Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a Letter of Intent (LOI) between the City of Long Beach and Centro C.H.A, Inc., a California 501(c)(3) corporation, for the development of a lease agreement with the option to purchase City-owned property at 1850-1862 Atlantic Avenue, for youth workforce development, civic leadership, inclusive entrepreneurship training, and community services.  (District 6)
So I won't need to get those done first and then we will move on to the remainder of the agenda. So we have central chore item 28 and then we're going to the public comment. Item 28 report from Economic Development Recommendation to execute a letter of intent between the City of Long Beach and Center CHA for the development of a lease agreement with the option to purchase city owned property at 1850 through 1862. Atlantic Avenue, District six. Thank you. I know that Mr. Crusher has a presentation. Yes. Honorable Mayor and members of the City Council. This is another one tonight that I'm really excited to present to you on behalf of the city manager. So so what we have before you is an opportunity to enter into a letter of intent between the city of Long Beach and Central Asia to perform some additional due diligence and some negotiations around the potential lease or sale of this property on 1852 1862, Atlantic Avenue. And the property is really just north of the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Atlantic Avenue. So this is about a block north of Poly High School. And ultimately the reason that there's multiple addresses here, 1852, 1862, is that it comprises three parcels of property that were purchased by the city's refuge fund over the past about two decades. The property itself, when you put all those parcels together, have almost 15,000 square feet and it has one larger building, 4800 square feet of improvements, plus a playground and an adjacent parking lot. So this is a great piece of property with a lot of potential uses for the community. Part of its history was that it was purchased with refuge funds dollars. That's a restricted fund, an enterprise fund that is owned by the city. But there were three pieces of property purchased at a total of $800,000 in the purchases began in the late nineties, early 2000s, and then culminated in 2014 with that adjacent parking lot and support piece of property that's to the right in the image of the center, which is on the screen above you. In 2017, the city entered into a lease with the Jenni Rivera Love Foundation and the goal there was to provide a rehabilitation of the facility, of course, but also to introduce a daycare center, community room and museum dedicated to the legacy of Jenni Rivera, who had, of course, very, very strong connections to the city of Long Beach in 2018. At the request of the Foundation Board, they took action and requested the city to terminate the lease due to some financial issues related to the actual retrofit of the building. Since that time the property has been vacant since mid 2018 and there are substantial tenant improvements that are required to make the property suitable for reuse . So so the action that we're requesting from the city council tonight ultimately would allow up to 120 days for the city to work with Central Cha, a local nonprofit with a longstanding history of providing community benefit services in the city of Long Beach. And we would work together to conduct some additional due diligence, which would include things like architectural plans, construction bids and even evaluation of the property to make sure that we understand the true appraisal fair market value. As if the improvements were completed, we would explore some financing options together and then ultimately we would come back to the City Council with an agreement for your consideration. So this this would allow us up to 120 days. Now, we might not take 120 days to complete this due diligence, but it's likely to take at least 90. The general terms and conditions which the city attorney asks us to read into the record, this allows us some guardrails in terms of negotiations would be potentially a lease of ten years +25 year options to extend a base rent that's established by a fair market appraisal that we would work on together. Of course, we'd be looking at those issues of tenant improvements and what kind of capital improvements were required to make it usable. Um, Central Cha would have some termination rights, of course, if we we couldn't come to an agreement or if we do, and the capital or tenant improvements are too prohibitive from a cost standpoint. And then we would work together to all. Similarly establish the the the plan for redevelopment. Finally, there would be an option to purchase. So that's an important piece of this is not just a lease but the option to purchase. We want council's authority to negotiate that of course, that price that that we have to repay the refuge fund. Ratepayers who purchased these properties would be $800,000. And we would come back to you with the final terms and conditions once we've completed that, that process. So I'm going to wrap up my report here, but I'm happy to answer any questions and we're very excited about this path forward. Thank you very much for that report. I first of all, would you like to have you could have you can do the committee report if you guys like. But if not, we can speak on the diocese first yet would like to come up with a report first. Public comment, in other words. Yes. I mean, you would never like to speak. You can come up and you. Go. Is that going to be a whole lot of us getting mean? Vice Mayor Andrews, members of the city council. City