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CC Resolution No. 181279 RESOLUTION NO. 1812 A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS, AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS, REQUESTING MEMBERS OF THE 80Tn LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS SUPPORT INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE TEXAS RECREATION & PARKS ACCOUNT LOCAL PARK GRANT PROGRAM AND THE TEXAS STATE PARK SYSTEM; AND PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF. r*** rr******** t******r r**** aerrrrr****** t* s****• rrr* rw*** x* *x * *tr *t *tt : * * *•srrr * *r * * * * * * ** WHEREAS, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department ( "TPWD ") administers the Texas Recreation & Parks Account Local Park Grant Program ( "TRPA ") and manages 114 State parks and historical sites in Texas; and WHEREAS, TPWD has a separate accounting in their general revenue fund referred to as the TRPA for the purpose of providing matching grants to political subdivisions for parks and recreation projects; and WHEREAS, the matching grants provided by the TPWD are utilized for the planning, acquisition and development of local park, recreation and open space areas to be owned and maintained by political subdivisions; and WHEREAS, funds granted to political subdivision under the TRPA guidelines have funded 1,027 projects of the 2,851 submitted over 25 years, delivering over SIX HUNDRED TWENTY -THREE MILLION AND NO /100 DOLLARS ($623,000,000.00) to the local Texas economy; and WHEREAS, political subdivisions throughout the State of Texas depend on grants from TPWD through the TRPA to stimulate the acquisition and development of parks and recreational areas for the benefit and enjoyment of their citizenry; and WHEREAS, since 1971, the City of Baytown has received 16 TRPA grants totaling THREE MILLION ONE HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED THIRTY -SIX AND 28/100 DOLLARS ($3,120,136.28) for the acquisition and development of City parks; and WHEREAS, the TRPA and State parks are funded from sales tax on sporting goods and the development of new parks stimulates the purchase of sporting goods; and WHEREAS, continued cutbacks in appropriations for State park and historic sites have resulted in a backlog of deferred maintenance issues, park closures reduced hours and days of operation staff layoffs, the conversion of some parks to day use only and elimination of important visitor services, regardless of the growing need for new parks due to the State's expanding population and extensive tourism industry; and WHEREAS, the development of parks encourages and promotes public health, economic development, job creation, education, corporate relocations, an improved quality of life and juvenile crime prevention; and WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Parks and Recreation Board of the City of Baytown, Texas, and the City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, that a copy of this resolution with appropriate names affixed be presented to the Governor of Texas and the leadership of the 80`h Texas Legislature; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS, AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS: Section 1: That the Parks and Recreation Board of the City of Baytown, Texas, and the City Council of the City of Baytown respectfully request that the members of the 80`h Legislature of Texas seek passage of legislation maximizing the use of revenue from the sporting goods sales tax to increase funding for M parks and recreation programs fairly for both local and state parks and that all TRPA funded park projects be subject to the established TPWD competitive scoring system. Section 2: That the City Clerk is hereby directed to send a copy of this resolution to the Governor of Texas. Section 3: This resolution shall take effect immediately from and after its passage by both the Parks and Recreation Board of the City of Baytown, Texas, and the City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas. INTRODUCED, READ and PASSED, by the affirmative vote of the Parks and Recreation Board of the City of Baytown, Texas, this the 6`h day of September, 2006. Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: NACIO RAMIREZ, SR., Cky Attorney WAYNE G AY, Chairman INTRODUCED, READ and PASSED, by the affirmative Baytown this the 14th day of September, 2006. APPROVED AS TO FORM: ACIO RAMI /RED Z, SR., C' Attorney R: KarenTilesVCity Council AResolutions \2006ASeptember 14VParksResolution.doc 2 H. of the City Council of the City of Mayor