Prop 4

In November 2024, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 4 (SB-867, Allen), a $10 billion Climate Bond designed to safeguard our communities, natural resources and our future
in the face of climate change. From wildfire prevention and safe drinking water to protecting biodiversity and increasing access to nature, these funds will support projects that make a real,
lasting difference in the lives of people and communities across California. At least 40 percent of all bond funding is legally required to benefit disadvantaged, severely disadvantaged and
vulnerable communities.

The full text of SB-867 Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (Proposition 4) may be found at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB867

The RMC has approximately $112 million available for local assistance grants over the life of its Proposition 4 Grant Program. Specific allocation programs are as follows:

• Safe Drinking Water, Drought, Flood, and Water Resilience [Section 91032(a)]:
  $40,000,000, of which $36,900,000 may be awarded for projects that improve the climate resiliency or the protection of the Los Angeles River Watershed or are consistent with the Lower Los Angeles River Revitalization Plan
• Wildfire and Forest Resilience [Section 91520(l)]: $33,500,000, of which $30,904,000 may be awarded for projects that promote watershed improvement, wildfire resilience,
  chaparral and forest restoration, and workforce development that addresses needs related to this subdivision and is designed to create career pathways for individuals from disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, or vulnerable populations
• Biodiversity and Nature-Based Climate Solutions [93020(a)(6): $48,000,000, of which $44,280,000 may be awarded for projects that reduce the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources, and increase public access

The RMC awards grants and interagency agreements with the aim toward creating open space, habitat restoration, expanding green space in disadvantaged communities, and protecting the watersheds of the San Gabriel and Los Angeles Rivers, Dominguez Channel, and Catalina Island.

The overall policy guidelines for the RMC are found in two primary references: the statute which created the RMC, Public Resources Code Section 32600, and Common Ground, from the Mountains to the Sea, the watershed and open space plan for the Los Angeles and San Gabriel River watersheds which was adopted by the RMC and further identifies the policies of the agency. These and other relevant plans can be found at http://rmc.ca.gov/resources/.

RMC’s area of jurisdiction includes a variety of natural resource and recreation areas, including the coast, wetlands, and forests. RMC’s jurisdiction also includes heavily urbanized areas south of the San Gabriel Mountains to the California coast. Thus, RMC encourages collaboration across jurisdictions and organizational partners to produce multi-benefit projects that address multiple regional needs, such as increasing access to open space, green workforce development, water quality improvements, flood control, and wildfire resilience. The RMC further promotes project development that includes robust community engagement throughout the life of the project and has developed the Community Engagement Toolkit in an effort to support potential grantees in developing community based, multi-benefit climate resilient projects. The RMC further encourages projects that leverage multiple funding sources to strengthen project goals.

In addition to increasing access to natural areas, the RMC works to ensure residents have access to open space within their own communities, as evidenced by the large number of grants the RMC has awarded since 1999 for the purpose of planning, constructing, and improving parks and trails within communities and, particularly, within underserved communities that currently lack equitable access to open space.

The RMC addresses environmental injustices and park inequities in its jurisdiction through its Environmental Justice Policy, which incorporated into the grant making process. It is the policy of
the RMC that the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures and income shall be fully considered during the planning, decision-making, development and implementation of all RMC programs, policies, and activities. The intent of this policy is to ensure that the public within the RMC catchment area including minority and low-income populations are not discriminated against; treated unfairly, or caused to experience disproportionately high and adverse human
health or environmental effects from environmental and land-use decisions, and that kids and families have access to safe open space and healthy neighborhoods.

On July 24, 2017, the RMC Governing Board approved a Tribal Consultation Policy consistent with the approved policy adopted by the California Natural Resources Agency. Pursuant to Executive
Order B-10-11 and California Natural Resources Agency Tribal Consultation Policy. The RMC promotes early, often, and meaningful consultations with California Native American tribes with
the goal of collaborative partnership and meaningful inclusion of tribal governments’ priorities and interests in projects. The RMC supports institutionalizing tribal consultation practices into
project planning, development, and implementation decisions.

As a State conservancy, RMC is committed to the provision of equitable park access. Access for All is integral to RMC’s environmental justice work. These efforts seek to undo deeply ingrained inequities, and preserve the cherished natural, cultural, and tribal resources as the fight against climate change intensifies. The Outdoors for All initiative further advances two other state priorities, Nature-Based Solutions and 30×30 California, by investing in California’s public lands and natural resources.

The RMC is committed to funding projects that address climate change. Climate change will continue to aggravate the greatest challenges faced across the Los Angeles Basin: ensuring water
security, clean water, clean air, community wellbeing, thriving ecosystems, as well as managing floods, fires, and sea level rise. The State’s 30×30 strategy offers nature-based solutions that would help to address climate change impacts faced by communities today and into the future.

RMC has been working on this effort since the adoption of Common Ground to grow a greener Southern California.

Due to the diverse landscape across the RMC’s jurisdiction, projects funded through bond funding fall into three main Program Areas to allow for equitable distribution of funds across the region. These program areas are Urban Areas, Rivers and Tributaries, and Mountains, Hills, and Foothills.

Urban Lands are lands within the developed, urban core of the RMC’s region that does not fall directly within the other two categories of River/Tributary Parkways and Mountains, Hills, and
Foothills. The primary intent of this program are to create new accessible urban passive open space and nature-based solutions in and near communities.

River/Tributary Parkways are lands falling within a quarter mile on either side of the centerline of a river or tributary within the RMC’s region, but not within a Mountains, Hills, and Foothills or Urban Land area. The primary intent of this program is to provide for a revitalized accessible river parkway along the main stems of the Dominguez Channel, San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers, and their tributaries; improve water resources, increase riparian corridors, extend floodplains, and provide enhanced recreational opportunities.

