City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: November 5, 2024
From: Freddie Agyin, Director of Health and Environmental Control Department: Health and Environmental Control
Submitted by: Dulce Gonzalez, Management Analyst
Subject
Union Rescue Mission Fee Waiver
Recommendation
A. Find that granting a fee waiver for the Union Rescue Mission (URM) is an appropriate use of public funds because URM is a local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization assisting the community, and the funds will support activities that are charitable and provide a substantial benefit to the public; and
B. Waive annual Business License, Hazmat Permit, and Public Health Permit fees for URM for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025 and subsequent years.
Background
URM was founded in 1891 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit that serves the community by helping those experiencing homelessness in the County of Los Angeles. URM provides a comprehensive array of emergency and long-term services, including food, clothing, medical and dental care, and recovery programs. In FY 2023, URM served over 734,000 meals and assisted over 9,000 people in overcoming hardships and beginning productive lives in the local communities. URM’s donation program accumulates over 475,000 donated items annually to support their shelters and recovery programs.
URM has secured a warehouse in Vernon and has requested that the City waive the annual fees for their operations at 4160 Bandini Blvd. Establishing a dedicated warehouse in Vernon provides a critical space to store donated items and significantly enhances URM's capacity to acquire and promptly distribute donated goods to its shelters and rehabilitation centers. Working with URM to sustain their warehouse operation aligns with the City’s significant efforts to empower underserved and underrepresented community members, who greatly benefit from the offerings of our non-profit community partners.
Below is a breakdown of all fees included in URM’s waiver request:
Category Fee
Business License Application $50.00
Pro-Rated Annual Business License and State Tax $3,546.10 Annual Public Health Permit $488.00
Annual Hazardous Materials Permit $416.00
Total $4,500.10
Vernon is committed to fostering a thriving community and supporting the valuable contributions of local non-profit organizations. As a food recovery organization managing donations and distributions, URM provides essential services to the Southeast Los Angeles community that align with the City’s sustainability efforts to implement Senate Bill 1383.
Granting a waiver of the fees noted above would support URM’s efforts to expand their operations, enhance their public welfare programs, strengthen community relations, and continue their positive impact.
Fiscal Impact
The 2024-2025 fiscal impact is a decrease in revenue of $4,500.10 in the General Fund. For subsequent years, it is estimated that URM’s subsequent annual fees will be approximately $8,012.20 as the business license fee will no longer be pro-rated.
Attachments
None.