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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-11-09 - AGENDA REPORTS - ALL AMERICA CITY AWARD (2)AGENDA REPORT City Manager Item to be preser NEW BUSINESS DATE: November 9, 1999 SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION FOR SANTA CLARITA'S PARTICIPATION IN THE ALL -AMERICA CITY 2000 AWARD COMPETITION DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office RECOMMENDED ACTION Authorize Staff to submit an application for the All -America City 2000 Award. Establish a proposed budget for this program in the amount of $60,000. Appropriate $30,000 from the Council Contingency Account No. 1240-7401 to Account No. 501-23011 to assist with All -America City Award expenses. BACKGROUND Last year, Santa Clarita received the distinction of being one of thirty communities to receive the All -America City Finalist Designation. Last June, with approximately 50 community members, Santa Clarita's delegation competed with some of the most innovative cities in the nation at the All -America City competition in Philadelphia. While Santa Clarita was not chosen one of the 1999 winning communities, they were singled out as the most spirited city and were encouraged by numerous other cities, judges, and officials to re -apply for the 2000 Award. Feedback received from the 1999 Award Screening Committee has been extremely positive, including accolades regarding youth involvement in the Philadelphia presentation, and high marks for the content of the three highlighted programs. It was interesting to note that seven of the ten cities that were chosen as 1999 All -America Cities had previously competed in the award competition. Based on our past performance and feedback, staff believes that the City of Santa Clarita will be successful in a Year 2000 bid for the All America Cities title. The All -America City Award is considered the most prestigious national recognition a City can receive. The goal of the award is to recognize outstanding communities whose citizens work together to identify and tackle community -wide challenges and achieve outstanding results. The award is sponsored by the National Civic League, a 106 year-old non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to strengthening citizen democracy by transforming democratic institutions. Benefits to communities who have received this prestigious award are extraordinary. In a recent survey conducted on past winning cities, eight out of ten winning communities believed the All -America City Award benefited them "a great deal," with the most significant benefits being community cohesiveness, civic pride and enhanced community identity. In addition, increased economic development and increased support for local programs have also been recognized as a dPROM of the award. flen vif Staff proposes to work with a community steering committee to develop and submit a new application for the All -America City 2000 Award. If selected as a finalist, staff would continue working with the steering committee to raise funds and create a program that will be presented to the Awards Screening Committee it May 2000 in Louisville, Kentucky. Total expenses associated with the All -America City 2000 Award competition are estimated to be approximately $60,000, half of which will come from committee fundraising efforts. Staff is very interested in fostering wide -range community and corporate involvement in this process to bring national recognition to Santa Clarita. Expenses associated with the award finals include travel -related expenses for selected Santa Clarita delegates as well as a presentation and graphics display. In addition, promotional items representing our community and its three highlighted programs will be created and distributed to the 1,500 nation-wide representatives attending the conference. ALTERNATIVE ACTION Appropriate entire amount required for the All -America City 2000 effort, with the understanding that the fundraising committee will make every effort to offset costs through community fundraising. Appropriate a reduced amount required for the All -America City 2000 effort. Do not support the Santa Clarita All -America City 2000 effort. FISCAL IMPACT The All -America City 2000 effort is estimated to cost approximately $60,000. Staff is currently requesting $30,000 in City funds to support this effort. The remaining portion of the expenditure is expected to come from community fundraising efforts. ATTACHMENTS All -America City Awards Fact Sheet All -America City Awards Timeline All -America City Awards 1999 Finalist Evaluation SAM: S:/ms/sa W mc/agempt2.dm AII-America Ciy The National Civic League and Allstate Insurance Company invite you to apply for America's oldest and most prestigious community recognition award Riverside, California, a 1998 AAC Winner, initiated a commu- nity -wide "Passport to College" program to encourage and pre- pare high school students (many from families with no higher education) to enroll in the region's four colleges. mu - THE ALL -AMERICA CITY (AAC) AWARD, now in its 51St year, recognizes exem- plary grassroots community problem solving and is given to communities that cooperatively tackle challenges and achieve results. The