Presenter: Tim Hogsett

Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Action
Indoor Recreation Grants
January 1999

I. DISCUSSION: The Texas Recreation and Parks Account Program (TRPA) is a dedication of a portion of the state sales tax on sporting goods, effective September 1, 1993. This program provides matching fund assistance to local governments for outdoor and indoor recreation.

Section 24.005 (b) of the Parks and Wildlife Code states that "in establishing the program of grants under this section, the department shall adopt rules and regulations for grant assistance. When revenues to the Texas Recreation and Parks Account exceed $14 million per year, an amount not to exceed 15% shall be made available for grants to local governments for up to 50% of the cost of acquisition or development of indoor public recreation facilities for indoor recreation programs, sports activities, nature programs or exhibits." Fifteen percent is $2.3 million annually.

This review includes applications from 8 sponsors, requesting $3,303,795 in matching funds for all applications submitted by July 31, 1998. Projects have been analyzed by staff and are ranked in descending order of priority. In order to utilize the entire $2.3 million in the single annual review cycle, only the first 5 projects are recommended for full funding. The remaining $178,405 is recommended as partial funding of the sixth ranking project. Exhibit A contains the priority listing with funds requested by the sponsors and funds recommended by staff. Exhibit B contains a discussion of individual, eligible project proposals.

II. RECOMMENDATION: The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

"Funding for projects listed in Exhibit A in the amount of $2,300,000.00 is approved, as described for individual projects in Exhibit B."

Attachments - 3

Exhibit A - Priority Listing
Exhibit B - Discussion of Individual Project Proposals
Exhibit C - Fiscal Note (Exhibits B and C - Available upon request)


Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit A

Indoor Priority Listing
Local Park Funding Requests
(Descending Order of Priority)
(A = Acquisition, D = Development)
(*Resubmitted Project)

APPLICANT AND PROJECT TYPE REQUESTED RECOMMENDED CUMULATIVE
Lancaster Recreation Center A/D 500,000.00 $500,000.00 $500,000.00
Harker Heights Recreation Center A/D 500,000.00 $500,000.00 $1,000,000.00
Lometa Gynmasium and Recreation Center* D 400,000.00 $400,000.00 $1,400,000.00
Wellington City/County Fairgrounds Expo Center* D 221,595.00 $221,595.00 $1,621,595.00
Wells Branch M.U.D. Recreation Center D 500,000.00 $500,000.00 $2,121,595.00
Benbrook Recreation Center** D 500,000.00 $178,405.00 $2,300,000.00
Conroe Candy Cane Recreation Center D 182,200.00 $0 $2,300,000.00
Houston MacGregor Park Recreation Center D 500,000.00 $0 $2,300,000.00
TOTAL   3,303,795.00 $2,300,000.00  

** Partial funding recommended due to limitation of available funding.


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