To best summarize our current progress in developing the Technical Assistance Program (TAP), we present the following timeline:
| Date of Award | Recipient | RPOSD Description |
| May 20, 2019 | Community Nature Connection (CNC) | Urban Parks TAP |
| June 4, 2019 | Nature For All – Community Partners (NFA) | Community Based Building and Leadership Development Program |
| July 16, 2019 | GreenInfo Network (GIN) | Ongoing Parks Data Portal |
| August 28, 2019 | Regents of the University of California – Luskin Center for Innovation (UCLA) | Park Narrative and Performance Metrics Measure A Urban Parks TAP |
| September 30, 2019 | Council for Watershed Health (CWH) | Enhanced Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, Water Efficiency, Storm Water Management, and Climate Resiliency |
RPOSD issued Stop Notices to the 5 TAP grantees, directing grantees to stop all work on TAP grants.
RPOSD requests all work product and deliverables created prior to issuance of Stop Notices be transmitted to RPOSD;
TAP grantees that received cash advances – Community Nature Connection, UCLA Luskin Center, Nature For All – are given 30 days to reimburse RPOSD.
RPOSD is reviewing all final invoices from 5 TAP grantees to determine allowable costs.
Following processing of final invoices, all TAP grants will be closed out.*
*Note, at the time of termination, GreenInfo Network had completed approximately 80% of a data portal. Given the ongoing need for the data portal, RPOSD is exploring legally permissible options to contract for the completion of the portal.
RPOSD is reaching out to stakeholders who previously offered to share their expertise in the area of technical assistance.
To inform TAP development, RPOSD will survey identified Very High Need or High Need entities on their specific needs.
Possible Format
RPOSD is considering a Master Agreement format by which qualified consultants/entities that meet the specific requirements for a given technical assistance area would qualify for an agreement with RPOSD.
RPOSD would then match consultants/entities that qualify for a Master Agreement with Very High Need or High Need entities, depending on specific needs.
Target Date
Given COVID-19 related delays, RPOSD is targeting Fall 2020 for the rollout of TAP.
All Los Angeles County buildings, including RPOSD’s office, have been temporarily closed to public visitors, in effort help mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). However, we will still be operating regular business hours. The Citizens Oversight Advisory Board meeting scheduled for March 25 has been postponed until further notice. Please look out for future announcements on changes or more information on email blasts and on our website. If you have questions or concerns, we can be reached at (626) 588-5060 or info@rposd.lacounty.gov during business hours of Monday – Thursday from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm.
This is a friendly reminder that the Competitive Grant Applications for Recreation Access and Youth and Veteran Job Training and Placement Programs are due on February 25 at 3pm in our GMS.
Please make sure that your organization has registered in GMS by our deadline, a representative has attended at least one required application workshop, and your applications are complete and submitted in time to be considered for potential funding.
Visit our Competitive Grants page for more information, including a running list of Frequently Asked Questions, Application Questions Outlines (Recreation Access & Youth and Veterans) and Third Party Evaluators Information Sheet.
Thank you!
On January 8, 2020, the first Citizens Oversight Advisory Board meeting was held and board members endorsed the 2019 Annual Report as well as the most recent Quarterly Status Report for publication.
Called for under Measure A, the 2019 Annual Report by Regional Park and Open Space District (District) can be accessed in “Reports” under the “Grants” menu tab. On the same “Reports” page, you can also find the current quarterly status report, listed under the “All Quarterly Status Reports” button.
This is a friendly reminder that organizations have until January 30, 2020 to complete their Grants Management System (GMS) Registration Renewal. GMS Registration Renewal includes updating the following information depending on your agency type:
Public Agencies
• Upload of the most recent completed financial audit showing financial statements are accurate and complete. CAFR’s (Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports) are acceptable.
• Upload of Report Intent to Apply for Annual Allocations. Intent to use or accrue. Spending Timeline is required.
• Updating Neighborhood Parks Needs Assessment Inventory Data will not be required at this time. The update period will be announced by the District at a later date.
Nonprofit Organizations
• Upload of the most recent completed financial audit showing financial statements are accurate and complete.
