Title
Approval of the Temporary Expansion of the Clean Team and Downtown Ambassador Programs
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the temporary expansion of the Clean Team and Downtown Ambassador Programs.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the temporary expansion of the Clean Team and Downtown Ambassador Programs
Staff Contact:
Mike Reid, Economic Development Director, Executive, 360.753.8591
Rich Hoey, Public Works Director, Public Works,
Presenter(s):
Mike Reid, Economic Development Director, Executive
Background and Analysis:
In 2018 the City of Olympia officially brought the Clean Team and Downtown Ambassador program in house from the previous oversight and management by a local nonprofit. Since that time, the City has continually received praise and appreciation from downtown stakeholders for the work that the Clean Team and Ambassadors do. Additionally, the City continues to receive feedback from the community that there is a strong desire to see a cleaner and safer downtown. This need to see more interventions to make Downtown more welcoming have been heightened by the COVID pandemic.
In 2020, the City received additional Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds associated with federal funding packages associated with COVID impacts. The City has already committed $100,000 to an expansion of the Downtown Ambassador program. This $100,000 can fund two part-time positions (24 hours per week) for one year.
The proposal for expansion would be to leverage the CDBG funding to turn these part-time positions into full-time positions and expand the clean team as well. One area of need that is routinely expressed by Downtown stakeholders is that they want to see additional City staffing focused on “clean and safe” work that extend past the standard 5:00 p.m. end of business day.
This proposal would have a five day a week two-person Clean Team and two-person Downtown Ambassador team focused on the afternoon and evening hours. Currently the Clean Team works from 7:00 - 3:00 p.m. and the Ambassadors work from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. This expansion could have Clean Team and Ambassadors working until 8:00 pm.
The Clean Team expansion would cost $90,000 and would be seasonal focused on the Summer and Fall months.
The Downtown Ambassador expansion will cost $110,000. This would provide year-round funding to expand the additional CDBG funded Evening Ambassadors into full time, fully benefitted positions.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The City has completed numerous surveys over the last three years to gauge interest, needs, and concerns about Downtown. Routinely the City hears about significant desire for more resources to make Downtown a cleaner and more welcoming space. The Clean Team and Downtown Ambassador programs are established programs to address these concerns, but they have not seen significant expansion since the city adopted these programs.
Options:
1. Approve the proposed temporary expansion of the Clean Team and Downtown Ambassador programs with direction to staff bring forward funding package as part of third quarter budget amendment.
2. Do not approve the proposed temporary expansion of the Clean Team and Downtown Ambassador Programs.
3. Modify the proposed temporary expansion of the Clean Team and Downtown Ambassador Programs.
Financial Impact:
Total funding for this one-year expansion is $300,000 with $100,000 coming from CDBG funds and the other $200,000 is proposed to come from Economic Development Reserve funds. A third quarter budget amendment would be necessary to fully appropriate funds. These funds also include the necessary training and equipment budgets to successful operate the expanded program.
Attachments:
None