Almaden Resident
News
SJ council halts plan that would shut down 10 community centers
By Monica Heger
Amid a strong outcry from residents, the San Jose City Council halted a plan that would demolish 10 community centers, turn 14 more over to nonprofits, sell one and retain nine.
The council also voted unanimously not to close the 14 centers earmarked for nonprofits by July 1 if the city was unable to find organizations to fill the space.
The proposal grew out of a lack of operating and maintenance dollars in the parks, recreation and neighborhood services department.
Every district in San Jose is feeling the effects of facility reuse and the consequences of Measure P. In District 10 the future Hoffman/Via Monte Center will be operated by SNI Staff and the Spot Youth Center is slated for reuse.
Council members, residents and nonprofit groups shot holes through the facility reuse strategy at the May 16 council meeting.
Michelle Lew, president and CEO of nonprofit Asian Americans for Community Involvement, said her group had been interested in operating out of Northside Community Center, but it was not financially feasible under the current guidelines.
"This process has been gut-wrenching for many nonprofits," Lew said. "It's not a financially viable solution to make this work at Northside."
She said it would cost more than $170,000 to operate out of the building and that did not include staffing expenses.
Michelle McGurk from the Community Foundations Silicon Valley said the city's nonprofit outreach was insufficient.
"I urge the council to proceed with maximum flexibility," she said. "If there are restrictions to the services and no funding, it will be very difficult to find nonprofits."
The prospect of closing community centers continues to be a sensitive issue in the communities, and many residents expressed their frustration.
Don Gagliardi, a resident of the 13th Street neighborhood, said in all the community meetings he attended about facility reuse, city staff members never mentioned the prospect of tearing down some centers.
"I am angrier about this memo than anything that has come out of this council," Gagliardi said. "This has been a dishonest process and is a dishonest memo."
Council members directed staff to continue their outreach into the nonprofit community. The council will discuss the issue again at its June 6 meeting so it can be considered along with the budget.
The reuse plan strategy was designed because the parks, recreation and neighborhood services operating budget has been hit with a 25 percent budget reduction over the five years. In addition, voters approved Measure P to build new community centers, but the bond money cannot be used for operational costs. New centers are being built, but staff has stayed the same, stretching an already tight budget. The city would need an additional $4 million to operate all the existing community centers plus the new ones that were being built.
The reuse concept was originally presented as an innovative and creative strategy to partner with nonprofits and save the city operating dollars and staff. But it is has not gotten a favorable response from the community.
