TITLE
Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the City Manager Department by $50,000, offset by the Sixth Council District One-time District Priority Funds transferred from the Citywide Activities Department to provide a contribution to the African American Cultural Center of Long Beach to support programming efforts; and
Decrease appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Citywide Activities Department by $50,000 to offset a transfer to the City Manager Department.
DISCUSSION
On February 20, 2018, the City Council approved an item requesting the City Manager to work with community stakeholders to identify potential City-owned sites in Long Beach for an African American Cultural Center. After sites were identified, City staff recommended that further engagement of stakeholders and subject matter experts be conducted, contingent on the identification of a funding source. On September 4, 2018, while adopting the 2019 Budget, the City Council allocated funds to support planning and outreach efforts for the African American Cultural Center. From January to November 2019, City staff worked with the African American Cultural Center of Long Beach (AACCLB) Community Advisory Committee, Lord Cultural Resources, Environ Architecture, Inc., Wiggins Hunter Consulting, and residents through monthly committee meetings, subcommittee meetings, key stakeholder interviews, surveys, community roundtables and events, informational workshops, and site tours, to complete the community visioning process.
Since then, a Community Engagement Report and a Preliminary Institutional Business Plan have been released. Additionally, the AACCLB has formed a governing board; attained nonprofit status; initiated programming; and, recently, completed a strategic planning process to guide future development and operations.
Capital funding is still needed to see this project come to fruition and a contribution of $50,000 will assist in programming efforts ...
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