SR 08-24-2021 3C
City Council Report
City Council Meeting: August 24, 2021
Agenda Item: 3.C
1 of 3
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Andy Agle, Director, Community Services Department, Cultural Affairs
Subject: Authorization to accept GRoW @ Annenberg Grant for the Annenberg
Community Beach House
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to accept a restricted grant in the amount of
$25,000 from GRoW @ Annenberg for assistance in general operations and
re-opening efforts at the Annenberg Community Beach House in the
Community Services Department.
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept
the grant.
3. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget
Actions section of this report.
Summary
The Annenberg Community Beach House (Beach House) has been awarded a
$25,000 restricted grant from Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, GRoW @
Annenberg. The grant would support reopening of currently unfunded Beach House
programs and operations.
Discussion
The City went through an extensive public input process after the site then known as
“415 PCH” closed due to damage caused by the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.
A 1998 reuse plan established a vision for the property as a year-round public
gathering space, though implementation was put on hold due to lack of funding.
Upon hearing of the City’s struggle, Wallis Annenberg of the Annenberg Foundation
offered a $27.5 million grant that paved the way for the site’s rehabilitation and
adaptive reuse. The site opened to the public as the Annenberg Community Beach
House in April 2009.
3.C
Packet Pg. 37
2 of 3
GRoW @ Annenberg, founded by Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, is a philanthropic
initiative of the Annenberg Foundation, dedicated to supporting humanitarian efforts
across the globe as well as innovative projects in health, education, the arts, and
civic and cultural life. In April 2021, Gregory Weingarten, Vice President and Director
of the Annenberg Foundation, conveyed the Annenberg Foundation’s continued
interest in and partnership with the City of Santa Monica through a $25,000 grant to
support reopening efforts at the Beach House. Fiscal constraints associated with the
FY2021-23 budget have allowed for only a select number of pre-COVID-19 programs
to be restored. The one-time Foundation funds would allow the Beach House to
provide community access to arts, cultural, and recreation opportunities including
programs such as Sunset Swim, Sunset Picnic, and Cardboard Yacht Regatta, that
otherwise would not be offered this fiscal year due to limited resources. Funds must
be used by the end of the grant period, June 30, 2022. No local match is required.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to accept a grant from Gregory Annenberg Weingarten,
GRoW @ Annenberg, to support the Beach House’s reopening efforts. Staff
recommends the following budget changes.
FY 2021-22 Grant Budget Changes
Establish Revenue Budget Appropriate Funds
Account Number(s) Amount Account Number(s) Amount
20400003.405830 $25,000 20400003.556570 $25,000
Total $25,000 Total $25,000
3.C
Packet Pg. 38
3 of 3
Prepared By: Joyce Perez, Sr. Administrative Analyst
Approved
Forwarded to Council
3.C
Packet Pg. 39