Agenda Item: 11
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: May 10, 2022
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SHARING OF MEASURE A
ANNUAL ALLOCATION GRANT FUNDS FROM THE LOS
ANGELES COUNTY REGIONAL PARK AND OPEN SPACE
DISTRICT FOR THE SANTA CLARITA AQUATIC CENTER POOL
DECK CONCRETE REPAIRS PROJECT
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER: Shannon Pickett
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Adopt a resolution approving the sharing of Measure A annual allocation grant funds from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District for the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center Pool Deck Concrete Repairs project.
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
The Santa Clarita Aquatic Center (Aquatic Center) opened in 2003. As a popular facility with heavy usage, repairs to the concrete deck and pool plaster are necessary. A resolution is required by the County of Los Angeles to allow the City of Santa Clarita (City) to combine allocated Los Angeles County Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks, Open Space, Beaches, River Protection, and Water Conservation Measure (Measure A) funds from two separate study areas for the Aquatic Center Pool Deck Concrete Repairs project.
In November 2016, 75 percent of Los Angeles County voters approved Measure A, resulting in an annual tax of 1.5 cents per square foot of improved property. Through this annual tax, Measure A authorizes funds strictly dedicated for local parks, recreation, open space, and their maintenance. The funds are administered through the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (District).
Prior to the inception of Measure A, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to initiate a Countywide Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment (Assessment). The Assessment documented the needs of parks and recreation facilities in Los Angeles County and created 188 study areas to ensure communities across the county received equal representation in the Assessment. Cities with a population of more than 150,000 were split into two or more study areas. Measure A-generated funds are disbursed by formula-based allocations per capita to the 188 study areas.
As part of the Assessment, a 40-member steering committee divided the City horizontally into two study areas, as shown on the attached Location Map. The Santa Clara River was used as the natural feature to horizontally subdivide the City into Study Area #179 Santa Clarita - North (North) and Study Area #151 Santa Clarita - South (South). The North population is comprised of approximately 110,331 residents within 33.43 square miles with 20 parks and the South population has approximately 96,541 residents in its 37.44 square miles with 14 parks. Per the District, since the City has two study areas, a resolution from the City Council is required to approve sharing funds from one study area with another for a specific project benefiting the whole community.
The Grants Administration Manual for Measure A - General Policies states the study area collected funds are a fixed funding allocation that are to flow to and be expended in the specified study area by the agency of record and sharing annual allocation funds between study areas may be considered if the following four provisions are met: (1) the funds will be expended on a specific project or projects that are eligible for Measure A funds; (2) all study area(s) involved will benefit from the combining of funds and result in project(s); (3) the combining of funds will result in timely completion of the project(s); and (4) the governing body of the City of Santa Clarita has authorized the combining of funds for a specific project.
The Aquatic Center is located in the center of the City, in the South study area, and residents of both study areas, and non-residents, use the facilities at this location. The project meets the goals of Measure A by improving and preserving community recreation facilities. Two public outreach meetings were conducted to educate and inform the community of the Measure A annual allocations and the City’s desire to share funds from the North study area with the South study area. There is strong evidence of support from the communities in both study areas.
By combining the annual allocations from both study areas, the City can maximize the economy of scale, minimize impact to the community, and accommodate a timely completion of the project. The Aquatic Center would close for approximately six months in the winter for the repairs and a list of options for swimming pool usage during this time will be made available to the community.
The City has met the provisions from the District for sharing funds, with the resolution being the final action before submitting the request to the District for approval.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon approval of the recommended actions, $1,741,715 of Measure A North funds (Fund 269) will be earmarked for use toward the Aquatic Center pool deck concrete repairs.
ATTACHMENTS
Location Map
Resolution