STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
NB 1
1/14/2025
TN
Date: January 14, 2025
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From: Sydney Yeseta, Manager – Economic Development
Larissa De La Cruz, Assistant City Manager
Subject: Vandalism Repair & Restore Grant Program Overview and Implementation Recommendations:
1. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to finalize and execute necessary agreements up to $2,500 between the City of Lancaster and Vandalism Repair & Restore Grant Program recipients.
2. Appropriate $100,000 to account 10124000.5312 from General Fund balance to cover the program expenditures.
3. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute all related documents.
G.C. Section 84308: No
Fiscal Impact:
The Vandalism Repair & Restore Grant program will be funded by the General Fund. To ensure the success and sustainability of this initiative, the City of Lancaster will allocate $100,000 from the General Fund for the program in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget.
Background:
The City of Lancaster recognizes the financial burden vandalism places on small businesses. To support the local business community, the Vandalism Repair & Restore Grant Program is being proposed. This initiative provides financial relief for repair costs resulting from vandalism that are not fully covered by insurance.
Program Overview:
Eligible businesses may apply for funding to cover repair costs for vandalism related damage such 1 8
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as broken windows, damaged doors and locks, graffiti removal and other related repairs.
Businesses can receive grants of up to $2,500 per vandalism event, with a maximum of two events per calendar year (January 2025 – December 2025).
In order to receive funds, businesses must provide proof of vandalism event occurring on or after January 1, 2025 and must submit a receipt for repairs and police report. Businesses will be required to meet with the Lancaster Police Department’s Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) team for a property assessment. Program recipients are required to stay in business in the City of Lancaster for at least one year after receiving grant funds.
Business Qualifications:
To qualify for the program, businesses must:
Have a brick-and-mortar location within the City of Lancaster city limits. Hold an active and valid City of Lancaster business license. Have less than $3.5 million in yearly gross revenue.
Be independently owned and operated. Some franchises are eligible. Be currently open and active for business.
Be in good standing with the City of Lancaster’s Community Preservation division, Lancaster Police Department, and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Departments (for example, no open code enforcement cases, liens, violations, or delinquent City bills).
The following business types are ineligible to receive program funds: smoke shops/cigarette stores, hookah lounges, pawn shops, payday lenders, liquor stores, adult entertainment enterprises, massage establishments, gambling establishments, hotel and motel establishments, cannabis related businesses, and home based businesses.
Conclusion:
The Vandalism Repair & Restore Grant Program reflects Lancaster’s commitment to supporting its local business community by alleviating the financial challenges caused by vandalism. By providing financial relief and collaborating with the Lancaster Police Department, the program not only helps businesses recover, but further strengthens public safety and economic resilience, ensuring long-term success for Lancaster’s local businesses.
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