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HomeMy WebLinkAbout22-Mayor's Office ORIGINAL CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO—REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION From: Mayor Patrick J. Morris Subject: Resolution of Mayor and Common Council Appropriating $20,000 Dept: Office of the Mayor to the Fire Victims Relief Fund Established by the Community Date: October 30, 2007 Foundation of Riverside & San Bernardino Counties, to Provide Direct Council Date: November 5, 2007 Assistance to Victims of the Recent Local Wildfires in the San Bernardino Mountains. Synopsis of Previous Council Action: None Recommended Motion: Adopt resolution Signs re Contact person: Jim Morris Phone: 5133 Supporting data attached: Staff Report Ward: None FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount: $20,000 Source: (Acct. No.) 001-011-5505 (Acct. Description) Other Professional Services Finance: Council Notes: X�o C' 1-14A Agenda Item No. 2Z CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO—REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Staff Report Subject Resolution of Mayor and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino appropriating $20,000 to the Fire Victims Relief Fund established by the Community Foundation of Riverside & San Bernardino Counties, to provide direct assistance to victims of the recent local wildfires in the San Bernardino Mountains. Background Last week, government and business leaders from across the Inland Empire announced the creation of a Fire Victims Relief Fund that will provide direct assistance to Inland Empire residents affected by the recent wildfires that ravaged the region. More importantly, these leaders also collectively donated $ 350,000 to the Fire Victims Relief Fund to kick start this important relief effort. The Fire Victims Relief Fund will be administered by the Community Foundation of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. President and CEO of the Foundation, Jim Erickson, has pledged that every dollar contributed to the Fire Victims Relief Fund will go directly to fire victim relief with no administrative overhead. The government agencies and businesses that stepped forward during the past week to contribute to the Fire Victims Relief Fund, represent a wide spectrum from across the Inland Empire: • San Manuel Tribe Band of Mission Indians - $100,000 • Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians - $100,000 • Stater Bros. Corporation - $20,000 • Arrowhead Credit Union - $20,000 • Altura Credit Union- $20,000 • American Corrective Counseling Services - $20,000 • City of Riverside - $20,000 • County of Riverside - $20,000 • Matich Corporation- $10,000 • Anonymous Donors - $10,000 • SE Corporation- $5,000 • JJC Project Management - $4,000 The County of San Bernardino is also in the process of considering a sienificant contribution to the Fire Victims Relief Fund. Ac°lolaeeovtl� fa yams A)D . , Proposed Resolution The idea for the Fire Victims Relief Fund began on Tuesday October 23rd with a conversation between Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge, San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris, and The Community Foundation President/CEO. Mayor Loveridge indicated that he would ask the Riverside City Council to appropriate $20,000 to the Fire Victims Relief Fund, and Mayor Morris committed that he would make the same request of the San Bernardino Common Council. On Tuesday, October 23rd, the Riverside City Council approved a $20,000 appropriation to the Fire Victims Relief Fund, and a copy of the staff report requesting the appropriation is attached. The initial commitment by both the Riverside and San Bernardino Mayors has been leveraged over the past week into $350,000 for the Fire Victims Relief Fund. The Community Foundation will continue to leverage these initial commitments to help augment the Fire Victims Relief Fund, and the latest report indicates that significant contributions are continuing to be made into the fund. The proposed resolution would effectuate the City of San Bernardino's participation in the Fire Victims Relief Fund by appropriating $20,000 to the Fund from FY 2006-07 budget savings in the Office of the Mayor. The rationale for the City of San Bernardino participating in the Fire Victims Relief Fund is that in 2003, the City of San Bernardino was ravaged by the Old Fire, and many of our residents were left homeless and destitute by that tragedy. In response to the needs of fire victims in our City during 2003, there was a tremendous mobilization of assistance from throughout the Inland Empire. San Bernardino's participation in the Fire Victims Relief Fund to help our neighbors, who are the most recent victims of wildfires in this region, is but a small way in which we can reciprocate the generosity our residents received in 2003. Financial Impact The Mayor's Office has contractual savings from the FY 2006-07 budget available for this program (Account # 001-011-5505 - Other Professional Services). Use of these savings for this program will be included on the FY 2006-07 to FY 2007-08 list of continuing appropriations that will be presented to Council next month. Recommendation That the Common Council adopt the resolution. -2- City Council Memorandum TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: October 23, 2007 FROM: MAYOR LOVERIDGE ITEM NO: WARD: ALL SUBJECT: CITY RESPONSE TO INLAND EMPIRE FIRE STORMS ISSUE: In response to the devastating effects of the fires raging throughout the region, the City of Riverside should provide financial support to assist impacted families and businesses in the Inland Empire. RECOMMENDATIONS: That the City Council authorize a one-time contribution of$20,000 from the City's General Fund to the Red Cross and/or other appropriate agencies. The contribution will assist relief efforts in the Inland Empire and serve as a catalyst for additional donations from throughout the Inland Empire region. BACKGROUND: The City of Riverside has the opportunity to be a leader in providing financial assistance to meet the tremendous needs that have been triggered by the terrible fire