REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Eric G. Parra, Interim City Manager
VIA: Ashley Wysocki, Director of Community & Library Services
PREPARED BY: Ashley Wysocki, Director of Community & Library Services
Subject:
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Approve and authorize execution of Amendment No. 1 to the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Huntington Beach and the American Legion Huntington Beach Post 133 for the use of City facilities and provision of Veterans Services
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Statement of Issue:
The American Legion Huntington Beach Post 133 (POST 133) aids the lives of veterans and provides assistance with the City’s annual patriotic and veteran orientated events. The City Council is being asked to amend the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance the available locations and resources for POST 133 to conduct business and veteran services.
Financial Impact:
Financial impact is difficult to determine at this time, but staff anticipates it to be minimal.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Huntington Beach and the American Legion Huntington Beach Post 133 for use of City facilities and provision of Veterans Services.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the recommended action and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
Post 133 is a non-profit corporation that provides valuable transitioning services to veterans within the City of Huntington Beach and its surrounding communities by assisting service members in the filing of claims and other benefit programs through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In support of these valuable services, the City Council established a MOU in 2022, formally reestablishing the longstanding partnership with POST 133, which began in 1923. The City provided dedicated space for POST 133 at the previous Memorial Hall, until the time of its demolition in 1974. From 1974 to 2022, the City provided POST 133 meeting space in various facilities, including the former Rodgers Seniors’ Center. Once the new Memorial Hall located at 1718 Orange Avenue on 17th Street Park was renovated, the MOU in 2022 established POST 133’s use of the facility for their meetings.
Over the last two years, it has become apparent that the MOU did not fully meet the facility needs of POST 133. As a result, an amendment to the MOU is being recommended for City Council consideration. The term of the MOU will remain unchanged, with the initial term expiring on December 31, 2027, and an option to extend the MOU upon mutual consent for one (1) additional five (5) year term.
The amendment provides POST 133 with the following use at no cost:
Memorial Hall
• Twenty-Four (24) Meetings - POST 133 typically has two membership meetings per month
• Twelve (12) additional meeting dates for various events and activities, subject to availability
Lake Park BBQ and Clubhouse
• Four (4) meetings - typically quarterly, with one meeting being over Labor Day Weekend, typically on Labor Day, subject to availability
Any additional request for facility space by POST 133 is subject to availability and will follow the City’s standard reservation process and City Council approved fee schedule.
Environmental Status:
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item
Attachment(s):
1. Amendment No. 1 to the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Huntington Beach and American Legion Huntington Beach Post 133.
2. Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Huntington Beach and American Legion Huntington Beach POST 133.