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Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager to submit a grant application to the State of California Strategic Growth Council through the Urban Greening for Sustainable Communities Program, in the amount of $1 million, for the development of open space in the Los Angeles County Flood Control District Market Street Detention Basin south of DeForest Park, for a total estimated project development cost of $6 million. (Districts 8,9)
DISCUSSION
On November 7, 2006, California voters passed Proposition 84, the $54 billion Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006, to provide capital funding for water quality and park programs. Subsequent legislation established the Strategic Growth Council, and through its Urban Greening Projects Program (UGP), appropriated $70 million, which will be utilized over a period of a few years to provide funding for urban greening projects that reduce energy consumption, conserve water, improve air and water quality, and provide other community benefits.
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) proposes to apply for $1 million in grant funding through UGP for development of the DeForest Wetlands project. The DeForest Wetlands site is located along the east bank of the Los Angeles River in the Los Angeles County Flood Control District Market Street Detention Basin (map attached). The project will provide for the development of 34 acres of wetlands, riparian and upland habitat, public accessible trails, and educational interpretation along the Los Angeles River, from DeForest Park south to Del Amo Boulevard. The Project's Environmental Impact Report has been completed, and project design is 30 percent complete, with 100 percent design expected in fall 2010. The DeForest Wetlands project will link to the County's recently completed Dominguez Gap project, which is located south of Del Amo Boulevard. If grant funds are awarded, a partnership between the City of Long Beach and Los Angeles County will be formalized in an agreement, following a request presented to the City Council and its subsequent approval.
Additional funding for development of the DeForest Wetlands project will be provided by the California Coastal Conservancy and the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, which will each submit a letter of commitment for $1 million.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Gary J. Anderson on March 24, 2010, and Budget and Performance Management Bureau Manager David Wodynski on March 31, 2010.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on April 20, 2010, in order to submit the grant application to the Strategic Growth Council by their due date of April 30, 2010.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total direct cost of the project is estimated at $6 million. If the UGP grant application is accepted, it will provide $1 million of the direct project development costs.
Additional funding of $2 million of Los Angeles County Proposition A funding has been appropriated in the PRM CIP budget, and $2 million in funding will be committed by the California Coastal Conservancy and the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, respectively. Remaining funding in the amount of $1 million is being sought, but has not been identified. Future annual park maintenance costs, provided by PRM's landscape contractor, are estimated at $5,000, which will need to be added to PRM's General Fund operating budget. Should the grant application be selected for funding, a recommendation will be made to the City Council to accept the grant and appropriate all funding; however, no expenses will be made on this project until all funding is identified and in place.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR THE URBAN GREENING GRANT PROGRAM, UNDER THE SAFE DRINKING WATER, WATER QUALITY AND SUPPLY, FLOOD CONTROL, RIVER AND COASTAL PROTECTION BOND ACT OF 2006 (PROPOSITION 84) FOR THE DEFOREST WETLANDS PROJECT
Respectfully Submitted,
PHIL T. HESTER
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
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APPROVED: |
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PATRICK H. WEST |
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CITY MANAGER |