HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11 - Texas Recreation and Parks AccountMEMO TO:
FROM:
MEETING DATE:
SUBJECT:
RECOMMENDATION:
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HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
ROGER NELSON, CITY MANAGER vi%ff
FEBRUARY 15, 2005
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING
THE TEXAS RECREATION AND PARKS ACCOUNT
City Council to consider approval of a resolution that supports the Texas Recreation and
Parks Account (TRPA). The resolution is attached for review.
BACKGROUND:
The Texas Recreation and Parks Account is a grant program for parkland acquisition
and development and for the development of recreational facilities that is administered
by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. The annual funding in the TRPA prior to the
78th Legislature was $15.5 million. Revenue for the grant program is provided through
sales tax on certain sporting goods. The TRPA was reduced to $8.1 million annually in
the 78th Legislature to help balance the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD)
budget. For the 79th Legislature that just began, the Legislative Budget Board has called
for a 95% budget from all State agencies. Again, to balance their budget, TPWD
submitted a budget that reduced the TRPA by $7.5 million leaving $600,000 annually in
the account for grants. The attached resolution requests the members of the 79th
Legislature to restore the funding for the TRPA to its original level prior to the 78th
Legislature.
The City of Grapevine has been very fortunate to receive several park development
grants from TPWD over the past several years. In fact, the development of Parr Park,
Dove Park, Bear Creek Park, Casey's Clubhouse and Pleasant Glade Pool were all
partially funded with matching grants from TPWD. Now that the City of Grapevine has
leased over 700 acres of parkland from the Corps of Engineers, staff will be looking at
grant opportunities to assist with the development of the new parkland which makes
maintaining grant resources of great importance.
M
February 8, 2005 (4:43PM)
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS, REQUESTING THE MEMBERS OF
THE 79TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF THE STATE OF
TEXAS SUPPORT THE TEXAS RECREATION AND
PARKS ACCOUNT AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE
WHEREAS, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, hereinafter referred to as
"TPWD" has a separate account in their general revenue fund referred to as the Texas
Recreation and Parks Account, hereinafter referred to as "TRPA", for the purpose of
providing matching grants to political subdivisions for parks and recreation development
in Texas; and
WHEREAS, the matching grants provided by the TPWD are utilized for the
planning, acquisition, and/or development of park and recreational areas, or open space
areas to be owned and maintained by the political subdivision; and
WHEREAS, funds granted to political subdivisions under the TRPA and Local
Park Fund guidelines have funded 931 projects of the 2,721 submitted over 25 years
delivering over $603 million dollars to the local Texas economy; and
WHEREAS, the TRPA is funded from sales tax on sporting goods and that the
development of new parks stimulates the purchase of sporting goods; and
WHEREAS, the development of parks encourages and promotes public health,
economic development, job creation, education, corporate relocations, good quality of
life as well as juvenile crime prevention; and
WHEREAS, political subdivisions throughout the State of Texas depend on
grants from TPWD through the TRPA to stimulate the acquisition and development of
parks and recreational areas for the benefit and enjoyment of their citizenry; and
WHEREAS, the City of Grapevine has received several TRPA grants to develop
parks and facilities such as Casey's Clubhouse and improvements at Dove Park, Bear
Creek Park and Pleasant Glade Swimming Pool; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of this City Council that a copy of this resolution with
appropriate names affixed be presented to the Governor of Texas and the leadership of
the 79th Texas Legislature.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS:
Section 1. That all matters stated in the above preamble are true and correct
and are incorporated herein as if copied in their entirety.
Section 2. That the City Council requests members of the 79th Legislature of
Texas allow the TPWD to restore the funding for the TRPA to its original level prior to
the 78th Legislature and that all grants funded be subject to the competitive scoring
system through TPWD.
Section 3. That this resolution shall become effective from and after the date of
its final passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this the 15th day of February, 2005.
ATTEST:
RES. NO. 2