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Council Meeting: '4f13fE2 '
T0: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
Santa.MOnica, California ,~
APR 1 3 9882
SUBJECT: Communicationto National Legislatorsre: Land & Water Conservation Fund
Introduction
This staff report requests Council authorize communication toourrepresentatives in
Washington concerning the-reinstitution and funding of the Land and Water Conservation
Fund.
Background
The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a fund that has been used to provide matching
grants to cities for the construction of parks. Fiftypercentof the cost of Clover
Park construction was borne by the federal government in the Land and Water Conservation
Fund. Under President Reagan's administration, this fund has been thoroughly cut back
and has only been earmarked for use in existing national parks. The fund was established
by Congress in 1965, since that time, the fund has returned over 2.5 billion to State and
local government for the planning, purchasing and developing of more than 20,000 park and
outdoor recreationfacilities in over 14,000 communities across the nation. Actually,
this type of activity is one of the best eXamples of the President's concept of the new
federalism because it places responsibility for the provision of Park and Recreation
services squarely in local government.
The revenues for the Land and Water Conservation Fund are derived from royalty leases
on mineral and oil exploration on the outer continental shelf. The oil royalties from
leases are expected.18 billion next year, and the Reagan administration has eliminated
that state poxtion of the-Land and Water Conservation Fund, and all but eliminated monies
for federal landpurchases.
APR 1 3 9982
TO: Mayor and City Council
Page 2
The National Recreation andParks Association is suggestingthat.$100,000,000 be appropriated
for the state and local portion of Land and Water Conservation fund, which is far below
the documented $500,000,000 needed for state and local systems.
Recommendation
Staff recon~ends that Council authorize the Mayor to correspond with our senator and
Congressman, urging them to back legislation which would enable Congress to add funding
of the Land and WaterConservation Fund to themPresident's budget.
Prepared by: Donald T. Arnett, Director
Recreation and Parks
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