Supervisor Wants More Funding for Marina Del Rey Public Spaces, Programs

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe on Tuesday announced that he will introduce a motion to the Board of Supervisors asking for more investment into public spaces and program in Marina Del Rey.

Knabe's motion proposes, among other things, that the county set aside an additional $2 million per year to an already existing fund for capital improvements in Marina Del Rey and also increase contributions from hotel occupancy taxes to pay for programs.

"The County has not gone above and beyond to provide the quality of life improvements that other communities have made a priority," Knabe wrote in his motion. "We have done study after study, and put together working groups on how to improve our public areas... but no funding has been available for these items because there just isn’t enough to go around after meeting the most basic of the Marina’s infrastructure needs."

In the proposal, Knabe said he hopes that new funding for Marina del Rey will help improve the landscaping, walking paths, bikeways and playground equipment in Marina del Rey's public spaces while also providing support for programs such as the marina's summer concert series and the water bus.

"Marina del Rey is a regional asset, a place where all residents of Los Angeles County visit to walk, jog, bike, sail, paddle, catch a concert, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy all that the County has to offer," Knabe wrote. "It is the Crown Jewel of LA County, but one that has needed some polishing in recent years as leaseholds came to the end of their useful lives and adjacent areas have been developed to draw residents and visitors away."

Additional funds for Knabe's proposal will come from the sale, assignment or refinancing of leaseholds in the marina, which can sometimes bring millions of dollars in fees for the county, he said.

Knabe will introduce the motion during Tuesday's Board of Supervisor's meeting.