TITLE
Adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to submit grant application to the California Youth Soccer and Recreation Development Grant Program, offered by the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services, for Phase 2 of the Ed “Pops” Davenport Park Sports Field and Recreation Project (Davenport Park Project); accept, if awarded, California Youth Soccer and Recreation Development Grant Program grant funds for up to $1,000,000 for the Davenport Park Project; and, execute all documents necessary to accept the funds and implement the projects. (Districts 1,8)
DISCUSSION
The California Youth Soccer and Recreation Development Grant Program (Program), funded by the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002 (Proposition 40), is administered by the Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS). OGALS provides funds to acquire and develop neighborhood, community, and regional parks and recreational areas for land, air, and water conservation programs, including acquisition for those purposes, as well as funds to acquire, restore, preserve, and interpret California’s historical and cultural resources.
The Departments of Parks, Recreation and Marine and Public Works are requesting authorization to submit a grant application for $600,000 in grant funds to be used for the Seaside Park Project, and a grant application for $1,000,000 in grant funds to be used for Phase 2 of the Davenport Park Project. Funds awarded through the Program would fund projects designed to contribute to the success of the City of Long Beach (City) in its efforts to provide healthy and safe park spaces within underserved areas.
The Seaside and Davenport Park Projects were identified as being the most competitive projects. Both of these projects meet the grant criteria of creating new opportunities for youth sports in underserved areas, are shovel-ready, have matching funds for non-construction costs, and include a water conservation measure as part of the project.
The Seaside Park Project is located at the northeast corner of West 14th Street and Chestnut Avenue (Attachment A). The project will convert 0.4 acres of the existing unsafe dirt sports field into an artificial turf sports field. While the City Council-approved funding in the Fiscal Year 2014 (FY 14) and FY 15 Adopted Budgets is anticipated to be sufficient, the additional grant funding will supplement the Seaside Park Project.
Phase 2 of the Davenport Park Project is located at 2910 E. 55th Way, on the east side of Paramount Boulevard, between Candlewood Street and South Street (Attachment B). The project plans include a multi-use sports field, perimeter walking path with exercise equipment, a shaded outdoor assembly area, space for necessary parking, and a new alignment and park entry off of 55th Way. Phase 2 development was halted at the time the Redevelopment Agency was disbanded, and the necessary funding for construction remains unfunded.
The City has experienced an increased demand for soccer, football, baseball and softball programming. Since 2013, the City has seen a 34 percent increase in soccer and football participants, and a 25 percent increase in baseball and softball participants. With this trend anticipated to continue, the City’s 32 sports fields are overloaded, and maximizing playable hours does not allow fields to rest and rehabilitate, further impacting the safety and quality of play.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda T. Vu on November 28, 2016 and by Budget Operations Administrator Grace Yoon on December 14, 2016.
SUSTAINABILITY
The Seaside Park Project converts natural grass turf to synthetic turf, which provides several benefits, including reduced water use, which helps in meeting the State’s water reduction mandate; better management of storm water runoff through subsurface drainage systems; a more durable, consistent, and safe playing surface; increased playable hours by eliminating the need to close fields for sod replacement or following rain events; reduced field maintenance costs; and, a longer lifespan than natural grass fields.
The Davenport Park Project proposes a water catchment and reuse system, where any water from the field area, both from irrigation or from storm water runoff, will be collected via the drainage system and reused on-site.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on January 17, 2017, to meet the grant application submittal requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT
If the grant applications are successful, the City will receive grant funds up to $600,000 for the Seaside Park Project, and up to $1,000,000 for the Davenport Park Project. There is no match requirement for these grants; however, existing appropriations for these projects are being listed as potential matching funds in order to make the grant applications more competitive. Appropriation increases will be requested for the grant funds upon grant award. Operations and maintenance costs are currently not funded and will be addressed as part of the FY 18 budget process. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
BODY
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR YOUTH SOCCER AND RECREATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM GRANT FUNDS
Respectfully Submitted,
MARIE KNIGHT
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
CRAIG A. BECK
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER