Title
Recommendation to Authorize the Mayor to Sign, on Behalf of the City, a Letter of Support from Mayors Across the Country Regarding H.R. 1225 and S. 500, the Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act. (City Manager 2110)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Parks are an important amenity to the City of Alameda (City) residents, both local parks and nearby national parks.
Hundreds of mayors from across the country are signing on to a letter supporting H.R. 1225 and S. 500, the Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act.
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign this letter on behalf of the City in support of this proposed federal legislation.
BACKGROUND
Each year, the City Council adopts a Legislative Agenda that guides the City’s legislative advocacy efforts. The City reacts quickly to legislative issues that impact the City and are included as priorities in this annual document. If an issue develops that is not covered by the Legislative Agenda, it is brought to the City Council for consideration.
The 2019 Legislative Agenda supports legislation that support the development, expansion, and maintenance of Alameda parks.
While we do not have any national parks in the City, our residents are regular users of national parks and benefit greatly from their existence, maintenance, and protection. The proposed legislation uses an existing funding source to address deferred infrastructure needs.
DISCUSSION
H.R. 1225 and S. 500, the Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act, were introduced in February 2019. These bills establish, fund, and provide for the use of amounts in a National Park Service and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund to address the maintenance backlog of the National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Education, and for other purposes.
Funding to address needed park repairs and deferred maintenance would come from payments oil and gas companies are already making to the federal government for operating on public lands and waters. Deferred park maintenance includes deteriorating historic buildings, crumbling roads, outdated sewer, water, and electrical systems, and eroding trails and campgrounds.
In a recent poll commissioned by the Pew Charitable Trusts, 82 percent of Americans want Congress to pass legislation to invest in these overdue repairs.
The letter of support for H.R. 1225 and S. 500 that is being supported by mayors across the country reads as follows:
Dear Leader McConnell and Speaker Pelosi:
We are elected leaders of cities, towns, and counties that are adjacent to national park sites. The preservation of these sites is critical to the health of our local economies. That is why we urge you to advance legislation, S. 500 and H.R. 1225 that would dedicate federal funding for their repair. As you may know, the National Park System has a nearly $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog that affects the upkeep of historic artifacts and buildings, water systems, roads and trails, and many visitor facilities.
As gateways to national parks, we understand first-hand the economic importance of sustaining these special places in ways that attract visitation and tourism. Our communities provide the lodging, gas, food establishments, and other amenities that tourists require before, during, and after their park visits. According to the National Park Service, in 2018, the 318 million visitors to national parks contributed more than $40 billion in national economic output, which supported 329,000 jobs. Those jobs are economic lifelines for many of our residents.
We are proud neighbors and partners of America’s national parks and understand the important roles these places play in protecting and providing access to our natural and cultural heritage. We need to repair and maintain these cherished sites, not only for the economic benefits they supply, but to keep intact our National Park System, which historian Wallace Stegner called “America’s best idea.” Please provide your leadership in guiding S. 500 and H.R. 1225 through to final passage.
Sincerely,
Mayors Names Inserted Here
ALTERNATIVES
City Council can either 1) authorize the Mayor to sign on to this legislative letter of support, or 2) decide to not weigh in on this legislative matter.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from authorizing the Mayor to sign a letter of support for H.R. 1225 and S. 500, the Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
There is no impact to the Alameda Municipal Code from the adoption of this Resolution.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Adoption of the staff recommendation will not result in a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
CLIMATE IMPACTS
Maintaining our national parks provides a positive environmental impact and reduces greenhouse gas emissions at the national level.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the Mayor to sign, on behalf of the City of Alameda, a letter of support from mayors across the country regarding H.R. 1225 and S. 500, the Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
This item is on the agenda for City Council consideration at the request of the Mayor.
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah Henry, Public Information Officer
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager