TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute a lease between the City of Long Beach and Special Olympics Southern California, Inc., for use of approximately 38,760 square feet of City-owned land and building area, more commonly known as 6730 East Carson Street, to be used as office space for a term of three years, through June 30, 2010, with two one-year renewal options; and authorize City Manager to execute amendments to extend the lease term. (District 5)
DISCUSSION
In 1963, Eunice Kennedy Shriver started the concept of Special Olympics as a day camp for people with intellectual disabilities to provide them with the therapeutic effects of physical fitness and sports. One thousand athletes from the United States, Canada, and France competed in the first International Special Olympics Games in 1968. The same year, Special Olympics was founded as a non-profit organization. In July 1969, the First Annual Western Regional Special Olympics was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Nine hundred athletes from Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah participated.
In July 1995, California Special Olympics was divided into two separately incorporated chapters, Special Olympics Southern California, Inc. (SOSC), and Special Olympics Northern California, Inc. The SOSC is bounded by San Luis Obispo, Kern, and Inyo Counties on the north, and the state line on the south. The change afforded each new California Chapter the opportunity to greatly expand outreach efforts.
Long Beach has an extended history with SOSC. In 2007, Long Beach will host the SOSC Summer Games for the ninth year in a row. More than three decades ago, SOSC set up their first Southern California office in Long Beach. SOSC then moved on to the west side area of Los Angeles, residing in Culver City, California for the past 11 years. The current office space has become too small for the growing organization and the lease will expire in August 2008. In October 2...
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