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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSR - C24303 - Athena ScholarshipCITY OF PALM DESERT Community Services Division Staff Report REQUEST: REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF PALM DESERT ATHENA SCHOLARSHIP AWARD AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PALM DESERT AND CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN BERNARDINO (Contract No. C24303) SUBMITTED BY: Patricia Scully, CFEE, Senior Management Analyst DATE: May 8, 2008 CONTENTS: Subject Agreement RECOMMENDATION: By Minute Motion, approve an agreement between the City of Palm Desert and Califomia State University at San Bemardino to establish the 2008 Palm Desert Athena Scholarship Fund. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: For the past six years, the City of Palm Desert has served as the sponsor of the Palm Desert Athena Award, which includes the granting of scholarships to deserving students enrolled at Califomia State University, San Bernardino - Palm Desert Campus (CSUSB). BACKGROUND: The Athena Foundation is an intemational organization that supports, develops, and honors women leaders by inspiring them to achieve their full potential and create a balance in leadership worldwide. Six years ago, the City of Palm Desert assumed responsibility for administering this program in the local community, which focuses on the personal traits of strong, successful leaders who capture the spirit and collaborative leadership style often exemplified by women leaders, while also recognizing the importance of traits such as courageous acts and fierce advocacy in the pursuit of excellence. The Athena Foundation gives local sponsors the latitude to organize their programs in the manner which best suits specific communities. When the City assumed the sponsorship role for the Palm Desert Athena Award, it was determined that a scholarship component would be attached to the annual recognition ceremony. The manner in which the awards had been administered in the past required that recipients pay income tax on the scholarships, as the City simply made them payable CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT MAY 8, 2008 RE: PALM DESERT ATHENA SCHOLARSHIP AWARD AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PALM DESERT AND CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN BERNARDINO - Contract No. C24302 directly to recipients. In order for CSUSB to effectively administer this award in a manner that meets the criteria of all others associated with public institutions in the State of California, the attached agreement is necessary. This agreement will allow the City of Palm Desert to fund scholarships through CSUSB without becoming involved in the issuing of year-end statements to recipients and reporting these awards to the Internal Revenue Service for taxation purposes. Although the original agreement was approved by the City Council in 2005, it provided that the scholarship would be closed out once all of the funds were expended through awarding of scholarships; therefore, a new agreement must be signed each year. For each of the past several years, Waste Management of the Desert has donated $2,500 to be presented to one deserving student at CSUSB - Palm Desert Campus. Burrtec Waste and Recycling Services has agreed to fund the 2008 scholarship, which will be named for that organization. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the subject agreement, which will establish the 2008 Palm Desert Athena Scholarship Fund at CSUSB - Palm Desert Campus. PATRICIA SCULLY, CFEE EN MA c M , T ANALYST SHEILA R. GICLtN ACM/COMMUNITY SER PS:mpg ES PAUL S. FINANC IRECTORrICITY TREASURER £,CARLOS L. dR A CITY MANAG CITY COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED / DENIED RECEIVED OTHER NESTING DATE ,54- t)3 AYES: Ferc usbn. Finer—y, Ye l li, Spier risrA! NOES: Wye_ ABSENT: ',lone_ ABSTAIN: Male_ VERIFIED BY: 'Piro Original on File withJCity Clerk's Office