File #: 15-1206    Version: 1 Name: Resolution - A Resolution to Consider Requesting the Members of the 84th Legislative Session of the State of Texas to Support Legislation that Increases Funding for Texas Recreation and Parks Account and Large County and Municipality Recreation and Parks
Type: Resolution Status: Passed
File created: 1/20/2015 In control: City Council
On agenda: 1/26/2015 Final action: 1/26/2015
Title: Resolution - A Resolution to Consider Requesting the Members of the 84th Legislative Session of the State of Texas to Support Legislation that Increases Funding for Texas Recreation and Parks Account and Large County and Municipality Recreation and Parks Account Local Park Grant Programs and the Texas State Park System
Sponsors: Shelly Lanners
Attachments: 1. Resolution
Title
Resolution - A Resolution to Consider Requesting the Members of the 84th Legislative Session of the State of Texas to Support Legislation that Increases Funding for Texas Recreation and Parks Account and Large County and Municipality Recreation and Parks Account Local Park Grant Programs and the Texas State Park System
Requested Action
Consider resolution requesting members of the 84th Legislative Session to support increasing funding for Texas Recreation Park Account for local park grant funding and the Texas state park system.
Recommendation
Approve resolution
Description/History
The Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS) Board has officially adopted a platform for the State's 84th Legislative Session.  The primary goal of the platform is to keep funds in the Texas Recreation and Park Account (TRPA), which is the primary funding source for the Texas Parks and Wildlife grant program.  The grant program has been around since 1979 and in 1995 legislation was passed to fund the grant program from sales tax from sporting goods.  The original law called for up to $32 million to be set in the TRPA for grant programs for local parks.  The 82nd legislative session reduced that amount to zero and the 83rd legislative session increased the fund to $5.2 million.  TRAPS is requesting support from City Council's to request members of the 84th legislative session to pass legislation maximizing the use of revenue from the sporting goods sales tax and increase funding for parks and recreation programs for both local and state parks and that all TRPA and Urban Account funded park projects be subject to the established TPWD competitive scoring system.  Also the resolution requests the member of the 84th legislative session to restore funding to the TRPA accounts in the amount of at least $15.5 million per year.
Justification
The City of Mansfield has been the recipient of outdoor and indoor grants provided by TRPA funds, including McClendon Park East (1982), McKnight Park East (1986), McClendon Park West (1992), Rose Park (1995), the Mansfield Activities Center (1997), and Walnut Creek Linear Park Phase I (2005).  The City currently has applied for a TRPA grant for Chandler Park Phase II and will be submitting a grant application for Walnut Creek Linear Park, Phase II.
Funding Source
N/A
Prepared By
Shelly Lanners, Director, Community Services
817-276-4265