Manager Pat West and our dear John Kaiser, thank you so much for the opportunity to be here today and for the opportunity for the site and to come before council. If you know the history of the organization and our journey here, this has been quite a journey. I don't think any other nonprofit in the city of Long Beach has moved five times in their life, and I don't think any organization that's a nonprofit would have been able to to really to survive those moves. But, you know, the services that we do are necessary to the constituents that we serve, which is the city of Long Beach constituents. So we are pleased to be here today. This offer and this letter of intent is something that has been discussed, you know, with our board members, with John Kaiser, who was so kind to come down and talk to our board members because they were very hesitant. I have to tell you what, the city of Long Beach, they're very hesitant to do any business. And so I can tell you that they're all very supportive. You know, we got 100% direction to move forward on this alloy. We're excited. You know, we believe that we have new leadership in the city. So we're we're definitely looking forward to to holding hands and ensure this new venture and this new journey for Center Child to be able to anchor our organization and to be able to continue to do the services that we do. So thank you so much for bringing this item forward. We truly appreciate every and appreciate every single one of you. And also economic development. The majority of the council members here know, you know, what we do in the organization is really focus on workforce development and job training. And most recently, we developed a social enterprise to the agency and started a screen printing and apparel line called Long Beach, Port Vila. And literally, it's it's to support the life of our young people, to provide jobs and and training and really understand how to do technology and graphic design. And so, you know, we're just asking the council to continue to support us in our journey and in this decision making that we're going to be doing in this 120 days. And we appreciate, again, the support and the partnership. Thank you. Thank you very much. You and I would like to speak. Good evening. Good evening, counsel. My name is Jerry, added. I'm a longtime resident of West Palm Beach with board member of Central Cha, familiar with all the services that Central Cha has provided throughout the Long Beach area. Mr. Kaiser came in and we were really excited with this partnership and I just want to say that I hope everybody supports the cause. It's a well worth cause and it's going to provide services for future generation leaders here in Long Beach. Thank you so much. Thank you, Mr. Avila. Is there any other public comment? Please come down and see. No other public comment. We'll close the speakers list. After, Senor. Good evening. I'm Professor Madagascar Ramos. Just destroy your way up. And I'm delighted to be here and to not only support this partnership. I want to thank all of you that have been already behind the scenes working with this project, as I have been also supporting in some of the conversations. John has been a real gentleman. And and I think that this is a great opportunity for a win win relationship in many other dimensions that could come from here. I know that John is looking at creating a model that can be done in other parts of the city with other nonprofits. And I certainly think that there's a great opportunity to also build around this relationship that can go into other aspects of the city. So a cultural and an artistic as well as the the educational aspect that I'm very much a part of. So I thank you. And they definitely are supporting and hope that this will be the beginning of a wonderful relationship. Thank you. Thank you so much. And with that, let me turn this over to Vice Mayor Andres. Yes. Yes. Thank you, Mayor. First of all, I'd just like to say I'm looking at the picture back. Well, what you were seeing back there. It doesn't look like that. I mean, that is probably one of the most bright areas I have in the Six District. And I would just want to thank to Quintana, but trying to really see the uplift that area right there, because it is a mess and we're going to get it done, I promise you that. And I really want to think, Pat, you and Mayor, for helping us work on this project. And I'm very happy to see that this item finally is on the agenda because this park property is long overdue for the tennis and will care for it and the Uplift Atlantic corridor. I cannot think of a better organization than Central Cha to come and back into this district because they can do some of the amazing work with the youth employment, civic engagement and many other, you know, programs. This group is one of the very, very few that can do it all. And it is so unfortunate they can have a hand in relocating after being relocated several times. I can't remember. I usually I'd go to one building, another building. I'm trying to figure out where Central Georgia. So I'm hoping that you guys will finally find a home for yourself where you can land and not continue to flip flop all over the city of Long Beach. This is going to be your home, I promise you that. And I'm hoping that in the next 120 days since you are in the city, can come up with a path forward that they can acquire this property and able to rehab it. I am committed to the cause and I will commit. I am continue to be available for anything that the organization need. And I'm looking forward to a ribbon cutting at this project. Ribbon cutting at this project. Thank you guys very much. Excellent. Thank