CITY OF COMMERCEAGENDA REPORTCITY OF COMMERCEAGENDA REPORT
CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
Item No. Item No.
Item No.
Item No.
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: Authorization to submit an application to the California Strategic Growth Council under the Community Resilience Centers Grant Program for Bristow Park Community Center Meeting Date: September 22, 2026
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council will consider adopting a Resolution authorizing the submittal of an application to the California Strategic Growth Council for funding of up to $10 million under the Community Resilience Centers implementation grant program for Bristow Park Community Center.
BACKGROUND:
Administered by the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC), the Community Resilience Centers (CRC) program was created in 2021 to develop and build community resilience centers that mitigate the public health impacts of extreme heat and other emergency situations exacerbated by climate change. Round 2 of the CRC Program will fund Planning and Implementation Grants through the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (Proposition 4). Implementation Grants focus on capital projects including the construction of new facilities or retrofit improvements to existing facilities. A total funding pool of approximately $55 million is available for Round 2 of the program.
The CRC Program supports neighborhood-level resilience centers that provide climate-resilient infrastructure, emergency preparedness and response functions, and year-round community services and programming. Implementation Grants will range from $1 million to $10 million per project. Eligible projects must incorporate a minimum of four CRC resilience strategies that meet applicable program requirements related to facility readiness, community engagement, emergency preparedness, collaborative governance, and long-term operations.
Applications are due September 25, 2026 with awards anticipated to be announced Spring 2027.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Commerce is interested in applying for up to $10 million of CRC Round 2 Implementation Grant funding to improve the existing Bristow Park Community Center and enhance the facility’s ability to support community readiness during climate emergencies.
The proposed project is a comprehensive renovation, expansion, and site improvement of the City-owned facility, transforming an aging facility built in 1986 into a Community Resilience Center serving one of Commerce's most underserved neighborhoods. The renovation addresses documented deficiencies — a needed seismic retrofit and abatement of legacy hazardous materials — so the building can safely serve as the community's gathering point during extreme heat events, poor air quality days, and emergencies, providing cooling, clean air, device charging, food and water distribution, and shelter. Exterior improvements include a standalone canopy structure dividing the building into two shaded wings, a new splash pad, and upgraded landscape and hardscape areas. Interior improvements include full renovation of all existing spaces and reconfiguration into new programmatic spaces: a library with dedicated study room and makerspace, boxing room, dance room, game room, pre-school room, multipurpose room, kitchen, break room, and fully accessible restrooms including a children's restroom. Year-round, the facility will offer library services, youth and senior programming, and community classes; during emergencies it will operate as a cooling/clean air center and shelter consistent with the City's existing practice of activating facilities at 95°F. The total project cost is estimated at $15,280,000 which includes mobilization, demolition and abatement, sitework, concrete, grading, landscaping, concrete, masonry, structural steel, roofing, panels, stucco, doors, frames, hardware, interior finishes and fittings, plumbing, HVAC, mechanical, fire protection, electrical, solar, technology, security, equipment, furnishings, design engineering, permits, contingency, construction management, inspection and material testing, and escalation.
CRC Implementation Grant applications must include a lead applicant and at least two partners with one being a community-based organization (CBO). A CBO is defined as a public or private non-profit organization of demonstrated effectiveness that is representative of a community or significant segments of a community and provides educational or related services to individuals in the community. The CBO must be funded by the CRC Implementation Grant.
Project partners should be located in, serve, and represent the needs of the community within the project area. City staff has considered 10 potential partnerships and analyzed how they can contribute to the project, provide community programs and services, and improve the application’s competitiveness by achieving Implementation Grant Strategies. City staff met with the organizations who expressed interest in a partnership and desires to utilize GRID Alternatives as the designated CBO to strengthen the application and project by providing educational programming, EV charger installation, and other scope items as relevant to their expertise. GRID Alternatives is a nonprofit CBO expanding access to clean energy, workforce development, and climate solutions. GRID Alternatives has experience with CRC awarded projects, expertise in design-build installation of solar-battery backup systems, expertise in workforce training programs, and can offer community programming in support of the Community Resilience Center’s long term operations. GRID’s integrated workforce training and clean energy installation capabilities are both priority requirements of the CRC Program.
