TITLE
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Maricopa, Arizona authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Gila River Indian Community in support of funding Maricopa Transportation Systems to provide transportation services in the City of Maricopa and act as the designated fiscal agent. Discussion and Action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
In February 2010, the City of Maricopa Mayor and City Council passed a grants acquisition and administration policy providing guidelines for the City of Maricopa to consider sponsorship of an application to the State Shared Revenue Programs and is detailed as follows:
Sponsorship of an agency's application for the City of Maricopa to act as the Fiscal Agent
i. Agency is a non-profit and /or proof of tax exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code section 501 (c) 3 or similar provision.
a. Economic Sustainability
b. Quality of Life
c. Transportation
e. Public Safety
f. Quality Municipal Services
iii. There must be a benefit to the City of Maricopa community.
The City of Maricopa has provided sponsorship to the Maricopa Transportation System previously through a Gila River Indian Community Grant Application.
The passage of Proposition 202 by the Voters of Arizona in November 2000 set the stage for new gaming compacts between the State and the respective tribes. An important provision of Proposition was the sharing of gaming revenues with the State. A portion of the revenue to be shared can be retained by an Indian tribe and distributed itself. Proposition 202 allows an Indian tribe to make twelve percent (12%) of its total annual contribution in the following form: Distributions to cities, towns or counties for government services that benefit the general public, including public safety, mitigation of the impacts of gaming,or promotion of commerce and economic development.
The Gila River Indian Community has decided to exercise its option to retain and administer the 12 percent of State-shared revenue itself. The Community Council has adopted guidelines and procedures for this program as follows:
The Community's policy is to generally limit the distributions to nearby cities and towns and counties but retain some flexibility to consider more distant but special situations.
The priority areas the Community and Nation will initially concentrate funding on are:
· Education
· Healthcare
· Public Safety
· Economic Development
· Transportation
In addition to these priority areas, the Community reserves the right to utilize its discretion in funding special programs and projects not included in the above listing, for example, the Community could also invite a particular city, town or county to submit an application for a mutually negotiated project.
A non-profit or other organization can become eligible if the non-profit can provide:
1. Proof of tax exempt status under Internal Revenue Code section 501 (c) (3) or some other similar provision.
2. Proof of support and sponsorship from an Arizona city, town or county. Such proof shall be in the form of a resolution adopted showing the government will act as a fiscal agent and accept funding on the non-profits behalf. The non-profits application shall bear the signature of an authorized official of the eligible government.
Maricopa Transportation System is requesting $35,000 from the Gila River Indian Community for the operation and administration of Copa Shuttle. Maricopa Transportation System aligns with the Maricopa Strategic Plan under the transportation element in providing safe and efficient transportation system to the citizens of Maricopa that facilitates the orderly and efficient movement of people, goods and services as well as reaching beyond political and jurisdictional boundaries to create transit partnerships that foster expansion of the destinations and time frames that are currently available.
By supporting non-profit agencies the City is empowering non-profit leaders to improve the quality of life, build capacity, focus on community solutions and support the sustainability of the non-profit sector.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends a resolution of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Maricopa, Arizona authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Gila River Indian Community in support of funding Maricopa Transportation Systems to provide transportation services in the City of Maricopa and act as the designated fiscal agent. Discussion and Action.