TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Philippe Eskandar, City Manager
BY: Amber Shah, Parks & Public Works Director/City Engineer DATE: February 12, 2025
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION R-25-04 AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF PROPOSITION 68 PER CAPITA GRANT
FUNDS TO THE CITY OF ALHAMBRA
STRATEGIC PLAN CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Fiscally Responsible and Transparent City Government
BACKGROUND
In 2018, California voters passed the Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018 (also known as Proposition 68). Part of Proposition 68 is the Per Capita Grant program, a non-competitive grant program that provides funds to every city in the State of California. These funds may be used for local park rehabilitation, creation, and improvements. After multiple of years of discussion with the State and working to identify a suitable location, the City was unable to identify a project/location that would sufficiently meet the grant’s requirements. As such, the City is recommending authorizing the transfer of these funds to the City of Alhambra.
DISCUSSION
At its November 10, 2021, meeting, the City Council approved Resolution R21-25 approving staff to apply for the Proposition 68 grant. Due to the relatively small size of the City and limited parkland, few potential sites and projects would be eligible to receive Proposition 68 funds. At the time, an official project had not been identified, although staff had tentatively begun looking into potentially using the funds for a project on the northwest corner of Huntington Drive/San Marino Ave (adjacent to the bus shelter). However, the State indicated that the site would not be eligible for a Proposition 68 Gretchen Shepherd Romey, Mayor
Tony Chou, Vice Mayor
Hunter Chang, Council Member
John Chou, Council Member
Calvin Lo, Council Member
project, as the land was considered right-of-way rather than a unique parcel.
This same issue would apply to City-owned landscaped medians. Given the City’s limited parkland and some of the conditions that accompany the use of these funds at Lacy Park, it has been determined that the City does not have a specific project that could utilize these funds. After communicating this with the State, an alternative option for the City is to transfer the allocated funds ($186,097) to another agency for their use. Staff reached out to neighboring jurisdictions and was able to find a recipient with projects eligible for use of the funds in the City of Alhambra. As such, it is recommended that the City authorize the transfer of its funds to the City of Alhambra by approving Resolution R-25-04.
Of note, unlike other grant funds the City has sold or transferred to other agencies in the past, the City of San Marino will not be receiving any funding in return for this transfer. Proposition 68 does not have a secondary market and the rules that govern it do not allow for the funds to be sold. If they are not used or transferred to another agency, they are returned to the County pool to be divided amongst other agencies.
The City of Alhambra has indicated that they will be using the funding to support improvements to the Joslyn Adult Recreation Center. The Joslyn Center offers an array of activities and resources for the community including seminars, counseling, senior outings, special events, classes, and legal support. Among Joslyn’s most essential services is the Senior Nutrition Program, which provides hot meals on site Monday through Friday or home delivered meals at no cost to home-bound seniors age 60 or older. In addition, in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging, and through funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Community Development Block Grant Program, the City of Alhambra provides a Senior Case Management Program, which includes a comprehensive client care plan and monthly contacts to monitor and modify senior services such as telephone reassurance, companionship programs, personal care, respite, transportation, assistive equipment, homemaker, and housing referrals. An estimated 40,000 seniors participate in Joslyn’s overall activities. As one of the closest senior centers to the City of San Marino, it is anticipated that improvements to the Joslyn Center will also serve to benefit the residents from San Marino who utilize the facility.
FISCAL IMPACT & PROCUREMENT REVIEW
The allotted amount for the City’s Per Capita Grant Fund is $186,097. This amount will be reduced to $0 upon passage of the Resolution and transfer of the funds.
Procurement review is not applicable.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's office has reviewed and approved as to form.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve Resolution No. R-25-04 authorizing the transfer of $186,097 of the City’s Proposition 68 Per Capita Grant Funds under the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 to the City of Alhambra. If the Council concurs with staff’s recommendation, the appropriate motion would be:
“I move to approve Resolution No. R-25-04 authorizing the transfer of $186,097 of the City’s Proposition 68 Per Capita Grant Funds under the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018 to the City of Alhambra.”
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution R-25-04