SR-306-001-04
F:hsd/share/cd pgm/disab/st rpts/Common Ground appropriation 121101.doc
City Council Meeting: January 8, 2002 Santa Monica, CA
TO: Mayor and Council Members
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Purchase Order to Common Ground in the Amount of $90,000 in
the form of a Community Development Capital Improvement Grant
for Tenant Improvements and Moving Costs
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that the City Council award $90,000 to Common
Ground for tenant improvements and costs associated with the agency’s move to
a new location.
BACKGROUND
Common Ground-The Westside HIV Community Center (formerly Santa Monica
AIDS Project) has been serving the Westside HIV community from its Santa
Monica site for over nine years. Annually, they serve 90-100 Santa Monica
residents (220 L.A. County residents) in the City-funded case management
program at their offices, and train an additional 3,100 youth in HIV prevention
through Santa Monica high schools, as well as reaching approximately 3,000
others in education outreach. In FY 2000-01, their total agency budget was
$922,494, of which $118,600 was a City of Santa Monica Community
Development (CD) Program operating grant.
Common Ground has grown steadily since its founding, and outgrew its offices at
2020 Santa Monica Boulevard more than two years ago. Common Ground staff
and board members searched for a suitable building to purchase for over a year,
but were unable to locate one that was within the agency’s budget. They were
committed to staying in Santa Monica and were finally able to negotiate a 10-
year lease on a 3,400 square foot location, located at 2012 Lincoln Boulevard.
The new location was formerly retail space, so renovations were needed.
In March 2000, at the beginning of the current three-year Community
Development grant funding cycle, Common Ground requested $825,000 as a
capital grant for the acquisition of a building for new quarters. In the FY 2000-03
Council-approved Community Development Plan, this project was not
recommended for funding in FY 2000-01 because there was no specific project
site identified at that time. As detailed in the Community Development Plan, the
City recognized the program’s need for additional space and planned to provide
funding support in the current fiscal year.
DISCUSSION
In October 2001, Common Ground requested capital funding consideration since
a specific site had been identified. The total cost of renovation and moving
expenses is estimated at $175,652. Common Ground has matched its request of
$90,000 from the City with $55,000 from the County of Los Angeles; $14,550 in
in-kind donations of equipment and services; $6,102 in individual donations and
$10,000 in commitments from St. Mathew’s Parish. It is recommended that the
City provide funding support for the renovation and moving costs incurred since
September 1, 2001.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funds for this grant are in the current fiscal year’s budget at account number
01262.569000, Community Development Program Set-aside.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council approve a purchase order to Common Ground in the
amount of $90,000 in the form of a Community Development Capital
Improvement grant for tenant improvements and moving costs.
Prepared by: Barbara Stinchfield, Director
Julie Rusk, Manager, Human Services Manager
Susan Lai, Sr. Administrative Analyst, Human Services
Janet Hand, Sr. Administrative Analyst, Human Services
Community and Cultural Services Department