To: HONORABLE MAYOR AND From: Sara L. Hensley

CITY COUNCIL

Subject: EASTER SEALS OF THE BAY Date: 06-18-03

AREA AGREEMENT EXTENSION

COUNCIL DISTRICT: Citywide

SNI AREA: N/A

RECOMMENDATION

Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a fourth amendment with Easter Seals of the Bay Area (Easter Seals) to: (a) provide aquatic services to City of San José Office of Therapeutic Services’ (OTS) participants and (b) continue the use of the gym and storage space for therapeutic recreation programs, increasing the payment in 2002-2003 by $27,400, to a total of $173,400 for a term ending date of June 28, 2003.

BACKGROUND

OTS has been providing warm water aquatic services under a lease agreement with the Easter Seals for five years. The need to eliminate duplicate services, and a request from Easter Seals to oversee the operation of OTS’s aquatic programs resulted in the City discontinuing the provision of direct aquatic services at Timpany Center effective March 23, 2003. In order for OTS participants to continue to receive services without interruption, the City and Easter Seals agreed to work together to ensure that customer needs are met while effectively using resources.

ANALYSIS

Under the proposed agreement, Easter Seals would continue to implement the existing OTS aquatic schedule, providing warm water aquatic services for all current OTS clients Monday-Thursday and Saturday for a ten-week transition period. The City would continue to have use of the gym Monday through Thursday, 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., for a total of 10 weeks according to the agreement.

One of the benefits to all clients will be the ability to attend classes whenever they would like during the day as opposed to being restricted to certain times. Easter Seals will also keep the center open later into the evening and operate Saturdays and Sundays as well. The transition of services will provide the current OTS clients seamless service delivery.

Due to this transition to Easter Seals and additional costs incurred for operations of the facility, including utilities, maintenance, staff and administrative services (i.e., processing of paper work), clients may experience an increase in cost. Easter Seals, however, has agreed to provide a sliding scale fee structure for participants based on their ability to pay that is anticipated to address cost accessibility issues for low-income participants.

PUBLIC OUTREACH

Two community meetings were held discussing the transition of the OTS aquatic program to Easter Seals. In addition, a fact sheet was distributed to all OTS clients regarding the change in fee structure and changes in the delivery of programs

COORDINATION

The proposed amendment has been coordinated with the City Attorney's Office and the City Manager’s Budget Office.

COST IMPLICATIONS

Easter Seals would receive an amount not to exceed $23,000 to assist the City of San José Office of Therapeutic Services aquatic clients in the transition to the Easter Seals of the Bay Area Program through June 28, 2003, and $4,400 for the use of the gymnasium facilities for Office of Therapeutic Services wheelchair sports and other therapeutic recreation programs. The funds for the program are included in the 2002-2003 Adopted Capital and Operating Budgets, and are part of the Department’s ongoing base budget.

CEQA

Not a project.

SARA L. HENSLEY

Director of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services