storms, which continue to rage not only throughout the Inland Empire but many other areas in Southern California. Our neighbors to the east, City of San Bernardino, have acted quickly after a conversation this afternoon. Mayor Morris is seeking a commitment on behalf of the City of San Bernardino to match our proposed contribution of$20,000. This will send a strong message of compassion and concern for the trauma the Inland Empire has sustained and continues to be affected by. A$20,000 contribution from the City's General Fund would directly assist in relief efforts and go far to encourage similar contributions from other organizations. Current estimates of damage are catastrophic with the Inland Empire sustaining severe loss of property. I called upon and met today with Jim Erickson, President/CEO of the Community Foundation Serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, to discuss a commitment to help those regional residents in need. Similar efforts that the City of Riverside lead in the past— with the Tsunami in January 2005 and Hurricane Katrina in September 2005 — resulted in tremendous outpouring of support from this region. As in these past efforts, Mayor Morris and I have asked Jim Erickson, and he has graciously agreed, to coordinate the effort to raise these funds which will be donated to the Red Cross and/or other appropriate agencies. FISCAL IMPACT: The City Manager has confirmed the availability of funds to support the recommended contribution. Prepared by: RONALD O. LOVERIDGE Mayor Concurs with: ED ADKISON Mayor Pro-Tem RESOLUTION NO. COPY 1 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO APPROPRIATING $20,000 TO THE FIRE VICTIMS 2 RELIEF FUND ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF 3 RIVERSIDE AND SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES, TO PROVIDE DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF THE RECENT LOCAL WILDFIRES IN 4 THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS. 5 WHEREAS, in 2003, the City of San Bernardino was ravaged by the Old 6 Fire, and many City residents were left homeless and destitute by that tragedy; and -7 WHEREAS, in response to the needs of fire victims in our City during 2003, 8 there was a tremendous mobilizing of assistance from throughout the Inland Empire 9 10 to help our City residents with food, shelter, and other long-term needs; and 11 WHEREAS, during the last two weeks of October 2007, wildfires have again 12 ravaged the region, fortunately avoiding the City of San Bernardino, but devastating 13 several communities in our local mountains, and leaving hundreds homeless and 14 destitute; and 15 WHEREAS, while the City of San Bernardino was spared during these recent 16 wildfires, the entire area is prone to the catastrophes of earthquakes, fire and floods; 17 18 and 19 WHEREAS, the City of San Bernardino may, at some time, suffer the 20 ravages of these natural occurrences causing damage and injuries to the City and its 21 citizens; and 22 WHEREAS, the City receives certain economic advantages from the 23 adjoining County area through commerce and other business endeavors; and 24 25 WHEREAS, due to the proximity to the City, our neighbors shop at our 26 businesses and spend money on recreation and other pursuits which provide sales tax 27 revenue and adds dollars that will increase by way of the economic multiplier; and 28 No , : a r. ' WHEREAS, the City of San Bernardino could be looking to the citizens of 1 those areas and the County of San Bernardino for assistance and relief, and 2 WHEREAS, the Community Foundation of Riverside and San Bernardino 3 Counties ("Community Foundation") has established a special Fire Victims Relief 4 Fund to provide direct assistance to the victims of the recent local wildfires; and 5 WHEREAS, the Community Foundation has pledged that every dollar 6 7 contributed to the Fire Victims Relief Fund will go directly to assist local fire victims, 8 with no portion of these funds going to administrative overhead; and 9 WHEREAS, a contribution by the City of San Bernardino to the Fire Victims 10 Relief Fund to help our neighbors who are the most recent victims of wildfires in this 11 region is but a small way in which we can reciprocate the generosity received by our 12 City residents in 2003; and 13 14 WHEREAS, generosity demonstrated by the City of San Bernardino to our 15 neighbors during this most recent tragedy will undoubtedly be reciprocated when 16 future disasters affect the City of San Bernardino, as occurred in 2003 during the Old 17 Fire; 18 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND 19 COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO AS 20 FOLLOWS: 21 22 SECTION 1. In recognition of the potential catastrophic damage that could 23 occur in the City and the need for relief from our citizen-neighbors and the County, 24 the City Manager and Director of Finance are hereby authorized and directed to 25 appropriate Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) to the Community Foundation of 26 Riverside and San Bernardino Counties for deposit into the Fire Victims Relief Fund 27 for the purposes set forth in this Resolution. 28 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO APPROPRIATING $20,000 TO THE FIRE VICTIMS RELIEF FUND 1 ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF RIVERSIDE AND SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES, TO PROVIDE DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF THE RECENT LOCAL WILDFIRES IN THE SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS. 2 3 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the forgoing resolution was duly adopted by the 4 Mayor and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino at a 5 meeting thereof, held on the day of , 6 2007, by the following vote, to wit: 7 8 Councilmembers Ayes Nays Abstain Absent 9 ESTRADA 10 BAXTER 11 BRINKER 12 DERRY 13 14 KELLEY 15 VAN JOHNSON 16 MCCAMMACK 17 18 Rachel G. Clark City Clerk 19 20 The foregoing resolution is hereby approved this day of 21 , 2007. 22 Patrick Morris, Mayor 23 City of San Bernardino Approved as to form: 24 James F. Penman 25 City Attorney 26 By: ' 27 28