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02-15-1994 - Los Angeles County Regional Park & Open Space District - Competitive Grants ApplicationCity of West Covina Memorandum TO: City Manager and City Council FROM: Harry W., Thomas, Public Works Director AGENDA. Gus Salazar, Human Services Director ITEM NO. D-1 SUBJECT: LOS'ANGELES COUNTY REGIONAL PARK DATE February 15, 199 4 AND -OPEN SPACE DISTRICT - COMPETITIVE GRANTS APPLICATION SUMMARY: A portion of the Parks Proposition A approval by the voters of Los Angeles County provides for various forms of competitive grants. Staff has compiled applications for several of the -available grants.. BACKGROUND The'Los Angeles County. Proposition A, Safe Neighborhood Parks, Gang Prevention, Tree Planting, Senior and Youth Recreation, Beaches and Wildlife Protection Bond Act, which voters approved on November 3, 1992 provided three categories of project funding: 1) a distribution of funds in 1996 based on population ($800,000+ to West Covina); 2) amounts for specific projects included within the Proposition (none within West Covina); and �) six types of competitive grant programs. The application I forms and manuals for the competitive grants were received by the City on January 14, 1994 with.a due date for submittals of , 5: 00 P - M March 1, 1994. The funding for the � competitive grants will be distributed uniformly over the . next four. -years with the current applications only for the first year's funding. Jhe application process. will occur separately for each year. ANALYSIS_ The six types of.competitive grants and their evaluation for application submittal by the.City are as -follows: cr Restoration of natural habitat and: development of re' eational, resources. along the -Santa Clara,.San Gabriel and Los Angeles rivers and their tributaries ($5 million over. four years). Since none of these river's or tributaries are within West.Covina, there,are no eligible. projects. for us Development, and improvements to senior centers and recreation facilities ($5 million e over four years). With the'past effortsby the C ity in the area of senior citizens, ther are just no projects left within the restrictions ofthis grant for which the City could apply. The identified, improvements still to be done within the City are, less than the minimum grant requirement. Development and construction of at -risk youth recreation and, service facilities ($12 milliomdver four years). Staff has evaluated,. the grant. requirements and discussed with various. outside groups the possibilities of submitting an application .. However, there are many disadvantages for',the'City in being the lead agency in pursuing eligible projects. instead, we -propose, supporting (subject to City Council approval) applications submitted by other appropriate -groups currently � engaged. in the conduct of " at -risk " youth programs. In -fact, one of the requirements is that the applicant be experienced in "at -risk" Youth programs. Staff considered submittal of a joint application with another experienced group. However, it is staff's, opinion that it would be best for the experienced groups to submit An application rather than the City. We did make sure that the groups we contacted are aware of this competitive grant program. Tree planting, in. public: places as urban beautification projects ($5 million over four years). I The City has done.so well with our Urban Forestation Program that the few remaining items will not meet the minimum grant amount. However, in reviewing the grant requirements against all possible eligible work, we realized the Master Plan for the East Cameron Avenue Park Site contains a proposal for a grove of trees. Unfortunately, the Master Plan,process- has not been completed and, therefore, a grant application to plant a grove of trees would probably not meet the grant requirements for this year's funding. This project will be, more appropriate for next year's application process. parksgrant.app Prevention of graffiti and restoration of interior and exterior facades at park, recreation and other public facilities ($5 nu�illion I over four years). The City already has a proactive approach to the prevention and removal of graffiti ' However, one of the most susceptible facilities we have are park restro6ms. Therefore, we propose to.submit a grant application to apply anti -graffiti coatings to the interior and exterior of park restroom buildings. Additionally,Joint applications will receive special consideration, especially when employing at -risk" youth to perform the work. The San Gabriel Valley Boys and Girls Club has agreed to work with the City in this joint effort. The estimated cost of this project is th $45,000., This effort could be expanded. next year to include o er facilities based upon the experience with this project. i Acquisition and development of trails ($5 million over four years). In reviewing the requirements of this grant two eligible projects were found. The Master Plan for the East Cameron Avenue Park Site contains a proposal for a trail system. Unfortunately, the Master Plan process has not been completed and, 'therefore, a grant application to develop the trails, would probably not satisfy the grant requirements at this time. This -project wil be more appropriate for next year's application process. The Specific Plan for Galster Park includes a trail- system and. is appropriate for a grant application. Si ' nce utilizing "at -risk" youth in this project would include special consideration, we will attempt to have the California Conservation Corps -(C.C.C.) consent to a joint application. The C.C.C. has previously indicated their interest in this type of project. The estimated cost of this project is $185,000. Due to the time factors involved in subrifitting these applications, there. was insufficient time to process this matter through the Human Services Commission. However, they were informed of the actions to date at their meeting on February 8, 1994. Now that we are. better informed on the application requirements and process, formal Commission review will be made of ftiture applications. FISCAL IMPACT ' If any of the applications receive favorable consideration, the City will have to advance the project funding with reimbursement occurring after project completion. However, certain administrative costs, such as application costs, are not.reimbursable. The City must guarantee that it will fund any shortfall that may occur in project funding and provide sufficient funds to maintain the projects in perpetuity. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council adopt.the following resolutions: a) RESOLUTION NO. 90SY A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA; CALIFORNIA APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY REGIONAL PARK AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT GRAFFITI PREVENTION COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE CITY PARK RESTROOM ANTI GRAFFITI COATING., b) RESOLUTION NO. ?0_�5 A RESOLUTIONOF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE LOS. ANGELES COUNTY REGIONAL PARK AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT TRAILS ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM FOR GALSTER PARK TRAILS. Gus Sala -far Human Services Director. W. Thomas Public Works Division Manager/City- Engineer parksgramapp