cover
TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: Daniel Barreiro, Chief Community Services Officer
DATE: February 27, 2014
SUBJECT:
To approve a resolution awarding the first cycle of Festival Funds for 2014 at the March 25 City Council meeting.
PURPOSE:
The City's Neighborhood Festival Fund program provides financial assistance to organizations holding public events in Aurora. These events greatly impact the quality of life in the city and help to build a sense of community. Neighborhood Festival Funds have made it possible for dozens of organizations to sponsor various events. These events have ranged from educational to recreational events throughout the year. The impact of this program continues to grow with about 15,000 people in attendance annually at all of these events combined.
BACKGROUND:
The City has been supporting organizations stage local festivals for over two decades. One of the events recommended for financial assistance has received funding from the City for 26 years. Last year, a total of 20 organizations were recommended for financial assistance. The Neighborhood Festival Fund program has been formalized over the years to assist with the application and review process. The acceptance of applications is widely publicized to encourage participation. In addition, application packets are mailed to those organizations who received funding in the past. The application packets include the guidelines and criteria for receiving City support.
Late last year, efforts were made to enhance the program by collaborating with the Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board and the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board. Both boards agreed to participate with a joint festival fund application and process. The City's 2014 Neighborhood Festival Fund application was revised to include information about both advisory boards and funding criteria. Another change was the addition of two funding cycles to assist organizations holding events in the second half of the year. Shortly after applications were received, for the first cycle for 2014, they were forwarded to the advisory boards. We shared information on initial funding recommendations with the advisory boards resulting in more equitable funding recommendations. In some cases, the City and the boards were able to reduce funding recommendations from each source while maximizing support of the organizations as a whole.
DISCUSSION:
The grant amounts are below the required grant threshold for City Council approval but are being presented to keep the City Council informed. Additionally, this process will provide a vehicle for approval of events funded above the threshold. Last year, two events funded above $5,000 were approved by resolution.
The current applications were reviewed by the Community Services Department and the Mayor's Office. In addition the Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board and the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board reviewed applications and made recommendations for funding. A total of eleven organizations are recommended for funding totaling $12,250. The $12,250 is split among three funding sources: Neighborhood Festival Funds ($8,630), Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board Funds ($1,020), and African American Heritage Advisory Board Funds ($2,600). All organizations were recommended for funding by at least one funding source. The amount of funding ranges from $300 to $3,000. In addition, three organizations will receive in-kind support through a certificate of insurance, with a value of $300, provided by the City. It is more cost effective for the city to provide insurance for these events that are held on city property that require a certificate of insurance. Organizations pay a premium to get this coverage on their own. This in-kind coverage is included as part of the overall funding package.
The 2014 Special Event Budget has a provision of $18,000 in account 101-1341-450.50.60. This is an increase of $3,000 over 2013 to assist with the increasing amount of requests. The City also allocates $25,000 for the Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board (215-1341-450.50-56) and the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board (215-1341-450.50-57). A list of these organizations is sent to finance to assure none have any outstanding debt with the City.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Most of these events will not have an impact on the City of Aurora. Only three of these events will be held on City property and will be required to submit a Special Event Permit and/or a Music Festival Permit. The use of the Water Street Mall, Phillips Park and the Aurora Transportation Center Parking lot will be required to stage three of these events. Any additional cost to the City for services will be addressed in each Special Event Permit.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
I request that the proposed resolution be adopted by the City Council.
cc: Alderman O'Connor, Chairman
Alderman Mervine
Alderman Bohman
Alderman Peters, Alternate
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution Granting Neighborhood Festival Funds to Community Groups for 2014 in the Amount of $12,250 for the Community Services Department.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, eleven community organizations have requested financial assistance for a public community event; and:
WHEREAS, organizations meeting all of the established guidelines are being recommended to receive financial assistance from the City's Neighborhood Festival Fund program; and
WHEREAS, these organizations must abide by all applicable Federal, State, County and City acts, regulations and instructions; and
WHEREAS, the 2014 City Budget provides $18,000 for Neighborhood Festival Funding in account 101-1341-450.50-60 (General Fund) and $25,000 to the African American Heritage Advisory Board in account 215-1341-450.50-56 and $25,000 to the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board in account 215-1341-450.50-57 (Gaming Tax Fund).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: financial assistance is granted to each of the organizations in the recommended amounts identified on the attached list totaling $12,250.
PASSED AND APPROVED on ______________.
AYES ____ NAYS ____ NOT VOTING ____ ABSENT ____
____________________________ __________________________
Alderman Bohman, Ward 1 Alderman Garza, Ward 2
____________________________ __________________________
Alderman Mesiacos, Ward 3 Alderman Donnell, Ward 4
____________________________ __________________________
Alderman Peters, Ward 5 Alderman Saville, Ward 6
____________________________ __________________________
Alderman Hart-Burns, Ward 7 Alderman Mervine, Ward 8
____________________________ __________________________
Alderman Bugg, Ward 9 Alderman Johnson, Ward 10
____________________________ __________________________
Alderman Irvin, At Large Alderman O'Connor, At Large
ATTEST:
____________________________ __________________________
City Clerk Mayor
Attachments: Festival Funding Summary 2014, Joint Festival Funding Application 2014, Joint Festival Funding Guidelines 2014