15-K
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 adopt Resolution No. 26-10 – A Resolution authorizing the City Manager to receive and appropriate grant funds for the Community Cleanup and
Employment Pathway Grant, enter into a Restricted Grant Agreement with Caltrans, and a Grant Agreement with Good Soil Industries DBA Kingdom Causes Bellflower.
DATE: March 23, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This action would authorize the City Manager to execute a Restricted Grant Agreement with the California Department of Transportation (“Caltrans”) and a Grant Agreement with Good Soil Industries (“GSI”) DBA Kingdom Causes Bellflower (“KCB”) for the use of Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway (“CCEP”) Grant Funds. The CCEP Grant Program is an initiative under the Clean California Program, administered by Caltrans.
Funding is available to local agencies through competitive grants to conduct litter abatement, graffiti removal activities, and maintenance of public spaces while fostering employment pathways through partnership with workforce development organizations.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Authorize the City Manager to adopt Resolution No. 26-10; and
2) Amend the FY 2025-2026 Operating Budget to add $200,000 to revenue Account No. 010-34064 Caltrans – Clean California Program; or
3) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated project cost is $216,511.04. The City will receive $200,000 in CCEP Grant funds. Project costs up to the grant amount will be charged to the various Facilities Maintenance accounts. The City will provide the remaining $16,511.04 as an in -kind match through staff time, which is budgeted in Account No. 010 -40100-4000-CCE.
Staff Report – Resolution No. 26-10
March 23, 2026
DISCUSSION
In November 2025, the City applied for the CCEP Grant with the ongoing partnership with KCB in mind. The CCEP Grant Program initiatives will enable KCB to engage their employment pathway and workforce development efforts through the GSI social enterprise. GSI will employ a 5-person crew to conduct litter cleanup, graffiti removal activities, and routine maintenance of four City owned public rights -of-way: Bellflower Bike
Trail, Byron Zinn Park, Caruthers Park North/Horse Trail, and Riverview Park. The established relationship between the City and GSI/KCB falls in line with the CCEP Grant’s core component of the creation of employment pathways for justice -impacted, underserved, and disadvantaged individuals in the community.
To receive reimbursement by utilizing these funds, Caltrans requires that the City enter into a Restricted Grant Agreement for the project involving the funds. On February 19, 2026, Caltrans notified the City of its selection to receive the award and provided the City with a form of Restricted Grant Agreement for the GSI/KCB Community Clean-up Project (“Project”).
Additionally, the City will enter into a grant agreement with GSI for the administration and disbursement of the Grant Funds for the Project.
ATTACHMENT
Resolution No. 26-10……………………………………………..……………………………3
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
RESOLUTION NO. 26-10
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
RECEIVE AND APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE
COMMUNITY CLEANUP AND EMPLOYMENT PATHWAY
GRANT, ENTER INTO A RESTRICTED GRANT AGREEMENT
WITH CALTRANS, AND A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH GOOD
SOIL INDUSTRIES DBA KINGDOM CAUSES BELLFLOWER
THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council finds and declares as follows:
A. The California Department of Transportation (“Caltrans”) has available funds of $200,000 that may be awarded to local agencies that can show City Council support and demonstrate its commitment towards project completion within the grant performance period;
B. The Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway (“CCEP”) Grant Program is an initiative under the Clean California Program, administered by Caltrans, to conduct litter abatement, graffiti removal activities, and maintenance of public spaces;
C. The City submitted an application for the CCEP Grant on November 3, 2025 and was notified of its selection to receive the award on February 19, 2026;
D. The City plans to engage Kingdom Causes Bellflower’s (“KCB”) social enterprise, Good Soil Industries’ (“GSI”) employment pathway and workforce development efforts to complement the initiatives of the of the CCEP Grant Program;
E. Caltrans requires that the City enter into a Restricted Grant Agreement to receive reimbursement by utilizing these funds;
F. Time is of the essence in obtaining such grant funding. It is therefore in the public interest for the City Council to adopt this Resolution.
SECTION 2. Authorizations.
A. The City Council of the City of Bellflower hereby authorizes the City Manager to enter into a Restricted Grant Agreement (“RGA”) with Caltrans approved as to form by the City Attorney.
B. The City Council of the City of Bellflower hereby authorizes the City Manager to enter into a Grant Agreement with GSI as the subrecipient of the CCEP funds awarded to the City approved as to form by the City Attorney.
City of Bellflower
Resolution No. 26-10
C. The City Manager, or designee, is authorized to execute any required documents to receive the grant for the purposes identified in this Resolution.
