CC SR 20240116 F - Neighborhood Beautification Grants
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 01/16/2024
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to award Neighborhood Beautification Grants.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Approve awarding five grants for the Neighborhood Beautification Grant Program
Cycle 21, totaling $20,883.
FISCAL IMPACT: This fiscal impact of the recommended action is $20,883. The
adopted Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget includes $25,000 for this
program from the General Fund.
Amount Budgeted: $25,000
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): 101-400-3180-5202
(General Fund – Street Landscape Maint. – Neighborhood Beautification) VR
ORIGINATED BY: Vanessa Hevener, Project Manager
REVIEWED BY: Ramzi Awwad, Director of Public Works
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. December 7, 2021 City Council Staff Report
B. City Council Policy No. 57 (Page B-1)
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
The City’s Neighborhood Beautification Grant (NBG) Program began in 1989, conducting
19 cycles of awards until it was placed on hiatus in 2010 to address concerns with the
program related to optimal distribution of grant funds among the community, as well as
bringing the program into compliance with the City’s purchasing guidelines. In 2012, the
program was suspended by the then-City Council.
On December 7, 2021, the City Council authorized the reintroduction of the NBG Program
and adopted City Council Policy No. 57 that remedies concerns raised with the previous
eligibility criteria and iterations (Attachments A and B).
1
In June 2022, the City Council awarded $18,270 in grants to five homeowners
associations and/or neighborhoods.
Per the reconstituted program timeline, Staff began accepting applications for the next
cycle of grant awards on July 3, 2023. Staff received five (5) applications by the August
31, 2023 deadline from the following Homeowner’s Associations/Neighborhoods:
• Grandview Estates
• Grandview Silver Spur
• Peninsula Pointe
• Ridgegate East
• Whitefox
As per the procedures outlined in the NBG Program and City Council Policy No. 57
(Attachment B), Staff from the Public Works Department, Community Development
Department, and City Manager’s Office scored the applications based on the following
rubric, with scores averaged across the three members of the panel:
Table 1- Neighborhood Beautification Grant Program Scoring Rubric
Criteria Detail Max Weight
Community
Benefit
• Provides a community benefit by improving the
neighborhood’s appearance (20 points)
• Project is visible by the general public: on, at the
intersection of, or in the general vicinity of arterials
or collector streets so that they provide
community-wide and general public benefit (25
points)
45 points
Applicant
Participation
• Demonstration of applicant’s commitment to long -
term and on-going maintenance plan (20 points)
• Shows evidence of broad support for project, as
appropriate for scale and scope (10 points)
• Addresses a need identified in the community and
provides a lasting impact/solution (5 points)
35 points
Design
Standards
• Architectural compatibility with surrounding area
(10 points)
• Proposed project considers color, height,
camouflage, effective drought tolerant
landscaping with a colorful palette when feasible
(10 points)
20 points
BONUS
POINTS
• First-time applicant (10 points)
• Creative or innovative solution to a need in the
community (5 points)
15 points
2
The Table below illustrates the average score in each major category for each of the
applicants.
Table 2- Neighborhood Beautification Grant Program Application Scores
Neighborhood
Name
Community
Benefit
(45 points)
Applicant
Participation
(35 points)
Design
Standards
(20 points)
Total
(100
points)
Grant
Request
Recommended
Award
Grandview
Estates 43.0 35.0 18.8 96.8 $5,000 $5,000
Grandview
Silver Spur 39.3 35.0 20.0 94.3 $2,999 $2,999
Peninsula
Pointe 28.0 26.8 15.0 69.8 $5,000 $5,000
Ridgegate
East 39.3 30.0 18.8 88.0 $5,000 $5,000
Whitefox 41.8 32.5 20.0 94.3 $2,883 $2,883
Based on Table 2 above, all five applications met the minimum qualification requirements
of the program, including scoring a minimum of 60 points out of a possible 100. The five
qualifying applications comprise a total request of $20,883, which is within t he adopted
budget of $25,000. This amount is 50% of the total project estimated cost because the
program requires a 50% match from the applicant. Staff recommends awarding grants to
all five applications submitted.
