HomeMy WebLinkAboutDonation - One America Appeal - Hurricanes STAFF REPORT
CITY OF PALM DESERT
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE
MEETING DATE: 12 October 2017
REQUEST: That the City Council authorize the donation of $5,000 to One America
Appeal to assist the victims of the recent hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and
Maria, and appropriate $5,000.00 from the Unobligated General Fund
to Account No. 1104800-4388000 for this expenditure.
Recommendation
By Minute Motion:
1. Authorize the one-time contribution of $5,000 to One America Appeal to
assist the victims of the recent hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria; and
2. Appropriate $5,000.00 from the Unobligated General Fund to Account No.
110480-4388000.
Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan Public Safety & Emergency Services Priority 3 is to help the community
become more prepared for disasters and public safety emergencies. Contributing to
help other communities recover from natural disasters connects Palm Desert and the
affected locales within a greater community, which could reciprocally benefit Palm
Desert when a disaster or other large scale emergency inevitably occurs here.
Background Analysis
At its meeting on 8 September 2017, the Palm Desert City Council asked staff to bring
forward a recommendation for providing assistance to communities in Texas and
Florida recently ravaged by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Since that request, Hurricane
Maria also devastated Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Staff has added links from the City's website to three leading nonprofit consolidators of
relief efforts: the One America Appeal, the Red Cross, and Americares. These links
allow website visitors to easily access information about hurricane relief efforts and
opportunities to contribute. City staff also held a fundraising pizza lunch, collecting over
$500 that was donated to One America Appeal.
There is no action that Palm Desert can take to undo the damage or replace the lives
lost to these natural disasters. The City can, however, offer sympathy and compassion
to the victims, and demonstrate support for the local governments who will be
Date of Meeting - Staff Report
Staff Report — Contribution for Hurricane Relief
Page 2 of 2
years with rebuilding efforts, much as Palm Desert could be if disaster strikes here. In
that light, staff suggests that a contribution of $5,000 to the One America Appeal effort
would be an appropriate and fiscally responsible gesture.
One America Appeal was created by all five living former U. S. Presidents to help
residents in Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean recover and rebuild after the hurricanes.
The money would be used in Texas by the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund; the Rebuild
Texas Fund assisting communities across the state, and a special restricted account at
the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation. In Florida, monies will go to the
Florida Disaster Fund. In the Caribbean, donations will be distributed to Unidos Por
Puerto Rico and the Fund for the Virgin Islands, which was established by the Community
Foundation of the Virgin Islands for relief efforts.
Fiscal Analysis
No moneys were budgeted in the 2017/18 fiscal year for this contribution. Therefore, a
one-time appropriation of $5,000 to Account No. 1104800-4388000 would be needed to
accomplish the requested action.
repared by: Lauri Aylaian, City Manar-
LEGAL REVIEW DEPT. REVIEW FINANCIAL REVIEW CITY MANAGER
N/A ��.?2,--trac
Moore Lauri Aylaian
Robert W. Hargreaves Name of Director Director of Finance City Manager
City Attorney Title