Finance Highlights 2007 0925 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Currently, Council Districts 1, 4, 5, and 6 have balances carried over from last fiscal year (ranging from $500 to $1933). Cowicilmembers and the Mayor have used the Neighborhood Empowerment Fwids for projects such as a picnic bench in a pocket park, a marquee for an elementary school, improvements to a school swimming pool, book purchases for school libraries, and the City's Clu-istmas tree. When Mayor Young left office, the Mayor's Community Fund was dissolved. DISCUSSION It has been recommended that Council Districts and the Mayor's Office once again be allocated funds for special community projects or to meet the requests of community members for events or projects. In keeping with Assembly Bill 1234, the City Council and Mayor would be limited to making contributions to those groups or agencies that are on the adopted list. However, projects providing benefit to the community as a whole could also be funded once added to the adopted list., Staff is recommending the City Council consider establishing a new Community Empowernlent Fund for each Council District and the Mayor's Office, with a total of $2,500 allocated for each Council District each year. Carry-over of unused funds would no longer be permitted. Given that the Mayor's Office receives considerably more requests from community groups for funding, staff is recommending the Mayor's Office be allocated $5,000 each year. Fiscal Impact This Community Empowerment Fund program would cost a total of $20,000.00 annually. It is recommended a partial year funding of $10,000 for FY 07-08 occur as a new appropriation from the Contingency Reserve. This would provide $1,250 for each Council District and $2,500 for the Mayor's Office for the remainder of this fiscal year. CONCLUSION It is recommended that a Community Empowerment Fund program be established to provide each Council District and the Mayor's office with discretionary funds to be used to support community requests for programs or events, or to fund special projects within the community.