TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file Walmart "Good Neighbor" donation.
DISCUSSION
In 2009, Walmart reached out Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske and Park, Recreation and Marine Department with a request to do a community project that would make a positive impact in the community surrounding their Long Beach Towne Center location.
Walmart immediately began working on the men and women restrooms at EI Dorado Park - West. They fixed the sinks, and repainted the stalls and building. Also March 9th 2n10, over 35 Walmart employees planted (10) trees at the park, and provided the trees, soil amendment, mulch, and fertilizer.
In celebration of Earth Day on April 22nd, 2010, they held a lake clean up at the duck pond, which included weeding and mulching of the planter beds, filling holes in the turf, removing grass and restoring the tree wells around the trees they planted the previous month. Theyalso used nets and rakes to clean around the lake and picked up trash in the area.
Walmart has donated over $8,000 to Partners of Park and over 300 volunteer hours for the improvements in EI Dorado Park -West.
From the donation received by Walmart, Councilwoman Schipske has not only been able to make much needed improvement at EI Dorado Park- West, but also, was able to purchase the floating Christmas trees for Heartwell and EI Dorado Park- West; and the educational signage for the Rosie the Riveter Park and Interpretive Center.
Today, Walmart will continue their promise to bettering our communities in Long Beach and will be donating $5,000 each to the First and Fifth Council Districts. Walmart's donation to the First District will be used for neighborhood beautification, including native landscaping.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, Fifth District
Councilmember Robert Garcia, First District