TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to accept a total of $900,000 in Competitive Excess Funds through the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District for the Fourth Supervisorial District Excess Funds to be utilized for the development of three trail projects; execute any documents necessary for the administration of the projects; increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW) by $1,900,000; and decrease appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PR) by $1,000,000. (Districts 1,3,7)
DISCUSSION
On September 10, 2013, the City Council authorized the City Manager, through the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM), to apply for grant funding through the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District, Proposition A Competitive Excess Funds for Fourth Supervisorial District, for the development of three trail projects, at a cost of $300,000 per project.
Recently, PRM was notified of the award of $900,000 in grant funds for the following three trail projects:
· Drake/Chavez Greenbelt - $300,000. To complete the trail from the parking lot, near the proposed soccer fields, to Anaheim Street.
· Pacific Electric Right-of-Way (PE ROW) South/Red Car Greenway Project - $300,000. To construct a trail from Ximeno Avenue to Park Avenue/4th Street on the former PE ROW. While the grant funding is not sufficient to complete the entire trail project along the PE ROW South, the grant funding will be used to complete Phase I of the project, consisting of the trail and trailhead. In addition, the City of Long Beach (City) will be able to use the grant funding as a match for future grant programs in order to obtain the necessary funding to complete the project.
· Wrigley Greenbelt - $300,000. To complete the Wrigley Greenbelt Trail from Wardlow Road, south to Willow Street, along the Los Angeles River.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Gary J. Anderson on January 14, 2014, and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on January 30, 2014.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on February 18, 2014, in order to allow timely execution of the grant agreements.
FISCAL IMPACT
As the award of the grant funding is not currently budgeted, an appropriation increase in the total amount of $900,000 is requested in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW) as follows:
· Drake/Chavez Greenbelt: The total estimated project cost is $2,813,000. Previously awarded grant funding of $2,513,000 is currently budgeted in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW). The $300,000 in grant funding will complete the project.
· Red Car Greenway Project: The total estimated project cost is $2,500,000. Phase I of the project is estimated at $450,000, of which $150,000 is currently budgeted in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW). The $300,000 in grant funding will complete Phase I.
· Wrigley Greenbelt: The total estimated project cost is $1,300,000. Previously awarded grant funding of $1,000,000 is currently budgeted in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PR), and must be transferred to the Public Works Department (PW) to consolidate the project funding. Therefore, a budget appropriation decrease of $1,000,000 in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department, and a budget appropriation increase of $1,000,000 in the Public Works Department is recommended. The $300,000 in grant funding will complete the project.
City staff time for eligible project management costs will be charged directly to the projects. Future park maintenance costs of $57,600 per year, provided by PRM's landscape contractor, will be required and will need to be addressed during the annual budget development process. The recommended action will result in a positive impact on jobs. As youth employment is required in all three grants, it is estimated that a total of 30 local youth will be employed to assist in the development of the three trails.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
GEORGE CHAPJIAN
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
ARA MALOYAN
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER