14-B
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
ATTENTION: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
FROM: Jim DellaLonga, Director of Economic Development
SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to provide direction to the City Manager regarding the redesign options of Friendship Plaza utilizing unused Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Relief (“CDBG-CV”) funds.
DATE: January 12, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On May 27, 2025, the City Council approved Substantial Amendment #6 to re-allocate unused CDBG-CV funds for the redesign and rehabilitation of the Friendship Plaza fountain area. HUD approved the substantial amendment on September 24, 2025. The total amount of CDBG-CV funds available for this project is approximately $407,553. An additional $198,405 from the annual CDBG allocation has been budgeted for the project in the FY 2025-26 Action Plan should costs for the fountain area improvements exceed the remaining CDBG-CV funds. The Director of Economic Development is returning to City Council requesting direction on two design alternatives for Friendship Plaza.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Provide direction to the City Manager regarding the two design alternatives for Friendship Plaza; or;
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund, provided that the costs to design and construct the improvements remain within the $605,958 in available funding, which consists of $407,553 in CDBG-CV funds and $198,405 in CDBG funds as identified in the FY 2025-26 Action Plan. Any CDBG-CV funds not fully expended by November 2026 will be forfeited. The $198,405 in CDBG funds is subject to a longer expenditure deadline and may be reprogrammed for other CDBG-eligible activities if not used for this project. Any additional work, such as what is shown on Design A outside of the fountain area, would require separate action and funding approval by City Council.
Staff Report – Friendship Plaza Redesign
January 12, 2026
BACKGROUND
In early 2025, the City Council directed the Director of Economic Development to re- allocate unused CDBG-CV funds of $407,553, for the redesign and rehabilitation of Friendship Plaza to update and enhance the public area to encourage outdoor use and social distancing to prevent the spread of any coronavirus in the future. On May 27, 2025, the City Council approved Substantial Amendment #6 re-allocating the CDBG-CV funds for this use and HUD approved the re-allocation on September 24, 2025.
Working with Studio PAD Landscape Architects, the Director of Public Works, Director of Parks and Recreation, and the Director of Economic Development refined two designs Plan 2A – Event Lawn and Plan 2B Pebble Pocket Park (Attachment A) for presentation to the City Council.
In both designs, the City’s “Christmas Tree,” planter area, wayfinding/identification sign, and existing light poles are to remain. Additionally, both designs contemplate the removal of the fountain west of the tree and incorporate design elements like wood-plank style concrete pavers and sail-like shade structures that link the plaza to Pirate Park.
The former fountain area of the plaza was treated differently in each design. Plan 2A creates a central artificial turf event lawn with fun/unique bench seating ideas designed to provide social distancing, while Plan 2B creates a smaller central artificial turf gathering space using pebbles/boulders and unique bench seating ideas to promote social distancing, but with a central walk-through area just behind the large tree.
Other common features to both designs include a drinking fountain with lower dog bowl fountain, transplanting of the existing King Palms to the area around Pirate Park, shade structures, and the relocation of donor plaques/tiles.
Although Design A shows improvements extending from the former fountain area to the area in front of Pirate Park, the cost to incorporate the extended area is estimated to be over and above the amount of remaining CDBG-CV funds. This extension of the improvements shows what could be done should additional funding be found or identified.
Both designs, using the remaining CDBG-CV funds, are improving the area from the back of sidewalk at Bellflower Blvd. to the edge of the back alley which aligns with the adjacent building and the paving of Ricci’s patio seating area.
With direction from City Council, the Director of Economic Development will incorporate comments into a final design and begin preparing construction plans specifications and engineering for the project.
Attachment: Friendship Plaza Design Options 2A and 2B
Staff Report – Friendship Plaza Redesign
January 12, 2026
Attachment
Conceptual Plans
Staff Report – Friendship Plaza Redesign
January 12, 2026