TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to accept a total of $16,893 in grant funds through the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, Tire-Derived Product Grant Program, to be utilized for the pour-in-place playground safety resurfacing at Drake, Jackson, Los Cerritos, Veterans, and Whaley Parks; execute any documents necessary for the administration of the projects; and
Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW) by $16,893, offset by reimbursement grant revenue. (Districts 1,4,6,7,8)
DISCUSSION
In March 2017, the City of Long Beach (City) received notification that the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) was soliciting recipients for their Tire-Derived Product Grant Program (Grant), which repurposes waste tires for the development of park playgrounds, parklets, greenways, and drought-related projects. The 2017-2018 Grant program made $1,000,000 available statewide to qualified applicants whose projects could meet the minimum requirement of using 2,500 California-generated waste tires.
The City Council approved the CalRecycle Grant application on May 9, 2017, for Measure A-funded playground improvement projects at Drake, Jackson, Los Cerritos, Veterans, and Whaley Parks. CalRecycle awarded the Grant to the City on August 8, 2017, in the amount of $16,893, which is based on the estimated number of tires the project will recycle. CalRecycle Grant funding was selected because the playground safety surfacing is a California tire-derived product that will create a safe play environment, while removing an estimated 9,079 tires from local landfills. In addition, this Grant further leverages Measure A funding, which provides enhanced playground experiences for Long Beach residents.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda T. Vu on November 14, 2017 and by Budget Management Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on November 16, 2017.
SUSTAINABILITY
CalRecycle estimates that more than 44 million waste tires are generated in California every year. Stockpiling or landfill disposal of waste tires presents numerous environmental, health, and safety hazards. While the majority of California-generated tires are reused, retread, or combusted, CalRecycle is encouraging recycling markets in California to build to capacity to handle all of the waste tires generated in the State. Playground safety surfacing that will be installed with the help of this Grant will contain material derived from tires disposed of in California. The playground surfacing at Drake, Jackson, Los Cerritos, Veterans, and Whaley Parks will divert an estimated 9,079 tires from local landfills.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on December 12, 2017, to appropriate the Grant revenue and to commence and complete the Measure A playground projects to comply with the Grant deadline of April 1, 2020.
FISCAL IMPACT
Reimbursement Grant funds in the amount of $16,893 will be used as supplemental funding for the playground improvement projects at Drake, Jackson, Los Cerritos, Veterans, and Whaley Parks. An appropriation increase in the amount of $16,893 is requested in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW), offset by reimbursement Grant revenue. There are no match requirements. The recommended action will result in a positive impact on jobs. Several temporary construction jobs will be created, 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