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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3a - Resolution 7052 Prop PEPSON MINA 21192 DATE: October 21, 2014 STAFF REPORT Recreation and Community Services Department TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Sara Somogyi, Recreation and Community Services Director Tom Tait, Public Works Services Director By: Maria Lourdes A. Taylor, Senior Management Analyst SUBJECT: RESOLUTION 7052 SUPPORTING THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY'S PROPOSITION P, THE SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, GANG PREVENTION, YOUTH /SENIOR RECREATION, BEACHES, AND WILDLIFE PROTECTION MEASURE OF 2014 Recommendation: Adopt SUMMARY It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution 7052 supporting the Los Angeles County's Proposition P, the Safe Neighborhoods Parks, Gang Prevention, Youth /Senior Recreation, Beaches, and Wildlife Protection Measure of 2014. Proposition P is an extension of Proposition A, which was adopted in 1992 and is due to sunset in 2015. Under the new Proposition, property owners would be charged $23 per parcel per year, which is the same as under the current Proposition A. It is expected that Arcadia would receive over $3 million to fund parks and recreation facilities during the lifetime of the measure. BACKGROUND In 1992, the Los Angeles County voters approved the Safe Neighborhood Parks Measure Assessment also known as Proposition A (Prop A). It provides approximately $54 million annually to public agencies and nonprofit organizations in the county for the purpose of acquiring and /or developing facilities and open space for public recreation. This is a parcel tax on properties in the county and is due to expire in June 2015. A similar measure was passed in 1995, which has a sunset date of 2019. The Los Angeles County's Proposition P (Prop P) will be on the November 4, 2014, ballot, a measure designed to preserve park and open space funding by replacing the funding provided by the expiring 1992 and 1995 assessments. The measure requires a two - thirds majority vote to pass. Unlike Prop A, which had funding set for specific Resolution 7052 — Support to Proposition P County Measure October 21, 2014 Page 2 of 3 projects, Prop P will provide a guide. Criteria will be developed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, with input from cities and the public. DISCUSSION Under Prop P, cities and unincorporated areas of the county will receive 20% of the funding based on the number of parcels in each community. Additional funds will be available for maintenance of Proposition- funded projects and through competitive grants. Funds can be used for open space or trail projects, park safety improvements, community centers, museums and cultural and performing arts facilities, urban tree planting, regional projects, maintenance of capital projects and more. Prop P funds will also help attract state and federal funds that require local match. For instance, Prop P funds can be used for planning, design and maintenance, which are often not funded by state grants. Proposition A grant funding has helped fund many capital projects in the City, totaling approximately $1,151,000. These projects included the rehabilitation of the Civic Center Athletic Field; installation of lighting at several Arcadia School District athletic fields (First Avenue Middle School, Dana Middle School, Arcadia High School baseball and softball fields); and renovation of playground equipment at various City parks (Bicentennial, Bonita, and Eisenhower parks). Prop A has also provided reimbursements for maintenance for these projects. Additionally, the City received Prop A Excess Grant Funds in the amount of $186,600 to help replace trees that were lost in the December 2011 windstorm. The Prop A assessment varied annually according to property values and other factors. There were two parts of the funding model, with the "average" single family homeowner paying a $17 per year component and a $6 per year component. Prop P provides a simplified model, wherein each parcel is charged a flat $23 per year. For high valued and large parcel areas such as Arcadia, the flat tax may present an annual savings over the old model. Therefore, with the impending expiration of Prop A on June 2015, it is recommended that the City Council consider adopting Resolution 7052 in support of Proposition P to ensure continued funding to help improve parks and recreational facilities for the community. FISCAL IMPACT Should Proposition P be approved by the voters, it would generate approximately $54 million per year for 30 years from parcel taxes to help fund neighborhood parks and other recreational facilities within the Los Angeles County. Of this total funds, at least 20% will be allocated to cities and unincorporated areas within the Los Angeles County. As such, if Proposition P ballot measure is not approved by the voters, the City will lose its funding allocation. Residents would be charged $23 per parcel per year for the Proposition, which is similar than what was charged under Proposition A Resolution 7052 — Support to Proposition P County Measure October 21, 2014 Page 3 of 3 RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution 7052 supporting the Los Angeles County's Proposition P, the Safe Neighborhoods Parks, Gang Prevention, Youth /Senior Recreation, and Wildlife Protection Measure of 2014. Approved. Dominic Lazza City Manager Attachments: Resolution 7052 RESOLUTION NO. 7062 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY'S PROPOSITION P, THE SAFE NEIGBHORHOOD PARKS, GANG PREVENTION, YOUTH /SENIOR RECREATION, BEACHES, AND WILDLIFE PROTECTION MEASURE OF 2014 WHEREAS, Proposition P aims to continue the funding for programs established under the 1992 and 1996 Proposition A measures for the development, acquisition, improvement, restoration, rehabilitation, and maintenance of recreational, cultural, park and community facilities, as well as open space lands within Los Angeles County; and WHEREAS, on November 3, 1992, sixty -four percent (64 %) of voters within the County of Los Angeles authorized formation of the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (the "District "), the levy of a benefit assessment within the District, and a plan for expenditure of the proceeds of such assessment including for the development, acquisition, improvement, restoration and maintenance of recreational, cultural, park and community facilities, and open space lands within the County; and WHEREAS, on November 5, 1996, sixty -five (65 %) of voters in Los Angeles County amended the method of assessment, and authorized expenditures of District revenues; and WHEREAS, the revenues from the 1992 and 1996 assessment will sunset in Fiscal Year 2014 -2015 and 2018 -2019, respectively; and WHEREAS, to ensure continued funding for these programs, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has placed on the November 2014 ballot the "SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, YOUTH /SENIOR RECREATION, BEACHES/WILDLIFE PROTECTION MEASURE" (Proposition P) authorizing an annual special tax on all properties in the County consisting of twenty -three dollars ($23.00) per parcel to be levied for thirty (30) years commencing in Fiscal Year 2015 -16 through Fiscal Year 2044 -2045; and WHEREAS, this measure will ensure continued development, acquisition, improvement, restoration and maintenance of recreational, cultural, park and community facilities, and open space lands with the County and provide benefits throughout the County by improving economic, environmental, and recreational conditions resulting in maintained or enhanced property values; and WHEREAS, the collection and expenditure of all funds under this measure will be transparent to the taxpayers through independent financial audits and public review of expenditures, all funds generated by this measure will be spent in the County, and all County communities will receive an equitable share of the funding; and WHEREAS, the purchase, construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of park and recreation facilities under this measure will aid in the development of safe places and facilities for after - school, weekend and holiday programs for local children and youth, thereby creating healthy places for children and youth to play, learn and interact with other children; and WHEREAS, residents have already been actively paying property assessments to fund these programs and the new measure will simply continue to provide funds to ensure all Los Angeles County parks and recreation centers that enhance our community are continuously serviced, maintained and upgraded, and that new parks and open space facilities are established. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: 2 SECTION 1. The City Council hereby expresses its support for Proposition P. For this purpose, the City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and the minutes of this meeting shall so reflect the City Council's approval supporting the Los Angeles County's Proposition P, the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Gang Prevention, Youth /Senior Recreation, Beaches, and Wildlife Protection Measure of 2014. Passed, approved and adopted this day of 2014. ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: L'. Stephen P. Deitsch City Attorney 3 Mayor of the City of Arcadia