HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 99-14 RESOLUTION NO. R99-14
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS, SUPPORTING FULL FUNDING OF
THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND ANNIIALLY,
INCLUDING REVITALIZATION OF THE STATESIDE
GRANTS PROGRAM.
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WHEREAS, in 1964, Congress created the Land and Water Conservation Fund
(LWCF) to assure that all Americans have access to high quality recreation
resources, to enhance the health and vitality of the Nation, and to preserve
valuable habitat; and
WHEREAS, investments from the fund support the creation of public parks,
efficient management of forests, preservation of clear water and open spaces
and guarantee outdoor recreational opportunities, and other social and
environmental objectives for the nation; and
WHEREAS, since its creation, LWCF has been responsible for the acquisition
of nearly seven million acres of parks, public forests, and open space
including the development of more than 37,500 state and local resource
conservation and recreation projects, including playgrounds, ball fields,
national historical sites, scenic trails, and nature reserves; and
WHEREAS, the LWCF is authorized to invest $900 million annually in
recreational resources, principally from public revenue received from
off-shore energy extraction, and that the Congress must annually appropriate
funds from the LWCF account; and
WHEREAS, the Congress envisioned and encouraged, and the Act authorizes
federal-state, local partnerships to create a national network of public
parks and other recreation resources accessible to all people; and
WHEREAS, the fund emphasizes the need to conserve public spaces and to
develop and maintain state and local resources in anticipation of increasing
population and response to rapid changes in land use and availability; and
WHEREAS, for several years, no allocations have been made to fund the
stateside grants program, through the enabling legialation provided for such
allocations and encourage Congress to provide "close to home" sites and
recreational opportunities; and
WHEREAS, without congressional allocations for stateside programs, states
are severely limited in their capacity to develop parks and open spaces or
provide funds to local jurisdictions for the creation of neighborhood
recreational facilities; and
R99.14/LST03
WHEREAS, the need to preserve open spaces and develop and maintain local
parks and recreational facilities becomes more critical each year due to the
demands place on such facilities by ever increasing populations; and
WHEREAS, state local governments equally match federal fiscal resources than
assume all costs of management and provision of recreation services, thus
often containing the cost of potential federal actions to meet public demand;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Members of the National League of
Cities see, as an absolutely critical need, the full funding of the LwCF
annually, including revitalizing the stateside grants program; and
BE IT FURTH$R RESOLVED that the National League of Cities encourages
Congress to allocate roughly 40� of the funds available for the stateside
programs to be divided equally among the states to fund state and municipal
projects.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND RESOLVED this the 5th day of April, 1999.
Mayor Harold L. Whitaker
City of Friendswood
ATTEST:
C
. s
Deloris McKenzi , TR •
City Secretary
R99.14/LST03