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.y of <br /> <br />iver <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />Item #4.8. <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />Mayor & City Council <br /> <br />Pat Klaers, City Administrator <br /> <br />October 20, 1997 <br /> <br />Rivers of Hope Request for Financial <br />Contribution <br /> <br />This agenda item will need to be heard by the City Council out of its normal <br />agenda order. Representatives of the Rivers of Hope organization cannot be <br />in attendance at the October 20, 1997, City Council meeting until after 8:00 <br /> <br />Attached for your information is some material from the Rivers of Hope <br />organization which helps explain the organization's request for municipal <br />financial assistance. In February 1997 a similar request came forward and <br />the City Council, on a 4-1 vote, approved giving this organization $5,000 out <br />of its 1997 City Council Contingency Fund. <br /> <br />The background material notes that the City of Buffalo has budgeted to <br />support this organization and also that it is believed that the City of <br />Monticello will do the same. In discussing this issue with the City of <br />Monticello city administrator it was noted that they have no policy regarding <br />contributions. This request is in the Monticello draft budget, but due to tax <br />levy concerns the administrator plans to recommend to the City Council that <br />this contribution not be included in the 1998 budget. Regarding the City of <br />Buffalo, it contributed $2,000 in 1997 and plans to contribute $2,000 in 1998. <br />Buffalo is dealing with the same issues as Elk River in that it is seeing more <br />and more worthy requests come forward and it anticipates even more <br />requests in the future as federal, state, and county funding for these services <br />are reduced. Buffalo has no local policy on contributions and, like Monticello <br />and Elk River, uses the state law as its guidance. <br /> <br />As we have previously discussed, the state law is somewhat "fuzzy" and <br />depends on the local elected officials judgment as to what is an appropriate <br />local contribution for specific programs. Buffalo, like Elk River, is concerned <br />that if a city policy is approved, then this policy will most likely severely limit <br />the City Council flexibility in what it can contribute towards. By this I mean <br /> <br />13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425 <br /> <br /> <br />