By Lookout Staff

May 14, 2019 -- The City Council on Tuesday is expected to renew $1 annual leases with the operators of two daycare centers in Santa Monica's Sunset Park neighborhood.

Staff is asking that the leases with Hill & Dale Family Learning Center for the former Clover Park Fire Station, 2801 25th Street, and with the Growing Place Marine Park, 1406 Marine Street, be renewed for 5 years.

"This rent is consistent with comparable leases of City-owned buildings leased to community non-profits," staff wrote in its two reports to the Council.

The City has leased the former fire station at Clover Park near the Santa Monica Airport to Hill & Dale for $1 a year since 1986, staff said.

The center was chosen to renovate and use the facility after the City sought proposals from non-profit childcare providers, according to staff.

Hill & Dale uses the facility, which is licensed for 10 infants and 26 toddlers, to offer "full-day, full-year early childhood education programs for children of Santa Monica residents and workforce," staff said.

It also offers 8-week My Family & Me classes for parents with infants and toddlers, as well as Tuition Assistance to low-income Santa Monica residents or workers.

The Growing Place -- which also offers a full-day, full-year early childhood education program -- has been leasing the facility in Marine Park near the Penmar Golf Course since 2008.

The center is licensed for 12 infants and 39 preschoolers, and enrollment priority is given to Santa Monica residents and full-time City employees, staff said.

Tuition Assistance is made available to low-income Santa Monica residents through the Human Services Grants Program.

The current leases on both City properties are set to expire June 30, 2019, staff said.

The proposed 5-year lease extensions include one five-year option to renew.