TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any subsequent amendments, with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, 2017 Dodgers Reviving Baseball In Inner Cities Program, for park field maintenance and umpire fees, along with in-kind contributions, for youth baseball and softball for the summer 2017 season; accept grant funding in an amount not to exceed $2,975; and
Increase appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PR) by $2,975, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) applied for, and has been awarded, grant funding in the maximum amount of $2,975, along with in-kind contributions, from the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF), through the Dodgers Reviving Baseball In Inner Cities Program (RBI Program), to assist PRM in providing baseball and softball programs to approximately 500 Long Beach youth, ages 5 through 8, during the summer 2017 season. The grant funding will provide for park field maintenance costs and umpire fees in support of PRM’s Youth Sports Program. Grant funds complement in-kind contributions of uniforms, equipment, recruitment flyers, location banners, educational and health resources, coach training, youth clinics, incentives and giveaways, and Dodger tickets.
The RBI Program is a baseball and softball youth development program that simultaneously aims to increase participation in the sport, and use sport participation as an engagement tool to increase access to education, literacy, health, wellness, and recreational resources in some of the most underserved communities in the Los Angeles area. The RBI Program is bigger than baseball and sets its focus on youth character development as it engages communities and families in programming. In addition, it impacts youth and families across all three of LADF's pillars, i.e., Sports + Recreation, Education + Literacy, and Health + Wellness.
During the summer 2017 season, the RBI Program will serve over 7,500 youth, ages 5 through 18, across Los Angeles. The RBI Program is part of an international Major League Baseball initiative, which today encompasses more than 200 cities and over 200,000 youth, helping them to grow on and off the baseball field.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda T. Vu on February 24, 2017 and by Budget Management Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on March 2, 2017.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on March 21, 2017, to enter into the grant agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation in a timely manner.
FISCAL IMPACT
The grant award from the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, 2017 Dodgers RBI Program, is currently unbudgeted. Therefore, an appropriation increase is requested in the amount of $2,975 in the General Fund (GF) in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PR). Grant revenues will offset the expense appropriation, and the grant does not require matching funds. The recommended action will result in a positive impact on jobs, although the exact number is unknown at this time.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
MARIE KNIGHT
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER