HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - May 17, 2006 K-02AGENDA ITEM "
CITY OF LOIDI
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
1M
AGENDA TITLE: Provide direction regarding a land lease with the Community Partnership for
Families of San Joaquin for construction of a Family Resource Center at Blakely
Park; and, to provide 40 hours in-kind project management assistance from the
Public Works Department prior to execution of the lease
MEETING DATE: May 17, 2006
PREPASIED BY: Management Analyst, City Manager's Office
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Provide direction regarding a land lease with the Community
Partnership for Families of San Joaquin for construction of a FamNy
Resource Center at Blakely Park; and, if direction is given, to
pursue the lease and then to consider providing 40 hours in-kind project management assistance
from the Public Works Department.
BACKGROU14D INFORMATION: The Community Partnership for Families of San Joaquin (CPF) was
founded in 1998 to promote policies and programs that enable
service providers to work together within communities. Their
strategy includes building neighborhood -based teams via "resource centers". Centers have three primary
functions as follows: 1) to provide for a wide -range of public and private organizations where most
needed; 2) to provide support for families living in under -served areas, including parent support groups,
after-school programs, GED and ESL classes; and 3) to support resident -driven efforts to address
community -level problems.
The East Lodi Community Coalition is currently based in the Lodi Boys and Girls Club where it rents
three offfces for staff and volunteers. This site provides an opportunity for CPF to work with the families
of the children served by the Boys and Girls Club, Head Start, and patrons of Blakely Park. Services
coordinated at the site include public health home -visiting programs, child protective services,
employment counseling, tutors, probation, mental health, gang outreach, parent advocacy and school
counselors. Their patrons have become accustomed to receiving services at Blakely Park. Since its
establishment four years ago, the Center and its staff have become a resource for individuals and
families seeking help and guidance.
The Partnership has long sought a permanent location for an East Lodi Family Resource Center. In
1999, plans were drawn for a center at the old Lincoln School site but the project stopped with the failure
of Measure Q (school construction bond) and the Lodi Unified School District was forced to apply for
emergency funds and thus, prohibited from selling the site below market value. They were then offered
space in a vacant educational center next to Salem Methodist Church on East Elm Street but traffic
concerns were raised and that site was not used.
APPROVED: _ _ _
Ing, City Manager
In early 2002, CPF drew up plans and submitted a proposal to Council requesting to lease the New
Shanghi Restaurant for $1 per year. The space ultimately went to Lodi Adopt -a -Child but the
Partnership, later that same year, reached an agreement with the Lodi Boys and Girls Club to rent vacant
office spice at $2500 per month to temporarily house operations until a permanent structure could be
secured. In 2003, they presented plans for a facility immediately north of the Boys and Girls Club to the
Lodi Parks and Recreation Commission but concerns were raised regarding the loss of green space at
the park. The organization was then awarded $45,000 in CDBG funds by the Council for the design of a
new facility west of the Boys and Girls Club. These new plans were drafted after CPF staff collaborated
with Lodi Parks and Police staff to design a facility that would house a new, more visible restroom at the
park. CPF presented the new plans to the Parks and Recreation Commission in 2005 and received its
support, with the case being made that many of the clients served by the Partnership were already at the
site, using at least one of the other services offered there.
The Partnership has modeled this project after that of the Lodi Boys and Girls Club, which drafted a land
lease in 1953 for $1 per year, seeking approval first, from the Parks and Recreation Department, and
then from the Lodi City Council. Council is asked to provide direction regarding a similar land lease with
the Community Partnership for Families. In addition to the lease, the organization is requesting 40 hours
of in-kind project management assistance from the Public Works Department to provide for project
coordination and project review prior to the execution of a proposed lease.
FISCAL IMPACT: The loss of park space represents a potential opportunity cost; however, this loss
of use of the park (opportunity cost) could be offset by the benefit to the community provided by the East
Lodi Farrfily Resource Center. Additionally, the project offers the City the prospect of sharing in the
construction cost of a new, safer restroom facility.
FUNDING AVAILABLE: Not applicable.
ianagement
t Hamilt n Analyst
cc: Phyllis Grupe, Board Chair, CPF
Robina AAghar, Executive Director, CPF
FranciscoTrujNlo, Lodi Site Coordinator, CPF