Award celebrates vibrant, resourceful places where neighbors pitch in together; places with a diverse collection of talents and people who dwell, not on problems of the past, but on opportunities of the present and possibilities of the future. Winning the nation's most prestigious and coveted civic prize gives a com- munity a renewed sense of self-confidence, national prominence and media recognition regarding its "can do" spirit. All -America Cities can teach and inspire communities throughout the nation which are struggling with the same difficult local issues. For over 50 years, the All America City Award has encour- aged and recognized civic excellence, honoring communities of all sizes (cities, towns, counties, neighborhoods and regions) in which citizens, government, businesses and voluntary organizations work together to address critical local issues. Communities that teach the rest of us how to face difficult situations and to meet those challenges in innovative and collaborative ways can become All -America Cities. Winning communities demonstrate a commitment to each other and to their ability to become more self-reliant, build new resources, and fight for what they believe in. Completing the AAC application requires cooperation and collaboration. It offers an opportunity for a community to examine the very best and the most needy, to explore local resources and to create innovative solutions to problems. 2000 All -America City Application Instructions The All America City Award is a program of the National Civic League sponsored by Allstate Insurance Company National Civic League Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the National Civic League (NCL) is a 105 -year-old non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to strengthen- ing citizen democracy by transforming democratic institutions. NCL accomplishes its mission through technical assistance, training, publishing, research, and the All -America City Awards, the nation's oldest and most prestigious community recognition pro- gram. The National Civic League works directly with communities though the Denver-based Community Assistance Team and the Washington, D.C.-based Program for Community Problem The National Civic League was founded in 1894, when more than 100 educators, journalists, business leaders, and policy makers met in Philadelphia to discuss the future of American cities. Among those who attended the two- day conference were Theodore Roosevelt, Louis Brandeis, Marshall Field, and Frederic Law Olmstead. The gathering was organized in response to widespread municipal government cor- ruption and served as a nationwide call to "raise the popular standards of polit- ical morality." The All -America City Award, which since 1949 has recognized the efforts of extraordinary communities, is perhaps the best known NCL pro- gram. Each year, in partnership with Allstate Insurance Company, the National Civic League honors ten com- munities for effectively addressing their most critical challenges. Through the Alliance for National Renewal, a coalition of more than 300 local and national organizations dedi- cated to the principles of civic renewal, NCL shares stories of innovative com- munity problem solving efforts and offers assistance to citizens working together to improve their communities. Solving. Both programs pro- vide professional technical assistance to communities through an array of services including problem solving, strategic planning, program implementation, perfor- mance measurement, and charter reform. The New Politics Program, NCL's newest initiative, recognizes and pro- motes innovative reform efforts implemented at the local level. The first project for the New Politics Program was to develop a menu of model cam- paign finance reform measures, based on the experience of local communities across the country. Over the years, the NCL Press has published numerous manuals for local governance and administrative reform, including the Model City Charter, the Handbook for Council Members, the Guide for Charter Commissions, the Handbook for Strategic Planning and Visioning, and the Civic Index. In addi- tion, for 88 years, NCL's quarterly journal, the National Civic Review, has provided thoughtful commentary and discussion on issues affecting citizen involvement in government and com- munity problem solving. For more information about any National Civic League programs, call (800) 223.6004 or email: nclencl.org. NCI's website, www.nci.org/ncl, has extensive information about NCL and the All -America City Awards. (W A I I state® You're in good hands. The Allstate Insurance Company The Allstate Insurance Company has been the sole corporate sponsor of the All - America City Awards since 1988. The Allstate Corporation is the parent of Allstate Insurance Company, the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insur- ance company, insuring one of every eight autos and homes in the country. Allstate is also a major life insurer. The company pro- vides insurance for more than 20 million customers and has more than 15,000 agents in the U.S. and Canada. Founded in 1931 as part of Sears, Roebuck & Co., Allstate became a publicly - traded company in 1993. At the time, its initial public offering was the largest in U.S. history. On June 30, 1995, it became a totally independent company after Sears divested its remaining shares to Sears stockholders. Allstate, based in Northbrook, Illinois, is one of the nation's leading insurers in urban areas and has supported auto and highway safety reforms including seat belts, air bags, and teen driver education. The company has won numerous awards over the years for its philanthropic and employee volunteerism efforts. For more information on the All - America City Award, including portions of the 1998 AAC Yearbook, visit http://community.alistate.com/ partnerships/aac/. 