D. The City Manager, or designee, is authorized to accept and spend the grant monies identified in this Resolution for the purposes set forth herein.
SECTION 3. The City Council amends or supplements the City’s Budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 to appropriate the monies identified herein to pay for the items proposed by the City in support of its grant application. The City Manager, or designee, is authorized to implement the purpose of this section.
SECTION 4. Electronic Signatures. This Resolution may be executed with electronic signatures in accordance with Government Code §16.5. Such electronic signatures will be treated in all respects as having the same effect as an original signature.
SECTION 5. The Mayor, or presiding officer, is hereby authorized to affix his signature to this Resolution signifying its adoption by the City Council of the City of Bellflower, and the City Clerk, or her duly appointed deputy, is directed to attest thereto.
SECTION 6. This Resolution will become effective immediately upon adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELLFLOWER THIS 23RD DAY OF MARCH 2026.
________________________________
Sonny R. Santa Ines, Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________
Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Karl H. Berger, City Attorney
________________________________________
By: Solange Fortenbach, Deputy City Attorney
ATTACHMENT:
Exhibit A – Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway Grant Application
Clean CA Program
Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway (CCEP) Grant Proposal
I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
CALTRANS
DISTRICT
AGENCY NAME AGENCY CONTACT
NAME
PHONE NUMBER EMAIL ADDRESS
07 City of Bellflower Aaron Peña (562) 804-1424
ext. 2286
[email protected]
PROJECT TITLE
Bellflower and Kingdom Causes Bellflower (KCB) Community Clean-up Project
Project Subtitle
Community-led litter cleanup
Employment or workforce training
Local partnerships with local organizations, nonprofits, or public agencies Cleanup of public rights-of-way or public spaces
Agency Contact
Name (Secondary)
Phone Number
(Secondary)
Email Address (Secondary)
Karla Pineda (562) 804-1424
ext. 2013
[email protected]
1.2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Instructions: Describe the proposed project, including the project location, key activities, goals and outcomes.
Indicate if the project includes (300-500 words):
• Community-led litter cleanup activities
• Employment or workforce training opportunities
• Local partnerships with local organizations, nonprofits, or public agencies • Cleanup of public rights-of-way or public spaces
The Bellflower and Kingdom Causes Bellflower (KCB) Community Clean-up Project will provide community‐led litter cleanup within the City of Bellflower, focusing on public rights‐of‐way and City-owned public recreational spaces. The project is designed to address the ongoing accumulation of litter and debris in visible, high -use areas, improving environmental conditions and the appearance of community spaces.
This project will be implemented in partnership with Kingdom Causes Bellflower’s social enterprise, Good Soils Industries (GSI). GSI helps men and women with employment barriers work their way out of poverty through paid employment, job acquisition and retention training, accountability, and financial planning. GSI operates a landscape services program that provides landscape maintenance for commercial and residential properties, and this project will operate out of that program.
For this project, a crew of five participants (one supervisor, one route manager, and three crew members) will work 8-hour days to clean and maintain four City-owned public recreational spaces over the one-year program period, covering approximately 120 workdays.
Key project activities include:
• Litter collection and debris removal in identified public spaces. • Yard and landscape maintenance tasks such as removing brush, clearing trash, mowing, raking, leaf blowing, hedging, and weeding, if applicable.
• Community beautification support in City-maintained areas. • Workforce development training for participating crew members.
As part of workforce development, each GSI participant will receive:
• Resume and interview preparation support
• Landscape technical training
• Safety training
• Ongoing case management and coaching
Cleanup activities will take place at the following City -owned public recreational sites:
• Riverview Park – 10510 Somerset Blvd. Bellflower, CA 90706 • Bellflower Bike Trail – (6271001902, 6271001903, 6271020900, 6271021900, 7106013902, 7109009903, 7109008901, and 7106013900)
• Caruthers Park North / Horse Trail (Equestrian Path) – 10500 E. Flora Vista St. Bellflower, CA 90706 • Byron Zinn Park – 10350 Foster Rd. Bellflower, CA 90706 The project addresses high-priority concerns identified in the City’s Community Satisfaction Survey (December 2024), including litter, neighborhood cleanup, and maintenance of public parks. Residents reported low satisfaction in these areas while ranking t hem as highly important.
The project aligns with the City’s March 2025 Strategic Plan by supporting:
• Goal #1: Enhance Public Safety – This initiative contributes to cleaner, safer public spaces and provides workforce opportunities that may support addressing homelessness challenges. KCB’s social enterprise’s GSI participants may benefit from job placement assistance. • Goal #4: Improve Quality of Life and Visual Appeal – The project increases maintenance capacity in public spaces, supports quality-focused upkeep of parks and public areas, and helps activate underutilized spaces for community use.
