City of Pomona
Measure A and Other Park Improvement Funding Sources
And Funded Project List
City Council – February 2024
The Los Angeles County Regional Parks and Open Space District provides the City of Pomona with annual allocations of Measure A Funding. This funding was approved in November 2016, authorizing dedicated local funding for new park, recreation, and open space projects and their maintenance through an annual special tax of 1.5 cents per square foot of building floor area on all taxable real property in the County. The City’s annual allocations are divided between what the County mapped as the Northside and Southside Study Areas.
It should be noted that all usage requires approval from the Los Angeles County Regional Parks and Open Space District and is to be used for new or renovated amenities. It cannot be used for general maintenance or repairs. The City does receive a separate, smaller allocation of funding from Measure A that can be used for repairs and maintenance on Measure A-funded projects.
Below is a table that illustrates the annual allocations the City has received to date:
Table 1
Northside Study Area Funding:
Year
Allocation
Committed
Available
2018
$251,069.28
$251,069.28
$0
2019
$262,458.08
$262,458.08
$0
2020
$283,495.66
$283,495.66
$0
2021
$283,539.61
$283,539.61
$0
2022
$298,095.30
$298,095.30
$0
2023
$297,713.61
$297,713.61
$0
2024
$317,787.54
$186,562.00
$131,225.54
Total
$1,994,159.08
$1,862,933.54
$131,225.54
Table 2
Southside Study Area Funding:
Year
Allocation
Committed
Available
2018
$199,514.34
$199,514.34
$0
2019
$208,564.55
$208,564.55
$0
2020
$225,282.24
$225,282.24
$0
2021
$225,317.17
$225,317.17
$0
2022
$236,883.97
$236,883.97
$0
2023
$245,470.85
$245,470.85
$0
2024
$262,022.21
$261,966.88
$55.33
Total
$1,603,055.33
$1,603,000.00
$55.33
As demonstrated in the tables above, the City has been receiving an increasing amount of Measure A funding over time and can expect to receive approximately $570,000 between the two study areas in the next allocation, which should be provided in September 2025. Attachments 1 and 2 to the February 24, 2024 City Council Report illustrate the two study areas.
The table below depicts the usage of Measure A annual allocations.
Table 3
Measure A-Funded Projects
Project No.
Project Name
Overall Project Budget
Measure A Allocation
71089
Country Crossing Park Playground Resurfacing and Play Equipment $350,000.00
$350,000.00
71090
District 4 - Jaycee Park Playground Upgrade
$350,000.00
$350,000.00
71098
District 6 - Ted Greene Playground Upgrade
$360,000.00
$360,000.00
71070
Hamilton Park Renovation
$2,739,432.00
$596,934.00
71099
Martin Luther King Jr., Park Playground Equipment Replacement $503,000.00
$503,000.00
71097
Palomares Park - Lawn Bowling Shade Structure Replacement $43,000.00
$43,000.00
71072
Parks and Facilities Master Plan
$285,000.00
$250,000.00
71063
Civic Center Plaza - New Playground and Amenities
$14,830,473
$753,000.00
71094
New Playground at Washington Park Baseball Fields
$260,000.00
$260,000.00
Total Usage
$3,465,934
While funding is set aside by study area, funding from one study area can be transferred and used by a park in a different study area if demonstrated community support from both study areas.
Currently, there is a balance of $131,225.54 of funding available in the Northside Study Area and $55.33 available in the Southside Study Area. It is conservatively estimated that the City should receive approximately $570,000 between the two study areas in September 2025. The City can elect to use these funds within the year they are allocated or bank them for future use. According to the granting representatives, the City does not have the option of fund an approved project with another source and then use future allocations to reimburse project costs.
Staff has been looking at creative solutions for park improvements. There is the potential to utilize Measure A funds to hire dedicated team members and fund materials creating an in-house construction unit to perform improvements at park sites, including the restrooms at Ted Greene Park. Staff is still researching the feasibility and would bring back recommendations, as appropriate.
Other Funding Sources:
Over the years, in addition to the parks referenced above that have utilized Measure A funding, the City actively searches for, applies for, and has received millions of dollars of funding through various grant opportunities. As grant or other funding becomes available, the City will actively pursue these options for improvements including Ted Greene Park or another park depending on Council priorities. Recent funding the City has received include:
Proposition 68: The City applied for and obtained $1.5 million from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation (Proposition 68) to renovate Hamilton Park. The City combined this funding with Measure A and Safe Clean Water (Measure W) to fund the new Hamilton Park, complete with the City’s first all-abilites playground, art (to be provided), restrooms, and various other amenities. This funding has activated a park that was previously underutilized due to safety concerns.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): The City has utilized CDBG funding throughout the City at parks. In 2022, the City used $560,000 of CDBG funding to provide for rubberized surfacing at Ganesha, Memorial, Westmont, and Montvue Parks.
California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA): CNRA - Urban Greening Grant - In 2018, the City of Pomona was awarded $1.4 million dollars from the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) to fund the acquisition and development of Phil and Nell Soto Park. The City also contributed Park and Recreation Improvement Fees to the Project.
CNRA -The City also received $1.1 million in CNRA Funding for “Civic Center Plaza – New Playground and Amenities.” San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC). In 2018, the City of Pomona was awarded $1,010,000 million dollars from San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC) to fund the acquisition and development of Phil and Nell Soto Park. The City also contributed Park and Recreation Improvement Fees to the Project.
American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funding: American Rescue Plan funding was allocated to several parks related projects as depicted below:
Table 4
ARP – Funded Projects
Project No.
Project Name
Overall Project Budget
ARP Allocation
71079
Park Restroom Construction and Replacement” (will renovate 5 restrooms Citywide) $3,874,671
$3,874,671
71200
Meadow View Demonstration Garden
$583,000
$583,000
71063
Civic Center Plaza – New Playground and Amenities
$14,830,473
$4,263,030
71092
Martin Luther King, Jr. Park – Skate Park Expansion/Lights $441,100
$440,000
71096
District 2 – New Playground at Ralph Welch Park
$181,661
$90,183
71095
Washington Park Community Center Rehabilitation
$335,000
$300,000
71091
D4 Jaycee Park Snack Bar and Security Upgrades
$140,000
$140,000
71103
New Flooring at Garfield Park Community Center
$40,000
$40,000
71093
Phillips Ranch Par Course Restoration
$155,000
$155,000
Total Parks ARP
$9,885,884
Congressional Earmarks: The City applies for federal earmark funding administered by HUD through the Community Project Funding grant. In 2023, the City received $4,000,000 to renovate the La Casita Teen Center building at Palomares Park and is currently in the process of design.
Attachment No. 4