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Council renews Robert Garcia Boxing Academy youth contract, orders stricter reporting
Summary
Council approved a two-year renewal of a $48,000 partnership with Robert Garcia Boxing Academy to provide after-school youth programming but required quarterly reporting and clearer program metrics after public testimony and discussion.
The City Council on April 7 renewed a two‑year, city-funded partnership with the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy (RGBA) intended to provide supervised, after-school programming for youth. The agreement continues a pilot leveraging city funds to subsidize memberships for low-income participants.
The city manager told council that the program served roughly 21 youth across the most recent 12‑month reporting period (ages 11–18). RGBA supporters, including undefeated young fighters who trained at the gym, urged continued funding and described the program as an outlet that kept children off the streets and provided discipline and life skills.
Several public speakers — including other local nonprofit operators and community members — pressed for a transparent, competitive process and asked that city-funded programs deliver clear, verifiable metrics. Council voted to approve the renewal but added a firm instruction: future payments and renewals must be accompanied by timely, contractually required metrics (quarterly reports) documenting outreach, participant counts, income status of beneficiaries and program delivery.
Council Member Baka Santa Cruz voted no, saying the program had not provided the contractual reporting required under the initial agreement.
Next steps: staff will amend the contract template to require quarterly reporting, PII protections for participant lists, and clearer deliverables; staff will monitor compliance and return if metrics are not delivered.
