TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to accept a donation of $7,300 from the Promenade Area Residents Association, a donation of $5,000 from the Molina Family Trust, a donation of $10,000 from the Downtown Long Beach Associates, and grant funding of $20,000 from Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe’s District 4 Discretionary Funds, for the installation of a tot lot at Promenade Square Park; execute any documents necessary for the implementation and administration of the project; and
Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW) by $42,300, offset by revenues from the donations. (District 2)
DISCUSSION
In 2013, the Promenade Area Residents Association (PARA), a nonprofit organization, approached the City of Long Beach (City) with a recommendation to build Promenade Tot Lot (Tot Lot) at Promenade Square Park, located at 1st Street and The Promenade in downtown Long Beach (Attachment A). PARA noted that there are many growing families in the downtown area and that the nearest playground is over one-half mile away. Therefore, PARA advocated for the first playground in downtown Long Beach. PARA received several letters of support for the Tot Lot and initiated fundraising activities. The Downtown Long Beach Associates committed $10,000, with an additional $20,000 in funding secured from Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe’s District 4 Discretionary Funds. Council District 2 provided $75,000 in one-time funding for the Tot Lot in Fiscal Year 2015, and an additional $75,000 will come from Park Impact Fee revenues, which completes the estimated $192,300 needed for the project.
PARA conducted community outreach to build support for the Tot Lot, including a survey in which a majority of the 450 respondents indicated they were in favor of a tot lot being added to Promenade Square Park. PARA worked with a playground design company, the community, and City staff to create the design and layout for the Tot Lot. The Tot Lot design that was selected includes a slide, several climbing structures and climbing rocks, a park bench, and playground safety surfacing (Attachment B), and complements the sophisticated design elements of Promenade Square Park and The Promenade.
At its April 21, 2016 meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously recommended that the City Manager approve the Tot Lot project, having determined that the project will provide improvements for public recreation meeting a recreational need within the City.
This matter was reviewed by Principal Deputy City Attorney Gary J. Anderson on May 2, 2016 and by Revenue Management Officer Julissa José-Murray on May 6, 2016.
SUSTAINABILITY
The Tot Lot project will remove approximately 700 square feet of turf and replace it with playground safety surfacing, a recycled product. The turf removal will result in a reduction in the amount of potable water needed to irrigate the park. The addition of a playground will encourage local residents to come to the park via walking and biking routes, which reduce car trips and promote healthy exercise and recreation.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on May 24, 2016, to commence and complete the Tot Lot by summer 2016, while children are out of school.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total project cost is estimated at $192,300, of which $75,000 was funded with Fiscal Year 2015 one-time General Fund monies from Council District 2 and is budgeted in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW). An appropriation increase in the amount of $42,300 is requested in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW), offset by revenue received from the donation of $7,300 from PARA, a donation of $5,000 from the Molina Family Trust, a donation of $10,000 from the Downtown Long Beach Associates, and grant funding of $20,000 from Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe’s District 4 Discretionary Funds. An appropriation for the remaining $75,000, offset by Park Impact Fee revenue, will be brought forward for appropriation at a later date. This recommendation may result in a positive impact on jobs. Several temporary construction jobs may be created to complete the project.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
MARIE KNIGHT
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION & MARINE
CRAIG A. BECK
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER