TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to accept non-monetary donations of planning, labor, and materials for ongoing improvements and third-party maintenance of Cressa Park, located at 19th Street and DeForest Avenue; and execute a right-of-entry permit and any related documents with Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance, Inc., for a period of five years, with one, five-year renewal option at the discretion of the City Manager, or his designee, as approved and recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission at its meeting on May 19, 2011. (District 7)
DISCUSSION
For the last 15 years, Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance, Inc. (WANA), has been unofficially maintaining the undeveloped open-space located at 19th Street and DeForest Avenue, upon which Cressa Park sits today. WANA is a 501(c)3 corporation for public benefit, which was formed to support, strengthen, and encourage volunteerism and civic leadership, host/facilitate educational opportunities, and celebrate the diversity of the Wrigley District in Long Beach. To date, WANA has invested thousands of volunteer hours into maintaining Cressa Park and has transformed it from an undeveloped parcel of City-owned property into an outstanding example of a California native habitat.
On April 20, 2011, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine received a letter from WANA requesting a right-of-entry permit to formally allow third-party maintenance and ongoing improvements of Cressa Park (Attachment A). On May 19, 2011, the Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously approved the proposal and recommended that the City Council consider and approve the action (Attachment B).
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Gary J. Anderson on June 10, 2011, and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on June 14, 2011.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on July 5, 2011, in order to enable the execution of the right-of-entry permit, and to allow Wrigley Area Neighborhood Alliance, Inc., to formally continue its stewardship of Cressa Park.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this request. Since WANA will be using its own volunteers, there will be no impact to jobs associated with the recommended action.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
GEORGE CHAPJIAN
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER