City of Gonzales
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: December 8, 2025
FROM: Carmen Gil, City Manager
THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 2025-85 Memorandum of Understanding with the Boys and Girls Club of Monterey County for Program Services at the New Taylor Farms Teen Innovation Center
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve Resolution No. 2025-85, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the Boys and Girls Club of Monterey County for Program Services to be Delivered at the New Taylor Farms Teen Innovation Center.
BACKGROUND
With the new Dennis and Janice Caprara Community Center Complex opening this January, the City must find cost-effective ways to provide adequate programing. While some of our current youth programming will be made available at the new space, there is more support needed to ensure robust daily programming at the site. Additionally, staff is working with organizations like UC Santa Cruz, Cal State Monterey Bay, Hartnell College, Olinga, and the Science Workshop among others, to bring in free and low-cost programming. However, it is in the best interest of the City and the Center that we start off with a well-structured presence while we get the Center going. The Boys and Girls Club wishes to bring in their programs to the community and has offered to commence robust programs for teenagers three times a week through a pilot program for five months. After the five-month trial, the City can assess whether we would like to continue utilizing their services or if we have enough programming to discontinue their services.
This additional support is also necessary as staffing continues to be very lean. As we develop the Center we are also trying to identify the capacities needed to offer the programming the youth in the community AGENDA
ITEM
9 are seeking and assessing whether we can internally offer some of those programs or if we have to look externally for the expertise.
REVIEW & ANALYSIS
Without this additional support from a trusted partner who has experience in this field and with this particular age group we would have to reinvent the wheel and hire full-time staff to build curriculum, recruit student participants and implement the programming. The total cost of doing this on our own would be greater than what the BGCMC is proposing since we would have to start from scratch and bring in additional capacities as one person would not be able to do it all.
The programs that will be provided on a weekly basis will include College and Career Readiness, which include interactive sessions that prepare teens for life after high school; Social Emotional Learning, which consists of age-appropriate programs delivered sequentially in age-based cohorts; Healthy Lifestyles will include wellness aspects to educate youth in areas of healthy habits, proper nutrition and physical fitness; and Case Management, which supports goal setting and academic monitoring. Program activities will be delivered as follows:
Explain Recommendation and How it Supports the Mission
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: This Agreement supports the City’s mission and vision as it builds on the efforts to bring in a Community Center to the City where we can help youth explore career development opportunities and give them the tools to innovate. It helps ensure that we have the right programs in place and that we are not starting from scratch, which would be more costly for the City.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Vision 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. X Yes _____No _____ NA
Explain: See above for explanation.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety Yes No X N/A
• Housing Yes No X N/A
• Recreation Yes No X N/A
• Environment Yes No X N/A
• Education X Yes No N/A
Explain: Please see explanation above for the Vision.
ALTERNATIVES
A. The Council can choose not to approve this Agreement, which would make it harder for staff to figure out how to program the entire center with already limited capacity.
B. The Council can direct staff to look at other potential partners, which staff has explored and is continuing to do so.
BUDGET IMPACT
The cost of having the Boys and Girls Club come in and help us run the Center three times a week was negotiated down to $50,000 for five months. This would be paid for by funds generated for the Community Center through Measure X and potentially another $50,000 grant that is pending.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that the City Council approve Resolution No. 2025-85, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the Boys and Girls Club of Monterey County for Program Services to be Delivered at the New Taylor Farms Teen Innovation Center.
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2025-85