[ad_1]
Rancho Santa Margarita officials may look to start their own after-school program after the local Boys & Girls Club branch abruptly ended contract negotiations with the city following accusations of political indoctrination and cost concerns.
City Manager Jennifer Cervantez said staff is researching what other kinds of recreational programming could replace the club. A proposal is expected to be presented to council members during the budget study sessions in May.
“The city’s community services department is developing alternative plans to provide some type of active recreation programming in the space, which may accommodate a variety of users and uses, including youth,” Cervantez said during the March 12 council meeting.
Councilmember Jerry Holloway said in an interview this month officials can look at offering similar classes as the Boys & Girls Club at the Bell Tower Community Center at a lower cost.
“City staff will have time to take a look at this and see what is available and maybe try to interact with the Boys & Girls Club to get some data from them to see what the demand was,” he said.
“When we get into budget talks in late April, early May, then that’s when that discussion will happen.”
Holloway added they can’t promise anything.
“Nothing hasn’t been agendized, but there’s certainly an interest there,” he said.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley’s leadership walked away from contract renegotiations earlier this year — with the organization’s CEO Nicole Watson issuing a statement saying “the City’s priorities did not align with the mission” of the group.
[Read: Rancho Santa Margarita’s Boys & Girls Club Slated to Close This Summer]
The negotiations ended after Mayor Anthony Beall accused the organization of politically indoctrinating kids and other officials raised concerns about the cost of the Boys & Girls Club, decreased attendance and outside residents utilizing the club’s services.
[Read: Are South OC’s Boys & Girls Clubs On the Chopping Block?]
The contract is set to expire on Aug. 8, and the organization will need to vacate the Bell Tower Regional Community Center by Aug. 13.
At the March 12 city council meeting, Cervantez said the Boys & Girls Clubs leadership rejected an initial two-year contract offer at $100,000 per year with an additional $100,000 to help the organization relocate to a new space.
The offer came after four meetings between the club and city staff during January and February. This initial offer was less than what the city had previously funded the club — $120,000 annually.
“The Boys & Girls Clubs rejected the initial offer and did not make a counteroffer,” Cervantez said. “Instead, the Boys & Girls Clubs responded that they would terminate services at the end of the agreement extension.”
“The Boys & Girls Clubs representatives were further asked if they would consider a two- to three-year agreement at the current rate of $120,000 per year, which they also declined,” she said.
Watson did not respond to follow up questions about why the organization didn’t accept the city’s contract extension offer.
Holloway said club leaders have not talked to officials about their decision to walk away, adding that it was a choice that left him “mystified.”
“The most head scratching part of it, for me, was even if they didn’t like the offer that we had, they actually never came back with a counteroffer,” he said. “It was made clear that this was a negotiation. Here’s our first volley, if you will, and then they never actually countered.”
During the March 12 meeting, Councilmember Keri Baert said the issue wasn’t about cost and questioned the city’s priorities.
“RSM proudly has a strong, balanced budget and reserves that hold a full year’s city budget,” she said. “We don’t need to cut or reduce programs to balance our budget.”
“Without this partnership with the club or additional options to provide additional services to the youth in our community, I have to wonder: does our budget reflect the values and priorities of this community?”
Multiple residents showed up at the March 12 meeting, their kids in tow, to ask the council what their next option will be after the Boys & Girls Clubs is gone.
One mom brought her daughter, who attends the club.
“You made it too difficult for them to continue,” she said during the public comment portion of the meeting. “We are deeply saddened and disappointed. So now the question is: what are you all going to do to replace the Boys & Girls Club? How are you going to help all of us parents and families?”
Another speaker, a hospice nurse, brought her son to the meeting to express financial concerns about the lack of affordable after-school child care options. She said her son just started at the club.
“I want to know what you’re going to do for me if this is going to go away,” she said. “What am I going to do? I can’t go to YMCA because I can’t afford it. That leaves me and this gorgeous little boy here in trouble.”
Angelina Hicks is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow. Contact her at ahicks@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @angelinahicks13.
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter and corps member with Report for America, a GroundTruth initiative. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @ElattarHosam.
Related
[ad_2]
Source link
