TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all necessary documents to receive and expend grant funding awarded to the Office of the City Clerk by City Fabrick as part of the Knight Cities Challenge for the Place Make the Vote Voter Engagement Initiative in the amount not to exceed $30,000 for a period ending April 11, 2017; and increase appropriation in the General Grants Fund (SR 120) in the Office of the City Clerk (CC) by $30,000. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Knight Cities Challenge is a grant available to anyone in the 26 Knight Foundation communities across the nation, of which the City of Long Beach is a part. The challenge is designed to help spur civic innovation at the city, neighborhood, and block levels, and all sizes in between. In particular, the Knight Cities Challenge hopes to generate ideas that focus on one or all of three key drivers of city success: attracting talented people, expanding economic opportunity and creating a culture of civic engagement.
On April 12,2016, City Fabrick, a nonprofit urban design studio dedicated to improving communities through public interest design, planning, policy development and civic engagement applied for and was awarded a one-year grant in the amount of $153,600 entitled, "Place Make the Vote." The aim of this project is to develop a kit for creating temporary pop-up social spaces at voting polls in historically low voter turnout areas to encourage people to vote and provide venues to celebrate democracy afterwards, spurring lasting civic relationships within those communities.
The first phase of the project included a prototype pop-up social space which was in proximity of two polling places for the June 7, 2016 City of Long Beach General Municipal Election. The project will continue onward to the November 8,2016 General Election with another four planned pop up social spaces educating voters about contests and measures appearing on their ballot and encouraging people to vote by mail, vote on Election day and celebrate democracy afterwards.
To help execute these events, City Fabrick has secured partnerships with the Office of the City Clerk, Long Beach Rising!, California State University Long Beach, and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. As an official partner, the Office of the City Clerk is scheduled to receive a portion of the grant monies in an amount not to exceed $30,000. The funds will cover project expenses including one City Clerk Specialist for approximately five months to assist with the planning and execution of the aforementioned events.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
Adjustment to the FY 2017 budget is requested to reflect the acceptance of this grant award. City Council action is requested, so that staff can continue working with City Fabrick on the implementation of a voter engagement initiative for the November 8,2016 General Election.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to receive $30,000 in grant funds that are not currently budgeted. Therefore, an appropriation increase in the City Clerk Grants Fund (SR 120) by $30,000 in FY 2017 in the Office of the City Clerk (CC) is requested as part of the recommended action. There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
MARIA DE LA LUZ GARCIA
CITY CLERK