The Lower Los Angeles River Program is a sub-area of focus under the River/Tributary Parkways Program Area. To further advance the Lower Los Angeles River Revitalization Plan, targeted funding has been allocated to support projects along the Lower Los Angeles River on land falling within 1.5 miles on either side of the centerline of the river. Projects along the Lower Los Angeles River will increase access to open space for some of the highest need areas in the RMC’s territory.

Mountains, Hills, and Foothills are lands lying within the area of a named system of mountains, hills, and foothills. More specifically, land lying within the geographic area of the San Gabriel Mountains, the San Jose, San Rafael, Montebello, Puente, Chino, Coyote, or Signal Hills, the San Gabriel foothills, a portion of the Palos Verdes Hills, Rolling Hills, Catalina Island, and within the RMC’s region not within the Urban Lands or River/Tributary Parkways area. The primary intent of this program is watershed, habitat, and wildlife corridor protection, trails, and public access as appropriate to the site.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for projects located within the boundaries of the RMC are:

• State agencies
• Federal agencies
• Tribal entities recognized on the current US Federal Register or the Native American Heritage Commission as a California Native American tribe
• Local public agencies, including:
  • City or county
  • Water districts
  • School districts
• Certified local conservation corps as defined in §14507.5 of the Public Resources Code
• Non-profit organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation
• Joint Powers Authority (JPA) if at least one of the parties to the joint powers agreement qualifies as an eligible applicant
  Individuals and corporations are not eligible for this grant program; however, RMC encourages multiple partners or joint projects. As long as the lead agency is one of the above listed eligible applicants, applications will be accepted from joint projects with non-eligible agencies.

Eligible Projects

Projects must be consistent with RMC’s enabling legislation (PRC §§ 32600-32622), Common Ground, its Environmental Justice, and Tribal Consultation Policies, and existing and adopted river and flood control projects/plans. Projects should create, expand, and/or improve public open space throughout the region by improving access, habitat quality, water security, and wildfire resilience, as well as promote stewardship of the landscape via stakeholder involvement and longterm maintenance that will encourage environmental, social, and economic benefits. The RMC has supported grants for planning, implementing, and acquiring open space for parks and trails improvements. An interactive map of RMC projects can be found on the RMC website: http://rmc.ca.gov/.

A. Planning

Planning projects include feasibility studies, technical studies, concept designs, construction drawings, permitting, environmental compliance, and public engagement. To the extent known, projects should have both quantitative and qualitative project outcomes.

These projects are necessary activities that will lead to a specific future on-the-ground implementation project that is likely to qualify for future implementation funding. If the application seeks funding for permitting, a complete description of the permits needed and a
timeline for obtaining them must be included in the application. Note some of RMC’s funding sources are limited in the amount of dollars granted for pure planning projects.

B. Implementation

Implementation projects include construction costs for restoration, enhancement, natural resource protection and/or projects that will enhance public access, increase open space, or promote climate resilience and improve watershed health. RMC funds are intended to support “shovel ready” projects that have advanced to the stage where planning, land tenure, and design plans (~90% level or higher) have been completed. Facilities development projects must be accessible to the public and demonstrate a strong relationship and value to natural resource stewardship or environmental education.

Implementation projects may include up to twenty percent (20%) of the grant funds on nonconstruction costs including direct project management and administration. These costs may include planning, consultant fees, plan documentation, bid preparation, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance, and development of final design plans and permitting.

C. Acquisition

Acquisition projects for open space protection include due diligence, acquisition costs, and land management planning (e.g., restoration, passive recreation). Appraisals, land, improvements, relocation costs, title reports, surveying, and escrow are eligible project costs.

Demonstration that there is a willing seller is required for acquisition projects to be considered for funding. The purchase price of the property cannot exceed the fair market value determined in an appraisal completed within a year of the acquisition date. State funds may not be used in part or whole to acquire property above fair market value. A completed appraisal is not required at the time of
application submission.

Appraisal reports prepared for the acquisition of any land or interest therein by or with funding from the RMC must go under an independent formal review with the Department of General Services
(DGS) to ensure they conform to the accepted appraisal principles and practices described in DGS Appraisal Specifications. The total of all planning/preliminary costs including plan documentation, design, appraisals and negotiations, permit costs, consultant costs, and other similar costs cannot exceed ten percent (10% of the grant amount).

D. Technical Assistance Program (TAP)

The RMC Technical Assistance Program (TAP) supports local communities with direct application assistance with the goal of facilitating access to the Conservancy’s funding programs. TAP creates a more equitable playing field by helping under-resourced applicants access Conservancy funds. TAP is available year-round and will include outreach and programs to provide application
assistance to eligible applicants. Information, tools, resources, and strategies may be provided to help applicants through the stages of project conceptualization, grant initiation, grantmaking, and project completion. In addition to RMC staff, these resources include:

• peer-to-peer mentoring
• access to best practices
• identifying technical resources
• providing professional grant writing and facilitation services

Applicants may apply for RMC support to develop competitive parks and open space projects, increase staff capacity for project and grants management during planning and construction phases, assistance in grant writing, and organize outreach and engagement to community
members, stakeholders, and tribal groups.

The RMC may fund each phase of a project – Acquisition, Planning, and Implementation. But typically, we would fund each phase as a separate grant with a separate application. We cannot fund the Implementation phase of a project until environmental review pursuant to the CEQA is complete. For this reason, RMC cannot fund both the preliminary Planning and Implementation phase of a project under one grant, unless the entire project falls within a CEQA exemption.