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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #17 Approval for Policy for Donations to Outside Organizations AGENDA ITEM COVER SHEET Meeting Date: November 6, 2007 Item # ~'l Contact Name: Contact Number: Joy P. Wright, Community Relations Manager 407 -905-3100 ext. 1530 Reviewed By: Department Director: J,/ City Manager: Robert. Subject: Policy for donations to outside organizations Background Summary: Representatives from various organizations attend City Commission meetings and request monies at various times throughout the year. (Please see attached spreadsheet that outlines donations awarded to organizations at City Commission meetings.) In an effort to be consistent and fair in all community donations, the City Commission requested staff develop a policy regarding cash contributions the City makes to outside organizations. In the past, the Community Merit Awards Grant Program cycle was available twice yearly, in the fall and the spring, with $5,000 available for each grant cycle (total of $10,000 funded annually). Staff would like to change the twice-yearly CMA grant program to a Quarterly Community Grant Program. Monies have been approved in this year's budget in the amount of $30,000. All requests for grant monies from community organizations would go through the proposed Quarterly Community Grant Program. The current Community Merit Awards Grant Program allows Ocoee non-profit agencies and organizations to apply for grant monies up to $500. The criteria and structure of the Quarterly Community Grant Program would remain the same as the current CMA grant program. Currently, the Community Merit Awards Review Board meets twice per year, and recommends which organizations the City Commission should approve to receive grant monies. The CMA Review Board would be willing to convene four times per year to meet the schedule for the proposed quarterly grant program. Issue: Should the City Commission adopt the Quarterly Community Grant Program? Recommendations: Based on the City's history of making donations to outside organizations, staff recommends the City expand its existing Community Merit Awards Grant Program to a Quarterly Community Grant Program. The Community Grant Program would follow the same guidelines as the existing Community Merit Awards. (Please see attached "Community Grant Program" proposal.) The proposed Community Grant Program would have (4) grant cycles per year: January 2008; February 2008; April 2008; July 2008; and September 2008. There would be $7,500 available for each grant cycle (total of $30,000 available annually). Ocoee non-profit organizations and civic groups would still be eligible to receive a grant of up to $500. Type of Item: (please mark with an "x') Public Hearing Ordinance First Reading _ Ordinance Second Reading Resolution X Commission Approval Discussion & Direction For Clerk's Deat Use: Consent Agenda _ Public Hearing _ Regular Agenda _ Original Document/Contract Attached for Execution by City Clerk _ Original Document/Contract Held by Department for Execution Reviewed by City Attorney Reviewed by Finance Dept. Reviewed by ( ) N/A N/A N/A 2