Consent 1.E.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 12/10/2018
- TITLE
- Donation Acceptance for Songbird Community Garden and Arbor Day Event
- PRESENTED BY:
- Mike Whitaker
- Department:
- Parks/Rec/Public Lands
Presentation:
No
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
Billings Parks and Recreation staff propose that Council accepts a $10,373.75 donation from the Billings Parks, Recreation and Preservation Foundation (BPRPF) to benefit the following projects:
The Arbor Day funds will be used to purchase supplies for the 2019 Arbor Day Celebration at Central Park on May 2, 2019. The Songbird Community Garden donation will be used to fund a water project that includes drilling a well, installing pumps, and connecting power to the well at the garden. This will reduce the operating cost of the garden through the creation of an independent water source.
This donation is the result of cooperative fundraising efforts between the park staff, BPRPF and members of the Songbird Community Garden Advisory Committee. BPRPF serves as the conduit for the various contributions which are listed out in more detail below. These funds came from three different types of sources: 1. grants, 2. donations/fundraisers and 3. corporate volunteer match funds. The corporate volunteer match funds are received when a corporation sends volunteers to work for Billings Parks. Following that volunteer service, the company makes a financial donation based on the number of volunteers that participated and the number of hours they served. The Arbor Day donations were received through this method.
Below is a summary of the individual funding sources that make up the $10,373.75:
Arbor Day
Songbird Community Garden
The partnership with BPRPF is an important tool in leveraging community support through a charitable organization to benefit parks and recreation projects and programs. Their support is greatly appreciated.
- Songbird Community Garden- $9,323.75
- 2019 Arbor Day Celebration- $1,050
- Total: $10,373.75
The Arbor Day funds will be used to purchase supplies for the 2019 Arbor Day Celebration at Central Park on May 2, 2019. The Songbird Community Garden donation will be used to fund a water project that includes drilling a well, installing pumps, and connecting power to the well at the garden. This will reduce the operating cost of the garden through the creation of an independent water source.
This donation is the result of cooperative fundraising efforts between the park staff, BPRPF and members of the Songbird Community Garden Advisory Committee. BPRPF serves as the conduit for the various contributions which are listed out in more detail below. These funds came from three different types of sources: 1. grants, 2. donations/fundraisers and 3. corporate volunteer match funds. The corporate volunteer match funds are received when a corporation sends volunteers to work for Billings Parks. Following that volunteer service, the company makes a financial donation based on the number of volunteers that participated and the number of hours they served. The Arbor Day donations were received through this method.
Below is a summary of the individual funding sources that make up the $10,373.75:
Arbor Day
- North Western Energy-$700
- First Interstate Bank Foundation-$350
Songbird Community Garden
- Bair Family Trust-$6,200
- Yellowstone Conservation District-$500
- Neal C Johnson DMD-$1,000
- Theresa Jenkins-$500
- PaineWest-$50
- Underriner Honda-$500
- Bill and Anne Cole- $500
- Remaining balance from previous garden fundraisers- $73.75
The partnership with BPRPF is an important tool in leveraging community support through a charitable organization to benefit parks and recreation projects and programs. Their support is greatly appreciated.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED
City Council may:
- Approve, the acceptance of the $10,373.75 donation from the Billings Parks, Recreation and Preservation Foundation for the Songbird Community Garden and Arbor Day event, or;
- Disapprove the donation acceptance and provide staff with additional guidance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
These funds will have a positive financial impact by increasing the 2019 Arbor Day budget by $1,050. It will also fund the Songbird Community Garden well project for $9,323.75 thereby reducing operating costs of the garden due to the development of an independent water source.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve the acceptance of $10,373.75 from the Billings Parks, Recreation and Preservation Foundation for the Songbird Community Garden and Arbor Day Event.