Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
JUNE 18, 2020
Preamble
Motion by:
DIRECTORS KUEHL AND SOLIS
Leveraging and Coordinating Green Infrastructure Funding:
Creating the WHAM Committee
Over the last three years, the voters of Los Angeles County have approved four infrastructure funding measures that generate $1.5 billion each year for Los Angeles County projects and programs. Measure W, adopted in November 2018 will raise nearly $300 million each year, beginning in 2020, for stormwater infrastructure projects. It is being implemented by the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, a special district overseen by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Measure H, adopted in March 2017 raises approximately $355 million each year for homelessness services and housing, and is administered by the LA County CEO’s office. Measure A, adopted in November 2016, provides approximately $100 million each year for new parks and park improvements. Measure A is administered by the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District. Finally, Measure M, approved in November of 2016 and administered by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority, raises approximately $860 million each year for transportation infrastructure.
With this significant funding comes significant responsibility on the part of government to prudently manage that money. Responsible stewardship includes coordination and efficient use of those funds. In the absence of intentional coordination, any collaboration will be ad hoc at best. Despite all the money, we know it’s not enough, but it will go farther if we coordinate the sources and use the funds intelligently.
Possible areas of collaboration include coordinated planning, working to develop multi-benefit/purpose projects that combine multiple sources of money; and coordinated attempts to leverage existing County funds with other sources of money, including local, state and federal funding opportunities.
In addition, there are several cross-cutting issues that lend themselves to a coordinated approach including workforce development and job training; outreach and education programs, technical assistance, and various policies. Indeed, several County departments have already begun to meet to discuss workforce development collaboration. This work should continue and be expanded upon.
The departments and agencies implementing W, H, A, and M should therefore work collaboratively in a systematic, regular manner, engaging municipalities, technical experts, and other stakeholders where appropriate.
Subject
SUBJECT: LEVERAGING AND COORDINATING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING: CREATING THE WHAM COMMITTEE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
APPROVE Motion by Directors Kuehl and Solis that the Board direct the Chief Executive Officer to join the County process to regularly convene leaders of the departments and agencies implementing measures W, H, A, and M for the purposes of creating efficiencies across programs; fulfilling the goals of measures W, H, A, and M; facilitating coordinated programmatic and project/project area planning; implementation of specific multi-benefit projects, project areas, and programs; leveraging W, H, A, and M funding with other funding sources-including other local, state and federal funding opportunities; fostering procedural, project, and programmatic collaboration; and eliminating redundancies and inconsistent policies where appropriate.