HomeMy WebLinkAboutFormation of Clergy Cmte (2 Councilmembers & Local Leaders)CITY OF PALM DESER IVIm^I4c, vtt'E_jat797,
OFFICE OF THE CITY MAN/1G i;) ado, ./2e i.1'ZC.
STAFF REPORT i pAss'Ea TO2N �'
REQUEST: CONSIDERATION OF THE FORMATION OF A CLERGY
COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF TWO CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
AND LOCAL CONGREGATION LEADERS.
SUBMITTED BY: Stephen Y. Aryan, Assistant to the City Manager
DATE: December 9, 2010
Recommendation
By Minute Motion, provide direction to staff relative to the formation of a Clergy
Committee to work with local congregations in discussing community issues.
Background
At the September 23, 2010, City Council meeting, Councilmember Robert Spiegel
requested staff to explore the feasibility of establishing a Clergy Committee similar to the
City's Two by Two Committee with the Desert Sands Unified School District (DSUSD). The
purpose of this new committee would be to have a forum for Palm Desert congregations to
meet with City officials in discussing matters of local community interest.
Many municipalities in California currently work with local clergy in forming working groups
to either mitigate a community wide problem (e.g. crime, homelessness, poverty, etc) or
discuss in greater detail other issues of community wide interest. The benefits of such a
relationship have typically been to:
1. Increase the level of information the public has about local agency activities.
Congregant meetings and media, as well as direct information sharing by clergy, can
help local agencies "spread the word" about available public services, emergency
preparedness response and planning, volunteer opportunities for involvement in
local committees/commission, and other similar activities.
2. Deepening and diversifying public engagement activities.
Many cities have historically reached out to clergy and congregations as one tool to
bring under -represented populations (e.g. immigrants or members of low socio-
economic status) into the local decision making process.
3. Generating partnerships to support local programs and services.
Palm Desert has historically undertaken a collaborative approach in addressing the
community's needs. Many such partnerships exist between the City and local
agencies, businesses, and community based organizations (e.g. DSUSD, Chamber
of Commerce, and Rotary). Teaming with local congregations presents another
forum to establish an effective partnership in supporting local programs/services.
Examples of such collaborations in other communities include identifying volunteers
for various local -agency roles, utilizing congregational facilities as emergency shelter
sites, or having them assist with tutoring and mentoring disadvantaged youths.
Clergy Committee Consideration
December 9, 2010
Page 2 of 3
Fiscal Analysis
There is no fiscal impact with consideration of forming the Clergy Committee. However,
if formed, there will be in -kind fiscal impact of staff time (one liaison and one recorder)
and materials to effectively administer the committee. As the committee would generally
meet quarterly, or as needed, such costs are ambiguous and not anticipated to be
significant.
Submitted By:
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Ste/phen /Y. Aryan, P$sistant to the City Manager
Approval:
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Gjbsb ; Director of Finance
M. Wohlmuth, City Manager