Health

Bowling, youth soccer, gardening programs and fire-station saunas are all part of Turlock’s latest opioid-settlement spending plan. The City Council approved a $200,000 package on October 27, with payment conditions and reporting requirements for the youth programs.

The Turlock Journal reported a unanimous vote. The city’s five-page staff report supplies a more detailed breakdown: $142,000 in maximum agreements with three youth-program providers, $50,000 for the fire-station sauna project and an $8,000 contingency.

The $142,000 Includes Insurance

Westside Ministries’ agreement allows up to $82,000. Ten Pin Fun Center and Turlock Indoor Soccer each have a $30,000 maximum. Those are agreement ceilings, with conditions attached.

Across the three providers, the program portions total $112,000. Another $30,000 provides insurance allowances of up to $10,000 per organization. The staff report requires advance written approval from both the city manager and city attorney for insurance reimbursement, supported by actual additional premium costs attributable to the program.

The separate $8,000 contingency does not automatically raise the three agreement limits. Using it would require an authorized amendment. That distinction matters when comparing a council appropriation with a check, a reimbursement or a completed service.

What the Youth Programs Would Provide

Ten Pin Fun Center: The staff report describes two eight-week bowling sessions, each anticipated to serve 50 young people, combining instruction with age-appropriate substance-misuse education. Its sample agreement provides reimbursement for approved, documented costs rather than an advance payment. Registration fees and other program revenue reduce the reimbursable program expenses. Participation is to be handled discreetly, without requiring children to publicly disclose personal or family circumstances.

Turlock Indoor Soccer: The proposed approach pairs organized soccer with prevention information and supportive relationships. The staff report describes the same $20,000 program-expense ceiling and separate $10,000 insurance allowance. Outreach for both sports programs would emphasize young people affected by opioid misuse or facing increased risk, while allowing other participants as well.

Westside Ministries: Its sample agreement supports year-round youth and family activities, mentoring, prevention and connections to services. The program allocation is $72,000. Of that, $64,800 is payable after the agreement takes effect and required insurance is approved. The final $7,200 cannot be paid earlier than nine months after the effective date and depends on reporting, documentation and compliance.

Westside’s monthly reports are due by the tenth of the following month. They must account for activities, attendance, spending and the remaining balance. Regular reports use aggregate information, without children’s names or unnecessary identifying details. The agreement also requires a final accounting and the return of unspent or ineligible funds.

Why Saunas Are in the Same Package

The staff report identifies $50,000 for the Public Safety Fire Stations Sauna Project. It says three saunas had been purchased for stations 31, 33 and 34, with further installation efforts involving Station 32 and the Public Safety Facility.

Staff’s explanation is first-responder wellness: police and fire personnel repeatedly encounter traumatic opioid-related emergencies. The report cites settlement language allowing wellness and support services for people experiencing secondary trauma from those events. The purchase and installation costs are included in the appropriation.

The Questions Raised Before the Vote

Approval followed public questions. According to the Journal, mayoral candidate Kelley Coelho asked how the organizations were selected and requested that the item be tabled for more information. Frank Aiello questioned the specificity of the education plans and who would develop them. The council proceeded with the allocation rather than postponing it.

The written proposal gives residents concrete things to follow: which activities take place, what prevention education accompanies them, how many young people participate and what costs are reimbursed. It requires background checks for personnel supervising minors, insurance and supporting records. Staff would review participation, educational activities, expenses and outcomes when considering whether to continue or change the initial programs.

What Residents Can Check Next

Turlock began receiving settlement payments in fiscal year 2022-23 and had received more than $750,000 by the staff report’s date. This package uses restricted settlement resources, without additional General Fund revenue.

The California Department of Health Care Services explains that settlement spending has opioid-remediation restrictions. For California Abatement Accounts Fund receipts, at least half must support designated high-impact activities. A council vote authorizes a local plan; the spending still has to meet the applicable requirements.

DHCS also requires annual expenditure reports, generally covering July through June and due September 30. Those reports and the providers’ activity records are the places to look for actual spending and delivery, rather than treating the approved budget as a result.

For parents, the council packet describes the partnerships rather than an enrollment schedule. Ask the provider for the funded program’s dates, age range, referral process, fees and supervision arrangements. Our Ten Pin guide covers the venue’s regular activities; those bookings are separate from this pilot. To follow future reports or speak at a meeting, use our public-meeting guide and the city’s October 27 council packet.