TITLE
Recommendation to approve the use of Sixth Council District Fiscal Year 2015 one-time infrastructure funds in the amount of $20,000 to fund community improvements in the Sixth Council District.
DISCUSSION
The Sixth Council District is the proud home of approximately 50,000 residents and is host to many outstanding businesses like Buono's Authentic Pizzeria, one of the oldest and most visited restaurants within the district. Buono's is one of the small business landmarks in the Wrigley Village neighborhood commercial district, anchoring the emerging pedestrian priority district on West Willow Street.
The landmark establishment opened in 1980, when Frank Buono took over the business to open a location at 401 West Willow Street in the Wrigley area of Long Beach. Currently, the business operates with one dining area and is needing to extend into a parklet dining. A parklet is a small dining area or park that fits inside an underutilized parking space. It has a raised platform, about the height of a curb, and is filled with design elements like planters, trees, benches, fountains, sculptures or even bicycle parking. So far, they have only emerged in business districts of the Downtown Long Beach and 4th Street Retro Row.
Buono's is involved in the community in multiple ways at multiple levels. From participating in street fairs, to sponsoring local running events, to donating flat donations to charities of cash, products and gift certificates. Most significant to the Buono family is their participation in the local schools. They believe that good citizenship starts early and should be recognized. As such, they have a comprehensive program set-up with elementary and middle schools in Long Beach. They currently have 45 participating schools receiving bi-monthly supplies of gift certificates to be used for reading incentives, good attendance, and other encouraging programs for students.
Overall, Buono's contributes over $100,000 in cash and in-kind donations to the community each year. They have held celebrations and donated free pizza and other Italian specialties to countless organizations and fund raisers. In modest quantifiable terms, over 10,000 people enjoy the taste of Buono's Authentic Pizzeria for free each year. Buono's shares it's abundance with the community and the loyalty of its customers shows that it matters. They strive to be a cornerstone of the communities we serve.
Along with supporting the growth of local businesses in Central Long Beach, the new parklet would be supporting the development of th.eWiliow Street pedestrian priority district The Public Works Department is currently dedicating significant resoruces to six infrastructure projects along Willow Street for traffic calming, bicycle and pedestrian improvements and streetscape enhancements. The parklet would build upon these improvements leveraging a local small business to activate the improved pedestrian realm.
Currently, the available resources are not sufficient to move the business beyond the current status. For this reason, I would like to use a portion of the District's FY 15 one-time infrastructure funds, working through the Public Works, distribution schedule of the one-time infrastructure funds for the use of creating a parklet at Buono's Authentic Pizzeria, located at 401 W. Willow Street.
FISCAL IMPACT
The amount of $20,000 is currently budgeted in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW). City Council authorization is requested to reassign the intended use of this funding from the Sixth Council District's FY 15 onetime infrastructure projects to the in collaboration with the Department of Public Works for the construction of the park lett.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILMAN DEE ANDREWS
SIXTH DISTRICT