TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a Right-of-Entry Permit, and any related documents, with the Naples Island Garden Club, a nonprofit organization, and/or its agents, to provide landscape improvements and maintenance at La Bella Fontana di Napoli Park, for a term of four years, with two three-year renewal options, at the discretion of the City Manager. (District 3)
Levine Act: Yes
DISCUSSION
La Bella Fontana di Napoli Park (La Bella Park), located in the Naples area of Long Beach, was created in 1933, adjacent to the site of the former Naples Hotel. In 1971, a Neapolitan-style three-tiered fountain was added to La Bella Park. In 2008, the City of Long Beach (City), with the assistance of the Naples Island Garden Club (Club), renovated the fountain by removing some of the lawn area and installing new tile and lighting at the park (Attachment A). As recognition for its work at La Bella Park, the Club was awarded a blue-ribbon award for Civic Beautification from the California Garden Club and the Pacific Region of the National Garden Club.
In its partnership with the City, the Club has assisted with maintaining and beautifying La Bella Park by coordinating monthly cleanups and funding improvement projects. The light maintenance and general cleanup provided by the Club is in addition to the maintenance provided by the City’s landscape and grounds contractor.
The Club is requesting a Right-of-Entry Permit to plant new palm trees to replace ones that have died, trim overgrown trees, and to apply annual soil enhancement to help maintain the health of the trees. The work will be done by a licensed landscape contractor.
When improvements to City property are made, it is appropriate for the City Council to accept the gift of the improvement and execute a Right-of-Entry Permit for the actual installation of the improvements. The Club is not seeking any signage or other recognition for the donation of the various improvements.
The Right-of-Entry Permit will contain the following major provisions:
Permittee: Naples Island Garden Club, a nonprofit organization.
Premises: La Bella Fontana di Napoli Park, Ravenna Drive and Corinthian Walk.
Term: Four years, July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2027.
Renewals: Two (2), three-year options to renew, through June 30, 2033.
Improvements: Replace dead windmill palm trees, trim California peppertrees, and apply a soil enhancement annually to maintain the health of the trees. All work will be done by a licensed landscape contractor. Once various improvements are completed, they will become property of the City.
Maintenance: The Naples Island Garden Club will be allowed to assist with ongoing maintenance to the Premises in an acceptable manner, as approved in advance by the Director of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine.
Other Fees, Permits, and Approvals: The Naples Island Garden Club shall be responsible to acquire all necessary permits and approvals, and pay any and all fees.
Funding: All necessary funding to complete the various improvement shall be the responsibility of the Naples Island Garden Club.
Termination: Either party may terminate the Right-of-Entry Permit with 30 days’ written notice.
Fee: In recognition of the Naples Island Garden Club’s efforts to beautify La Bella Park by providing plant replacement, tree trimming, and soil remediation, no fee will be charged to the Club.
Insurance: The Naples Island Garden Club, and/or its agents, shall provide proof of insurance coverage as defined and accepted to sufficiency by the City’s Risk Manager.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Anita Lakhani on May 1, 2023 and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on May 8, 2023.
LEVINE ACT
This item is subject to the Levine Act. The Mayor, Councilmembers, and Commissioners who have received a contribution of more than $250 within 12 months prior from a party, participant, or their representatives involved in this proceeding may do either of the following: (1) disclose the contribution on the record and recuse themselves from this proceeding; OR (2) return the portion of the contribution that exceeds $250 within 30 days from the time the elected official knew or should have known about the contribution and participate in the proceeding.
All parties, participants, and their representatives must disclose on the record of this proceeding any contribution of more than $250 made to the Mayor or any Councilmembers within 12 months prior to the date of the proceeding. The Mayor, Councilmembers, and Commissioners are prohibited from accepting, soliciting, or directing a contribution of more than $250 from a party, participant, or their representatives during a proceeding and for 12 months following the date a final decision is rendered.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on May 23, 2023, to proceed with project implementation expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The purchase and installation of the various improvements will be the responsibility of the Garden Club. The ongoing irrigation and maintenance for La Bella Fontana di Napoli Park is currently budgeted in the Tidelands Operating Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department and is estimated at $6,864 per year. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
BRENT DENNIS
DIRECTOR
PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER