1. Responding to Closure Crisis Facing California’s State Parks November 17, 2011 Bay Area Open Space Council Traci Verardo-Torres, VP, Government Affairs California State Parks Foundation

2. About CSPF Founded in 1969 Over 120,000 members statewide Dedicated to protecting, enhancing and advocating for California’s state park system Key priorities: –Advocacy & policy development –Park restoration & capital projects –Volunteerism in parks –Supporting educational programs

3. How We Got Here Declining General Fund support for DPR (90% in ‘70s vs 40% today) Burgeoning deferred maintenance backlog Increase in population, park acreage, compliance costs Park closure proposals: Jan 2008, May 2009, Jan 2011 (enacted)

4. How We Got Here (2) Prop 21 loss Administration: –Focus on realignment, reduction in government service –Use of parks for partisan compromises Legislature: –Parks vs. every other cut –March budget action vs. May closure list

5. Criteria for Closures Relative statewide significance Visitation, Net savings Feasibility of physically closing Existing/potential partners Operational efficiencies Infrastructure investments Deed & other legal restrictions Presence of non-GF dedicated funds

6. Assembly Bill 42 Authorizes operating agreements with nonprofits for: –Development, improvement, restoration, care maintenance, administration or operation Unlimited partial operators 20 parks for full operations Funds raised stay in park unit

7. Responses to Closures 1.Funding/fundraising –for status quo –with hope of changes 2.Non gov’t operating proposals 3.Local government operators 4.Hybrid gov’t/non-gov’t operating proposals

8. CSPF Priorities Long-term Continue pursuit of sustainable funding Work toward state park excellence Short-term Fight additional cuts Create framework for future of state parks Nonprofit technical assistance & funding Explore new revenue options

9. Legislature’s Role Do no more harm Don’t let good deeds get punished Support & participate in local efforts to keep parks open Support appropriate, mission-centric revenues options

10. Save Our State Parks Campaign Citizen Actions Don’t Let State Parks Become a Memory Oversized Postcards Closing Parks is Bad for CA  Business  Your Health  Kids

11. How You Can Help Endorse SOS campaign www.savestateparks.org Help identify business contacts for CPBB campaign Communicate closure crisis, efforts to your members & constituents Participate in efforts to save your local parks

12. Contact Information Traci Verardo-Torres Vice President, Government Affairs traci@calparks.org 916-442-2119