TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to submit applications to the Los Angeles County Regional Parks and Open Space District (RPOSD) for guaranteed grant funding under the Community-based Park Investment Program (Category 1) and the Neighborhood Parks, Healthy Communities, and Urban Greening Program (Category 2) for Chavez Park Roof Repair, Drake Chavez Expansion Design and Entitlements, Drake Park Community Center Rehabilitation, Peace Park Playground Construction, Long Beach Greenbelt Design, Wardlow Park ADA Improvements, MLK Park Community Center Improvements, Willow Springs Park Wetlands Expansion Design, Silverado Park Community Center Upgrades, Houghton Park Clubhouse Restoration Design, Houghton Park Playground Design, DeForest Park Playground Design, 51st Street Greenbelt Design, and Scherer Park Community Center Improvements (Projects); when grant documents are executed, accept an amount up to $2,434,863;
Increase appropriations contingent upon an executed grant agreement with the RPOSD, in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $2,209,127 for the Projects, offset by grant revenue;
Increase appropriations contingent upon an executed grant agreement with the RPOSD, in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $2,209,127 for the Projects, offset by a transfer from RPOSD funds from the Capital Grants Fund;
Increase appropriations contingent upon an executed grant agreement with the RPOSD, in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department by $243,486 for grant administration, offset by grant revenue; and,
Increase appropriations contingent upon an executed grant agreement with the RPOSD, in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department by $243,486 for grant administration, offset by a transfer from RPOSD funds from the Capital Grants Fund; and
Execute any documents necessary to accept the funds and implement the Projects. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
In 2016, Los Angeles County voters approved the Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks and Beaches Measure (County Measure A), which authorizes dedicated local funding for park, recreation, and open space development and maintenance through an annual special tax of 1.5 cents per square-foot of building floor area on all taxable real property in the County. County Measure A makes funding available to eligible recipients for projects that repair and upgrade parks and recreational facilities; create new parks; preserve and protect open spaces and beaches; and, support recreational programming. County Measure A provides funding through both annual allocation programs and competitive grant programs. Annual allocations are distributed using set formulas, while competitive grants are awarded on a competitive basis during set grant cycles.
Annual allocations are divided among the 188 Study Areas that were used to prepare the initial Los Angeles County Park Needs Assessment (PNA) in 2016. The City of Long Beach (City) contains five Study Areas: Central, East, North, South, and West. Attachment A shows the Long Beach Study Areas overlaid on Council Districts. Attachment B shows the funding amounts for each Study Area.
Community-Based Park Investment Program (Category 1) funds are allocated annually to each Study Area in the County. Neighborhood Parks, Healthy Communities, and Urban Greening Program (Category 2) funds are allocated annually to Study Areas identified as High-Need or Very-High-Need in the most current PNA. Funds in both categories are allocated using a Per Capita and Structural Improvements Formula. Year three funding was made available on September 1, 2020. The total annual allocations for Category 1 and Category 2 for each Long Beach Study Area are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Annual Allocations for Long Beach Planning Areas (Year 3)
|
PLANNING AREA |
CATEGORY 1 |
CATEGORY 2 |
TOTAL |
|
North |
$282,165.56 |
$202,772.65 |
$490,938.21 |
|
South |
$628,965.19 |
$473,584.05 |
$1,102,549.24 |
|
East |
$282,792.40 |
$-- |
$282,792.40 |
|
Central |
$126,989.64 |
$-- |
$126,989.64 |
|
West |
$247,597.23 |
$183,996.05 |
$431,593.28 |
|
Total |
|
|
$2,434,862.77 |
The recommended projects and uses for County Measure A funding shown in Table 2 also includes an additional $17,750 in unallocated funding available from prior years. The Public Works and Parks, Recreation and Marine Departments jointly recommend submitting for County Measure A allocation funding for the Projects shown in Table 2, which are found to be consistent with the goals of the PNA.
