REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on a Resolution Approving Application(s) for "Per Capita" Grant Funds from the California State Department of Parks and Recreation
Report
BACKGROUND
The State of California Department of Parks and Recreation has statewide grant funds available for local governments to rehabilitate, create and improve local parks on a per capita basis. This grant program originates from Proposition 68 (the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018), approved by state voters in June 2018. The funds are available to rehabilitate existing infrastructure and to address deficiencies in neighborhoods lacking access to the outdoors.
In March 2019, the State of California published the Procedural Guide for the Per Capita Program. Sixty percent of the funds are allocated to local governments based on population with a minimum allocation of $200,000. While as of this report date, the State has not released notification of funding allocations, in order to be eligible, the City must approve an authorizing resolution (Attachment 1) and submit it to the State no later than November 2019. Projects must be for recreational purposes, either acquisition or development, and grantees are encouraged to partner with other grantees on projects. The Per Capita grant funds must be used to supplement existing expenditures, not replace them; a 20% local match is also required. The grant application is due by January 31, 2020. The Projects must be completed by December 2021.
One of the City Council adopted pillars is to "enhance community sports and recreational assets." Since then, the City of Santa Clara has prioritized rehabilitation of parks and recreation facilities that are inclusionary, environmentally sustainable, age-friendly, and provide measurably increased play value. In 2018, the City completed a Facility Condition Assessment (Kitchell Report) that provided an inventory of existing parks...
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