RTC#03-144

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RTC#03-144 April 29, 2003

SUBJECT:	Co-Sponsorship Status for the Sunnyvale Leadership Development Institute

REPORT IN BRIEF
The Sunnyvale Leadership Development Institute (SLDI), a non-profit public benefits corporation, is requesting renewal of its full co-sponsorship status with the City of Sunnyvale, with all of the privileges and benefits thereof. Co-Sponsorship was granted for FY01/02 and FY02/03, and staff recommends granting full co-sponsorship status for FY03/04.

BACKGROUND

The City of Sunnyvale invites non-profit and tax-exempt groups providing services, activities or programs for Sunnyvale residents to submit a request for co-sponsorship status. Groups requesting City co-sponsorship status and in-kind support must conform to the existing City Co-Sponsorship Policy and meet community needs to be eligible for co-sponsorship consideration.

Co-Sponsorship Status

The Co-Sponsorship Policy allows for groups that provide services closely associated with the goals and objectives of the City’s General Plan to receive certain City benefits. A co-sponsored group is a non-profit and tax-exempt organization that is officially recognized by the City of Sunnyvale. The group is independent in its organizational structure, provides a community service, or promotes an informed interest in the City’s objectives, services, facilities and programs for the benefit of its residents; and/or has as its purpose the raising of funds and provision of financial support for the City’s program. All groups accorded co-sponsorship status must submit a completed application annually and comply with the terms of Co-Sponsorship Policy.

Typically, co-sponsorship applications are reviewed by Parks and Recreation staff and forwarded to the Parks and Recreation Commission for their review and approval. The Parks and Recreation Commission then considers co-sponsorship applications and reviews staff evaluations based on the submitted application. Determinations of Co-Sponsorship status include: (1) full, (2) affiliated, or (3) associated.

Because the purpose of the SLDI does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Parks and Recreation Commission, review and approval of the application falls to the City Council.

SLDI Background

Prior to 1999, the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce administered the Leadership and Education Foundation, which ran the Leadership Sunnyvale Program. This community development program was designed to enhance the skills of those involved in our community. The program seeks to broaden its participants’ awareness of complex community issues, to strengthen their leadership skills, and to increase their effectiveness in both the community and the workplace. Since its inception, many participants in this program have become City Councilmembers or Board and Commission members.

In 1999, the Chamber Board of Directors determined it would no longer administer the Leadership Sunnyvale program. Some of the members decided to create a non-partisan charitable organization, SLDI. In June 1999, SLDI was formed as an independent 501(c) non-profit organization, to administer the existing Leadership and Education Foundation. The program administered under SLDI is called Leadership Sunnyvale.

SLDI has requested full co-sponsorship status with the City of Sunnyvale.

EXISTING POLICY

Goal 7.2A: To have a community in which citizens are informed about local issues and have access to City services and personnel.

Policy 7.2.6: Co-sponsorship Policy (Attachment A)

DISCUSSION

A. CRITERIA FOR RENEWING CO-SPONSORSHIP STATUS

In order to be eligible for continued co-sponsorship, groups must maintain their non-profit and tax-exempt status and must continue to provide services closely associated with the goals and objectives of the Recreation and/or Arts Sub-Elements of the General Plan or at the discretion of Council. The group must also meet specified residency requirements for general membership and for board of directors/officers membership.

Membership Requirements:

Full Co-Sponsorship Status requires that at least 75% of the organization's members be residents of the City of Sunnyvale. Exceptions may be granted by the Council under the following circumstances when eligible groups have at least 50% Sunnyvale residents and primarily provide a direct service to a City program as its major-chartered purpose. Direct service includes volunteer programs and direct programs conducted on behalf of the City. Exceptions may be granted in cases where the residency requirement is not met due to circumstances outside the control of the organization and if a lower level of co-sponsorship status would result in Sunnyvale residents being denied an opportunity to participate in the activity.

Affiliated Co-Sponsorship Status requires that at least 55% of the organization's members be residents of the City of Sunnyvale.

Associated Co-Sponsorship Status requires that a minimum of 15% of the organization's members be residents of the City of Sunnyvale.

Board of Directors for Full and Affiliated levels of Co-sponsorship must be comprised of a minimum of 50% Sunnyvale residents.

BENEFITS OF CO-SPONSORSHIP

Co-Sponsored groups receive priority scheduling of school, park or City facilities, after City scheduled activities and consistent with City policy on facility use. Reservation priorities for the theatre are handled separately.

