REPORT TO PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Consider a Financial Grant in the Amount of $1,500 from the Wade Brummal Youth Sports Grant Program for Wilcox High School Athletics Baseball Tournaments for Sports Equipment
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Sports, Recreation & Arts Assets
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
The Wade Brummal Youth Sports Grant Program (Grant Program) was established in memory of Santa Clara resident and youth sports enthusiast Wade Brummal. On October 27, 2015 (Attachment 1), Council approved a fee in the amount of $25 per non-resident youth participant in Santa Clara youth sports organizations as a means of generating funds to support economically challenged Santa Clara youth participation in Santa Clara based youth sports programs. The grants reimburse organizations and schools for registration, equipment, program fees, and other related costs. Prior to adopting the fee, the Program had been funded through individual donations and an annual golf tournament held at the (now closed) Santa Clara Golf & Tennis Club.
According to the Priorities of Funding section of the Grant Program, requests from non-contributing Santa Clara based youth sports programs are also eligible to request funds based on fund availability. Such a request would be considered for approval by the Parks & Recreation Commission. Wilcox High School Athletics meets the eligibility requirements in two categories of funding by being a Santa Clara based non-contributing organization; and, the grant request is for reimbursement of costs related to additional competition expenses, which in this case are for tournament supplies in the amount of $1,500. The Grant Program account balance as of January 2023 is $275,520. The fund has sufficient balance to allocate a financial grant.
DISCUSSION
Wilcox High School Athletics provides High School Athletics to boys and girls in the Santa Clara Unified School District boundaries. High School athletic teams compete regionally and high-ranking teams can compete at the State level. Three (3) baseball tournaments are scheduled at Washington Ballfield, which is a field permitted by the City. These series of events will raise money and allow for high school athletics to be robust and meet the needs of a diverse array of student athletes. High School sports expenses include uniforms, facilities, equipment, coaches, officials, and transportation.
While Wilcox High School has not contributed to the fund Grant Fund, the City has historically supported Wilcox High School Athletics fundraising tournaments by providing facility supervision, field preparation and custodial service for the tournaments. In 2022, the City adopted a Parks & Recreation Cost Recovery Policy in the face of an ongoing budget deficit, and which now directs the City to recovery costs for programs that provide primarily services and benefit to non-residents while subsidizing programs that have a primarily community benefit. For this reason the Wilcox Baseball program is seeking financial support from the City for continuation of the tournament. Separately, the Council has approved a Community Grant of $10,000 and for the Parks & Recreation Department to provide staffing support through reductions in other areas of the Department. This leaves tournament equipment costs as an additional avenue of support. Baseball tournaments require the use of many new baseballs. Tournament organizers expect to use 21 cases of new baseballs over the 3 tournaments. The cost of the baseballs ($2,090.43) is reflected in the application (Attachment 2), however, the applicant requests only $1,500 from the Grant Program.
The Parks & Recreation Commission will consider approval of the grant at their Regular Meeting on February 21, 2023.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 153778(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact on the City’s General Fund. The Wade Brummal Youth Sports Grant Program account balance of $275,520 can accommodate the request of a one-time Program Grant in the total amount of $1,500.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Parks & Recreation Commission agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov>.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve a Wade Brummal Youth Sports Program Grant in the amount of $1,500 for Sports Equipment for Wilcox High School Athletics Baseball Tournaments.
Staff
Prepared by: Kimberly Castro, Recreation Manager
Approved by: James Teixeira, Director of Parks & Recreation
ATTACHMENTS
1. City Council Report October 27, 2015 13.A
2. Grant Program Application - Wilcox High School Athletics