Below is a summary of the partnership analysis:
Potential Partner
Project Involvement or Year-Round Programming
Emergency Response Activities
CRC Strategies Achieved
GRID Alternatives (CBO)
-Install EV chargers or solar / battery backup system at BPCC -Host classes related to clean energy and climate solutions -Promote people-first solutions through EV incentives, EV charging installations, and solar installations on single and multi-family homes -Support solar and battery backup with as needed services Energy Resilience
Workforce Development, Education, Training, and Economic Resilience American Red Cross
-Host blood drives at BPCC
-Host classes and events at BPCC
-Provide disaster relief and response services
Air Quality and Public Health
Emergency Preparedness and Critical Communications
East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice (CBO)
-Host trainings or workshops at BPCC
-Connect community to BPCC services
Workforce Development, Education, Training, and Economic Resilience Montebello Unified School District
-Mutual use of fields/facilities for events
-Class visits from Commerce students
-Host story time at schools
-Connect students, families, and faculty to BPCC
-Offer fields/facilities to accommodate overflow of persons in need Air Quality and Public Health
Emergency Preparedness and Critical Communications
Workforce Development, Education, Training, and Economic Resilience East Los Angeles Women’s Center
-Host classes and events at BPCC
-Develop and promote educational awareness campaign
-Connect community to BPCC services
Air Quality and Public Health
County of Los Angeles
-Host classes, health screenings, or parenting classes
-Host YMCA head start
-Implement Mutual Aid Agreement
-Provide emergency response services
Air Quality and Public Health
Emergency Preparedness and Critical Communications
AltaMed
-Host events, educational workshops, or health screenings at BPCC -Develop and promote health education campaign
-Offer medical services to injured at BPCC
-Connect community to BPCC services
Air Quality and Public Health
Penny Lane Centers
-Host classes or events at BPCC
-Host teen programs at BP Library
-Connect community to BPCC services
Emergency Preparedness and Critical Communications
Chamber of Commerce
-Host business/financial education workshops at BPCC
-Host business networking events at BPCC
-Gather resources and donations
-Connect community to BPCC services
Emergency Preparedness and Critical Communications
TELACU Housing
-Meal distribution to senior housing
-Provide shelter for residents
Nature-based Solutions and Food Security
The CRC Program requires a Collaborative Governance Structure (CGS) to help form local, diverse partnerships that foster long-term investment in the community. A Collaborative Governance Agreement, inclusive of the City, partners, and community residents, will be signed by all parties and describe the governance, organization, and financial relationships of the CGS. Members of the CGS should have an active role in the project and be involved in advising the decision-making process.
City staff, in coordination with a grant writing consultant, are currently drafting an application to pursue Implementation Grant funding. As part of the application requirements, a resolution must be approved by the local jurisdiction’s governing body authorizing submission of the application, receipt of program funds, and execution of related documents and activities if awarded.
ALTERNATIVES:
Approve staff recommendation.
Reject staff recommendation.
Provide further direction to staff.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total project cost for the proposed Bristow Park Community Center is estimated at $15,280,000 including contingencies, construction management and inspection, and material testing. The maximum grant request is $10,000,000. If awarded the CRC grant, additional funding will need to be appropriated to cover the total Project cost, as well as any future operating and maintenance costs associated with the facility.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC GOALS
This agenda item relates to the 2016 Strategic Plan, Infrastructure and Facilities:
Guiding Principle 4: Develop and invest in infrastructure and beautification projects that support economic growth.
Approved and Recommended by: Andy Ramirez, Interim Director of Public Works Adolfo Marquez, Director of Parks and Recreation
Sonia Bautista, Director of Library
Fiscal Impact reviewed by: Alvaro Castellon, Director of Finance Approved as to form by: Noel Tapia, City Attorney
Respectfully submitted: Ernie Hernandez, City Manager ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution