Honorable Mayor Combs and Council Members:
Allow me to take a moment to share a few thoughts on the important and timely topic of a City Gifting Program.
What prompted this email is a tentatively scheduled agenda item on next Tuesday, November 9, 2021 City Council meeting agenda to GIFT a $10,000 amount to help jump start a newly formed group whose purpose is to continue a Sister City program under a non-profit 501(c)3 program. The City's budget covers a wide range of topics, including a provision of making GRANTS, but I have not been able to see any reference to GIVING money away. If so, you may wish to consider placing as a future agenda item a discussion about this topic.
While considering this topic, a few questions came to mind, such as the following:
1- What criteria should be estabished for a gifting program?
2- What level of oversight might be appropriate, including the form of reporting, potential audits and accountability?
3- Will international travel be allowed for the Sister City progrtam?
4- Should the organization receiving the funds already be an estabished 501(c)3 approved program, or is it ok to provide the funds to a group of citizens intending to seek regulatory approval?
5- Should there be a competitive process for gifted funds so that other worthy organizations seeking to help our community be given an equal opportunity?
These questions and more could be asked? Receiving taxpayer's funding is a sacred trust prompting high levels of fiduciary responsibiity and management. Thank you for your time and consideration of this concern.
