TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to submit a grant application for $38,544 to the Long Beach Navy Memorial Heritage Association for the restoration of the Long Beach Navy Memorial in Shoreline Park. (District 2)
DISCUSSION
For most of the 20th Century, the U.S. Navy had a compelling presence in Long Beach. From 1919, when the City of Long Beach was named homeport for the Navy's very first Pacific Fleet, to 1940, with a full-scale naval base, including a shipyard, naval hospital, and a naval air station, Long Beach was the focal point for the Navy in the southwestern United States. In 1997, a void was created when naval facilities closed and naval activities ceased in Long Beach.
Created in 1998, the Long Beach Navy Memorial Heritage Association (Association) provides funding to preserve the heritage and historic sites of Long Beach, recognizes the contributions of the Long Beach Naval Station and shipyard to the City of Long Beach, and honors the work of architect Paul Revere Williams. A key purpose of the Association is to "foster and support the identification, evaluation, preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and interpretation of historical resources, sites and archival sources within the municipal boundaries of the City of Long Beach." Historical resources include buildings, public landscapes, and contributing structures in historic neighborhoods.
In 2000, through grant funding provided by the Association, local artist Terry Braunstein was commissioned to design a memorial to commemorate the U.S. Navy's presence in Long Beach. In July 2004, the Long Beach Navy Memorial (Memorial) was dedicated at Shoreline Park. The Memorial includes an armillary sphere with images conveying the story of the Navy in Long Beach, a ship mast, a ship anchor, and a walkway containing a compass rose and dedicated brick pavers.
Over the years, the salt air, normal wear and tear, and some vandalism to the Memorial have necessitated the refurbishment and restoration of the armillary sphere, ship mast, and walkway areas. In addition, as part of the overall project, it is proposed that directional signage be installed to direct the public to the location. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) is proposing to apply for $38,544 in grant funding through the Long Beach Navy Memorial Heritage Association for the restoration of the Memorial.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Gary J. Anderson on November 6, 2012, and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on November 16, 2012.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on December 4, 2012, in order to submit the grant application by the Association's deadline of December 7, 2012.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total estimated project cost is $39,544. Grant funds will offset $38,544 of the project costs, and PRM has agreed to provide limited in-kind staff time at an estimated cost of $1,000 toward the restoration project, which is budgeted in the Rainbow Harbor Fund (TF 411) in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PR). No other City match is required. Should grant funding be awarded, a recommendation will be made to the City Council to accept the grant and appropriate the funding. There is 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