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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 11 13 Regular 602 Community Assistance Program COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM 602 Consent Informational Public Hearin Re ular x N. <)Je~b"1..( l s Octo~007 ~~e.c.I ~ R~ Meeting MGR. ~ IDEPT. . Authorization REQUEST: City Manager requests the City Commission to review a draft of the proposed community assistance program and make any changes the Commission deems appropriate. PURPOSE: This agenda item is needed to respond to the City Commission's direction for the development of a community assistance program policy and procedures. CONSIDERATIONS: The City Commission has directed staff to review community assistance programs of other cities and to prepare a policy and procedures for the City of Winter Springs. Our review of other cities has not revealed what we would consider to be a well thought out process. This draft is intended to initiate discussions and staff is looking for considerable feed back from the Commission. FUNDING: To be decided. RECOMMENDATION: The City Manager recommends the Commission review staff s initial draft of a community assistance program and make changes it deems appropriate. ATTACHMENTS: 1. City of Winter Springs Draft Community Assistance Program Guide. COMMISSION ACTION: CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS,. FLORIDA Cii.iA.i . (COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM) October 22, 2007 CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS Community Assistance Program PROGRAM OVERVIEW Purpose The City of Winter Springs Community Assistance Program is established to provide funding, when available, to organizations that provide badly needed charitable services to the residents of the City of Winter Springs. The application process and associated evaluation criteria included herein have been established to properly evaluate organizations requesting funds for this program. Funding Annual funding for this program is subject to the availability of funds. Therefore, funding of approved requests shall not be guaranteed beyond the fiscal year in which approved. Funding is provided upon an annual evaluation of funding requests. Therefore, receipt of funding in one year does not guarantee funding in subsequent years. This program is subject to termination at any time by the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, Florida. Policy It is the policy of the City of Winter Springs to set aside: Option l: _ % of the General Fund budget each year to support charities that improve the living conditions of residents needing assistance in order to maintain a reasonable quality of life but who are unable to do so due to no fault of their own Option 2: _ $ each year to support charities that improve the living conditions of residents needing assistance in order to maintain a reasonable quality of life but who are unable to do so due to no fault of their own when available and to distribute these funds to charitable organizations that meet the criteria established in the Community Assistance Program. In no case shall Program funds be distributed to individuals. 1 STEP 1: STEP 2: STEP 3: CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS Community Assistance Program APPLICATION PROCESS Application for Requests for Funding A. Application Criteria All applications for funding must be submitted no sooner than April 1 nor later than April 30 of each year for consideration for funding in the following budget year. Applications received after April 30 will not be considered. All applications must be complete in order to be considered. Application requirements are provided herein. B. Eligibility Criteria Only those applications meeting the following criteria will be considered for funding approval: 1. Organizations that provide charitable services to the residents of Winter Springs. 2. Governmental and certified 501(c)(3) tax exempt/not-for-profit organizations. 3. Organizations that satisfy the application criteria stated herein. Application Review and Scoring All applications for funding will be initially reviewed by staff to ensure compliance with the eligibility criteria provided in Step 1. Those applications that are deemed compliant will then be evaluated by staff based on the following criteria: 1. Amount of services provided to residents of Winter Springs. 2. Track record of reliability, effectiveness and efficiency. 3. Services not already provided by existing governmental or certified 501(c)(3) tax exemptlnot-for-profit organization. 4. Partnership between public, not-for-profit organizations, and the private sector to provide funding to governmental and not-for-profit service providers. 5. Ratio of funding to be provided by the City of Winter Springs. 6. Amount of services provided to children and the elderly who are at risk to hunger, sickness, or abuse through no fault of their own. 7. Amount of services provided to the handicapped or disabled who are at risk to hunger, sickness or abuse through no fault of their own. Funding Decisions Following staffs evaluation, the City Commission will evaluate staffs recommendations and decide which application(s), if any, it chooses to fund. Notice of funding awards will be made by mail no later than September 30 of each year. 2 CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS Community Assistance Program APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS An organization's application for funding under the City of Winter Springs Community Assistance Program shall be submitted on agency letterhead, signed by an officer of the organization no sooner than April 1 nor later than April 30 of each year, and include the following items: 1. Organization Name. 2. Organization Description and Purpose. 3. Submission Date. 4. Need. What Need is being addressed in Winter Springs by the funding request? 5. Impact. What impact will approval of this funding request have on the delivery of this service to Winter Springs' residents? 6. Consequences. What will be the consequences of denial of this funding request on the delivery of this service to Winter Springs' residents? 7. Number of public, private and not-for-profit partners involved in the funding. 8. Funding Ratio. What portion of the organization's total budget for this serVIce IS represented by this funding request? 9. Track Record. What proof can the organization provide of its capacity to deliver this service in a reliable, effective and efficient manner? [ 1) Stability, 2) Accountability, 3) Service Outcomes, 4) Acknowledgements and Awards, 5) References, 6) Litigation History, 7) Insurance.] 10. Proof of 501( c)(3) tax exempt status. 11. Proof of Liability Insurance. 3