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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO <br />STAFF REPORT <br />DATE: November 6, 2007 <br />TO: John Jermanis, City Manager <br />~~~~ <br />FROM: Steve Hollister, Assistant City Manager <br />APPROVED AND <br />FORWARDED <br />TO CITY COUNCIL <br />J . Jermanis <br />anager <br />BY: Kathy Ornelas, Community Relations Representative <br />SUBJECT PROJECT/PROJECT DESCRIPTION: <br />RESOLUTION ADOPTING COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT FUND GUIDELINES INTO <br />THE CITY OF SAN LEANDRO COUNCIL MEMBERS HANDBOOK <br />SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION <br />It is recommended that Community Empowerment Funds be appropriated for Councilmembers <br />and the Mayor, and that Guidelines for the use of those funds be incorporated into the Council <br />Members Handbook. <br />BACKGROUND <br />Analysis <br />In past Fiscal Years, City Council districts and the Mayor's Office were appropriated funds <br />through the annual budget process to provide for assistance to neighborhoods and neighborhood <br />organizations for special projects. In Fiscal Year 04-05, this practice was discontinued due to <br />budget constraints. In addition, during Mayor Young's term in office, the Mayor's Community <br />Fund existed to provide funding to community events and projects. Those funds were raised <br />through the annual Mayor's Cup golf tournament. However, when Mayor Young left office, the <br />Mayor's Community Fund was dissolved. <br />Councilmembers and the Mayor used the Neighborhood Empowerment Funds for projects such <br />as a picnic bench in a pocket park, a marquee for an elementary school, improvements to a <br />school swimming pool, book purchases for school libraries, and the City's Christmas tree. <br />It has been recommended that the practice be restored to once again allow the Mayor and City <br />Council to have a source of funding to assist with community projects and events as a <br />Community Empowerment Fund program. A total of $2,500 would be allocated annually for <br />each Council District. Given that the Mayor's Office receives considerably more requests from <br />community groups for funding, the Mayor's Office would be allocated $5,000. Carry-over of <br />unused funds into subsequent Fiscal Years would not be permitted. <br />In keeping with Assembly Bill 1234, the City Council Approved Community Fund Recipients <br />list was adopted by City Council Resolution in 2005 and updated in 2006. Guidelines Regarding <br />the Use of Community Empowerment Funds have been drafted for the City Council's <br />consideration and incorporation into the Council Members Handbook. They direct that City <br />