01-02-2001 - Alternative Solutions for a New Location for the Community Food Bank of West Covina• City of West Covina
Memorandum
TO: Daniel G. Hobbs, City Manager
and City Council
FROM: Tom Hatch
Community Services Director
AGENDA
ITEM NO. FF-11
DATE January 2, 2001
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
SUBJECT: ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR A NEW LOCATION FOR THE
COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF WEST COVINA
SUMMARY: Due to West Covina Unified School District's need for additional
classrooms, Willowood School, which housed the Community Food Bank
of West Covina will no longer be available. With a continuing need for
these services, the City Council has directed staff to present alternative
solutions and possible locations for the Community Food Bank of West
Covina.
BACKGROUND:
Comprised of volunteers from local churches, the Community Food Bank of West
Covina was established over 15 years ago to respond to the need of low-income and
homeless persons for staple food. Open 5 - days a week, during fiscal year 2000 — 2001,
over 4,520 persons (or approximately 40,680 meals) will benefit from this service.
Twenty-two percent of the population served are West Covina residence.
In November, the Food Bank received notification from the West Covina Unified School
District of their decision to renovate the Willowood facility and thus the need for the
Food Bank to find an alternate location.
At an emergency meeting held on December 22, 2000, the City Council directed staff to
bring to the January 2, 2001 City Council meeting, possible solutions, including long and
short - term site locations for the Food Bank.
DISCUSSION:
In an effort to facilitate the relocation of the Food Bank, staff spoke with Ms. Elisabeth
Gieger, Volunteer Director of the Food Bank, regarding various issues including their
ability to pay rent, space needs and location.
Staff has identified four options:
Bringing two or more food banks together in one facility. The Community
Food Bank of West Covina staff said that this was not an option for them.
2. Use other resources to provide needed service. In an effort to locate other
resources, staff reviewed the LA County 1999 Social Services Resource
Directory. Listings for the San Gabriel/Pomona Valley were very limited (one
time only, etc.) and were mainly restricted to residents of their respective
cities. Staff did attempt to contact El Monte/South El Monte Emergency
Resource Association, Covina Area Emergency Aid (serves Covina only) and
Love Inc. with no response. Although several churches in West Covina
provide emergency food supplies, it is done on a limited bases.
3. Locate a site that would meet the needs of the Food Bank. Staff spoke to
the Food Bank staff about their ability to pay rent for a site. Food Bank staff
stated that they had limited resources and as such were not able to afford any
location that would require them to pay rent. They stated that they would be
able to pay a minimal charge for utilities. Staff looked at two locations that
were suggested as possible sites:
• The City facility called "The Barn", located on California north of
Cameron:
Although the size of the location would be adequate, (approximately 2,400
square feet), the building lacks ventilation, heating, cooling, restroom
facilities, and miscellaneous amenities. The Barn is presently used as storage
for the City Clerk's Office, Maintenance Division, and the Historical Society.
Staff is researching the cost associated with the renovation of the building.
Storage is available at the City Maintenance Yard and with the shift of
maintenance staff to this high priority, the records could be relocated to the
maintenance storage site within approximately two weeks.
• Redevelopment Agency owned vacant space in Citrus Plaza (photo of
site attached to staff report):
Located at the southwest corner of Citrus/Workman, this 2;678 square foot
space is situated between Payless ShoeSource and Shooters Club. Because of
poor visibility to Citrus Avenue and the narrowness of the frontage, this space
has been vacant since the Redevelopment Agency acquired Citrus Plaza in
1996.
Although the Agency Board may be considering free rent for the Food Bank, a
month -to -month lease with specific language pertaining to waiver of
relocation and goodwill claims would still need to be prepared and executed
by the Food Bank. Should the Agency Board desire to allow the Food Bank
to operate at this property without rent, the Agency could request the Food
Bank pay for all tenant improvements and utilities for the 2,678 square foot
space. In addition, since some of the utilities are under the common area
maintenance (CAM) charges (trash, parking, area lighting, etc.), staff suggests
charging $.05 per square foot or approximately $134 per month for these
shared facilities. City staff from Community Services staff, Redevelopment
Agency staff and a representative of McIntyre Property Management
Company met with the Food Bank staff at the site. Staff shared the CAM fee
with the Food Bank staff and received a positive response, but the fee and
approval of the space will have to be approved by the Food Bank Board of
Directors. Finally, the possibility should be seen as a temnorary solution and
Agency staff would need to have a lease agreement that identifies the use as a
month -to -month with a 90 - day notice to vacate. This option is scheduled to
also appear on the January 2, 2001 Redevelopment Agency agenda.
