027-04
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Resolution
Rebenchmarking the Staffing and Operational and Maintenance
Funding for Virginia State Parks
WHEREAS, the Frederick County Board of Supervisors commends Governor Mark Warner and the
Senate of Virginia and House of Delegates for working cooperatively with the Department of
Conservation and Recreation in their support of Virginia's state park system; and
WHEREAS, Virginia's state parks were voted "America's best managed" in 2001 and became
recipients ofthe National Gold Medal Award; and
WHEREAS, Virginia's state parks rank fiftieth in state funding among the fifty states in both per capita
and proportion of the state budget dedicated to state parks; and
WHEREAS, our state park system is a major component of Virginia's outdoor recreation and tourism
offerings and contributes more than one hundred fifty million dollars annually to the state and local
economies; and
WHEREAS, Virginia voters demonstrated both in 1992 and 2002 support for improving and
expanding state parks with nearly seventy percent suppOli for general obligation bond referendums in
state-wide elections; and
WHEREAS, the need for a major rebenchmarking of funding and staffing for state parks has been
identified and sUPPOlied by the former Commission on the Future of Virginia's Environment (2002
Senate Document 4); and
WHEREAS, preventive cyclical and maintenance reserve projects have been deferred for many years
as those funds have been by necessity redirected to operations resulting in hundreds of millions of
dollars in defened maintenance; and
WHEREAS, the expansion in facilities and responsibilities made possible by the 1992 and 2002
general obligation bond projects has place unreasonable and extraordinary stress on our state park
system and its staff; and
WHEREAS, the new facilities under construction and to be built by proceeds from the 2002 GOB will
greatly exacerbate the CUlTent park staffing and operational unmet needs and may lead to delayed
openings and indefinite land banking of a new park land acquisitions; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Fredelick County Board of Supervisors urges
Governor Warner and the members of the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates to support budget
amendments that address this critical need in the 2005 legislative session.
ADOPTED this 10th day of November, 2004.
VOTE:
Richard C. Shickle
~
Gene E. Fisher
~
Barbara E. Van Osten
~
Gina A. Forrester
---hs..L
Gary W. Dove
Bill M. Ewing
A:t-e-
An..-
Lynda 1. Tyler
~
erk
ard of Supervisors
Resolution No.: 04-027
COUNTY of FREDERICK
John R. Riley, Jr.
County Administrator
November 12,2004
540/665-5666
Fax 540/667-0370
E-mail:
jriley@co.frederick.va.us
The Honorable Mark R. Warner
Governor
Commonwealth of Virginia
State Capitol Building, Third Floor
Capitol Square
Richmond, VA 23219
Dear Governor Warner:
The Frederick County Board of Supervisors, meeting in regular session on November 10,
2004, approved the enclosed resolution with reference to Rebenchmarking the Staffing and
Operational and Maintenance Funding for Virginia State Parks. The board respectfully requests
consideration of same during the 2005 General Assembly session.
With kindest regards, I am
Sincerely,
(JWu/
John R. Riley, Jr.
County Administrator
JRR/tjp
Enclosure
cc: Board of Supervisors
C:\TJP\miscletters\GovW amer&PottsSherwoodAtheyV aStateParks( 1 1 ] 004). wpd
107 North Kent Street
Winchester, Virginia 22601-5000
COUNTY of FREDERICK
John R. Riley, Jr.
County Administrator
November 12, 2004
540/665-5666
Fax 540/667-0370
E-mail:
jriley@co.frederick.va.us
The Honorable H. Russell Potts, Jr.
Senate of Virginia
14 North Braddock Street
Winchester, VA 22601
Dear Senator Potts:
The Frederick County Board of Supervisors, meeting in regular session on November 10,
2004, approved the enclosed resolution with reference to Rebenchmarking the Staffing and
Operational and Maintenance Funding for Virginia State Parks. The board respectfully requests
consideration of same during the 2005 General Assembly session.
With kindest regards, I am
DerelY,
I~---
l/'
John R. Riley, Jr.
County Administrator
JRR/tjp
Enclosure
cc: Board of Supervisors
C:\T1P\miscletters\GovW amer&PottsSherwoodAtheyV aStateParks{ 11 J 004 ).wpd
107 North Kent Street . Winchester, Virginia 22601-5000
COUNTY of FREDERICK
John R. Riley, Jr.
County Administrator
November 12, 2004
540/665-5666
Fax 540/667-0370
E-mail:
jriley@co.frederick.va.us
The Honorable Beverly J Sherwood
Virginia House of Delegates
P. O. Box 2014
Winchester, VA 22604
Dear Delegate Sherwood:
The Frederick County Board of Supervisors, meeting in regular session on November 10,
2004, approved the enclosed resolution with reference to Rebenchmarking the Staffing and
Operational and Maintenance Funding for Virginia State Parks. The board respectfully requests
consideration of same during the 2005 General Assembly session.
With kindest regards, I am
~i::\ilY,
.,.-..... p..'.'......----.-
"""----.~"~-".,,.-_.~~. j., ..
\.
John R. Riley, Jf.
County Administrator
JRR/tjp
Enclosure
cc: Board of Supervisors
107 North Kent Street
Winchester. Virginia 22601-5000
COUNTY of FREDERICK
John R. Riley, Jr.
County Administrator
November 12, 2004
540/665-5666
Fax 540/667-0370
E-mail:
jri1ey@co.frederick.va.us
The Honorable Clay Athey, Jr.
