Proposal to Keep Parks Open Passes Out of Legislature

The State Legislature passed a proposal to save dozens of state parks slated for closure on July 1, and reduce the closure of still more parks in 2013.

The ‘’ put forward by State Senator Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) and State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), included in Senate Bill 1018, would:

• Build on the nonprofit partnerships established through the California Parks Foundation and their nonprofit partners;
• Implement “new ways of working” in the parks, including encouraging parks to become more entrepreneurial and allowing more personnel flexibility;
• Allocate up to $41 million in existing funding to parks that may be appropriately used for park purposes.

That last point could help break the stalemate between Benicia and the Department of Parks and Recreatioin.  The city is willing to run the if the state will assume responsibility for liability in the SRA.  One reason the city wants the state to assume liability is the terrible condition of the roads.

This bill would allocate state road money to be used for repairs in state parks like the .

“Our state parks are integral to the economy, health and history of California,” said Evans, who has 20 of the 70 state parks slated for closure in her Second Senate District including the beloved Standish-Hickey State Park in Mendocino County. “This proposal will provide the funds needed to keep our parks open and our legacy intact while laying a foundation for our park’s economic sustainability.”

“Closing state parks has always been, in my mind, an unacceptable option, and I’m very pleased that this proposal is moving forward,” said Simitian. “These parks are precious public resources and extraordinary economic assets. They are part of our heritage as Californians. They are places that hold great meaning for all of us. While this budget proposal by no means puts an end to our effort to keep parks open, it is an encouraging start with long-term potential.”

 The proposal, included in a package of bills that follow the budget, called “budget trailer bills”, is now headed to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk. Governor Brown has the power to veto, or ‘blue pencil,’ items in budget bills.

These additional, existing funding sources include $10 million annually in long-term loans from the Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund to fix water and septic system problems that plague many aging park facilities; shifting $10 million from existing vehicle registration fees for park road repair, maintenance and law enforcement; and giving the Department of Parks and Recreation more flexibility in the use of funds, by giving them the option to use up to $21 million of gas tax funds before they’re deposited into the Off-Highway Vehicle Trust Fund. The last funding source would sunset after three years. In total, the proposal secures up to $109.34 million for state parks. 

Absent the Governor’s veto, the bill would take effect on July 1, the start of the new fiscal year. Originally, as many as 70 state parks had been slated for closure on July 1. The Governor has until July 9 to act on the bill or it becomes law without his signature.