TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all necessary documents, and any subsequent amendments thereto, with Long Beach Navy Memorial Heritage Association, to receive $15,000 in grant funds to research and create interpretive signs for visitors to the Willow Springs Park; and increase appropriations by $15,000 in the General Grants Fund (SR120) in the Department of Development Services (DV). (District 7)
DISCUSSION
On December 6, 2013, the City of Long Beach submitted a proposal to Long Beach Navy Memorial Heritage Association (LBNMHA) for $15,000 in grant funds to research and create interpretive signs specific to the Willow Springs area and how it relates to the subsequent development of Long Beach. LBNMHA exists to preserve the heritage and historic sites of Long Beach, and created a fund to foster and support the identification, evaluation, preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and interpretation of historical resources, sites and archival sources within the City of Long Beach.
Willow Springs Park is a 48-acre, mostly undeveloped area with a goal of restoring native habitat, creating public access trails, and installing environmental education infrastructure as a part of the Willow Springs Park Master Plan. The initial restoration efforts include recreating a wetlands and riparian ecosystem that will once again support wildlife and a thriving native environment. The visitors' experience at the site will be greatly enhanced by a series of educational signs that explain the significance of the site throughout various historical eras.
The Historical Society of Long Beach (HSLB) will be partnering with the City through this grant to conduct the research and content development for the original signs. The City will be responsible for staff time, sign design, production, and installation. With a total program budget of $35,000, the HSLB staff time will be supported with the LBNHMA grant, and $15,000 in matching funds will be provided from the FY 14 one-time funding of $1,000,000 allocated by the City Council for Willow Springs Park.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Vu on March 10, 2014 and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on March 13, 2014.
SUSTAINABILITY
Long Beach's Sustainable City Action Plan, which was approved by the City Council on February 2, 2010, includes an initiative to enhance and enliven corridors and neighborhoods with green infrastructure and public spaces, as well as, initiatives to increase the amount of open space for community use, promote biodiversity citywide by encouraging the wide scale use of native landscape, and enhance corridors and neighborhoods with green infrastructure and public spaces. Leveraging these funding opportunities will assist the City to create green spaces for multiple beneficial uses by the adjacent communities and City at large.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on April 1, 2014, in order to ensure the timely execution of the grant agreement with LBNMHA to begin research and content development with HSLB.
FISCAL IMPACT
An appropriations increase of $15,000 is requested for the grant award in the General Grants Fund (SR 120) in the Development Services Department (DV) and will be immediately expended for the research and content development of the Project. An in-kind match of $5,000 will be provided through City staff working on the Project, which is supported by existing staff and budget in the Development Services Fund (EF 337) in the Development Services Department (DV). The $15,000 cash match will be provided from the FY 14 one-time allocation of $1,000,000 for Willow Springs Park that is budgeted in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW).
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AMY J. BODEK, AICP
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
ARA MALOYAN
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
GEORGE CHAPJIAN
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER