COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

Office of Housing

DATE:

August 6, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

August 20, 2002

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Maureen Borland, Director, Human Services Agency

Steve Cervantes, Director, Office of Housing

SUBJECT:

Amendment to Agreements with the City of East Palo Alto to transfer $611,582.58 between the Bell Street Community Center Project and the Park Improvements Project

Recommendation

1. Adopt a Resolution:

a.

Authorizing the execution of a Second Amendment to Agreement with the City of East Palo Alto to provide an additional $611,582.58 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to assist with the development and improvements to Jack Farrell and Martin Luther King, Jr. Parks; and

b.

Authorizing the execution of a Sixth Amendment to Agreement with the City of East Palo Alto reducing the scope of the Bell Street Community Center project by $611,582.58

2. Approve the transfer of $611,582.58 from the Bell Street Community Center to the Park Improvements Project.

Background

In 1998 the County entered into an Agreement with the City of East Palo Alto to provide CDBG funds to assist with renovation and development of new park improvements at Jack Farrell Park and Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. The Agreement was Amended in August 2000, to add additional CDBG funding and expand the scope of the work. The total CDBG funds provided under the Agreement as Amended was $1,205,000.

In 1994 the County entered into an Agreement with the City of East Palo Alto to provide CDBG funds to assist with the development of the Bell Street Community Center complex. The first phase of the project was the replacement of the deteriorated swimming pool. Over the years the Agreement has been Amended five times to expand scope of work and add additional CDBG funds to cover a new pool building, accessory structures, parking improvements, renovation of the existing gymnasium and design of a new main community center building. The total CDBG funds provided under the Agreement as Amended was $2,073,122.

Discussion

The City of East Palo Alto has negotiated with the YMCA to take over the operation of the Bell Street Community Center complex. The YMCA will be responsible for additional fund raising to construct the main community center building and adjacent improvements. Part of the original plans for the project called for the purchase and demolition of a single family residence at the corner of Bell Street and Euclid Avenue to square off the property. The City has been unable to negotiate an acceptable purchase price for the house and has elected to eliminate this from the improvement plan since the area was only intended for additional parking and landscaping. The City wishes to transfer the $611,582.58 originally intended for the purchase and demolition of the house and construction of parking and landscaping in that area to the expansion of work at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park to complete the new multi-purpose fields and play area.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved this Agreement as to form. Risk management has reviewed and approved the insurance.

Vision Alignment

This action keeps the commitment to: Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment and goal number 15: Residents have nearby access to green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities. The action contributes to this commitment and goal by the further expansion of this major city park to include ball fields, multi-purpose fields, play areas and walking paths to serve all generations of citizens of East Palo Alto.

Fiscal Impact

The new contract total for the second Amendment to the Park Improvements contract is $1,816,582.58, and the new contract total for the sixth Amendment to the Community Center contract is $1,461,539.42.

These two Amendments have no fiscal impact on the County. They merely transfer existing funding commitments from one East Palo Alto project to another with no net increase in funding. There have been no General Funds involved in these projects.