Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
ENDORSE THE SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION FOR $250,000 TO TESORO CORPORATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND INSTALLATION OF AN INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND FOR DOLPHIN PARK AND ALLOW NAMING RIGHTS TO TESORO CORPORATION FOR THIS PROJECT (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
Via the Carson Community Foundation, a grant application in the amount of $250,000.00 will be submitted to the Tesoro Corporation’s charitable foundation. The funds will be used to design, develop and construct an Inclusive Playground at Dolphin Park. As a condition of the grant award, Tesoro Corporation is requesting naming rights to the playground. Tonight, the City Council is asked to consider supporting the submittal of the grant, as well as authorizing the naming rights to the Tesoro Corporation. The grant application is due on November 1, 2016.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE the following actions:
1. ENDORSE the submittal of the grant application for $250,000 to the Tesoro Corporation Charitable Foundation to design, develop and construct an Inclusive Playground at Dolphin Park.
2. Should the City’s grant application be approved, ADD this project to the Five- Year Capital Project Plan.
3. ALLOW Tesoro Corporation to have naming rights to the Inclusive Playground at Dolphin Park.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
1. DO NOT ENDORSE the grant application for the Inclusive Playground at Dolphin Park. Do not add this project to the five year capital project plan.
2. DO NOT ALLOW naming rights to Tesoro Corporation.
3. PROVIDE direction to staff regarding the project and naming rights.
IV. BACKGROUND
The City Council formed a Community Foundation earlier this year to provide opportunities for businesses and individuals to support community events and projects. Many communities have formed these non-profit entities in order to provide similar tax deductions to businesses and individuals when they donate to other non-profit community organizations. The Carson Community Foundation has already started to receive donations and the Tesoro Corporation donation would be the largest donation received to date.
Tesoro Corporation invited the Carson Community Foundation to apply for a grant through their charitable foundation. The grant fulfills the company’s desire to construct a park amenity that would improve the environment, increase public safety, and/or assist an underserved population. The project would also provide Tesoro the opportunity to install its name on a park feature.
The Interim-Community Services Director met on multiple occasions with representatives of the Tesoro Corporation to discuss and identify potential projects that would not exceed $250,000.00 in cost. High on the list was an Inclusive Playground to service the community’s youth with disabilities.
According to the 2010 Census, there are 1620 children under the age of 18 with disabilities in Carson. As it currently stands, residents must travel outside the City to utilize playgrounds that meet the needs of this population. This project will fill this gap in the City’s park amenities.
Staff contacted a representative from Shane’s Inspiration, a non-profit organization that provides assistance in the design and development of Inclusive Playgrounds, for assistance. The representative suggested a location that has easy accessibility to playground areas, ADA upgraded restrooms, and parking for small buses to accommodate schools who may bring children to the park. This, along with Tesoro’s desire to place the project in close proximity to the Tesoro Refinery, made Dolphin Park the ideal location. The playground will meet all ADA standards and does not require that the City assign any staff to monitor the playground.
The Carson Community Foundation would provide funding the City to pay for the project. If approved by the City Council, staff will apply the Carson Community Foundation for the necessary funds. The City would take the lead in the design and construction of the Inclusive Playground project which will include review by the Parks and Recreation Commission and approval by the City Council. Members of the community will have an opportunity to provide input as well.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact to apply for the grant. If awarded, the grant will cover the cost of design, construction, and installation of the Inclusive Playground for Dolphin Park; and staff will return with a budget amendment resolution to capture the revenue and offsetting expenditure.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Tesoro Charitable Contribution Application (draft). (pgs. 4-6)
Prepared by: Ralph Aranda, Interim-Community Services Manager