Virginia House of Delegates
35 North Royal Avenue
Front Royal, VA 22630
Dear Delegate Athey:
The Frederick County Board of Supervisors, meeting in regular session on November 10,
2004, approved the enclosed resolution with reference to Rebenchmarking the Staffing and
Operational and Maintenance Funding for Virginia State Parks. The board respectfully requests
consideration of same during the 2005 General Assembly session.
With kindest regards, I am
John R. Riley, Jr.
County Administrator
JRR/tjp
Enclosure
cc: Board of Supervisors
C:\TJP\miscletters\GovWamer&PottsSherwoodAtheyV aStateParks( III 004). ""Pd
107 North Kent Street
Winchester, Virginia 22601-5000
COUNTY of FREDERICK
John R. Riley, Jr.
County Administrator
540/665-5666
Fax 540/667-0370
E-mail:
jriley@co.frederick.va.us
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TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
Board of Supervisors
John R. Riley, JT., County Adrninistra~
Cumberland County Resolution re: virginia'state Parks
October 12,2004
Attached please find correspondence from the Cumberland County Administrator regarding
a resolution adopted by Cumberland County's Board calling on the Governor and General
Assembly to address the "urgent funding and staffing deficit" in the Virginia state park
system, in the upcoming legislative session. They are requesting other counties join in
passing this or a similar resolution. I am forwarding the same for your review and to
inquire as to the Board's support for this issue.
If you feel this is appropriate for Board action, staffwill draft a similar resolution for
adoption at your next regular meeting. Please let me know your thoughts so we can
schedule accordingly.
Should you have any questions or wish to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to
contact me.
JRRljet
C:\Docurnents and Settings\TBnMy Documents\Riley Conespondcnce\M:e1ms"Memo to Bd re Cumberland Co Res re State Parle Funding. VJpd
107 North Kent Street . Winchester. Virginia 22601-5000
20 September 2004
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John R. Riley, Jr.
Frederick County
107 N. Kent St.
Winchester, VA 22601
Dear Mr. Riley:
At the regular board meeting of the Cumberland County Board of
Supervisors held in Cumberland Courthouse on September 14, 2004, by
unanimous vote ofthose present, a motion was passed calling on the
Governor and General Assembly to address the urgent funding and
staffing deficit in the Virginia state park system in the upcoming
legislative session.
Enclosed is the draft motion in the form of a resolution, which we are
asking other Counties of the Commonwealth to join us in passing and
sharing with the Governor and members of the General Assembly.
With a state park located within an hour's drive of every community,
Virginia is blessed with a tremendous economic asset of a national award-
winning park system, which brings in tourism dollars to its host
communities, while offering its citizens recreational, natural and cultural
opportunities.
The bond referendums of 1992 and 2002, which received overwhelming
support from Virginia voters, did much to improve the infrastructure of
our parks. However, there was no follow-up to fund the additional
operation and maintenance of these improvements, leaving our state parks
understaffed, under-funded and unable to address their stewardship
responsibilities.
Despite the considerable efforts ofthe Department of Conservation and
Recreation, some of Virginia's premier cultural, natural and recreational
resources are in jeopardy due to inadequate funding to maintain and attend
to these treasures. These important tourism attractions, which, if allowed
to further decline, place at risk those tourism dollars that come to Virginia
because of our reputation for great state parks and exemplary stewardship
of important resources.
"Cumberland County is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Complaints 0\ discrimination
may be sent to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Washington DC 20250. TTY phone # 804/492-5889."
Thank you in advance for considering the passage of this resolution, and if
you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me,
804.492.3625.
Sincerely,
14 f). '.
JudyHollifield ~
2
RESOLUTION
ON REBENCHMARKlNG THE STAFFING AND OPERATIONAL AND
MAINTENANCE FUNDING FOR VIRGINIA STATE PARKS
WHEREAS, the Cumberland County Board of Supervisors commends Governor
Warner and the Senate of Virginia and House of Delegates for working
cooperatively with the Department of Conservation and Recreation in their
support of Virginia's state park system; and
WHEREAS, Virginia's state parks were voted "America's best managed" in
2001 and became recipients of the National Gold Medal Award; and
WHEREAS, Virginia's state parkS rank fiftieth in state funding among the fifty
states in both per capita and proportion of the state budget dedicated to state
parks; and
WHEREAS, our state park system is a major component of Virginia's outdoor
recreation and tourism offerings and contributes more than one hundred fifty
million dollars annually to the state and local economies; and
WHEREAS, Virginia voters demonstrated both in 1992 and 2002 support for
improving and expanding state parks with nearly seventy per cent support for
general obligation bond referendums in state-wide elections; and
WHEREAS, the need for a major rebenchmarking of funding and staffing for
state parks has been identified and supported by the former Commission on the
Future of Virginia's Environment (2002 Senate Document 4); and
WHEREAS, preventive, cyclical and maintenance reserve projects have been
deferred for many years as those funds have been by necessity redirected to
operations resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in deferred maintenance;
and
WHEREAS, the expansion in facilities and responsibilities made possible by the
1992 and 2002 general obligation bond projects has placed unreasonable and
extraordinary stress on our state park system and its staff; and
WHEREAS, the new facilities under construction and to be built by pro;ceeds
from the 2002 GOB will greatly exacerbate the current park staffing and
operational unmet needs and may lead to delayed openings and indefinite land
banking of new park land acquisitions; and,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cumberland County Board of
Supervisors urges Governor Warner and the members of the Virginia Senate and
House of Delegates to support budget amendments that address this critical need
in the 2005 legislative session.
~{l~
ttest
/dR~j"
Chair f //~/&tc
Date
"Cumberland County is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Complaints of discrimination
may be sent to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Washington DC 20250. TIY phone # 804/492-3589."