4. Other options: Because of the very short time -line and holiday season,
attempts to explore options such as school district space and churches, have
not been reviewed to determine if they might have available space and may
desire to accommodate the operations of the Food Bank.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Although no direct impact on the General Fund, use of a location owned by the
Redevelopment Agency would result in lost revenue. It should be noted, that if this space
was to be rented, in the best case scenario, it would be rented for $.55 per square foot or
approximately $1,473 per month.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Advise staff on whether to proceed with "The Barn" or Citrus/Workman site; or
2. Continue to research other options such as the school district or church space; and
3. Direct the Community Services Commission to review possible long-term solutions.
Prepared by: Reviewed and appOed by:
Pat cia Bommarito Tom Hatch
Community Services Manager Community Services Director
Review and approved by:
nold M. A arez-Glasman
City Attorney
ZACommunity Groups\Misc requests of councilTood bank staff report for January 2,2001.doc
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FOOD BANK INFORMATION UPDATE
AND FACT SHEET
January 2, 2001
• 22% of the Food Bank's participants are West Covina residents
& 78% are residents of other communities
• West Covina Unified School District states that they do not
have space available
• 15 West Covina churches were contacted, of the 15:
a) 9 messages were left
b) 5 responded that that had no space available
c) Pillars of Faith Church on Valley, had limited/very
temporary space
d) Pillars of Faith Church also had a food bank, serving
approximately 200 families per month (1,000 individuals)
e) Several of the churches are currently supporting the
Community Food Bank
• All churches were told of the deadlines to apply for CDBG
Public Service funds
• "The Barn" on California has only 1,500 square feet of
space
a) Major renovation, including bathrooms heating, cooling,
walls, windows, etc. would be required
b) The drive way and parking area are gravel and parking is
limited
c) It is in a residential area
d) It is subject to floods
• The Taylor/Cortez house will require:
a) Major renovation, including:
1) Meeting A.D.A requirements for restrooms,
accessibility to some of the rooms, road accessibility
2) General rehabilitation, such as carpet, walls, windows,
storage etc.
b) Cost to renovate the Taylor/Cortez house is estimated to
be as much as $100,000
• The Amar and Azusa location was also reviewed, but rent is
required and it would be cost prohibitive
• Attached is a copy of the West Covina Community Food Bank
2000-2001 CDBG Public Service application
WHI
Date Received by the City
Due on or. before: Friday, January 7, 2000
CITY OF WEST COVINA
Community Development Block Grant Program
Subrecipient Application
FY 2000-2001
Applicant Name: Community Food Bank
pp of West Covina Contact Person:. Carolyn Arndt .
Applicant Address: 2.021 Alwood St. West Covina, Ca.91790 12.
Applicant Telephone 6 2 6- 814 - 2 8 6 2 Fax #
Program Name Emergency Food Outreach Program
Amount of Funds Requested: � 14 , 0 0 0 Tax ID Number: g 5 _ q 1 q 6
Mailing Address:: P.O. Box 128, West Covina 91793
TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING, YOUR ACTIVITY MUST FIRST QUALIFY AS MEETING
ONE OF THREE NATIONAL OBJECTIVES OF THE CDBG PROGRAM. SECOND, 'YOUR
ACTIVITY MUST MEET THE HUD DEFINITION OF AN ELIGIBLE PROGRAM OR
PROJECT.
1. Indicate which CDBG National Objective your activity will address:
X Benefit low and moderate income persons, or
Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or urban blight, or
X Meet an urgent need that poses a threat to the public health, safety and welfare.
2. . The proposed activity will serve:
X the elderly X abused children
X persons with disabilities _ X battered spouses
X the homeless _ X low and moderate income persons
3. Please provide a brief summary of the proposed project. Specify your purpose, goals, and
objectives. Provide bags of stAple food items
directly to low—income people —including
homeless people We allow each client family
or ndi,idual fn visit nix aiffprent times
then refer them to another food system
4. What is the location of the proposed activity?
In Willowood School, 2021 Alwood St
West. Covina
S. Describe any community or social problems this activity will impact.
Our goal is to impact hunger.
zAeft-app.doc 11/24/99
6. If the activity is not funded, how will your organization and the clientele be impacted?
T1,i s Fund ig helps i-n-Bu •e that nor far•i 1 i ty
rnntinnes i-n he operational five days each
week during the i sc!a 1 year 2000 2001
7. Please describe your service area(s):
These funds are used exclusively for West Covina
residents and any homeless person Coming to our
facility —and are fully documented.
8. How many persons will benefit from your project/ service?
4'�90 equals 40Y680—meals
9. Please describe the target population you serve. For example, low income citizens, seniors,
persons with disabilities, etc. and any other conditions that warrant assistance.
Any hunclry _person or families. We serve everyone
regardless of age, physical condit�,:on, gender
ethnicity or religious affiliation — who comes to
our faoi1ity
10. If this is a new project, please identify your implementation timeline. If this is an ongoing project,
describe any new activities your organization is planning.
Fnr fifteen years this program
has heen in
operation and no chanCLegq are
anticipated
11. 2000-2001 CDBG Funds Requested:
• Personnel cost:
$
• Supplies / services cost:
$ 9 R 0 0.0 0
• Equipment cost:
$
Total CDBG Funds Requested:
$ 14,00000
12. What is your agency's total budget?
$ 9 5 , 0 0 0.0 0
13. How many full time staff do you employ?
14. How many part time staff do you employ?
1
15. How many volunteers participate in your organization?'
69
16. Describe your agency's other source of funds:
$ 11 , 8O0 . Federal Grant $ 1 5 , 7 A 7 Donations
$ State Grant $ Fees
$ County Grant $ 1 4 , 0 0 0 . City grants (indicate the city)
West Covina
Fiscal year 7-99 to
6-20
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