Legislation Details

File #: HIST-1310    Version: 1 Subject:
Type: Historical Status: Action Item
In control: City Council Meeting Agenda
On agenda: 11/7/2005 Final action: 11/7/2005
Title: Resolution authorizing submission of the Proposition A grant application and transfer of $150,000 in grant funds for construction of the Dog Park.
Attachments: 1. Prop.A Dog Park.doc, 2. A-6 Prop A Dog Park.pdf
City of Culver City, California City Council Agenda Item Report RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council approve the Resolution as attached, authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to sign all documents related to the submission of the Proposition A grant application for the construction of the Culver City Dog Park, and authorize the appropriation and transfer of $150,000 in Proposition A Grant Funds for the Construction of the Dog Park upon receipt of the fully executed contract from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District. BACKGROUND: On November 3, 1992 and on November 5, 1996, the people of the County of Los Angeles enacted Los Angeles County Proposition A - Safe Neighborhood Parks, Gang Prevention, Tree Planting, Senior and Youth Recreation, Beaches and Wildlife Protection (Prop. A). Prop. A which, among other uses, provides funds to public agencies and nonprofit organizations in the County for the purposes of acquiring and/or developing facilities and open space for public recreation. Prop. A also created the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District to administer the funds. At the City Council meeting on July 28, 1997 Council discussed various aspects surrounding the possibility of opening a dog park in Culver City. At the June 4, 2002 Parks and Recreation Commission (the “Commission”) meeting, the Friends of the Culver City Dog Park (the “Friends”), a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, presented a proposal for the development of a dog park in the “Bone Yard” area in Meeting Date: 11/07/05 Item Number: _A-6 AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of the City Council Approving the Resolution for a $150,000 County of Los Angeles Proposition A Grant for Construction of the Culver City Dog Park and Authorizing the Appropriation and Transfer of $150,000 in Prop A Grant Funds for the Construction of the Dog Park. Contact Person/Dept.: Patricia Mooney, PRCS Senior Management Analyst Phone Number: (310) 253-6668 Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X] Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X] Public Notification: Master Notification List (11/2/05); Friends of the Culver City Dog Park (11/2/05); Parks and Recreation Commission (11/2/05). Department Approval: Bill La Pointe 11/2/05 CAO Approval: Jerry Fulwood 11/2/05 City Controller Approval: Marlee Chang 11/2/05City of Culver City, California City Council Agenda Item Report Culver City Park. Subsequently, a preliminary design of the Dog Park submitted by the Friends to the Commission at its meeting of August 3, 2004 was adopted unanimously, with minor changes, by the Commission. At the City Council meeting of December 13, 2004, Council approved the plans and specifications for the Dog Park, P-816, and authorized the Friends to construct the Dog Park, with the proviso that the Friends enter into a License Agreement with the City. In April 2005, the Friends entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City to allow the building of the Park. A groundbreaking Ceremony was held at the site on July 23, 2005. As a result of ongoing fundraising efforts since their inception in August 2001, the Friends now have approximately $85,000 in their account. In November 2004 the City was notified that their Urban Park Act of 2001 grant application to fund the Dog Park’s construction was not approved. It was assumed at that time that the Friends would bear the major responsibility for financing the construction of the Park. Subsequently, Mayor Albert Vera (then Councilmember Vera) contacted Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, Second District, upon behalf of the Friends to request financial assistance from the County of Los Angeles. Herb Wesson Jr., Special Assistant to Supervisor Burke, announced the availability of $150,000 in Prop. A Excess Funds for construction of the Dog Park at the September 19, 2005 City Council meeting. To secure these funds, the City needs to prepare an application with a general project description outlining expenditures totaling $150,000 for construction of the Dog Park. DISCUSSION: A meeting was held on October 17, 2005 to discuss the items required by the County in order to process the grant agreement, including the site plan, cost estimate and timeline for the project. Meeting attendees included Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Director Bill La Pointe, Public Works Director/City Engineer Charles Herbertson, Chair of the Friends of the Culver City Dog Park Vicki Daly Redholtz, and one staff member from each of the following Culver City Departments: PRCS, Public Works and Community Development. As a result of that meeting, staff recommends using the $150,000 in the following manner (listed from highest to lowest priority): (1) Weather and shade shelters, (2) paving for parking (including ADA accessible parking), (3) signage (including a highly visible and esthetically pleasing entry way and dedication plaques), (4) landscaping and irrigation (including a cost-effective, energy efficient irrigation system for the trees), and (5) lighting (the feasibility of using solar-powered lighting will be investigated). The possibility of using Proposition A Maintenance and Servicing (“Prop A M&S”) funds to cover the cost of the Dog Park’s ongoing maintenance was also discussed at the October 17, 2005 meeting. If the Dog Park receives Prop A Excess Funds, it City of Culver City, California City Council Agenda Item Report is eligible for M&S funds upon its completion. Currently, the City requests approximately $75,000 annually from our Proposition A Maintenance and Service Account to offset the ongoing maintenance cost of the Senior Center. The most recent estimate obtained for Dog Park maintenance is $7,200 annually ($600.00 per month for contract services). Based on projections from the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, it is estimated that if only the Senior Center and the Dog Park maintenance costs (approximately $75,000 and $7,200 annually, respectively) are reimbursed by M&S funds, there should be sufficient funds to cover these costs through fiscal year 2018-19. This estimate is based on the following assumptions: (1) that the City remains in compliance with all program requirements and continues to meet Youth Employment Goals, and (2) that the County benefit assessment (property tax) continues to be deposited at projected levels annually. A special emphasis on employing youth in park improvement projects was included in both the 1992 and 1996 Propositions. To meet the requirements of the District’s Youth Employment Policy, the grantee must adopt a Youth Employment Plan at a duly noticed public meeting for each District-funded project. Staff has identified the landscaping and irrigation element of the Dog Park as a suitable project for the employment of youth. Arrangements have been made for a site visit to the Dog Park by a representative of the Los Angeles Conservation Corps in order to procure an estimate for labor costs. The Los Angeles Conservation Corps is cited by the County as a service organization that can contractually provide youth employment for a variety of project-related tasks. FISCAL ANALYSIS: The cost estimate for the construction of the Dog Park is as follows: Weather/shade shelters (4) $ 30,000 Paving for parking $ 30,000 Signage $ 30,000 Landscaping and irrigation $ 10,000 Lighting $ 50,000 Project Total $150,000 (Prop A Excess Funds) Staff requests authorization for the appropriation and transfer of $150,000 in Proposition A Excess Funds to Business Unit 42300816 (Dog Park) upon receipt of the fully executed contract from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District.City of Culver City, California City Council Agenda Item Report ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution MOTION: That the City Council: 1. Approve the Resolution to approve the application for Prop A grant funds for the Dog Park in Culver City Park. 2. Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to sign all documents related to the submittal of the Proposition A grant application. 3. Authorize the Appropriation and Transfer of $150,000 in Prop A Grant Funds for the Construction of the Dog Park upon receipt of the fully executed contract from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District. MEETING DATE 11/7/05 AGENDA ITEM Consideration of the City Council Approving the Resolution for a $150,000 County of Los Angeles Proposition A Grant for Construction of the Culver City Dog Park and Authorizing the Appropriation and Transfer of $150,000 in Prop A Grant Funds for the Construction of the Dog Park ATTACHMENTS Pages 1 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Culver City 1-3 California, approving the application for grant funds from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District Excess Funds Grant Program for the Culver City Dog Park ProjectAttachment 1|1010|RESOLUTION NO 2005-R|1010|A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY REGIONAL PARK AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT EXCESS FUNDS GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE CULVER CITY DOG PARK PROJECT WHEREAS, the people of the County of Los Angeles on November 3, 1992 and on November 5 1996 enacted Los Angeles County Proposition A, Safe Neighborhood Parks, Gang Prevention Tree Planting, Senior and Youth Recreation, Beaches and Wildlife Protection (the "Proposition') which, among other uses, provides funds to public agencies and nonprofit organizations in the County for the purposes of acquiring and/or developing facilities and open space for public recreation, and WHEREAS, the Proposition also created the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (the 'District ) to administer said funds, and WHEREAS, the District has set forth the necessary procedures governing applications for grant funds under the Proposition, and WHEREAS the District s procedures require the Applicant to certify by resolution the approval for the application(s) before submission of said application(s) to the District and WHEREAS the application form contains assurances that the Applicant must comply with, and WHEREAS the Applicant certifies through this resolution that the application is approved for submission to the District and|1010101010101010 10 10|11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1.WHEREAS, the Applicant will enter into a Project Agreement with the District for the performance of the Project as described in the application NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Culver City California, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE|109| That the City Council approves the filing of an application with the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District for funds allocated under the Excess Funds Section of the Proposition for the above-named Project, and|109| That the City Council certifies that said Applicant understands the assurances and certifications in the application form, and|109| That the City Council certifies that said Applicant understands its obligation to operate and maintain the property in perpetuity, and|109| That the City Council certifies that said Applicant will sign and return, within 30 days, both copies of the Project Agreement sent by the District for authorizing signature and|1010|I|1010101010101010 10 10|11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 2.5 That the City Council authorizes the Chief Administrative Officer or designee as agent of the City of Culver City to conduct all negotiations and to execute and submit all documents including but not limited to, applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests and so forth, which may be necessary for the completion of the Project as described in the application APPROVED AND ADOPTED this day of 2005 ALBERT VERA, Mayor City of Culver City California ATTEST APPROVED AS TO FORM CHRISTOPHER ARMENTA, City Clerk CAROL A SCHWAB, City Attorney A05 00619|1010| 3. 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