you, Councilman Austin. Thank you. And I think Councilmember Andrews or Vice Mayor Andrew said it all. Central Cha is an organization that has great credibility in our city, and it has done so much in terms of improving the quality of lives and of young people and families in the central area and throughout the city. Jessica, I'm always proud to say that she's an eighth District resident and a constituent. And so we we have a special relationship in that regard. But this this site, I can't think of a better location and a better organization to to to call it home. Obviously, this is a first step along the way and is going to require some some due diligence and some some some sweat equity to to bring it up to speed. But if anybody is up to it and capable, I think, central to Jessica, under your leadership, we can get it done and look forward to partnering with you throughout the process. And that's why they're moving into the sixth District. Of course. Thank you, Carl, Terry, Ringo. Thank you very. And also want to congratulate Seth Rich, Jessica Quintana and, of course, city staff for working with you in this project. There's a little bit of closure and history happening tonight that I see with a Dr. Armando Vasquez Ramos here, who had back in the day, back in the service area, Centro de la Raza, which operated many of the same services that center chose not providing. And of course, the city was a different city in those days, and we were not able to be able to move forward with an agreement that we have here tonight. So I'm very proud to be here at this moment, at this time, to support this this lease agreement. And I'm very encouraged by the city's opportunity to work with with Central, which has worked for 15, 20 years now or so in operation. 17 years so. It's it's time that you found a permanent home and to continue to grow your services and become even stronger. So I'm looking forward to also to a ribbon cutting in the very near future. Congratulations. Thank you. Councilmember Pearce. I yes, I, too, want to congratulate everyone that's been working on this. I know we didn't have an opportunity to meet, but I do really. Proud of how far you guys have come. I think I've been to four of your locations and on top of the resources that you provide and the services you provide, my experience has always been as a community organizer working and in the neighborhoods and trying to find a place to meet. And so often with these very extremely grassroots organizations, we kind of struggle to find meeting spaces. Churches are open, but you got to pay $50 an hour for a staff person. And so I really look forward to you guys having a permanent community space as well. And so congratulations. Thank you. Thank you to Councilmember Super now. Thank you. I just want to add my congratulations and what I'm struck here by tonight is government is always criticized for working so slowly. Thanks for reaching out to my office. And that was just one week ago. We brought this together in one week. And I think so much credit goes to John Keisler and of course, your organization. So thank you. Thank you very much. I want to just add, you know, Central Asia is the the leading organization in the city when it comes to working with underserved communities, particularly a Latino community that is now reaching, you know, 40 to 43% of the population. It's so important to have an organization that has the cultural competency skills to reach out to diverse communities that might be monolingual Spanish speakers, that might be dealing with issues around poverty, immigration, workforce development. And so these are oftentimes unique issues that require unique organizations that can work with with those that are some who are in fear of deportation, some who might be struggling with with questions around citizenship. And we know, obviously, that Central Asia, while traditionally has been a Latino serving organization, has also transitioned to really serving everyone, our African-American youth with our Cambodian population, all all families and and communities across the city. And so that's something that I think is really significant. I also will say that I have been to many Central Asia offices over the years, and so I'm really glad that you guys are going to have a permanent home that will be yours. At least that's my hope. And I'm really glad that the city was able to partner with all of you to do that. I know that we're not done this. We're going to have some conversations over the next couple of months. But it's very important to support an organization that is literally changing and saving lives every single day. And I'm really proud of central chair of the board. Jessica, you and your team and I want to anyway that the city can can be there to support you will continue to do so. And so we've had public comment and members as we cast their votes, I do want to point out. And I want to thank Vice Mayor Andrews. I will tell you that Vice Chair Andrews has called me at least weekly about this issue for like two months or something, it seems like constantly. We got to get the center chad deal done. And I know he's been on Pat West constantly as well. And so I just want to this would not have happened without Vice Mayor Andrews, his full support. And I want to thank him for his leadership on this issue. So with that, mayors, please cast your votes. Motion carries. Thank you. Congratulations. And we'll take the next step here. Let me let me do a public comment. And I want to just ask. There's four people here that are going to they're speaking on our animal care services. So if I can just do them together, that would be great.