Fully Co-Sponsored Groups may make reservations up to seven (7) months in advance, or one month earlier than the general public.
Affiliated Co-Sponsored Groups may make reservations up to six months and ten calendar days (6 months and 10 days) in advance, or 10 days earlier than the general public.
Associated Groups receive no reservation advantage.

Full Co-Sponsored Groups and Affiliated Co-Sponsored Groups may receive printing assistance dependent on available resources. Staff will allocate funds based on the number of eligible groups.

All Co-Sponsored groups receive free listing of organization’s name, contact person and telephone number in activity guides. Groups may also be able to post flyers at City facilities and post announcements on the City’s cable TV station – KSUN Channel 18. All groups are provided with a staff liaison.

Refer to attached Council Co-Sponsorship Policy 7.2.6.

Application Process

Following the Department of Parks and Recreation Co-Sponsorship Application Instructions, derived from Co-Sponsorship Policy 7.2.6, applicants are asked to submit the following:

Completed questionnaire
Statement of Compliance for Co-Sponsorship, signed by the organization president
Resolution/Certification, reviewed by the Board of Directors and signed by the Organization President/Chair of the Board of Directors
Copy of current liability insurance coverage stating coverage amounts, policy period, and naming the City of Sunnyvale as an "additional insured," or a request for wavier with detailed back up
Copy of enabling documents (e.g., Articles of Incorporation, Constitution or By-Laws), if there are changes.
Completed Facilities Usage Form for the time period July 1, 2003 – December 31, 2004.

SLDI Mission and Objectives

The Sunnyvale Leadership Development Institute is a non-profit public benefits corporation. It is organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable purposes. SLDI is organized to conduct educational workshops, seminars and other programs designed to develop and enhance the leadership potential in the business, government, educational, and nonprofit sectors of the City of Sunnyvale’s civic community.

SLDI currently operates a nine-month program titled Leadership Sunnyvale. This program allows participants to expand their perspective on issues affecting the community and to enhance the skills needed to become more effectively involved in civic and community-based affairs.

Purpose / Mission / Objective

The SLDI develops the skills in individuals to be resources in the community by developing empowered citizens to become effective leaders through training on the fundamentals of leadership skills and community awareness. The objective of this organization is to enhance the leadership potential in the private, non-profit, educational, and governmental sectors of Sunnyvale’s community.

A founding principal of SLDI is that the program remain independent of affiliation with any organization or individual, partisan or non-partisan, sectarian or non-sectarian, and that it incorporates a broad diversity of individuals, both as participants and as members of the Board of Trustees.

Community Need

Leadership Sunnyvale develops the leadership potential that exists within the Sunnyvale community and generates an expanded base of knowledge for future leaders in our community. Developing civic leaders and informed citizens helps to ensure a strong pool of talented individuals to participate on Sunnyvale’s Boards and Commissions, as well as a non-profit or charitable efforts.

Membership/Participant Characteristics

Members of SLDI have a minimum age requirement of eighteen. Over eighty-five percent of SLDI’s Board of Directors and an average of eighty-five percent of the past Leadership Sunnyvale class lived within the City of Sunnyvale.

Finances

SLDI is a non-profit organization qualifying for tax-exempt status. Its operations are expected to be funded by the following: (1) Tuition*, (2) anticipated City of Sunnyvale Outside Group Funding, (3) Corporate Sponsors, (4) Individual Donations and (5) In-Kind Donations.

*SLDI charges $1,500 per student per class year, however, SLDI will make every effort to find funding for those individuals who cannot pay tuition. SLDI seeks donations to provide scholarships and financial aid and encourages businesses to pay the tuition of their employees attending the program. In the past two years, the City sponsored four participants.

Staff Evaluation of SLDI

Following Council’s Co-sponsorship Policy 7.2.6, SLDI has submitted all the appropriate documents, which have been reviewed by staff, and has met the eligibility requirements for organizations seeking to obtain full co-sponsorship status with the City of Sunnyvale.

FISCAL IMPACT

Minimal fiscal impact.

PUBLIC CONTACT

Public Contact was made through posting of the Council agenda in public places, on the City’s web page, and the publication of the general business/public hearing items in the San Jose Mercury News.

ALTERNATIVES

Council authorizes SLDI full co-sponsorship status with the City of Sunnyvale with all rights and benefits thereof.

Council takes no action at this time.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends alternative 1, full co-sponsorship status with the City of Sunnyvale with all rights and benefits thereof.

Prepared by:
Coryn Campbell
Manager of Neighborhood and Community Services

Reviewed by:
Amy Chan
Assistant City Manager

Approved by:
Robert S. LaSala
City Manager

Attachments

A. Co-Sponsorship Policy 7.2.6

B. Co-Sponsorship Renewal Application

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