Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to request City Council approval of two (2) Resolutions for the grant application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation through the Murray-Hayden Urban Parks and Youth Service Program and Urban Parks Act (Urban Parks Act) of 2001 under the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Bond Act (Bond Act) of 2002 for the Robert R. �Bud� Ovrom Park (Ovrom Park) project.

Background:

During the past seven years, staff has worked closely with State of California legislators and local officials in an effort to develop additional funding sources for the Ovrom Park project.  This project provides an opportunity to create a highly functional park in an under-served and blighted area, converts a precious industrial use to combine recreational and educational use, and meets the priority needs of both the Burbank Unified School District and the City of Burbank.  The project has always been considered a viable candidate for grant funding opportunities through the State of California and Federal Government.  

A series of neighborhood meetings were used to confirm community expectations, concerns, and preferences, and to present design options for the project.  From this process, a refined option became the basis for the approved, final concept plan.  The phased plan for site assembly and improvements for the park site includes an approximately 1.5  acre sized park combined with a community school designed to serve at-risk community students and community center.  Additional uses and facilities include lighted basketball courts, a tot-lot, open play field, picnic areas, underground parking, and a joint-use youth recreational facility.

Discussion:

The City has been notified that it is also eligible to receive additional grant funding from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation through the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2002. The Murray-Hayden Urban Parks and Youth Service Program and the Urban Park Act are reimbursable grants that are a component of the Bond Act of 2002.  If awarded, the grants would provide flexibility for funding and assistance with potential budget issues associated with completion of the Ovrom Park project.  The State of California Department of Parks and Recreation will notify agencies selected for grant funding in June 2005.  Grant awards must be expended by June 2010.  The City of Burbank is eligible to apply for the following two (2) grant programs:

�        The Murray-Hayden Urban Parks and Youth Service Program will award up $2,500,000 for a variety of purposes that would be contained in the Ovrom Park project. The grant funding is intended for capital projects, including park facilities, environmental enhancement projects, youth centers, and environmental youth service centers that employ neighborhood residents and at-risk youth, and are within immediate proximity of a neighborhood identified as having a critical lack of parks and open space, shortage of services for youth, significant poverty, and significant unemployment. This includes acquisition and development of parks, recreation areas, and facilities in neighborhoods currently least served by park and recreation providers (Attachment A).  The total amount of funds available from this Bond Act to the State of California is $46,675,000. 

�        The Urban Park Act will award up to $3,000,000 for a variety of purposes that would be contained in the Ovrom Park project.  Funding can include acquisition and development of new urban parks, new recreation facilities, or new multipurpose facilities in neighborhoods currently under served by park and recreation providers (Attachment B).  These neighborhoods are often the same areas that suffer from high unemployment and destructive or unlawful conduct by youth.  The total amount of funds available from this Bond Act to the State of California is $130,690,000. 

Approval of these Resolutions will allow the City to encumber these grant funds thus assuring their availability for the Ovrom Park project (Attachment C and D).

Fiscal Impact:

There is no fiscal impact as a result of the proposed action.   There is no matching fund requirement for the City; however the State shall assign higher priority to applications that include a commitment to provide a match.  With this in mind, as of November 20, 2003, the City has a net remaining appropriation of $5,585,031 to qualify for a match requirement. 

Recommendation:

It is staff�s recommendation that the City Council approve the attached two (2) Resolutions for the Park, Recreation and Community Services Department to submit an application to receive State assistance funds from the Murray-Hayden Urban Parks and Youth Service Program and Urban Parks Act under the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2002.

EAH/gsi/gwn

K:\ADMIN FILES\Agendas & Staff Reports\2003 Agendas and reports\Murray-Hayden & Urbank Parks Grant Reso Staff Report - fiinal.doc

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