The crew will work consistently throughout the grant period, providing a reliable workforce to support litter abatement and site maintenance. By pairing cleanup activities with skill-building employment experience, this project addresses litter accumulation while providing opportunities for individuals with employment barriers.
1.3 PURPOSE AND NEED
Instructions: Explain the problem the project is addressing and why the project is needed in the community.
Describe the local conditions (e.g., litter, illegal dumping, blight, unemployment, etc.) and how this project supports commu nity revitalization and workforce development (300-500 words).
The Bellflower and Kingdom Causes Bellflower (KCB) Community Clean -up Project is a direct response to community-identified needs, addressing local conditions of blight at four parks and recreation sites as well as homelessness concerns through a workforce development program. As such, the project integrates the three core components of the Community Cleanup and Employment Pathways Grant Program: sustained litter abatement, workforce development for vulnerable populations, and community engagement.
Data from the City’s December 2024 Community Satisfaction Survey underscores a clear and urgent need.
Residents identified homelessness (87%) and community revitalization —specifically maintenance, trash, and graffiti—as their top concerns. Furthermore, the survey also revealed a significant gap between the importance of key services and their delivery satisfaction: garbage/recycling pickup (81% importance vs. 49% satisfaction), park maintenance (79% importance vs. 40% satisfaction), and neighborhood clean-up programs (72% importance vs. 28% satisfaction). This project directly addresses these priorities by deploying a dedicated crew to perform litter
collection, debris removal, and beautification in public rights -of-way and recreational spaces, including Riverview Park, the Bellflower Bike Trail, Caruthers Park North, and Byron Zinn Park. These concerns are particularly critical in Bellflower's disadvantaged and underserved communities, as identified by tools like the CalEnviroScreen.
This project executes key pillars of the City’s adopted 2025-27 Strategic Plan, advancing multiple Council goals that align with the Community Cleanup and Employment Pathways Grant Program. It supports Goal #1: Enhance Public Safety by creating cleaner, safer public spaces and providing workforce pathways for vulnerable populations, directly supporting objectives to address homelessness and build community resources. It touches on Goal #2: Increase Public Outreach, Education, and Connection by utilizing consistent cleanup activities in public spaces as a platform for community engagement and by telling the story of Bellflower's commitment to revitalization and workforce development through its partnership with Kingdom Causes Bellflower. It also fulfills Goal #4: Improve Quality of Life & Visual Appeal by increasing maintenance capacity for public areas, executing quality-focused upkeep, and helping to activate underutilized public spaces.
The project integrates a Workforce Development Strategy through a partnership with Kingdom Causes Bellflower’s social enterprise, Good Soils Industries (GSI). A crew of five participants will receive paid transitional employment, combined with resume support, landscape technical training, and ongoing case management. This aligns with the CCEP Grant Program’s emphasis on creating meaningful job training and pathways to self -sufficiency.
By combining litter abatement with workforce development, this project offers a comprehensive solution to beautify public spaces, fulfill community expectations, and provide tangible economic opportunities. This project demonstrates the City of Bellflower’s proactive response to addressing resident concerns about homelessness and revitalization with a single funding source, this grant, if awarded. The project is a context -specific commitment to provide workforce services to individuals performing litter abatement, resulting in the most efficient use of city resources. Objectives related to this project were identified as a need through a community survey (December 2024), then approved into a multi-year strategic plan (March 2025), and now (November 2025), the City is taking the concrete step of applying for these CalTrans funds to ensure the longevity of the existing partnership with the non - profit Kingdom Causes Bellflower.
1.4 MAP (Attachment A)
Instructions: Include any relevant project location maps, and associated data maps.
1.5 COST – Suggested Amount: $50,000 to $200,000
Instructions: Provide a detailed cost estimate for each activity below and submit with Attachment E.
Activity Estimated Cost Would applicant accept partial
funding for this activity?
Planning / Outreach $38,126.43 Yes
No
Project Implementation – Employment (based on historic
number of litter crews/staff) $145,422.24 Yes
No
Project Implementation – Cleanup (based on historic
quantities of litter collection) $32,962.37 Yes
No
Matching Funds – In-Kind Contribution $16,511.04 Yes
No
Other (Specify) $0 Yes
No
TOTAL $216,511.04 Yes
No
1.6 SCHEDULE
Note: Project implementation should be completed by April 1, 2027 and final reports/close-out completed by October 31, 2027.
