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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 2020-3127RESOLUTION NO. 2020 - 2) f 21 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE PAYMENT OF A CASH DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($7,500.00) TO KIDSIDE, INC., A NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS FAMILY COURT SERVICES WHICH PROVIDES SERVICES TO CITY RESIDENTS; FINDING THAT SAID EXPENDITURE SERVES A VALID MUNICIPAL PURPOSE; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO DO ALL THINGS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THIS RESOLUTION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, Section 172-5 of the Code of Ordinances for the City of Sunny Isles Beach ("City") provides that the City Commission may make monetary donations to charitable organizations, which must be approved by the affirmative votes of at least four (4) members of the City Commission at a public meeting; and WHEREAS, in 2001, Family Court Services ("FCS") was created to provide services to low-income families involved with the Miami -Dade family court system including but not limited to family therapy, individual therapy (children and adults), reunification therapy, therapeutic visitation, and supervised visitation; and WHEREAS, in addition to resolving issues with which these families contend, the overarching goal of FCS is to provide families with the skills they need to enable them to resolve subsequent disputes constructively with a minimum need for legal intervention or impact on the community, including local police resources being utilized to intervene in family disputes; and WHEREAS, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, FCS has seen a dramatic increase in cases due to the adverse impact the global pandemic has had on families, especially those that are affected by substance abuse, domestic violence and mental health issues; and WHEREAS, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting increased demand, FCS is critically underfunded and cannot keep up with the demand for services. Therefore, if a Judge from the Family Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami -Dade County decides that a family can benefit from FCS, there will likely be a significant waiting period for the family, making a difficult and painful process even longer; and WHEREAS, FCS has often found itself in the difficult position of having families wait 4 to 6 weeks for their initial appointment for in-house services and 3 to 6 months to commence supervised visitation; and WHEREAS, by being denied timely access to the critical services provided by FCS, families in high conflict disputes are more likely to experience domestic violence and other volatile situations that necessitate the intervention of the local police; and WHEREAS, aside from funding from Miami -Dade County, FCS relies upon the financial support of the community via a non-profit organization called KidSide, Inc., which raises funding through donations to bridge the gap in an underfunded system to enable FCS to reach as many families as possible in a more timely manner; and WHEREAS, many families from the City have benefitted from the services provided by FCS which is supported by KidSide, Inc.; and WHEREAS, during the years of 2017, 2018 and 2019, FCS served over 1,051 residents of the City (this figure does not include the children of those families), and it is anticipated that these figures will continue to rise during the COVID-19 pandemic; and WHEREAS, the City Commission finds that the expenditure of a charitable donation to KidSide, Inc., a non-profit organization, in the amount of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00) serves a valid municipal purpose, as the support for that organization, and in turn FCS, directly impacts families within the City by providing the funding necessary to support more expedient services to City residents and minimize the need for the City's law enforcement to be utilized for intervention of, and responding to, family disputes. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Incorporation of Recitals. The foregoing recital paragraphs are hereby ratified and confirmed as being true and the same are hereby made part of this Resolution. Section 2. Authorizing Expenditure for a Valid Municipal Purpose. Pursuant to Section 172-5 of the City's Code of Ordinances the City Commission authorizes a cash donation to KidSide, Inc., in an amount not to exceed Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00), and finds that said expenditure serves a valid municipal purpose. Section 3. Authorization of City Manager. The City Manager is hereby authorized to do all things necessary to effectuate this Resolution. Section 4. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective upon adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 15th day of Octob K2_0_2 . George H. Scholl, Mayor A T'i1Ti' GYT: c , CMC, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEG SUFFICIENCY: Edward A. Dion, City Attorney Moved by: 0 � J'j Vote: Mayor Scholl (Yes) Vice Mayor Svechin (Yes) Commissioner Goldman (Yes) Commissioner Lama (Yes) Commissioner Viscarra (Yes) Seconded by: �MmOtowt-(Z- aaaw','j (No) (No) (No) (No) (No) �NNY est City of Sunny Isles Beach - n 18070 Collins Avenue Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160 (306) 947-0606 City �yF CA9't F�O"�oo5w (305) 949311Hall 3 Fax lT Of SVN �� MEMORANDUM TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Commission FROM: Jeniffer Viscarra, Commissioner DATE: 10/15/2020 RE: Donation to KidSide, Inc. RECOMMENDATION: This Resolution is presented for your consideration. REASONS: Section 172-5 of the City's Code of Ordinances provides that the City Commission may make monetary donations to charitable organizations, so long as it is approved by the affirmative votes of at least four (4) members of the City Commission. The proposed resolution, if approved, would authorize a monetary donation to KidSide, Inc. in an amount not to exceed Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00). KidSide, Inc. is a non-profit organization that raises funding through donations for the benefit of Family Court Services ("FCS"). FCS was created in 2001 to provide services to low-income families involved with the Miami -Dade family court system, including but not limited to family therapy, individual therapy (children and adults), reunification therapy, therapeutic visitation, and supervised visitation. In addition to resolving issues with which these families contend, the overarching goal of FCS is to provide families with the skills they need to enable them to resolve subsequent disputes constructively with a minimum need for legal intervention or impact on the community, including local police resources being utilized to intervene in family disputes. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, FCS has seen a dramatic increase in cases due to the adverse impact the global pandemic has had on families, especially those that are affected by substance abuse, domestic violence and mental health issues. Currently, FCS is critically underfunded and cannot keep up with the demand for services. Therefore, if a Judge from the Family Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami -Dade County decides that a family can benefit from FCS, there will likely be a significant waiting period for the family, making a difficult and painful process even longer. FCS has often found itself in the difficult position of having families wait 4 to 6 weeks for their initial appointment for in- house services and 3 to 6 months to commence supervised visitation. Notably, by being denied timely access to the critical services provided by FCS, families in high conflict disputes are more likely to experience domestic violence and other volatile situations that necessitate the intervention of the local police. Many families from the City have benefitted from the services provided by FCS. In fact, during the years of 2017, 2018 and 2019, FCS served over 1,051 residents of the City (this figure does not include the children of those families), and it is anticipated that these figures will continue to rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. A charitable donation to KidSide, Inc. will assist FCS, as KidSide, Inc. assists in bridging the gap in County funding to enable FCS to reach as many families as possible in a more timely manner. The proposed expenditure serves a valid municipal purpose, as the support for KidSide, Inc., and in turn FCS, directly impacts families within the City by providing the funding necessary to support more expedient services to City residents and minimize the need for the City's law enforcement to be utilized for intervention of, and responding to, family disputes. ATTACHMENTS: Description Resolution Item Number: 10.1.