Channel 1 Los Angeles
3/6/19
The Los Angeles County Supervisors adopts the amended policies and Grants Administration Manual for the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District’s (RPOSD) administration of the Los Angeles County Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks and Beaches Measure of 2016 (Measure A).
The Board of Supervisors amendments, 1) identified the County Department of Parks and Recreation as the lead agency in the oversight, management, and updates of the Los Angeles Countywide Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment (PNA) with the support and cooperation of RPOSD; 2) following the Regional Recreation, Beaches, Rural Areas and Open Space Assessment targeted for completion in Fiscal Year 2020/2021, a unified, combined study will include both the PNA and Regional Assessments during Fiscal Year 2025 and thereafter; 3) ensured that the 30 percent Targeted Funds are designated for High and/or Very High Need Study Areas projects and are strictly located in such communities as specified and does not decrease from the 30 percent.
In the Board adoption of the 2016 PNA, Los Angeles County comprehensively quantified the need for parks and recreation resources in cities and unincorporated areas throughout the Los Angeles County. The PNA is an important foundational document that directly informed the development and approval of Measure A Expenditure Plan. In 2016, voters passed Measure A by 74.9%, to continue support and protect our local parks, beaches, open space, and natural local water resources in the County of Los Angeles. Measure A is an annual parcel tax, which taxes property within the County at a rate of 1.5 cents/square of development. Measure A generated approximately $91.8 million of revenue in the first year.
“Today the Board of Supervisors protected the investment of our park-poor communities,” said John Wicker, Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Director. “I am proud of the work we have done collectively; it will contribute towards the future of our parks, beaches, open space, and natural water resources.”
Since the approval of Measure A, the Board directed RPOSD to establish a steering committee to develop requirements and guidelines ensuring community outreach and engagement for every project. Each Board Office appointed 5 members from their Districts. The Steering Committee consists of approximately 46 members with expertise in parks, recreation, and open space; in addition, representatives from the Departments of Business and Consumer Affairs, Beaches and Harbors, CEO, Military and Veterans, Parks and Recreation, and Public Health are part of the group. The proceedings of the Steering Committee were sent to the Board in summer of 2018 and are root for the recommendations presented today, in the Board Letter, and Grants Administration Manual.