Table 2. County Measure A Project Recommendations (Year 3)
|
PLANNING AREA |
PROJECT |
AMOUNT |
|
South |
Chavez Park Roof Repair |
$125,000.00 |
|
South |
Drake Chavez Expansion Design and Entitlements |
$300,000.00 |
|
South |
Drake Park Community Center Rehabilitation |
$167,294.32 |
|
South |
Peace Park Playground Construction |
$300,000.00 |
|
South |
Long Beach Greenbelt Design |
$100,000.00 |
|
East |
Wardlow Park ADA Improvements |
$254,513.16 |
|
West |
MLK Park Community Center Improvements |
$150,000.00 |
|
West |
Willow Springs Park Wetlands Expansion Design |
$100,000.00 |
|
West |
Silverado Park Community Center Upgrades |
$138,433.95 |
|
PLANNING AREA |
PROJECT |
AMOUNT |
|
North |
Houghton Park Clubhouse Restoration Design |
$117,750.11 |
|
North |
Houghton Park Playground Design |
$95,922.00 |
|
North |
DeForest Park Playground Design |
$95,922.39 |
|
North |
51st Street Greenbelt Design |
$150,000.00 |
|
Central |
Scherer Park Community Center Improvements |
$114,290.68 |
|
All |
Required Grant Program Administration and Community Engagement for 14 Projects, and Tracking/Reporting |
$243,486.27 |
|
|
TOTAL |
$2,452,612.88 |
County Measure A guidelines require specific levels of park planning, community engagement and grant program administration, tracking, reporting, and close-out responsibilities, which the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department will perform. The Public Works Department will perform project delivery.
Prior to executing grant agreements with RPOSD, the City must submit proof of the City’s ability to accept and administer annual County Measure A funding and meet various benchmarks including submitting reimbursement requests for prior Measure A funded expenditures. As proof that the City can administer funding, projects will be appropriated on a contingent-basis only. Projects will not commerce until grant agreements are finalized. Should grant agreements not be available by the close of FY 21, the department will return to the City Council to request a reduction to appropriations until grant agreements are available. The department will also return with an adjustment to appropriations if funding amounts in the executed grant agreements are different from the amounts requested as contingent appropriations.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Arturo D. Sanchez and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on December 17, 2020.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on January 19, 2021, to execute the grant agreements required to commence park improvement projects and allow for project-related staff time to be charged to grant funding and not subsidized by the General Fund.
FISCAL IMPACT
The RPOSD annual allocation program is a formula grant based on population. Under the formula, the City will receive County Measure A funding up to $2,452,613 over the funding period, including $17,750 in funding from prior year allocations. Of this amount, $2,209,127 will be used to fund park projects. The remaining amount of $243,486 will be used to fund County Measure A-related park planning, community engagement, and grant program administration. County Measure A funding has no match requirement or in-kind service mandate.
An appropriation increase, contingent upon an executed grant agreement with RPOSD, is requested in the amount of $4,418,254 in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department. Of this amount $2,209,127 will be offset with County Measure A reimbursement revenues received from the RPOSD. The remaining $2,209,127 is a technical appropriation to allow for the transfer of County Measure A funds from the Capital Grants Fund, a fund within the Capital Projects Fund Group.
An appropriation increase, contingent upon an executed grant agreement with RPOSD, is requested in the amount of $486,972 in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department for grant administration, including staff and consultant support. Of this amount $243,486 will be offset by County Measure A reimbursement revenues received from the RPOSD. The remaining $243,486 is a technical appropriation to allow for the transfer of County Measure A funds from the Capital Grants Fund, a fund within the Capital Projects Fund Group.
To meet the funding requirements and submit proof that the City can accept and administer grant funding, projects will be appropriated on a contingent-basis only. Projects will only proceed at such time that grant agreements have been approved and executed between the City and the RPOSD. Should grant agreements not be available by the close of FY 21, the department will return to the City Council with a request to reduce appropriations. The department will also return with an adjustment to appropriations if funding amounts in the executed grant agreements are different from those requested as contingent appropriations. Future operating and maintenance costs are unknown at this time, and funding sources have not been identified. Estimates will be provided by the Park, Recreation and Marine Department and appropriations will be requested as part of the annual budget process. This recommendation has a staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. Additional staff and consultant support required for grant administration, project planning, and project delivery will be eligible for grant reimbursement. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation. However, it is anticipated that projects constructed using these grant funds will result in creation of some number of local jobs.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
BRENT DENNIS
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
ERIC LOPEZ
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER