TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or designee, to submit grant applications to the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (District) for the Fourth Supervisorial District Excess Funds Program (Program), upon receipt of a grant award; accept a total of $2,600,000 in Competitive Excess Funds from the District for the Program to be utilized for the development of park projects in the City of Long Beach; and, upon acceptance of the grant award,
Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW) by $2,600,000, offset by revenue from the grant. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
In June 2016, Competitive Excess Funds became available from the District for the Program. The Program is provided under Los Angeles County Proposition A (1996) and allocates excess grant funds equally to each Supervisorial District, which distributes available funding to eligible recipients. Through the Office of Supervisor Don Knabe, the City of Long Beach (City) was notified that it would be receiving $2.6 million in Competitive Excess Funds.
Funding may be used for park projects that consist of acquisition, development, improvement and/or rehabilitation of real property in the Fourth Supervisorial District of Los Angeles County (County). County staff have indicated that funds must be prioritized for shovel-ready park projects that can be implemented in a short period of time.
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) and the Department of Public Works have prioritized park projects for this funding based on a set of established criteria designed to leverage existing funding and maximize grant funding. These park projects would include shovel-ready projects that can be completed in a short period of time, specifically those that require gap funding; park safety and accessibility projects; and priority projects not funded by Measure A.
PRM will be submitting grant applications to the District for the following park projects; detailed descriptions and the funding amount for each project are included (Attachment).
|
PARK PROJECTS |
FUNDING AMOUNT |
|
14th Street Park Expansion |
$200,000 |
|
Citywide Park Irrigation & Landscaping Improvements |
$944,000 |
|
El Dorado Park West Duck Pond Restoration |
$300,000 |
|
El Dorado Regional Park Restroom Rehabilitation |
$250,000 |
|
Houghton Park ADA Improvements |
$300,000 |
|
Stearns Champions Park Community Center Improvements |
$200,000 |
|
Wrigley Greenbelt Trail |
$325,000 |
|
Red Car Greenway |
$81,000 |
|
TOTAL: |
$2,600,000 |
Any new park amenities will be approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission prior to implementation.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda T. Vu on October 7, 2016 and by Budget Operations Administrator Grace Yoon on October 12, 2016.
SUSTAINABILITY
The funding will support projects that are water efficient and designed to save water, restore habitat, remove dead and diseased trees for public safety, and allow the planning of improvements that extend the useful life of park amenities.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on November 1, 2016, to execute District contracts and commence the recommended park projects prior to the end of calendar year 2016. While the recommended action is traditionally processed in several steps, the process for applying, accepting, and appropriating the Competitive Excess Funds grant has been expedited to meet the County’s timeline of executing contracts in November 2016.
FISCAL IMPACT
The $2,600,000 will be used to fund priority park projects that are shovel-ready and currently not fully funded. As the award of the grant funding is not currently budgeted, an appropriation increase in the amount of $2,600,000 is requested in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW), which will be offset by revenue received from the grant of $2,600,000 from the Fourth Supervisorial District Excess Funds Program. There is no match requirement for this grant. By accepting this grant, the City is obligated to address any funding shortfalls necessary to complete the projects, or to rescope the projects to meet available funding levels.
City staff time for eligible project management costs will be charged directly to the park projects. Future park maintenance costs are anticipated, but not determined at this time. They will be included during the annual budget process. This recommendation will result in a positive impact on jobs, as several temporary construction jobs will be created to complete the park projects.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
MARIE KNIGHT
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
CRAIG A. BECK
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER