Consent 1.J.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 12/09/2019
- TITLE
- Resolution Supporting Full Federal Funding of Land and Water Conservation Funding (LWCF) Grants
- PRESENTED BY:
- Mike Whitaker
- Department:
- Parks/Rec/Public Lands
Presentation:
No
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was established by Congress in 1964. Its simple premise is that as natural resources from offshore oil and gas are extracted, a portion of royalties generated are invested in protecting America's important public lands for future generations on the federal, state and local level.
Over the more than five decades this program has been in place, it has become one of the most successful governmental programs to preserve our country's precious natural and cultural resources and has improved equitable access to the outdoors in urban and rural communities across the nation.
Montana has received more than 775 statewide grants to local governments and state parks totaling over $597 million and making improvements in nearly all of the state's counties.
The City of Billings has received 41 grants totaling more than $1,801,200 used to make enhancements such as the development of many of our community and neighborhood parks including Optimist, Rose, Stewart, Amend, Pioneer, Riverfront, Lillis, Ponderosa, Poly Vista, Hawthorne and South. It has also provided improvements such as the skate park, upgrades to Park 3 Golf Course, playgrounds, athletic fields and hiking and biking trails.
Montana Wilderness Association is working to gather resolutions from Montana's communities to show support for the full funding of the LWCF program and intends to forward these resolutions to the entire Montana Congressional Delegation.
Over the more than five decades this program has been in place, it has become one of the most successful governmental programs to preserve our country's precious natural and cultural resources and has improved equitable access to the outdoors in urban and rural communities across the nation.
Montana has received more than 775 statewide grants to local governments and state parks totaling over $597 million and making improvements in nearly all of the state's counties.
The City of Billings has received 41 grants totaling more than $1,801,200 used to make enhancements such as the development of many of our community and neighborhood parks including Optimist, Rose, Stewart, Amend, Pioneer, Riverfront, Lillis, Ponderosa, Poly Vista, Hawthorne and South. It has also provided improvements such as the skate park, upgrades to Park 3 Golf Course, playgrounds, athletic fields and hiking and biking trails.
Montana Wilderness Association is working to gather resolutions from Montana's communities to show support for the full funding of the LWCF program and intends to forward these resolutions to the entire Montana Congressional Delegation.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED
City Council may:
- Approve,the resolution supporting and encouraging Congress to enact full funding of Land Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program or;
- Disapprove the resolution and provide staff with additional guidance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There will be no adverse financial impact to the City.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the resolution expressing support for and urging Congress to enact full funding of the Land Water Conservation Fund program.