City of Gonzales
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: April 20, 2026
FROM: Carmen Gil, City Manager
THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Engagement & Recreation Departments Activity Report Kid Power
• Kid Power served 27 students during the month of March. We began the month with the Raise and Release Butterfly Garden Life Cycle Kit, which sparked curiosity and excitement among the students. They eagerly shared their predictions about what would happen and were introduced to the butterfly life cycle through an educational YouTube video. Some of the observations/comments they made included “The butterflies are forming into a chrysalis,”-Jaelle (Kindergarten); “They are using their webs like glue to stick to the lid so they can get ready to form their cocoon,”- Lydia (4th grade); and “They are forming into a pupa!” -Mauricio (5th grade). Once the butterflies had fully developed, students carefully carried them to the community garden for release.
• During March, students also participated in a half-day week, which provided additional time for crafts as well as extended indoor and outdoor play. One highlight was a Fun Friday STEAM activity, where students took part in a building challenge to construct the tallest free-standing structure. Older students partnered with younger peers, emphasizing teamwork and collaboration. • We concluded the half-day week with a pizza party, along with a visit to the new library and a tour of the Teen Center. This experience gave students the opportunity to explore community resources and look forward to opportunities available to them here in our community.
City Sports League
• City of Gonzales Youth Basketball league was a success this season. This year, six of our eight divisions collaborated and competed against the other south-country leagues. Next year, we might collaborate with all divisions. Our last games concluded the week of March 9th. Our boys Kinder1 stdivision’s last game was March 9th; the Boys’ 4th
- 5
th last game was March 10th; 2nd
-3
rd last
AGENDA
ITEM
8 game was March 11th; 6
th
- 8
th boys was March 13th; girl’s division last games were on March 14th.
• In March, we hosted a City of Gonzales Youth Basketball League Volunteer appreciation game.
At the end of the season, we do an appreciation basketball game for all the coaches and referees who volunteered this past season. This year, the game was on March 27th. It was lots of fun. We had a total of 14 participants. It was a fun way for coaches to show off the skills taught to the players.
• Our South County Girls Softball league is going well. We have a grand total of 80 participants.
This has been one of our largest numbers of participants since 2017 when we had 60 participants.
Open ceremony was on March 28th. We had a wonderful turnout. Our first pitch came from a local and a former City of Gonzales Girls softball league participant. This participant started playing Gonzales rec softball since she moved with her family at the age of 7 in 2014. She was an athlete who played Gonzales High Varsity softball since her freshman year and graduated last year. She is currently a Hartnell Panther athlete. Thank you to Ms. Angelina Navarro who delivered the first pitch. All teams were able to do a little scrimmage game against each other. • We were able to do some fundraising which helped the teams each receive $300 that is going towards their team sweater costs.
• Our Mini T-ball registration went well. More participants registered in March. We were able to fill up all four of our teams with 10 players each. We have a total of 40 participants this year.
Games are set to start on April 11th. Last game will be on May 16th.
Recreation/Community Engagement
• During the month of March, the Teen Center averaged approximately 25 teens per day. The Boys & Girls Club’s “Pizza Wednesdays” continued to be a popular draw, attracting many students. In addition to this, a variety of crafts and STEAM activities were offered to keep teens engaged. The City provided additional hands-on activities, including 3D pens and model car building kits, which were well received and enjoyed by the teens.
• We met with EAOP regarding their confirmed plan to bring a new cohort to Gonzales. With their support, we would like to implement more career readiness workshops at the Teen Innovation Center. Another meeting is scheduled for May, by which time their new staff will be fully onboarded, allowing us to begin planning for the 2026–2027 school year. • We continue to work closely with TMD Creative on the development of our new City website.
Exciting progress has been made, including finalizing the color scheme and designing the site’s structure and navigation for a more user-friendly experience. We are also transferring images from the current website to bring our community’s story to life online. In the coming weeks, we look forward to reviewing a more polished preview of the new website. • On Friday, March 20th, we joined our partners at the Live Well Project for a Community Walk at Central Park. About 30 participants enjoyed the warm weather while connecting with neighbors and staying active. During the walk, we also distributed flyers for our April Calendar of Events, helping community members stay informed about all the exciting happenings in Gonzales. • We continue to offer Senior Programming in partnership with Alliance on Aging. Due to budget constraints, the frequency of classes has been reduced, and we now alternate monthly between a Cooking Class and a Wreath-Making Class, ensuring seniors still have engaging and enjoyable activities to look forward to.
Aquatics
• Recruitment for seasonal Aquatics positions began at the start of March, with the application period closing on March 27th. In total, we received over 30 applications. Interviews are scheduled for the week of April 6th to accommodate students who will be on Spring Break. • We anticipate launching Aquatics programming in June; however, significant planning and coordination will take place beforehand. This includes ensuring all new staff obtain the required certificates and successfully complete background checks prior to the start of the season.
Gonzales Youth Council
• During the month of March, the GYC hosted one regular meeting and two “Meet & Greet” sessions. On March 19, members met with a staff representative from the Boys & Girls Club to gather student feedback on preferred workshops and activities during program hours. • On March 30, GYC members met with the Community Development Department and the Center for Community Advocacy to discuss a potential collaboration related to the Vista Lucia Housing Project. The conversation focused on how GYC can support community outreach efforts, including promoting future meetings and helping keep residents informed as new information becomes available.
• During March, the GYC participated in four South County Youth Summit planning meetings.
Key accomplishments for the month included finalizing promotional flyers and registration forms for both student participants and partner organizations attending the Resource Fair. The group also obtained quotes from potential food vendors and ultimately partnered with Gonzales La Plaza, who generously donated 40 tortas and burritos, helping to significantly reduce overall costs.
• The GYC launched their Action Project on Saturday, March 28, welcoming several local partners, including the Resource Conservation of Monterey County, Save the Whales, the Live Well Project, Salinas Valley Recycles, and Tri-Cities Disposal. The event featured a variety of engaging activities, such as rock painting, healthy bites, seed planting, composting 101, and a garden cleanup. Additionally, the GYC hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the launch of their new Community Food Pantry. GYC Commissioner Shelby Anderson highlighted that the pantry was created by the community for the community, with the hope that it will also be sustained by the community.
Attachments:
1. CE-Rec Activity Report March 2026 Pictures