CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: January 17, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Charles A. Montoya, City Manager
Lydie Gutfeld, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Department: Parks, Recreation, & Community Services
Subject: Accept Grant Award for Lytle Creek Park and
Community Center Renovations
Recommendation:
Adopt Resolution No. 2024-017 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California:
1. Accepting a grant award in the amount of $1,000,000 from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for renovations to Lytle Creek Park and Community Center.
2. Authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to conduct all negotiations, signings, and submittal of all necessary documents to receive the grant award.
3. Authorizing the Director of Finance and Management Services to amend the FY2023/24 Budget to appropriate $1,000,000 in grant funding for the Lytle Creek Park and Community Center Renovation projects.
Executive Summary
Accept grant funding in the amount of $1,000,000 from San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for Lytle Creek Park and Community Center renovation projects in FY 2023/24.
Project renovations will include repairs and upgrades to the park restrooms and gazebo shelter as well as the community center flooring, interior painting, and new furniture.
Background
In November 2023, the City of San Bernardino Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department was invited to submit a proposal for grant funds by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Staff assessed the needs of various parks and facility locations and realized the funding could effectively address the needs at Lytle Creek Park and Community Center.
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians maintains a philanthropic giving arm that provides grant support directed to non-profit and public organizations operating in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, as well as Las Vegas. The City has a long-standing partnership with San Manuel where oftentimes city projects are awarded grant funds that closely align with their pillars of giving: Inspiring Our Future through Education, Preserving Cultural Traditions & Empowering Indian Country, Empowering Lives, and Reinforcing Safe and Resilient Communities.
Discussion
The primary objective of the proposed project is to focus on the high-priority communities and the need for improvements to city parks. Improvements to Lytle Creek Park and Community Center in particular will allow engagement emphasized in recreation centers and surrounding park spaces. With upgraded indoor and outdoor amenities, Lytle Creek Park users will have a more welcoming community center in which programs will be introduced for all ages to participate. Lytle creek has seen a major uptick in drop-in attendance (up 40% since December 2022) due to small improvements completed inside the community center. With additional upgrades possible with this funding, the community center will re-engage all ages to come inside and improve quality of life through our programs and services.
Lytle Creek Park, a cherished space for community gatherings and activities, faces several challenges that hinder its full potential. The public restroom, a vital amenity, has been closed due to damage caused by transients and criminal activities. The Gazebo/picnic shelter, a popular outdoor space, requires essential upgrades such as new posts, an improved roof, and modern lighting options to maximize its utility for various events. Community Center Renovations include new seating for the game room, upgraded flooring with a durable finish, repainting the entire building for a fresh and inviting atmosphere, replacing old and damaged ceiling tiles, and purchasing a wall partition for effective space management. Additionally, the project will invest in new furniture throughout the facility, including tables, chairs, and blinds for the windows. The installation of above-door fans will mitigate the issue of flies entering through the automatic doors, which is a much-needed improvement to address the nuisance and ensure a clean environment.
The proposed renovations at Lytle Creek Community Center and Park represent a comprehensive approach to creating a space that not only meets the immediate needs of the community but also fosters a sense of belonging and well-being for all residents.
By addressing both outdoor and indoor elements, we aim to transform Lytle Creek into a vibrant and inclusive hub for recreational, educational, and community-building activities. While an exact timeline or detail of renovation details is not available at this time, staff is committed to providing an update to the Mayor and City Council in the next three months that will include prioritized needs for repair and estimated timelines for completion.
2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
This project is consistent with the Key Target No. 2: Focused, Aligned Leadership and Unified Community through the opportunity to improve city parks, increase community engagement and involvement in city-run recreation activities, and Key Target No. 3:
Improved Quality of Life through encouraging active lifestyles and crime reduction through built environment and increased community visibility.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact to the general fund for this project. The budget for fiscal year 2023/24 shall be amended to recognize $1,000,000 from San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in grant funding for the Lytle Creek Park and Community Center Renovation Project.
Conclusion
Adopt Resolution No. 2024-017 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California:
1. Accepting a grant award in the amount of $1,000,000 from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for renovations to Lytle Creek Park and Community Center.
2. Authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to conduct all negotiations, signings, and submittal of all necessary documents to receive the grant award.
3. Authorizing the Director of Finance and Management Services to amend the FY2023/24 Budget to appropriate $1,000,000 in grant funding for the Lytle Creek Park and Community Center Renovation projects.
Attachments
Attachment 1 – Resolution No. 2024-017 Lytle Creek Park and Community Center Renovation Project Award
Attachment 2 – Lytle Creek – Ward 3 Funding Proposal November 2023 Attachment 3 – San Bernardino Grant Agreement – Lytle Creek CC Park Ward:
Third Ward
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
N/A