City Council - Regular Meeting

I move to approve all items on the consent calendar.

Thank you, Vice Mayor. Just to get us underway here, my first question is around the finances. So you guys had a slide in the presentation, and this is one of the reasons why I voted no the last time. So I want this to be explained in layman's terms. If you can go back on the presentation where you guys sort of outlined cost recovery for each of your programs. uh just gonna wait until that goes up on screen can you pull up slide 10 please manny so to the um general manager part of the concern that the council had you know just having this conversation over the better part of the year was that

So let me, I guess, reframe the question in a different way. So let's take the pool, for example, right? If Vallejo family right now has to pay $100 to access it over the summer, are you telling me this evening that this investment that the city council is making would make... pool access over the summer free or are you just saying that the subsidy would remain at the same level but we would just be covering it for more kiddos across the city to be able to access it?

And then the second question I have for now has to do with the, there was a slide towards the end where you had a breakdown of what the investment would be going towards, the $100,000. So I saw that There it is. Got 20,000 going to Blue Rock Springs and Dan Foley. I mean, that's great that you guys are expanding that to a park in my district. I think I have a little bit of a concern, though, because if you're thinking about making the park accessible to kiddos in the zero to five range, what I'm gathering just from this slide is that you're not putting as much funding to the Children's Wonderl

THANK YOU. I ONLY HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS INITIALLY IN THE FIRST ROUND. I DO WANT TO KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION. APPRECIATE THAT. I JUST WANT TO KNOW, THE SAME PROGRAM THAT WAS OFFERED IN NORTH VALLEJO COMMUNITY CENTER, COULD YOU PLEASE CONSIDER DOING THAT ALSO IN SOUTH VALLEJO FOR THE NORMAN KING CENTER BECAUSE AS YOU PROBABLY ARE AWARE, WE ARE SURROUNDED BY MULTIPLE complex living environment, five just across the street from Norman King Center, and that's just not talking about single homes also, but it would be really nice, and I'll

Thank you. I just want to build off of Council Member Matias' question. And you made the comment that you use past data to build the budget and the budget that you currently are showing your activities, right?

So for your programs, you're using past data to build the dollar value, the cost of those programs, right?

For free days, all of the days. Children's Wonderland, whatever the case may be.

Correct? Yes. So I don't know that the question was answered with clarity from my perspective. So you've built your data, your budget numbers on past data. But when I think about the dollars that we're allocating then how do you upscale those numbers based on the dollars that we're going to give you? Because you're using past data. Here's how many people visit this park, visit that park, and we're allocating dollars based on those numbers. From my perspective, you already have those dollars for those programs based on past data, what you're going to do in current year. And we're at augmenting

No, so can you answer that question or no?

Okay, so what I don't understand is the $100,000, just simply you're saying this $100,000... based on past data, this is how many individuals attend these different, well, I'll use Children's Wonderland. You've come up with that number based on past data, right? Correct. Okay, and so now you're saying, oh, it's going to cost $5,000 for that number, X number of individuals who visited children's wonderland last year for whatever time period right and some i guess basically then what you're saying is over just gonna make it three for that number of individuals who visited past year versus adding

So what you're telling me then is Basically, this $100,000 that you were allocated $300,000, you're going to use $100,000 for the rest of this summer, whatever the case may be. And that $100,000 is going to fund those past numbers, those past participant numbers. That's what you're saying. And we're not adding additional budget on top of that.

So how many dollars are – I'm just going to use Children's Wonders plan – you have a five thousand dollar budget was that your last year budget what was it uh... i would have to go back and get that number i don't have it off the top of my head of the five thousand dollars how much of it is your budget gb art the dollars not city dollars gb rd

How is your budget matching the dollars that I provided you?

I understand that, and I understand we're not commingling dollars, but you're not showing me what you funded based on your prior year numbers. What did you fund last year that's part of whatever you want to fund? Whatever you're wanting to fund. And when you add the dollars from the city, how does that potentially increase the number of participants?

So I want to stop you because that's not my question. So let me go back. What was your total budget last year? You just balanced your budget, right? These dollars are only augmenting whatever your budget was. And it's what are you funding with your budget? As you just told me, we're not commingling dollars. I fully understand that. When you add whatever you want to use $100,000 of the 300K, when you add that 100K on there, what... what is the potential increase of participants removing the barrier of cost that you are expecting because now we are moving barriers and you should already know wit

For brand-new money. And the brand-new money is the city money.

For funding that you did not have, right? The $100,000 that you're going to use. And is that only across these eight programs, nine programs, or is that across all of your programming?