2000 All -America City Application Instructions 0 ..ails✓/. 2000 All -America City Application Instructions • Participation of the public, private and nonprofit sectors and key constituencies to the maximum extent possible j7 ��cc • Recognition and involvement of diverse segments and perspectives y»� (ethnic, racial, socio-economic, age, etc.) in community decision-making • Creative use and leveraging of community resources v, • Significant and specific community achievements 2000. • Projects that address the community's most important needs AI-MadcaCky • Cooperation across jurisdictional boundaries announced April 11, 2000. • Clear demonstration of project results and impacts—for example, dollars raised or number of people affected 3. Ten AAC Winners determined During the Awards on June 1-3, 2000 in Louisville, Kentucky, Finalists will at the AAC Awards in • Projects which have improved the community significantly within the last Louisville, Kentucky on three years, and have potential to continue improving the quality of life June 3, 2000. • At least one project must document ways in which the lives of children and youth have been tangibly improved ..ails✓/. 2000 All -America City Application Instructions For a community to qualify, an official All -America City Award entry form must be filed by 5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, Thursday, March 9, j7 ��cc 2000. Each applicant is asked to portray its strengths and weaknesses in detail. NCL staff is available to answer any questions you might have. In April 2000, an All -America City Screening Committee of public and civic 1. Applications due March 9, affairs experts will convene in Denver, Colorado to select 30 Finalist communi- 2000. ties. These Finalists, announced April 11, 2000, will each send a delegation to 2. Thirty AAC Finalists the AAC Awards. During this stage of the process, the National Civic League will announced April 11, 2000. conduct field verifications of the Finalist communities to verify the accuracy of the application. 3. Ten AAC Winners determined During the Awards on June 1-3, 2000 in Louisville, Kentucky, Finalists will at the AAC Awards in make ten-minute formal presentations and answer questions for an additional Louisville, Kentucky on ten minutes before the AAC Jury. The AAC Jury includes leaders from public, June 3, 2000. private and nonprofit sectors, representing national, state, regional and local organizations with an interest in citizen action. Based on the communities' presentations, their applications and the field verifications, the AAC Jury will announce ten winners at the AAC Awards Ceremony, sponsored by Allstate Insurance Company, on the evening of June 3, 2000 at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. ..ails✓/. 2000 All -America City Application Instructions 2000 Application Timeline July, 1999 Applications available from the National Civic League and can be downloaded from the NCL web site at www.ncl.org/ncl July 16, 1999 Free on-line briefing on the application and award process for interested communities Sept. 16, 1999 Free on-line briefing on the application and award process for interested communities Oct. 14, 1999 Free briefing on the application and award process for interested communities, to be held in Arlington, Virginia at NCL's 105th National Conference on Governance March 9, 2000 Applications and fees due by 5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time April ll, 2000 Thirty AAC Finalists Announced June 1-3, 2000 All -America City Award competition in Louisville, Kentucky June 3, 2000 All -America Cities announced and publicized nationally. Winners and Finalists project descriptions available on NCL's website. Call us or watch our website for a calendar of additional briefings. NCL exhibits at various conferences such as National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, and International City/County Management Association. Staff can answer questions at these conferences. 