AgdaPkt 2008-07-21 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

9A Page 8 Schwarzenegger the Legislature. This infonnation will be important as the League and local government and transportation partners seek additional funding for local streets and roads, as well as non-pavement assets including sidewalks, lighting, and traffic signals, in future budget years. The survey is available online at htto:/Iwww.savecalifomiastreets.orQ/particioate studv.aspx and should be completed no later than Friday, July 18. The League acknowledges that each city records data in different ways and may not have well defined pavement and non-pavement management, asset, and funding data. The project consultants ask that cities simply provide as much informatiOn as possible, to the best of their knowledge. The league and our partners are grateful to those cities that have already completed their surveys. This project is an opportunity to give the Governor and Legislature a clear understanding of local street and road funding needs. It is vital that the survey includes data reports from as many cities as possible to accurately represent all areas of the state. As of last month, more than 150 agencies had not yet recorded information. Find additional information about the goals of this project, status of data collection, and consultant contact information online at www.SaveCaliforniaStreets.org. Contact League Staff Dorothy Johnson (diohnson@cacities.orQ)to receive a hard copy of the survey. Please provide your full contact information, including fax number and email. Note: This survey does not pertain to the proposition 18 Local Streets and Roads funding. Cities Would Gain Park Funding With the Passage of AB 31 The League supports AS 31 (De Leon), a bill that would allocate $400 million of Proposition 84 funds to award competitive grants to park poor communities. ' AB 31 would require the California Department of Park and Recreation (DPR) to establish a local assistance program to distribute grants to the most park needy communities across the state. These grants would be used to fund the acquisition and development of parks, recreation areas, and facilities in 'criticaUy underserved communities." Communities defined as 'critically underserved" are those with less then three acres of usable parkland per 1,000 residents and/or can demonstrate insufficient or lack of park and recreation facilities. In addition, this measure would direct DPR to encourage joint partnership programs between two or more applicants to enhance investment of public resources. The League supports AS 31 because it would be an important step in helping communities that suffer from higher rates of crime, unemployment, poverty, school drop-outs, and health ailments by modifying current criteria to ensure that underserved communities are able to develop and improve neighborhood parks. Currently before the Senate, AS 31 is expected to go to the Governor's desk for signing. The league is optimistic that this bill will be signed and will provide an update through Priory Focus. Find a Bill, Legislators, Leg Committee, or Ask League Leg Staff Visit (and bookmark!) the league's Leaislative Resources Web page (INWW.cacities.oralleqresources). You'll find a roster and contact information for the league's legislative staff; the online Bill Search program, background materials on lobbying your legislators, and more. 4