Fiscal Note
The proposed cooperative agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities of the City and the Madison Parks Foundation as the City’s official non-profit fundraising collaborator for the City’s park and open space system. Following the execution of this Agreement, City-held funds may be transferred from the City to the Foundation, subject to the terms of this agreement: Transfers of under $10,000 may be approved by the Parks Superintendent and the City Finance Director, and transfers over $10,000 will require the approval of Common Council and appropriate budget amendments as necessary. No appropriation is required for the authorization of the agreement.
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Authorizing the Mayor and the City Clerk to enter into a contract with Madison Parks Foundation establishing the roles and responsibilities of the City and Foundation with respect to each other from the date of execution through December 31, 2033 2028, with the possibility of renewal for successive 10 5-year periods.
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WHEREAS, beginning in the 1890’s and the establishment of the Madison Parks and Pleasure Drive Association (“MPPDA”), the City has been fortunate to enjoy widespread community support and funding from the community to acquire and develop the City’s valuable park and open space system; and,
WHEREAS, the Madison Parks Division (“Madison Parks”) took over authority of the City’s parks from the MPPDA in 1938, and has grown and developed the City’s current park system. However, a need still exists for private fundraising, community outreach, and public involvement in the continued development and maintenance of the City’s park system; and,
WHEREAS, in 2002 the Foundation was formed as a non-profit entity independent of the City, and since that time has successfully raised funds and worked with Madison Parks to support numerous park improvement projects, as well as programs in parks and public spaces throughout the City; and,
WHEREAS, in 2013 the City and Foundation (the “Parties”) entered into a Cooperative Agreement (the “2013 Agreement”) to formally declare and establish the Foundation as the City’s official non-profit fund raising collaborator as it relates to the City’s park system. The 2013 Agreement also addressed the transfer and use of certain City funds, and to outline the Parties’ roles and responsibilities regarding the creation of the Foundation’s Executive Director position, which position was created and transitioned to the Foundation’s full control in 2018; and,
WHEREAS, since the 2013 Agreement, the Foundation has taken on an active role in fundraising and promoting philanthropic opportunities, as well as managing transferred funds on behalf of the City to assist the Foundation’s growth and to better utilize the potential growth of those funds, which arrangement has worked to the benefit of the Parties; and,
WHEREAS, the City has been and anticipates it will continue to be the recipient of numerous bequests, gifts or other donations for park purposes, which funds may be better utilized by the Foundation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to execute an Cooperative Agreement with the Madison Parks Foundation, for the purposes and for the length of time listed, and consistent with the agreement attached hereto, which is incorporated by reference.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Parks Superintendent is authorized to act on the City’s behalf as specified in the Cooperative Agreement, including entering into memorandums of understandings or agreements relating to projects or programs that the City and the Foundation will collaborate on under the Agreement.