TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to enter into an agreement with the American National Red Cross for the use of City-owned facilities as care shelter sites during emergency events for a term of five years. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On May 10, 2005, the City Council authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with the American National Red Cross (Red Cross) to allow the Red Cross the use of City-owned facilities and grounds operated by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) as mass care shelter sites and/or evacuation centers in the event of an emergency. The current agreement between PRM and the Red Cross will expire on December 31, 2010. PRM would like to enter into a new agreement with the Red Cross to continue to allow the Red Cross to use City-owned facilities as care shelter sites in the event of an emergency.
The Red Cross is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance to victims of disasters and emergencies through the provision of shelter, food, sanitation, and disaster recovery assistance. Under the City of Long Beach (City) emergency plan, PRM has the primary responsibility to provide for the basic human needs of residents in the parks that have been identified as emergency shelter sites. The proposed agreement will authorize the Red Cross to utilize City-owned facilities for the purpose of providing emergency shelter to persons affected by disasters. While the Red Cross agrees to reimburse the City for City-owned supplies used during the emergency, the City agrees to provide and pay for any staff that is needed beyond the normal operating hours of the City facility.
The Red Cross has surveyed the parks listed below and would like to use these parks as shelter sites in the event of an emergency.
Emergency Shelter Sites:
· Bixby Park, 130 Cherry Avenue
· Cesar E. Chavez Park, 401 Golden Avenue
· El Dorado Park West, 2800 N. Studebaker Road
· Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Avenue
· Long Beach Senior Center, 1150 East 4th Street
· Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, 1950 Lemon Avenue
· Ernest S. McBride, Sr. Park, 1550 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue
· Recreation Park, 4900 East 7th Street
· Scherer Park, 4600 Long Beach Boulevard
· Silverado Park, 1545 West 31st Street
· Veterans Park, 101 East 28th Street
· Wardlow Park, 3457 Stanbridge Avenue
· Whaley Park, 5620 Atherton Street
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Gary J. Anderson on September 16, 2010, and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on September 21, 2010.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on October 12, 2010, so that the agreement can be executed prior to the start date.
FISCAL IMPACT
Outside of an emergency event, there is no fiscal impact associated with the proposed agreement. However, in the event of an emergency, PRM agrees to provide a minimum of one staff person per City-owned facility to operate the facility beyond the normal operating hours. PRM will provide for the maintenance of the facility, and the Red Cross will reimburse PRM for City-owned supplies that are used during the emergency. The City may be able to apply for government reimbursement of emergency costs, depending upon the federal or state governments' designation of the emergency. There is no impact to jobs associated with this request.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
PHIL T. HESTER
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER