City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: October 15, 2024
From: Daniel Calleros, Interim City Administrator
Department: City Administration
Submitted by: Diana Figueroa, Senior Management Analyst Subject
Sports Access Community Alliance Program
Recommendation
Approve the Sports Access Community Alliance Program and related documents, in substantially the same form as submitted, and authorize the City Administrator to facilitate the administration of the Program for Fiscal Year 2024-25 for a total amount not-to-exceed $100,000 for the purpose of enabling youth in the Southeast Los Angeles area equitable access to athletic activities.
Background
Based on direction from Council during its Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 budget study sessions in the months of May and June of 2024, City staff has created the Sports Access Community Alliance (SACA) Program to meet Council’s goal of assisting families in the Southeast Los Angeles area (SELA) with expenses associated with sports participation. The SACA Program has been designed to enable fair and equitable access to a wide variety of athletic activities for youth in SELA to help establish healthy habits and create unique opportunities for personal growth and development.
With Council’s authorized allocation of $100,000 for FY 2024-25, through this pilot SACA Program, staff will coordinate partnerships with local nonprofit organizations offering sports and recreation services to children and adolescents and offer sponsorships that channel funding directly to participating families to ensure that expenses are not a barrier that impede involvement in sports. Youth sports registration fees, equipment, uniforms, and financing other associated necessities can be burdensome for families and communities who lack sufficient resources to bear such costs. It is the City’s hope that these families may benefit from SACA.
Some of the key elements of the SACA Program are summarized below:
• Organizations must support the City’s vision to enhance recreational opportunities and access for youth (ages 17 and under)
• Program opportunities and/or organizations’ facilities must be open and accessible to the public
• Programs must primarily benefit local area and SELA communities and residents o Sports sponsorships will be available for participants that access sports/recreation programs through organizations located in and/or serving the cities of Vernon, Huntington Park, Maywood, Bell, and Los Angeles County areas of Walnut Park, Boyle Heights, and East Los Angeles
• Organizations must carry 501c3 non-profit designation • Funding will occur on a reimbursement basis with fund disbursement/reimbursement predicated upon timely and thorough submittal of proper documentation Available funds would be distributed equally among all SACA partner organizations for FY 2024- 25 for this pilot program, with the understanding that funding for the City’s SACA Program would not be guaranteed for subsequent fiscal years. With Council’s approval, staff anticipates that the Program will officially be introduced to partner organizations no later than November 2024. At the conclusion of FY 2024-25, staff will provide insight to Council on the overall engagement and effectiveness of the SACA Program.
The SACA Letter Agreement and Guidelines (Attachments 1 and 2) have each been approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact for the SACA Program is not-to-exceed $100,000. Sufficient funds are available in General Fund, Community Development Department, Good Neighbor Program Account No. 011-010-160-529715 for the current fiscal year.
Attachments
1. Sports Access Community Alliance Letter Agreement
2. Sports Access Community Alliance Guidelines