DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier D. Urrutia
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: District 2
SUBJECT:
Funding Agreement with San Antonio Botanical Garden Society, Inc.
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the negotiation and execution of a funding agreement with the San Antonio Botanical Garden Society, Inc. in an amount not-to-exceed $1,000,000.00 for the Botanical Garden Family Adventure Garden, a 2015 Grant Funded project from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Urban Outdoor Recreation Grant Program.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On August 21, 2014, City Council approved the submission of a grant application and acceptance upon award of up to $1,000,000.00. On January 22, 2015, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved $1,000,000.00 grant that will be used toward construction of the Family Adventure Garden at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
The City-owned Botanical Garden, located at 555 Funston Place, was opened to the public on May 3, 1980. Chartered in 1980, the San Antonio Botanical Garden Society, Inc., (Society) a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, was specifically established in support of the Botanical Garden. The mission of this organization is to support the Botanical Garden in its role of inspiring people to connect with the world of plants, and understand the importance of plants in our lives. The Society has partnered with the City to bring major capital improvements to the Botanical Garden such as: the Lucile Halsell Conservatory, the Sullivan Carriage House, the Auld House, acquisition of Funston properties, Texas Native Trail revitalization, upgraded children's facilities, extensive landscape lighting, and master planning. As part of their continuing efforts to support, improve, educate and serve the city's growing community, the Botanical Garden intends to construct improvements on recently purchased land adjacent to the Botanical Garden which may include a new garden entry, educational facilities and a family adventure garden. The construction of these improvements is anticipated to be completed in approximately two years.
This funding agreement, between the City and the San Antonio Botanical Garden Society, Inc., will be executed in compliance with the Small Business Economic Development Advocacy (SBEDA) Program, which requires contracts be reviewed by a Goal Setting Committee to establish a requirement and/or incentive unique to the particular contract in an effort to maximize the amount of small, minority, and women-owned business participation on the contract. The Goal Setting Committee set a 22% Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) subcontracting goal and a 2% African American Business Enterprise (AABE) subcontracting goal. The San Antonio Botanical Garden Society has committed to 22% MWBE and 2% AABE subcontractor participation.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes the negotiation and execution of a funding agreement with the San Antonio Botanical Garden Society, Inc. in an amount not-to-exceed $1,000,000.00.
This funding agreement will provide for improvements to the Botanical Garden. Improvements will be limited for construction of the Family Adventure Garden.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should City Council not approve this action the City would lose $1,000,000.00 in leveraged funding directed to improvements of City park facilities. Subsequently, these actions could reduce the scope of the project or require the San Antonio Botanical Garden Society, Inc. to secure additional funds for the project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department requires a one-to-one match of $1,000,000.00, which the San Antonio Botanical Garden Society, Inc. will be responsible for in full. There is no General Fund impact with this action.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this funding agreement with the Society.