2000 All -America City Application Instructions a 1I I I I I I All -Ammer c'A/ C f Aw"o 1"r Allstate A PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL CIVIC LEAGUE SUPPORTED BY THE ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY NATIONAL CIVIC LEAGUE 1999 ALL -AMERICA CITY AWARDS FINALIST EVALUATION Santa Clarita, CA The National Civic League and the All -America City Awards corporate supporter, Allstate Insurance Company, congratulate Santa Clarita for submitting an application and being a finalist for the All -America City Award in 1999. The application is designed to provide you with an assessment of your civic strengths and challenges and the opportunity to highlight your collaborative projects. The criteria used to review the application are: • Participation of the public, private and nonprofit sectors and key constituencies to the maximum extent practicable; • Recognition and involvement of diverse segments and perspectives (ethnic, racial, socio-economic; age, etc.) in community decision-making; • Creative use and leveraging of community resources; • Significant and specific community achievements; • Projects that address the community's most important needs; • Cooperation across jurisdictional boundaries; • Clear demonstration of project results and impacts. For example, dollars raised or number of people affected; • Projects which have improved the community significantly within the last three years, and have potential to continue improving the quality of life; • Documented improvement in the lives of children and youth. As you may know, the competition for the award in 1999 was significant and the Screening Committee and Jury of dedicated individuals had difficult choices to make. The Screening Committee and Jury asked us to relay its congratulations to you on the significant work you have done in your community. We all encourage you to apply again next year. If, after reviewing this evaluation you have questions, feel free to contact Sharon Hartman, AAC Director, at 303-571-4343, to setup a phone call to discuss your application further. In addition, consider participating in an on-line briefing (that requires only a phone and access to the internet) to review the application and process again. i We hope that this evaluation will provide insight into ways to further strengthen and enhance Santa Clarita's future applications. The statistical information described Santa Clarita as a community that is experiencing an National Civic League * 1445 Market Street, Suite 300 * Denver, Colorado 80202-1717 * (303) 571-4343 *Pax (303) 571-4404 * ncI@ncl.org * www.ncl.org/ncI influx of growth and diversity. The percentage of families below the poverty level and unemployment rate is rather low. Home ownership is rather high as well. The community background section described a community coming together to face its growing pains and plan for the future. This information is strongly supported in the Civic Index and Project descriptions as well. The responses to the Civic Index were solid, particularly Citizen Participation, Information Sharing, and Community Leadership. Additional details would have strengthened Government Performance, including a definition of "high level of satisfaction" among residents. Many of the components included a reference to youth, which was interesting, but small business activities seemed to be missing. Santa Clarita's Investment In Youth Plan is a collaboration to improve the lives of youth in the area. The plan has impressive youth involvement and a strong prevention component as well. Statistics regarding positive changes and reductions in gang membership are impressive. The plan shows excellent collaboration between law enforcement and citizens, youth and parents. The Community Arts Partnership (CAP) benefits many at risk, inner city youth. By providing training, this project can impact more than a child's skill but his or her creativity and self-esteem, as is well noted in the description. CAP demonstrated good leveraging of uses for the artwork and other support for the program. The Screening Committee wondered how the 35 private companies and foundations were actively involved in the program. It was also noted that businesses were absent from one of the five principal groups in section 2E. While the merits of CAP are strong, is there a sense of its broader impacts on the community? The Foundation for Children's Dental Health (FCDH) is a creative youth health project that addresses a local concern. FCDH demonstrated good volunteerism, regional cooperation and leveraging of resources from the medical community. Reaching out to the Hispanic community to reduce the trust barriers was a positive move, as well as recognizing the language barriers in some areas. It is also beneficial that the project's leadership is of similar background as the community it serves. The statistics and impact statements of the FCDH are impressive as well. In summary, the presentation was strong, however the Jury had a few comments. The youth involvement in the presentation was well received. However, if the Asian population of Santa Clarita is growing, then it would be good to have that representation in the application and presentation. The credit for the regional accomplishments and collaboration seemed to be missing or understated. Is there more to be said there? A project that is addressing the major issue of growth and planning for Santa Clarita would be a good addition to the application. Although each of the projects is very strong, their impacts on the larger community were lacking at times. Additional impact statements on the community level would be beneficial to Santa Clarita's application. We wish you continued success and hope you will regard us as a future source of support, guidance and assistance in confronting and solving civic issues. 2