Title
Request to Authorize the City Manager, or his Designee, to Apply, Accept, and Enter an Agreement for the Cities of Service Engaged Cities Award (Ordinance S-44152)
Description
This report requests the City Council to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply, accept, and enter an agreement for the Cities of Service Engaged Cities Award. Further request to authorize the City Treasurer to accept and the City Controller to disburse the funds as necessary.
Report
Summary
The Cities of Service Engaged Cities Award is designed to elevate city-led strategies that most successfully engage residents to help solve the most pressing local problems. Cities of 30,000, or more, in the Americas and Europe, are eligible to apply. Ten cities will be selected as finalists who will then submit a more detailed application. One grand prize winning city will receive $100,000, and two cities will receive $50,000 each. The funding is to be used for future efforts that engage resident volunteers as part of the solution to the city's most pressing issues. The deadline to apply is Jan. 5, 2018. The 10 finalist cities will be notified by the end of January 2018.
The City's application will focus on the PHX C.A.R.E.S. initiative to help those experiencing homelessness find long-term solutions. This initiative aligns with the goals of the Engaged Cities Award in key areas including: engaging residents in creative ways, fostering collaborations within the City and the community, and creating efficiencies.
The City of Phoenix is a founding member of Cities of Service, a non-profit organization founded by former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg that supports cities in engaging residents to help solve its most pressing issues. Phoenix is the only city in the nation with three current grant programs: Leadership, Love Your Block, and Resilience AmeriCorps.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item was recommended for approval by the Sustainability, Housing, Efficiency, and Neighborhoods Subcommittee on Nov. 28, 2017 by a vote of 3-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Deanna Jonovich, the Human Services Department and the Volunteer Phoenix Program.