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Community Development Agency <br />santa-ana.org/cd <br />Item # 20 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Staff Report <br />March 1, 2022 <br />TOPIC: Memorandum of Understanding with Discovery Cube <br />AGENDA TITLE: <br />Memorandum of Understanding between City of Santa Ana and Discovery Cube to <br />Pursue Grant Applications and Study the Feasibility of a Future Outdoor Science Park on <br />Adjacent City-Owned Property (Non-General Fund) <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Discovery <br />Cube for a period of March 1, 2022 to March 1, 2024, to pursue grant applications and <br />study the feasibility of a future Outdoor Science Park on adjacent City-owned property, <br />subject to non-substantive changes approved by the City Manager and City Attorney. <br />DISCUSSION <br />The Discovery Cube is a nationally recognized science center located in Santa Ana, with <br />a mission to bring hands-on science education to the children of our community. Due to <br />the COVID-19 pandemic, the Discovery Cube has had to temporarily shut down many of <br />its indoor exhibits and is currently in need of outdoor exhibit space. <br />The Discovery Cube and the City have had a long-standing partnership for over 22 years, <br />providing educational resources, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) <br />programming, and community cultural activities. This partnership includes a monthly <br />Santa Ana Free Day for all residents to enjoy the Discovery Cube and its resources. <br />The City owns a stretch of land adjacent to Discovery Cube and along Santiago Creek <br />that is in need of activation and long-term maintenance. The City is continuously <br />spending resources on service calls to clean and police this area. The property (Exhibit <br />B) is located on a current bike trail and several open spaces between Main Street on the <br />East, Broadway on the West, Discovery Cube property line on the South, and the <br />Santiago Creek bed on the North. <br /> <br />Santiago Creek is a critical flood control facility and designated watershed of the United <br />States that is governed by various regulatory agencies, and Discovery Cube will be