Okay, so basically you're moving barriers for nine of, I don't know how many programs you have at GBRD. You're moving nine, you're moving the barriers for nine programs for affordability. Okay, and so then how did you pick these nine programs?

Okay. And so I'd like to also know if we have children, youth, who opt to work around these nine programs, because there are some interesting programs in your portfolio, and they were wanting to do those programs. How would you work with those families, and how would you offer those to the families, those different programs? Because you've selected this based on a needs assessment that has been done probably almost two years ago. So how would you accommodate those families if they potentially said, these are not the nine core areas that I'm interested in. I want to do something else in your po

So what is your responsibility in making sure community knows that? Because you're running the programs. They're coming to you. They're looking in your booklet. So how is that going to be made known that, yes, we've picked these nine core areas. However, you know, we are committed to moving barriers to allow you and your family to have access to our programs. So how will you put that out? You're doing the advertisement. It's your responsibility to make sure that there's equity because this is what this is increasing. creating is equity and you've chosen nine and I don't have a problem that you

And how do we reach out to our charter schools and our private schools? Not every school is, not every child is in Vallejo School District.

And I think we can directly reach out to our charter schools and our private schools as well. So thank you for answering my questions. Yes.

So, Council Member, a lot of you commented something I'll comment right now, but I'll just double down anyway. So, I really want to emphasize the need to over-communicate to our schools, you know, beyond just VCUSD. In particular, over-communicating to the counselors there that this is not just an opportunity for kids, but also if they have any high-risk youth, that this is a way to intervene and... GET THEM ON A RIGHT PATH. THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF WHY WE'RE DOING THIS, BECAUSE WE'RE INTERESTED IN REDUCING VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. IF YOU GUYS COULD DO THAT, FRIENDLY ASK. ALSO, VICE MAYOR,

Thank you. That's what happens when you stop drinking coffee. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO 100% AGREE. THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS PRESENTED TO MEASURE P WAS AMAZING. AND I GIVE OUR CITY STAFF, VICTORIA, GRACE BARSTELL, KUDOS AND PLUS GVRD AND THEIR TEAM FOR PRESENTING AN EXCELLENT EXECUTED PRESENTATION TO THE MEASURE P. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS. THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT ABOUT SENIOR CITIZENS. THAT'S A GREAT NEED OF A COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY WITH PRICES GOING UP. RECREATIONAL IS NOT SOMETHING THEY THINK ABOUT. I DRIVE AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD TWICE A WEEK. And I've come across a lot

Okay, because I was thinking like if they wanted to go to the pool or something, if you had a senior day or something like that, they won't have to worry about... no cards or anything okay that's great i'm glad to hear that the second thing i want to ask have you partnered with so trans so that the the community can see what bus can take them where um and and and trust me man manny she would love to come table wherever you are she is she's excited about. So please, if you could think about that, we at late night basketball, we do tabling. So we would love for you to come and table there to let

Yeah, that's true, because we were looking for it. And so I think the last school board meeting is going to be, I think, today. Yeah, it was today. So I guess you couldn't come there and do it. That's what I was thinking about. But anyways, my last thing I have here is... Oh, okay. If you could send an email to all of us of what you have, I could blast it to all the apartment complexes that's in my community, because they do e-news. So that could help out, too. And so whatever I could do to partner with you, please let me know. Thank you. That's all I want to say.

I move to adopt a resolution approving a Measure P grant agreement to Greater Vallejo Recreation District to support public safety and youth priorities and authorize the city manager to execute the same in an amount not to exceed $300,000.

Please vote. Vice Mayor, I have a quick question. Sure, go ahead, Council Member Matias. Can we add a friendly amendment to the motion that there be a report shared out with the Vallejo Unified School District on a quarterly basis? So whenever the report is issued for Measure P, I would like them to also issue a report to the school district on the activities and the usage of the funds.

So, City Manager, can you talk about the budget? Can finance talk about the budget?

Thank you. I just want to read for the record of what I wrote to some concerns that was around this area. As an elected official, it is our responsibility to provide options for mental health and also domestic abuse or any type of service that are need in our community that are nonviolent. Since I heart has been operating, I have personally seen fewer individuals wandering our streets, putting themselves and others at risk. When I encounter someone in crisis, it gives me confidence knowing I can call trained professionals who are equipped to help. iHeart allows trained behavior issues or any t

So what I'm really interested in, not, what I'm most interested in is the total budget and how it's being funded. That's really what I want to know. I don't, you don't have to tell me the different categories and costs. I just really want to look at the full budget, which is $1.7 plus million dollars. I want to know that you have the CSIP grant that's giving you $831,000. You have a carryover that you believe is $100,000. And then because there's a gap of 963, and I'm just trying to fill the numbers in. and you have for 2026, 27, 238 from Connect, Protect, and you're assuming an additional 275

And that leaves us with a gap of a delta of what?

