Item 4: Draft Recommendation — original pdf

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ASIAN AMERICAN QUALITY-OF-LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION (AAQoL) RECOMMENDATION 20250318-04 Date: March 18, 2025 Subject: Recommendation on the FY 2025-26 Budget for Asian American Resource Center (AARC) Customer and Front Desk Support Motioned by: Drafted by: Hanna Huang (Chair) & AARC Workgroup Seconded By: AARC Customer & Front Desk Support Description The Asian American Resource Center (AARC) facility within the Arts, Culture, Music, & Entertainment (ACME) Office’s Museums & Cultural Programs Division has an under-resourced need for front desk support that has been identified and requested since 2020. Pre-pandemic (2020), the AARC has garnered over 50,000 visitors at its peak. Post-pandemic, visitor and program attendance is already back at over 30,000 in FY2022-2023 and over 38,000 visitors in FY2023-2024. Currently, the AARC is the only cultural facility without a dedicated FTE for Front Desk and Reception support and is entirely staffed by temporary staff. This poses issues in staff turnover, safety, training, and support needed to appropriately respond to citizen inquiries and needs when they visit the facility during the 46 hours a week the facility is open to the public. Due to budget cuts and sweeping of funds from the Parks Department in the last 2 years, their temporary staff budget has been reduced, with front desk staff support needs taking more than 50% of the temporary staff budget. Reductions in temporary staffing to other AARC programs have been necessary to maintain appropriate staffing at the reception area for visitor assistance and safety. Recommendation Ongoing funding in one of the following options is recommended: ● 1 Administrative Specialist FTE (40 hours/week) with bilingual pay  ● .75 Administrative Speciality PTE (30 hours/week) with bilingual pay plus an additional $20,000 (6 hours/week) temporary staffing for an entry-level administrative specialist ● $72,000 of total temporary funding was dedicated to Office Attendant I and II positions accounting for 63 hours a week total throughout the year. Inclusive of 2 staff for evening shifts for safety, training, and increased staffing for large events and rentals. Department Office of Arts, Culture, Music, & Entertainment (ACME) / Museums & Cultural Programs Division / AARC Alignment with Council Strategic Priorities Culture & Lifelong Learning: Quality, accessibility, and diversity of civic and cultural venues, events, programs, and resources; Vibrancy and sustainability of creative industry ecosystem; Quality of lifelong learning opportunities. Government That Works for All: Condition of City facilities and technology; Public engagement and participation; Equity of City programs and resource allocation. Vote For: Against: Abstain: Absent: Attest: