HomeMy Public PortalAbout18) 10B Ltr of Support - SB 1086 Safe Neighborhood Parks, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act 2014City Council
June 17, 2014
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issuance of bonds in an unspecified amount pursuant to the State General Obligation
Bond Law to finance a safe neighborhood parks, rivers, and coastal protection program.
The bill would provide for the submission of the Bond Act to the voters at the November
4, 2014, statewide general election. While SB 1086 is a template with no dollar
amounts yet identified, CPRS believes the bill will ultimately contain "something for
everyone" including a robust Per Capita Program, a Statewide Park Program Assembly
Bill (AB) 31 component, a non-motorized trails program along, with other park and
resource enhancement and improvement opportunities.
Completion of many components of Temple City's recently adopted Parks and Open
Space Master Plan are dependent on outside funding sources, including grants. The
proposed Bond Act would provide significant funding for local park infrastructure. Local
public agencies are strongly encouraged to send letters of support for SB 1086 to
ensure adequate funding is included in the Bond Act for city, county, and regional park
and recreation agencies
Attached to this staff report is a draft support letter for SB 1086 (Attachment "A"). If
approved by the City Council the letter will be sent to the Senate Governance and
Finance Committee.
CONCLUSION:
The City Council is requested to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of support for SB
1086, the proposed Safe Neighborhood Parks, Rivers, and Coastal Protection Bond Act
of 2014.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This item does not have a direct impact on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-15 City Budget,
however if the proposed Bond Act is approved by voters in November 2014, the City
could receive significant funding for park improvements.
ATTACHMENT:
A. Draft Support Letter-SB 1086
ATTACHMENT A
9701 LAS TUNAS DRIVE e TEMPLE CITY e CALIFORNIA 91780-2249 • (626) 285-2171
June 18, 2014
The Honorable Lois Wolk, Chair
Senate Governance and Finance Committee
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 1086 (De Le6n)
The Safe Neighborhood Parks, Rivers, and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2014
Madame Chair,
On behalf of the City of Temple City I am writing to respectfully urge your favorable
consideration of the subject legislation.
It has been more than a decade since Californians approved a true park/resources
funding mechanism (Proposition 40 in 2002). Thanks to the support of the voters during
the previous decade, greater than $5 billion has been invested to acquire, develop,
improve and restore critical local, county, regional and state park and natural resource
infrastructure throughout the state. However, given the state of the economy over the
past 5 years there has been a "drought" in investment in these important areas.
Additionally, due to the demise of redevelopment dollars, there has been sizable
reductions in park and recreation improvements as a means to address blight in our
community.
SB 1 086 envisions a framework to re-invest in local park infrastructure by establishing a
"Per Capita" grant program which permits local entities such as ours to address our
park, open space, and recreation facility priority needs. The bill also calls for
reinvestment of parks in "park poor" and disadvantaged communities through the
restoration of the Statewide Park Program (approved by the voters in 2006 and
authorized by AB 31 in 2007). This $364 million program assisted in creating and
improving 126 parks throughout the state. Lastly, the bill calls for the creation of a new
program to fund critical regional projects and provide capital support to local agencies
and non-profit operating units of the state park system. There are other funding
opportunities included in the provisions of this bill that our community will seek to
receive.
The City of Temple City recently adopted a Parks and Open Space Master Plan, the
purpose of which was to identify how best to meet the future park and open space
needs of our citizens through enhancements of existing parks and acquisition of
additional parkland. The Master Plan creates a roadmap for the City to establish goals
and priorities for the next twenty years. With only 19 acres of park land for its 38,000
residents, Temple City is considered "park poor" with only about Yz acre of park/open
space per 1,000 residents, far below national standards of 10 acres per 1 ,000. Among
the facilities and amenities most requested by our residents through the Master Plan
process, were the addition of walking and biking trails, picnic areas, and playgrounds.
Temple City will seek funding through SB 1086 for many of these requested amenities.
In closing, investing in park and natural resource related infrastructure offers California
economic benefits (the outdoor economy in California is $75 billion), health and fitness
benefits as these investments assist in reducing rates of diabetes, other chronic
diseases, childhood obesity and educational and societal benefits as well. Simply
stated, "Parks Make Life Better!" and this bill will immeasurably enhance the quality of
life for countless residents of our community and this state.
Sincerely,
Carl Blum
Mayor
cc: California Parks and Recreation Society
Senator Kevin De Le6n
Senator Ed Hernandez, 24th District
Assemblymember Ed Chau, 49th District