Applicants will be notified of their award status by Staff on J anuary 18, 2024. Awardees
will be authorized to proceed with acquiring services and obtaining any necessary permits
for their projects. Projects must be completed within one year of the award. Once projects
are completed, Staff inspects project completion and proof of purchase for all materials
and services. Reimbursements will be made for up to the authorized grant request
amount but not exceeding 50% of the total project costs.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council award Neighborhood Beautification Grants to the five
qualified applicants.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative action s are available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Reject one or all of the grant applications and direct staff to pursue
readvertisement for consideration of other application requests.
2. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
3
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
NUMBER: 57
DATE ADOPTED/AMENDED: 12/07/2021
SUBJECT: Neighborhood Beautification Grant Program
POLICY:
It shall be the policy of the City Council to encourage neighborhoods to collaboratively
engage in projects which improve neighborhood appearances of property adjacent to and
visible from the public roadway (arterial or collector streets as defined in the General Plan
– Circulation Element).
From time to time, the City Council may provide matching funds (Neighborhood
Beautification Grant Program funds) to assist neighborhoods throughout the City to
enhance property visible from the public roadway, that is, located on, at the intersection
of, or in the general vicinity of arterial streets:
• Palos Verdes Drive South
• Palos Verdes Drive East
• Palos Verdes Drive West
• Hawthorne Boulevard
• Miraleste Drive
• Crest Road (West)
• Crest Road (East)
• Silver Spur Road
• Western Avenue
• Crenshaw Boulevard
And collector streets:
• Indian Peak Road
• Ridgegate Drive
• Crest Road
• Granvia Altamira
• Crestridge Road
• Highridge Road
• Montemalaga Drive.
B-1
The intent of these funds is to provide equitable assistance in creating these projects. All
fees associated with City permits for approved projects receiving matching funds shall be
waived.
Neighborhoods which benefit from Neighborhood Beautification Grant Program funds
must:
• Consist of at least three households, or represent a formal homeowners
association, or represent a multifamily complex represented by a property
management or other entity.
• Match at least 50% of the amount of the grant. Awards shall be granted in the form
of a reimbursement once a project is completed. The neighborhood is solely
responsible for all equipment, service, installation, maintenance, and repair costs.
• The project must be visible from a public roadway (arterial or collector streets as
defined in the General Plan – Circulation Element), as defined in the application
materials, and the project must physically improve the neighborhood.
• Solicit, at a minimum of two, bids or quotes for the proposed project and conduct
all necessary due diligence.
• Comply with all state and local laws, City ordinances, and City policies. An
applicant must apply for and receive all necessary state/local permits.
• Contractor must certify that they pay prevailing wages and must hold a City
business license.
• Submit an “Indemnification and Hold Harmless” agreement, in a form satisfactory
to the City Attorney.
• Submit a Project Application, Project Cost Worksheet, and Attestation of
Community Consensus as part of the application packet. Submit proof of purchase
or materials and supplies and proof of project completion.
The Neighborhood Beautification Grant Program shall align with the following timeline:
• Application deadline is at least three months after program is announced.
• Staff obtains clarification from applications as needed and conductions initial site
inspections within three weeks from application deadline.
• Within one month, Staff will score applications and make funding
recommendations to be evaluated by the City Council. Applicants shall be notified
of their status the day after the City Council’s decision.
• Applicants must complete their project within 12 months from the date of
notification.
Neighborhood Beautification Grant Program funds shall be awarded based on ranked
order determined from an established rubric. If multiple neighborhoods have the same
score, a random draw shall be used to determine their order. Once a neighborhood has
been awarded a grant, they are ineligible to apply for three years after project completion.
B-2
BACKGROUND:
In 1989, the City launched the Neighborhood Beautification Grants Program (NBG
Program) with recycling rebate monies. Over nearly two decades, the NBG Program
provided 19 cycles of grant funds to neighborhood groups in the City. In 2010, the NBG
Program was placed on hiatus to address compliance with State law and the City’s
purchasing guidelines. In 2012, the NBG Program was suspended in favor of utilizing the
funds to reduce residential waste fees. In 2021, the NBG Program was relaunched with
General Fund monies, addressing the concerns of the previous cycles. In subsequent
years, the City Council may decide during the budget process whether to fund the NBG
Program, by how much, and the funding source, if any, or to continue, suspend or modify
the NBG Program.
B-3