You're waiting for the carryover, right? Correct. That's going to fill it. Correct. So that's the gap right there because we don't know the total dollar value of the carryover, correct? No, you've just given me the carryover for Measure P is $449,000 plus $275,000 that you're going to get for Measure P. Correct. So it's the grant that's the carryover amount that you're waiting for to determine if there's going to be dollars.

So the part that it's not going to fill is about how much. I can do the numbers if I need to do them.

What I'm asking is you're saying you're not going to have, when we do the final carryover, right, from the grant, it's not going to fulfill the total need. There's going to still be a delta, right?

Additional measure P. Correct. Outside of the 449 that's carried over and the additional 275K, correct? Correct. So what is that delta? That's what I'm asking.

No. So it's 1.7 whatever it is, million dollars. You have 831 coming from your SCIP grant. You have coming from your Connect and Protect grant for 26, 27, 238, 557. Yes, Peter, help me add. And then you have 275 for this year from Measure P. You have a carryover from Measure P of 449K. RIGHT AND YOU POTENTIALLY HAVE A HUNDRED K COMING OVER AS A CARRY OVER FROM CONNECT PROTECT GRANT FROM TWENTY FIVE TWENTY SIX IS THAT CORRECT ALL THE NUMBERS YES OKAY SO WHAT'S THE THINKING COUNCILMEMBER BERGENZER IS HELPING ME I MEAN IT'S WITH JUST THAT NUMBERS IT'S ONE POINT EIGHT NINE MILLION SO IT'S ACTUALLY

So you won't have a gap. Okay. Correct. I was just trying to follow the numbers. Absolutely. To see potentially what the delta was. Okay, that's all I wanted to know. Thank you, sir.

Council Member Matias. Thank you, Vice Mayor. So I'm just going to make a general comment. I'm supportive of the approval this evening. But in the same token, I will say my hope is that this is the last time I have to vote on this contract. And I'm going to tell you why. Ever since I was sworn in, I've been advocating for the creation of an Office of Neighborhood Safety and Renewal that sits out of the city manager's office. Every community that's really addressing gun violence head on has a model set up in the city manager's office that is adequately staffed and is doing the work that your te

Just a clarifying question to my colleague. So what I just want to understand, so are you saying that you would like for the city manager to see instead of... RAVON AND HIS TEAM COMING THROUGH FELTON, THIS TEAM WILL COME THROUGH THE CITY OF VALLEJO BECAUSE THEY ALL LIVE IN VALLEJO AS WELL. ARE YOU SAYING THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE, JUST TO ELIMINATE FELTON AND JUST LET IT BE A CITY STAFF?

I mean, in an ideal world, I'm just going to keep it at 100, yes. I would like that team to just be directly reporting to the city manager's office. I don't know why we have to pay that kind of money to Felton. They're already doing the work. They've been in the community for years. So I'm not suggesting through this action that we do that this evening. I'm just asking for his team to explore what that may look like by mid-year.

I'll just clarify. I just want to make sure I understood. IS THE REASON WHY WE WENT THIS ROUTE INSTEAD OF INCORPORATING SOMEONE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, DID YOU GO THIS ROUTE BECAUSE IT WAS A LIABILITY REASON? IS IT COST EFFICIENT TO GO THIS ROUTE TO HIRE A CONSULTANT INSTEAD?

THANK YOU. SO PERHAPS WHEN WE'RE DOING THIS ANALYSIS, WHILE WE CAN BENCHMARK TO SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES DO, THEN THINK ABOUT WHAT IS A HYBRID MODEL THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY START WITH. WOULD BE A BEGINNING POINT VERSUS NOT DOING ANYTHING AT ALL. SO AT LEAST HAVE A HYBRID MODEL, SUGGESTION OF WHAT CAN WE DO, WHAT'S REASONABLE FOR THE CITY TO DO AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, AND WHERE IS IT WHERE IS THIS FUNCTION? I FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MATHEAS IS SAYING. WHERE IS THIS FUNCTION BEST HELD? AND IT REALLY, IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE NATION, IT IS IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. THIS WORK IS DONE. S

APOLOGIES. I MOVE TO INCLUDE CUSTOMER MATTIAS'S AMENDMENT FOR INTEGRATION ANALYSIS AND POTENTIAL ROADMAP BY MID-YEAR OF NEXT FISCAL YEAR TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CONSULTANT AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH FELTON INSTITUTE FOR THE IHAR PROGRAM FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,794,790 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2027 AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE SAME.