Spokane City Council backs 1-year contract for nonprofit group running East Central Community Center

A nonprofit operating in East Central Spokane can continue operating the neighborhood’s community center through the end of the year, but must apply for the job.

The Spokane City Council, after hearing testimony from close to 30 neighborhood residents, school district officials and representatives of other social service organizations, unanimously extended a contract with the East Central Community Organization through the end of 2017 to operate the center. The organization’s request for a two-year contract, which would have given staff more time to apply for grants and create a plan for fundraising, failed earlier on a 3-4 vote. And last week, the council rejected a proposed 6-month deal.

Council members opposed to the agreement said they were concerned about the long-term financial viability of the center operating under the organization.

Supporters highlighted the work of the center in assisting senior citizens, low-income food bank recipients and Spokane Public Schools students. Larry Quisano, principal of Sheridan Elementary School, said one of his pupils had been turned away from five other schools, but he received services at the center’s youth center.

“He’s more motivated, but more importantly, he has hope,” Quisano told council members.

Chauncey Jones, a youth basketball coach, sat near his team, clad in Tarheels uniforms. Jones said his team joined him at the meeting after he canceled Monday night’s practice so that he could testify for a long-term contract for the center’s operations.

Betsy Williams, a longtime member of the community center’s board, also urged for a continued contract with the community organization, a housing-focused nonprofit that took over operations at the center from the city in 2012.

“We’re looking at this as a matter of heart,” Williams said.

City Councilman Breean Beggs, who served on a citizen review panel evaluating the organization’s performance, said a one-year term would allow a renegotiation of the terms to benefit the nonprofit.

“My perception in this process is that the contract that was created and renewed is a broken agreement,” Beggs said.

Janelle “JJ” Jelinek, the center’s executive director, said after the vote that requiring the organization to re-apply for a contract would take time and resources staff could devote to expanding services.

“I heard a lot of people on the council say this is an opportunity to renegotiate the contract,” Jelinek said. “Well, OK, why don’t you just renegotiate the contract with us?”

City Councilman Mike Fagan proposed a two-year extension and volunteered to assist the center’s operators in developing a long-term plan. City Councilwomen Karen Stratton and Lori Kinnear supported him, but a majority of the council voted no.

Under the terms of the deal, city staff will solicit bids this spring for operational control of the center. Bids will be considered in June, said Jonathan Mallahan, the city’s neighborhood and community services director, with an award shortly thereafter. The East Central Community Organization will remain under contract until the end of the year, regardless of the outcome of the bidding process.