Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Authorizing members of the Common Council to solicit funds for the purpose of supporting the ongoing operations of a permanent men’s shelter being built and scheduled to open in 2026
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Madison and Dane County have together authorized the necessary capital financing to construct the first permanent men’s homeless shelter that will serve men in Dane County who experience homelessness; and,
WHEREAS, the vision for this facility is that it will remain open twenty-four hours per day so that those who use the shelter can access services there during the daytime that will improve their ability to return to stable housing; and,
WHEREAS, Porchlight, Inc., a local non-profit organization and long-time operator of shelter facilities in the community, estimates it will cost more than $4 million to operate the new shelter on a twenty-four hours a day, seven day a week basis; and,
WHEREAS, in the more than three decades prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Madison did not contribute funds toward the operations of men’s shelter facilities in our community; and,
WHEREAS, despite the scarcity of public resources and the limitations placed upon their budgets by the State Legislature, City and County officials have signaled their commitment to making ongoing contributions in support of shelter operations, although not at levels sufficient to meet total operating needs, and have encouraged contributions from private sources; and,
WHEREAS, although it was substantially interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a long history in Madison and Dane County of drawing support from private sources to sustain the operations of shelter facilities for people experiencing homelessness; and,
WHEREAS, a local organization, the Shelter Friends of Dane County, has formed with the goal of leading a local private sector fundraising campaign; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Ethics Code, Sec. 3.35(5)(a)2, Madison General Ordinances, authorizes solicitation of donations from third parties provided that: a) the funds are to be used for a City project or for a conference to be held within the City, b) the solicitation has been approved by a resolution of the Common Council, c) the entity receiving the funds is not an entity which is associated with the City elected officials or employees who are soliciting the donations, and 4) a report of the amount and date of contributions and contributors for all donations for the project is filed with the City Clerk within six months of the receipt of the donation; and,
WHEREAS, members of the Common Council are encouraged to coordinate fundraising efforts with the Shelter Friends of Dane County organization in order to avoid duplication and to most effectively and efficiently conduct a successful fundraising effort; and,
WHEREAS, MGO 3.35(5) prohibits any solicitation to be connected to other business or proposals that the individual or organization may have or seek to have with the City, including the awarding or approving of contracts, grants, permits or licenses;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, pursuant to MGO Sec. 3.35(5)(a)2, members of the Common Council are authorized to solicit funds and in-kind donations on behalf of the City for the purpose of supporting the operations of a permanent men’s shelter, provided that: 1) all funds raised and in-kind donations are used for the purpose stated herein, and 2) within 6 months after the completion of the fundraising, the appropriate reports required by the Madison Ethics Code are filed with the City Clerk.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the Common Council shall attempt to coordinate fundraising efforts with Shelter Friends of Dane County, including fulfilling all reporting requirements and especially related to significant fundraising requests and efforts.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that members of the Common Council shall take care to not express or imply that any fundraising requests are in any way connected to other business or proposals that the individual or organization may have or seek to have with the City, including awarding or approving contracts, grants, permits or licenses.