higher education enroll into Hartnell. With the impact of the pandemic academic year 2021-2022 saw a slight increase (59) in students attending Hartnell which we expect to continue into year 2022-2023.
Recommended for FY 2022-2023 - Group 1A
9. Co-Sponsored Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with GUSD ($69,000): In partnership with GUSD, and as a result of findings form the Mental Health Survey done by the Gonzales Youth Council of their peers, staff proposes to continue funding half of a LCSW position that would be available to support Gonzales youth with their mental health needs and work in collaboration with city staff, law enforcement and first responders.
10. Three new full-time Fire Fighter positions to Augment Services ($200,000): The Gonzales Fire Department has a long and rich history of utilizing volunteers to cover the community, however, with the increase in large fires that annually appear to plague the State, Cal Fire is keeping their temporary/seasonal positions longer, which has made it very difficult for departments to maintain the number of volunteers needed. With the support of the TUT Measure K Committee, 3 eightmonth seasonal Fire Fighter positions were approved and added in FY 2021-2022; however, because Fire Fighters are in such high demand, and it is difficult to retain them here on a seasonal basis, Council approved converting the three seasonal positions to full time.
11. Shop Small Business Campaign ($6,000): In an effort to support local commerce, educate the public about local taxes, and support an increase in incoming revenue for Measure X, the Council has agreed to support a Shop Small Business Campaign. Funding is needed to purchase banners, signs, and other promotional materials to encourage local shopping especially during the Holiday seasons.
Recommended for Consideration in FY 2023-2024 - Group 2
12. Tot-Lot / Meyer Park (up to $25,000): Existing structure for 5-12-year-old children was replaced in 2020; the existing structure designed for 2-5-year-old children was not removed in 2020 because of budget constraints; the new Tot-Lot would result in all playground facilities in the City having a manufacturer’s warranty.
13. Indoor Pool Structure Initial Concept (up to $35,000) The Measure K Committee is interested in looking at the possibility of covering the pool so that it can be used year-round. This initial funding would allow the city to engage an architect to develop a concept of what that could look like and provide an initial cost estimate for further consideration.
14. City Facility Assessment (up to $35,000)
To better understand which city facilities require maintenance and upgrades and to have a City Facilities Plan, an initial assessment needs to be conducted to prioritize and identify issue areas.
This funding would allow for the plan to be created and to begin prioritizing projects that need to be addressed.
Explain Recommendation and How it Supports the Vision
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small town charm.
Explain: The Measure ‘K’ Transaction and Use Tax offers a significant source of funds for the City to undertake public projects that it might otherwise not be able to do. The programming of the funds is evaluated by an Oversight Committee appointed by the City Council. The Committee’s actions are guided by the Council Mission and Vision Statement and their recommendations are then approved by the Council.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment, and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community.
Explain: Please refer to the explanation written above for the Mission.
City services will be delivered in a cost-effective, respectful, and friendly manner to insure the safety and well being of the residents and the promotion of business, recreational, housing and employment opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Explain: Please refer to the explanation written above for the Vision.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety X Yes No N/A
• Housing Yes No X N/A
• Recreation X Yes No N/A
• Environment X Yes No N/A
• Education X Yes No N/A
Explain: The recommended list of services and programs addresses a variety of the areas above while being fiscally responsible.
BUDGET IMPACT
Based on current and projected sales tax activity, staff is projecting a 6.40% growth rate in FY 2022-2023 (from $705,000 to $750,000).
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that the Council adopt Resolution No. 2022-51, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving the Measure ‘K’ Oversight Committee’s Recommended List of Services and Programs to be Funded with Tax Proceeds Received from the Measure ‘K’ Transition And Use Tax, During Fiscal Year 2022-2023, Including Funding Allocations.
Attachments:
1. Resol 2022-51
2. TUT Proposed Projects