Milestone Start Date End Date
Planning & Community Engagement Begins April 1, 2026 March 31, 2027 Hiring/Training Program Launch April 1, 2026 April 15, 2026 Cleanup Activities Begin April 15, 2026 April 30, 2026
Project Completion (By April 1, 2027) May 1, 2026 March 31, 2027 Project Close-out (By October 31, 2027) April 1, 2027 October 31, 2027
1.7 KNOWN CONCERNS OR RISKS
Known environmental concerns or risks
No
Yes
Known right-of-way concerns or risks
No
Yes
Instructions:
Please list any other known risks that could impact this project from being delivered on schedule, budget and scope (300-500 words).
Potential risks to project delivery include budget constraints if costs exceed projections or if only partial funding is awarded, which could limit the number of cleanup activities or workforce participants. The presence of encampments or unhoused individuals in certain areas may require careful navigation to maintain safety and respect for residents. These situations also intersect with the City’s goals to address homelessness and provide support to individuals experiencing housing instability. KCB has experience working with people experiencing homelessness, which strengthens their capacity to safely implement the project while supporting vulnerable populations.
Since all project sites are within City-owned rights-of-way, permits are not anticipated to be required. To address these risks, the City and KCB will maintain flexible scheduling to accommodate weather or other operational delays. With over 20 years of experience, KCB and Good Soil Industries are well-equipped to manage potential challenges during the project. On-the-job supervision and ongoing training will ensure that GSI program participants carry out cleanup and landscaping tasks safely and to a high standard. All participants will be provided with the necessary tools, equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to support effective work. The City, KCB, and Good Soils Industries program participants will maintain regular communication, conduct progress check-ins, and designate key leads to promptly address any issues.
2 EVALUATION CRITERIA ALIGNMENT
2.1 EVALUATION CRITERIA ALIGNMENT
Instructions:
Describe how the project addresses the following goals (include narrative under each section, 500-700 words):
• Litter Abatement:
(Describe the type, scale, and location of cleanup efforts.)
• Job Creation & Employment Pathways:
(Explain how the project provides direct employment, workforce training, and/or career pathway support for underemployed or underserved individuals.)
• Community Engagement & Partnership:
(Describe how local community groups, nonprofits, and/or workforce boards are engaged in project design or implementation.)
• Sustainability:
(Describe any strategies for sustaining outcomes beyond the grant term —e.g., partnerships, continued employment, long-term maintenance plans.)
Litter Abatement
Litter and blight in Bellflower are not merely aesthetic issues; they are symptoms of significant environmental injustice. With census tracts ranking in the 94th percentile in the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) for lack of green space, this project is a critical intervention to address inequitable access to clean, safe public environments.
This project directly tackles blight in targeted public rights -of-way and key recreational spaces within the City, which will directly respond to the community demand for better-maintained neighborhoods and parks. A dedicated crew will work 120 days over the grant period, performing systematic litter collection, debris removal, and supporting beautification tasks like brush clearing and weeding. The work addresses accumulated litter, wind - blown debris, and illegal dumping. By actively maintaining these public spaces, the project directly increases equitable access to clean, safe, and beautiful green spaces for all residents. This effort aligns with the City’s strategic commitment to improving quality of life and visual appeal, creating environments that fost er community pride and counteract the environmental burdens identified with the CEJST.
Job Creation & Workforce Development
The project will create direct employment and workforce development opportunities for Bellflower residents through Kingdom Causes Bellflower’s (KCB) social enterprise, Good Soil Industries (GSI). GSI provides transitional employment for “hard-to-hire neighbors,” including individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, those with criminal records, and single parents seeking stable employment. Participants receive paid on -the-job experience along with support to overcome employment barriers and build long-term career stability.
Through this grant, three crew members, one route manager, and one supervisor will work eight -hour days performing litter cleanup and landscape maintenance at City-owned public spaces. They will receive training in resume preparation, interview skills, landscape maintenance, and job retention, which may lead to permanent employment.
GSI’s approach aligns with the City of Bellflower’s Strategic Plan Goal #1 by addressing homelessness through workforce participation and job placement. The program offers a structured pathway for individuals to re -enter the workforce, reducing their dependency on financial assistance. This project also supports the objectives of this grant by fostering workforce development through partnerships with local organizations specializing in transitional employment and training.
Community Engagement and Partnership
This project is empowered by Bellflower's community anchor, Kingdom Causes Bellflower (KCB), an organization with a 20-year legacy of building coalitions for economic development. City is leveraging its deep trust and networks to ensure this initiative is community-owned.
