25A - GOVT LIAISON SERVICES TOWNSEND

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area to the City's water system. TPA subsequently identified and reported on three types of funding that CDPH administers and our team remains actively involved in helping the City and DPMWC secure those funding opportunities as part of a successful resolution of the challenges faced by DPMWC and its residents. Santa Ana Unified School District In the fall of 2009, TPA advised staff from the Santa Ana Unified School District on various funding programs available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, specifically California's application to the Race to the Top program. TPA provided comprehensive summaries of the Race to the Top program during a meeting with Superintendent Jane Russo at Santa Ana Unified School District and conducted a conference call with relevant staff to explain the application, the State's competitive chances, the political forces, and the ramifications of participation or declining to participate. TPA continued to advise on the steps necessary to be included in the state's Race to the Top application. On January 7, 2010 the Santa Ana Unified School District decided to participate in the state's Race to the Top application and passed the required MOU. In March this year we learned that the state's application was not successful. The State will reapply for Round 2, but chances are slim. Upcoming State Funding Opportunities Proposition 84 -Nature Education Facilities Funding Separate from the more traditional parks grant program, the Nature Education Facilities (NEF) grant program focuses on capital projects focused exclusively on providing supplement educational opportunities around natural resources-related topics. There are $93 million in this first, and only, round of grants. Applications are due July 1, 2010. City staff intends to submit an application to this program for improvements at the Santa Ana Zoo. TPA will work closely with the City throughout this process, most especially with DPR in an attempt to secure funding for the City in what promises to be another highly competitive program. Water Bond While it certainly took a good bit of wrangling among state leadership, agreement on a legislative water bond has been reached and the measure will appear on the ballot this coming November. Early polling shows strong support for the measure among voters, and the Governor even included spending related to the bond in his May Revise budget proposal. In short, this is now a very real opportunity on the horizon. We've attached a summary of the provisions in the bond for your reference. Proposition 84 - 2"d Round of Competitive Parks Funding Regardless of the success of the City's pending application in the first round of this program, there will be additional opportunities to secure funding from this program. TPA has already spoken with City staff about this second round of funding and how we can prepare to make the most of our first round application (again, regardless of outcome). TPA remains actively engaged with DPR with regard to future funding rounds and will be ready to engage at the earliest possible time to keep the City ahead of any developments. As of now, applications for the second round will be due no earlier than early 2011, though that timeline could change depending on the time taken to complete the first round. 25A-5