City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: August 1, 2023
From: Freddie Agyin, Director of Health and Environmental Control Department: Health and Environmental Control
Submitted by: Veronica Petrosyan, Deputy Director of Health and Environmental Control
Subject
Helping Hands Society of Los Angeles Fee Waiver
Recommendation
A. Find that granting a fee waiver for Helping Hands Society of Los Angeles (Helping Hands) is an appropriate use of public funds because Helping Hands is a local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the funds will support activities that are charitable and provide a substantial benefit to the public;
B. Waive annual Public Health Permit, Hazmat, Occupancy Permit, and Business License fees for Helping Hands for Fiscal Year 2023-24 and subsequent years; and C. Waive a one-time permit fee in the amount of $801.33 for the installation of warehouse storage racks at the Helping Hands facility.
Background
Helping Hands is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that serves the community by providing perishable and non-perishable food items, personal hygiene items, and clothing to small food pantries, other non-profit organizations, and charitable foundations for distribution to those in need. Helping Hands has requested that the City waive the annual fees for its operation at 2360 E. 51st Street.
Below is a breakdown of all fees included in Helping Hands’ waiver request:
Business License Renewal $3,354.00
Certificate of Occupancy $385.00
Health Permit $416.00
Hazmat $488.00
Hazmat Surcharge $84.00
Rack Storage Permit (one-time) $801.33
Total $5,528.33
In 2021, upon the non-profit’s opening in the City of Vernon, the Council waived the initial occupancy permit and business license fees for Helping Hands, as the presence and operation of the organization within Vernon boundaries is positive for the City. As a good neighbor, and as reflected by the City’s support for non-profit organizations through its Vernon CommmUNITY Fund, Vernon understands the significant positive impact that the services offered by entities like Helping Hands have on the Southeast area. Working with Helping Hands to sustain their operation here in Vernon is aligned with the City’s greater efforts to empower residents of the region who are generally underserved and underrepresented, and who greatly benefit from the offerings of our non-profit community partners.
The positive public benefit and community relations value accrual to the City by virtue of Helping Hands’ presence in the Vernon community is significant and justifies the proposed fee waiver. The organization has been an active participant in numerous City events and continues to foster relationships with the Vernon business community to increase donations.
Fiscal Impact
The 2023-24 fiscal impact is a decrease in revenue of $5,528.33 in the General Fund. For subsequent years, it is estimated that Helping Hands’ annual fees will not exceed $5,000.
Attachments
None.