KCB’s mission to ensure all neighbors have a place to “LIVE, WORK, and BELONG” aligns perfectly with the grant and City goals. The partnership is formalized through an existing maintenance agreement, ensuring seamless collaboration. KCB’s social enterprise, GSI, provides the operational structure, with one supervisor overseeing the project, one route manager leading the crew, and three crew members executing the work. KCB’s extensive network, including partnerships with the Gateway Cities Council of Governments and LA Homeless Services Authority, adds robustness and connectivity. This model ensures the project is a community -led initiative, not just a temporary cleanup. By engaging in a trusted local organization that values "people over program," the projec t
uplifts residents through improved environments and direct workforce opportunities, ensuring the initiative is deeply rooted in and benefits the community it serves.
Sustainability
The City of Bellflower is committed to sustaining the outcomes of this project beyond the grant term. The project addresses immediate litter abatement needs while building long -term workforce development and maintenance capacity. By supporting KCB’s employment and training program, the initiative strengthens the City’s partnership with a local organization that already provides on-call landscape services through Public Works. Upon completion of the grant, the City plans to explore incorporating the cleanup locations into KCB’s regular maintenance routes, providing a sustainable maintenance plan for continued care and workforce development in the City. The City’s 2025–2027 budget includes funding for Bike Trail maintenance and ongoing park landscaping.
Sustainability is also reflected in the City’s strategic goals and planning documents. The 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan and the December 2024 Community Satisfaction Survey identified homelessness, neighborhood cleanup, and park maintenance as top priorities. The City also plans to adopt the Clean California Community Pledge, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to beautification, litter prevention, and community engagement. By pairing environmental improvements with workforce participation, this project suppor ts both strategic priorities.
3 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
3.1 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INFLUENCE
Instructions (300-500 words):
• Identify how community input shaped the proposal.
• Describe planned engagement during implementation.
• Attach Public Engagement Plan (Attachment B).
Community input played a central role in shaping this proposal. The City of Bellflower’s December 2024 Community Satisfaction Survey highlighted that residents consider homelessness, crime, and neighborhood revitalization as the highest concerns. Within revitalization, maintenance, trash, and graffiti were ranked as the top priorities. While 81% of residents rated garbage, yard waste, and recyclables collection as highly important, satisfaction with these services was only 49%. Similarly, 79% rated maintenance of public parks as important, with a 40% satisfaction rate, and 72% ranked neighborhood cleanup programs as important, with just 28% satisfaction.
These high-importance, low-satisfaction results indicate a clear need for focused litter cleanup, park ma intenance, and community beautification, directly informing the scope of this project. These findings align with the 2025 –2029 Consolidated Plan, which identifies public improvements, public services, and neighborhood revitalization as key priorities for enhancing quality of life and equity in Bellflower’s disadvantaged communities.
Planned engagement during project implementation builds on existing City efforts and will leverage multiple outreach channels to reach the broadest audience. This includes participation at the weekly Bellflower Certified Farmer’s Markets. In addition, regular social media posts will share updates on litter cleanup, tips for litter prevention, and seasonal recycling information, and a community survey will gather resident feedback on project activities.
Most importantly, partnering with Kingdom Causes Bellflower (KCB) and Good Soil Industries (GSI), as well as other local organizations, provides the project with the opportunity to sustain long-term professional relationships with the City. These organizations also provide expertise, knowledge, resources, and networks to move the project forward. Additional details about planned engagement can be found in Attachment B.
4 UNDERSERVED or HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES
4.1 ANALYSIS
Is the project located in an underserved or historically excluded community?
Yes
No
partially located in an underserved community
What was the basis for determining if any part of project is located in or benefits an historically excluded community: (only check a box if in or partially in an historically excluded community)
a. Median Household Income
b. CalEnviroScreen 4.0
c. Free or Reduced-Price School Meals
d. Healthy Places Index
e. Native American Tribal Lands
f. Other
5 BENEFITS TO UNDERSERVED/HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED
BENEFITS TO UNDERSERVED or HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED COMMUNITY
Instructions: Select relevant benefit
• Job access
• Cleaner, safer streets or public spaces
• Increased civic pride and stewardship
• Connection to public resources and services
6 ATTACHMENTS
6.1 SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
Instructions – Attach any applicable documents as follows:
• Attachment A: Project / Data Maps
• Attachment B: Public Engagement Plan
• Attachment C: Existing Site Photos
• Attachment D: Letter of Support (will be provided by Caltrans following submission of the application) • Attachment E: Cost Breakdown & Estimate
o Break down expenses by category (e.g., staff time, equipment, materials, outreach, etc.) o Briefly explain the purpose of each cost to demonstrate alignment with project goals.