• Upload Proof of Good Tax Standing. Copy of latest IRS Form 990.
Schools
• Upload of the most recent completed financial audit showing financial statements are accurate and complete.
Failure to update this information will cause an organization to be out of Good Standing. Organizations out of Good Standing are not eligible to apply for Measure A grants, which include the Recreation and Access and the Youth and Veterans Competitive Grant Programs. In addition, organizations out of Good Standing are unable to take action on open and active grants, such as submitting payment requests.
If you have any questions, please contact your Grants Officer or the District’s main line at (626)588-5060.
Applications for the Measure A Maintenance & Servicing (M&S) Funds for Nonprofit Organization are now available in the Grants Management System (GMS)!
The program will have a pool of approximately $1.9 million in funding available to be shared among all eligible applications. The program runs on a 3-year cycle with Fiscal Years 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 available this round. Measure A M&S Funds are available to eligible non profit organizations for maintenance and servicing of parklands acquired, improved or developed from projects that received grant funding from RPOSD’s Measure A and/or Proposition A programs. The complete guidelines for this program can be found on page 2-67 of the Grants Administration Manual.
For the 3-year cycle, Fiscal Years 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022, maintenance and servicing expenses incurred on or after July 1, 2019 are eligible for reimbursement. Maintenance & Servicing submissions are a multiple step process through the online Grants Management System.
Note: Fiscal year starts on July 1st and ends on June 30th.
Steps to Apply
Step 1: Register in the online Grants Management System (GMS). Applicants must be registered by Friday, November 22, 2019 to participate in this program. If your agency is already registered, please move to Step Two.
Step 2: Submit a M&S Budget Application between Wednesday, November 6, 2019 to Friday, December 5, 2019 by 5:00p.m. Budget review, approvals, and award will take two weeks. (December 9, 2019 to December 19, 2019)
Step 3: Submit a Claim, for fiscal year 2019-20 expenses only, beginning Monday, December 23, 2019. Claim periods for additional years to be announced.
Submission Deadlines:
M&S Budget Application received after the deadline will not be considered. Therefore, it will be to the organizations benefit to submit all M&S documentation as soon as possible, before the submission deadlines. If the total amount of approved budget applications exceeds the total funds available, a prorated portion may be approved for each eligible budget application.
RPOSD looks forward to reviewing the submitted applications for the Measure A M&S Funds for Nonprofit Organization Program. If you have any questions, please call (626) 588-5060 to be routed to a Grants Officer for assistance.
On September 3, 2019, based on the Consumer Price Index Update Policy, the tax rate for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019/2020 and FY 2020/2021 increased to a rate of 1.6 cents per square foot of structural improvements*.
This means that the average homeowner with a 1,500 square foot house would pay approximately $24.00 a year for “RPOSD Measure A” within their annual property tax bill.
Please review the corresponding Board Memo and Section 1.1 of the Grants Administration Manual for additional information. To view the amount of your upcoming tax investments for parks and open space in Los Angeles County, input the square footage of the developments on your property into our Assessment Calculator.
*In prior years, (from 2017 through June 2019) the assessment rate was at 1.5 cents per square foot of structural improvements.
The mandatory workshops are designed to guide applicants through the competitive grants process. While only one representative is required to attend, we recommend sending multiple representatives to at least one workshop. The application cycle for these two programs will close in February 2020 so ensure you attend one as soon as possible!
The Regional Recreation Facilities, Multi-Use Trails and Accessibility and the Natural Lands, Local Beaches, Local Water Conservation and Protection competitive grants programs will be available in Years 2020-2021.
For more information and the guidelines for the two available Competitive Grant programs, click here.
Two of the Competitive Grant Programs introduced by Measure A are coming soon! The application period for Recreation Access and Youth & Veteran’s Job Training and Placement can be expected to start September 2019 and workshops will run from September to January of next year to guide you through the process. Be sure to attend at least one – and the sooner the better as the application cycle for these two programs will close in February 2020! See the flyer below for more details. Also included below is another flyer with the Year 2020-2021 schedule, during which two other competitive programs will be introduced.
For more information regarding Competitive Grant programs in general, click here.
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