Agenda #: 5.7
Meeting Date: August 6, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Daniel Fox, City Manager
TITLE: AUTHORIZATION TO FILE APPLICATIONS FOR MEASURE A FUNDING.
STRATEGIC
GOAL: Responsible Stewardship of Public Resources
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution No. 2024-35, approving the blanket authority to file applications for Measure A grant funds from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District, and appointing the City Manager, or designee, to execute and submit all documents necessary to accept, administer, and expend funding.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
BACKGROUND:
In November 2016, Los Angeles County voters approved the Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks, Open Space, Beaches, Rivers Protection, and Water Conservation Measure ("Measure A"). Measure A was designed to replace voter-approved Propositions A of 1992 and 1996, which expired in 2019, and continue to provide funding for local parks, beaches, open space, and water resources. The Measure levies an annual parcel tax of
1.5 cents per square foot of improved property and generates approximately $94 million annually throughout Los Angeles County.
The Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District ("RPOSD") administers Measure A funds, and annual allocations are distributed to cities and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County using set formulas. The City's formulabased Measure A Annual Allocation Funding is approximately $208,000 per year.
Currently, there is an accrued allocation balance of approximately $857,100 as of July 2024. These funds can be utilized for planning, designing, acquiring, and developing parks, open spaces, and recreational use projects. Additionally, the RPOSD offers
Maintenance and Servicing Funding and Competitive Grant Program Funding for which the City may be eligible in the future.
DISCUSSION:
The RPOSD has established policies and procedures governing grant funds under Measure A. Accessing the City's Measure A Annual Allocation Funding requires submitting a qualified project through the RPOSD application process. In January 2024, the RPOSD updated its Grants Administration Manual, introducing a streamlined format for agencies to access and expend their Measure A Annual Allocation Funding. This entails replacing individual project grant agreements with a process that allows the City to submit project work plans through RPOSD's Grant Management System for review and approval.
With the recent change in the administrative process for Measure A funding, the RPOSD requires the City to submit proof of authority from the City Council to apply for, accept, and administer Measure A grant funds. Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council adopts the attached Resolution (Attachment 1) to grant blanket authority to file applications for Measure A grant funds from the RPOSD for projects and programs within the City.
The attached Resolution (Attachment 1) would eliminate the need to bring forth a separate grant agreement for approval by the City Council for each individual project funded by Measure A. It also appoints the City Manager, or designee, to conduct all negotiations and to execute and submit all necessary documents for the completion of projects or programs, including the execution of the Measure A Annual Allocation Grant Agreement (Attachment 2) to enable the City to commence submitting project work plans.
Adopting the Resolution would enable staff to continue to seek Measure A Annual Allocation Funding to supplement funding for current and future projects within the City's Capital Improvement Program. Staff will also continue to seek other funding opportunities as they become available from RPOSD. Additionally, it should be noted that staff will bring forth projects in the future, typically through the annual budget process, to be funded by Measure A for the City Council's consideration and approval.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the Resolution and Agreement as to form.
PREPARED BY:
REVIEWED BY:
Attachments:
1. 5.7.a Resolution No. 2024-35 Measure A Funding
2. 5.7.b Measure A Annual Allocation Grant Agreement