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46 | PARKS, RECREATION & COMMUNITY SERVICES NEEDS ASSESSMENT <br />FUNDING <br />to improve and expand park resources in the City. As <br />the median income increases, there may be a growing <br />opportunity to develop local philanthropical goals to <br />support and expand parks and recreation. <br />Public-Private Partnerships <br />Public agencies can enter into working agreements <br />with private corporations or non-profi ts to help fund, <br />build and/or operate public facilities and amenities. <br />The three incentives that public agencies can typically <br />off er are free land, often a park or other type of public <br />land, tax advantages or access to public facilities. In <br />exchange for being able to develop public facilities at <br />lower costs, the public agency may have to give up <br />certain responsibilities or control. <br />Grants <br />Private organizations and public agencies off er a <br />variety of grant programs. Most park and recreation <br />grant funds come from the Federal or State <br />government and are limited to funding the acquisition, <br />design and construction of parks, facilities and trails. <br />The active list of grant programs changes regularly as <br />Federal and State budgets expand and contract, and <br />the application schedule and process must therefore <br />be learned and monitored. Most grants require that <br />the local agency match a percentage of the awarded <br />grant with local dollars. <br />• Habitat Conservation Fund: The Habitat <br />Conservation Fund grant program is funded <br />and administered by the Offi ce of Grants and <br />Local Services, which allocates approximately $2 <br />million each year to counties, cities and districts. <br />Projects eligible under this program include nature <br />interpretation programs, protection of plant and <br />animal species, and acquisition and development of <br />wildlife corridors and trails. <br />• Land and Water Conservation Funds: This grant <br />program is funded by the National Park Service <br />and administered by California State Parks. this <br />program was previously a major source of grant <br />money for local agencies, before being defunded in <br />the 1990’s. The funds can be used for acquisition <br />and development of outdoor facilities and require a <br />50% local match. <br />• US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW): <br />The USFW provides technical assistance and <br />administers funding for projects that enhance <br />water quality, including debris removal, fl ood <br />mitigation, and enhancements to water crossings. <br />• California Department of Fish and Wildlife <br />(CDFW): The CDFW may provide technical <br />assistance and administer funding for projects that <br />enhance water quality, including debris removal, <br />fl ood mitigation, and enhancements to water <br />crossings. <br />• California State Bicycle Funds: Revenue from <br />California state gas taxes are distributed through <br />California State Bicycle Funds to cities for the <br />development of bicycle lanes. This fund is also <br />a good funding source for developing off -street <br />bicycle trails. <br />• Recreation Trails Program (RTP): The <br />Recreation Trails grant program is funded through <br />the California Parks and Recreation Department. <br />Projects eligible under this program include the <br />maintenance and restoration of existing trails, <br />the development and rehabilitation of trailhead <br />facilities, the construction of new recreation <br />trails, and the acquisition of easements and fee <br />simple titles to properties. Grants are distributed <br />annually and require a 20% local match. The RTP is <br />authorized through 2020. <br />7.A. - Page 64 of 66 <br />176