TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any necessary amendments, with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), to fund the Open Streets Initiative for COVID-19 recovery through the Beach Streets Downtown grant;
Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $216,000, offset by grant reimbursement revenue; and
Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $216,000, offset by a transfer of Metro grant funds from the Capital Projects Grant Fund. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to execute an agreement with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) for the receipt of grant funding in the amount of $216,000, originally awarded for the 2020 Beach Streets Downtown event, but to be repurposed per Metro Board action to support the Open Streets Initiative for COVID-19 recovery.
In March 2019, staff pursued funding for Beach Streets events through the Metro FY 2020 Open Streets Grant Program, which provides Transit-Related Highway (Prop C 25 percent) funds for such events. In May 2019, Metro awarded the City of Long Beach (City) $216,000 for the eighth, full-scale Beach Streets event, Beach Streets Downtown. The event was scheduled to take place on August 29, 2020, along Broadway from Downtown to Belmont Heights with spurs highlighting neighborhoods along the corridor. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent health orders, all large events, including Beach Streets Downtown and Beach Streets University planned for March 21, 2020, have been canceled or postponed.
On May 28, 2020, the Metro Board adopted Motion #2020-0375 allowing the City to repurpose previously awarded funding for the 2020 Beach Streets University and Beach Streets Downtown events. Per the Board Motion, eligible costs now include smaller-scale, longer-term open street interventions to support both businesses and residents in the COVID-19 recovery, including but not limited to:
• Expanding one-day events to longer-term temporary traffic interventions;
• Replacing a large, single-corridor event intended for regional audiences with many smaller, neighborhood-scale interventions catering to local audiences;
• Creating spaces within the public right-of-way to support economic activity such as dining and vending; and,
• Providing education, encouragement, and monitoring for safe physical distancing in accordance with the Safer at Home Order in partnership with and supporting community-based leadership.
Therefore, it is recommended that the entirety of the Beach Streets Downtown grant be repurposed to support the ongoing Open Streets Initiative approved by the City Council on June 16, 2020.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber on July 30, 2020 and by Budget Analysis Officer Julissa José-Murray on August 10, 2020.
SUSTAINABILITY
The Open Streets Initiative includes a focus on sustainability, efficiency, and active transportation, which are intended to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions while also prioritizing and promoting active transportation options, in accordance with Metro’s mobility goals for the Open Streets Program.
EQUITY LENS
The City has incorporated the Equity Toolkit into this recommendation as requested by the City Council on April 21, 2020. Creating an open streets initiative and exploring ways to open more public space citywide, in particular in open space and park deficient areas, allows for increased outdoor activities and a stronger economic recovery, while maintaining appropriate physical distancing in accordance with the current Health Order.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
The City Council action is requested on September 1, 2020, to finalize the Metro grant agreement and receive reimbursement within the 60-day deadline.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost of the Beach Streets University event was estimated to be $270,000. The City received a $216,000 reimbursement grant from Metro, which will be diverted to support the Open Streets Initiative for COVID-19 recovery. The remaining $54,000 represents the City’s in-kind match of City labor and is supported by existing appropriation within the Public Works Department. An appropriation increase in the amount of $432,000 is requested in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department. Of this amount, $216,000 will be offset with grant reimbursement funds from Metro. The remaining $216,000 is a technical appropriation to allow for the transfer of grant funds from the Capital Projects Grant Fund, a fund within the Capital Projects Fund Group. This request is anticipated to have a minimal impact on staff hours beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
ERIC LOPEZ
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER