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CC -Consideration of a Request to 1) Authorize the City Manager to Submit an Audacious Project Grant Application; and 2) Appoint Two City Council Members to Assist Staff with the Preparation of the Grant Application.
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Meeting Date: May 29, 2018
Contact Person/Dept: Shelly Wolfberg/City Manager’s Office
Phone Number: (310) 253-6000
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (05/23/18);
Department Approval: John M. Nachbar (05/23/18)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council consider a request to 1) authorize the City Manager to submit an Audacious Project Grant application; and 2) appoint two City Council Members to assist staff with the preparation of the Grant Application.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
At the May 18, 2018 City Council Strategic Planning Retreat, Mayor Small presented the concept of the Audacious Project, which is a collaborative approach to funding ideas with the potential for large scale change. These projects represent efforts that can be replicated and thus have a far reaching impact. Funders and partners include TED, Virgin Unite, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and numerous other entities.
The City Council discussed formulating a project idea that would transform the Inglewood Oil Field into the Central Park of the West, converting gray infrastructure into green infrastructure. Mayor Small mentioned possible partnerships with other like-minded agencies and nonprofit organizations.
For this grant, the Audacious Project funding recipients typically have a project timeline of three to five years. The initial Application is due on June 10, 2018. The Short List applicants are notified on July 31, 2018. If the City is selected as part of the Short List to move onto the second round, there will be an extended application, which the City will have four weeks to complete. After the Short List process concludes, semifinalists are notified on September 17, 2018 and finalists are notified in December.
In order to prepare the initial application, staff proposes to work with SWA, a landscape architecture, planning and urban design consultant. The City has worked with SWA on other projects, including the City’s current Culver Boulevard Realignment and Urban Stormwater Project. In addition, staff recommends working with Melanie Doran Traxler, the City’s current contract Project Manager for the Inglewood Oil Field Specific Plan Project. Both SWA and Ms. Doran Traxler have indicated their availability and interest in assisting with the Audacious Project grant application and process.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Adequate funds are available in the Fiscal Year 2017-18 Budget to fund the consulting services to prepare the application materials.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to submit an Audacious Project Grant application; and
2. Appoint two City Council Members to assist staff with the preparation of the Grant Application; or
3. Provide alternate direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.