Item 5FCity of Southlake, Texas
MEMORANDUM
January 14, 2003
TO: Billy Campbell, City Manager
FROM: Malcolm Jackson, Interim Director of Community Services (xt. 1527)
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 03 -002, Supporting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's grant
program for land acquisition and park development
Action Requested: City Council approval of Resolution No. 03 -002 supporting the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department's grant program for park land acquisition and the
development of park and recreation facilities.
Background
Information: Funded through a State tax on sporting goods, the Texas Recreation and Parks
Account is the local park matching grant program administered by the Texas Parks
& Wildlife Department (TPWD). Staff at the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
(TPWD) restructured the local park grant program in 1999. Public hearings were
held around the state and TPWD staff listened to comments on how the program
could be administered fairly, and the grant program was changed accordingly.
Texas Legislators, at the end of the 77 Legislative Session, approved $2.4 million
for four (4) local park projects utilizing funds from the Texas Recreation and Parks
Account. The money allocated directly by the Legislature was approved without
going through the TPWD grant process that cities have historically been required to
go through. Three of the projects that were funded qualified for review through the
grant process. The remaining project was for operating costs and is not authorized
according to the guidelines established for the grants program.
By tapping funds from the Texas Recreation and Parks Account for special
projects, Legislators circumvented the grant process. This action may adversely
impact the integrity of the grants program and the City's future grant applications.
The proposed resolution urges State Legislators to allow the Texas Parks &
Wildlife Department to continue to manage the Texas Recreation and Parks
Account according to the recognized grant review and award process.
Financial
Consideration: The City of Southlake has received Texas Parks and Wildlife grants for the
development of Bob Jones Park totaling over $500,000. Future grant applications
may include a recreation center and various park development projects.
Billy Campbell, City Manager
January 14, 2003
Page 1
Financial Impact: Funding for future parks and recreation projects may be impacted by entities
circumventing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's established grant
program.
Citizen Input/
Board Review: The Parks Board considered this item and recommended City Council approval (7-
0) at their January 13, 2003 meeting.
A number of other Texas cities have currently approved a similar resolution
including Allen, Bedford, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Duncanville, Beaumont,
Longview, Stephenville, Missouri City, and The Colony, to name a few. Many
others are currently in the process of approving such a resolution or are considering
it.
Legal Review: Standard resolution format.
Alternatives: Alternatives may include:
• City Council approval as submitted.
• City Council discussion and input.
• City Council decision not to recommend the proposed Resolution No. 03 -002.
Supporting
Documents: Supporting documents include the following:
■ Copy of proposed Resolution No. 03 -002
Staff
Recommendation: City Council approval of Resolution No. 03 -002 supporting the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department's grant program for park land acquisition and the
development of park and recreation facilities.
RESOLUTION NO. 03 -002
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, REQUESTING THE MEMBERS OF THE
78 LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS
SUPPORT THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
IN THEIR EFFORT TO MANAGE A FAIR AND JUST LOCAL
PARKS GRANT PROGRAM REFERRED TO AS THE TEXAS
RECREATION AND PARKS ACCOUNT.
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 related activities; and
WHEREAS, the matching grants provided by the TPWD are utilized for the planning,
acquisition, or development of a park, recreational area, or open space area to be owned and operated by
the political subdivision; and
WHEREAS, funds granted to political subdivisions under TRPA guidelines may not be used for
the operation and maintenance of parks, recreational areas, and open space areas; and
WHEREAS, officials from TPWD hosted public hearings throughout the State of Texas in 1999
for the purpose of gathering testimony from interested citizens on how to develop a fair system for
scoring and approving grants to political subdivisions; and
WHEREAS, political subdivisions throughout the State of Texas depend on grants from TPWD
to assist in the acquisition and development of parks and recreational areas for the benefit and enjoyment
of their citizenry; and
WHEREAS, parks and recreational opportunities play an important role in juvenile crime
prevention, public health, economic development, education and quality of life.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. That a copy of this resolution with appropriate names affixed be presented to the
Governor of Texas and the leadership of the 78 Texas Legislature.
SECTION 2. That members of the 78 Legislature of Texas allow the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department to manage the Texas Recreation and Parks Account in a fair manner to
preserve the integrity of the grant program.
SECTION 3. That members of the 78 Legislature of Texas not approve funding for projects
utilizing funds from the Texas Recreation and Parks Account that have not gone
through the grant process established and approved by the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department and Commission.
Resolution No. 03 -002
January 14, 2003
Page 2
PASSED AND APPROVED on this the day of January 2003, by the City Council of the City of
Southlake, Texas.
APPROVED:
Rick Stacy, Mayor
ATTEST:
Lori Farwell, City Secretary