Mayor Howe has proposed that this year’s State of the City event be a casual, picnic in the park ceremony at Washington Park, on Independence Day, Sunday, July 4, 2004. The event will begin at 11 a.m. and run until 2 p.m. We will start with an invocation, and will feature the annual community awards. Because this year’s event will take place after the start of Fiscal Year 2004/2005, we request the carryover of any allocated but unexpended State of the City funds from FY 2003/2004 to FY 2004/2005, without impact to the regular FY 2004/2005 State of the City funding.

The State of the City event has been held each year since 1981 to provide an opportunity for the Mayor and Council to present the public with a review of issues affecting the community and an outlook for the future. The event also fosters community awareness and identity, while recognizing the achievements of outstanding individuals and organizations in the community. The traditional components of the State of the City event have included presentation of awards and the Mayor’s annual State of the City address. Each year the Mayor recommends a theme or emphasis for the event, and specific plans are prepared for the program to carry out that theme.

The annual State of the City event supports various goals set forth in the Community Participation Sub-Element 7.2 of the City’s General Plan, including the following:

• Achieve a community in which citizens and businesses are informed about local issues and City programs and services.
• Assure that all citizens have reasonable access to City information, services, programs, policymakers, and staff within budgeted resources.
• Create a strong, positive community identity.

This year’s State of the City event will reflect a community-centered Independence Day theme, and will feature food, refreshments, entertainment and the annual community awards.

This year’s award categories were selected by the State of the City Award Nomination Committee, whose members were selected by Mayor Howe. The award selection committee selects award recipients each year from nominations submitted by the public.

The program will be an alcohol-free event, and will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has cancelled the July 4th festival at Baylands Park this year to avoid an event conflict. The DPR funds normally used for the Baylands event will be made available for the State of the City event, if needed.  This will preserve the Baylands Park Admission fees that would have been waived had DPR held their event.  Having a single event should also serve to increase community participation.

The State of the City event is free and open to the public. It will be publicized using the Quarterly Report, KSUN-18, ads, news media releases, the Sunnyvale Web site and other outreach.

Resources for the State of the City event have been provided in the Office of the City Manager budget, under Program 732. $76,128 is allocated for this year’s event. It is anticipated the budgeted resources will be sufficient to cover this event. However, because the date of the event falls after the start of the new fiscal year, expenses will be incurred during both Fiscal Years 2003/2004 and 2004/2005. Therefore, it is requested that at the close of Fiscal Year 2003/2004, any allocated but unexpended State of the City funds be carried over into the Fiscal Year 2004/2005 budget, without impacting any planned funds for the following State of the City event.

Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City’s web page, and the availability of the report in the Library and the City Clerk’s Office.

1. Approve in concept the plans for the State of the City event and approve carryover of allocated but unexpended funds.
2. Modify the concept plans for the State of the City event.
3. Do not approve the plans for the State of the City event.

Staff recommends Alternative #1.

Prepared by:
Adam Levermore-Rich
Deputy Communications Officer

Reviewed by:
John Pilger, APR
Communications Officer

Approved by:
Amy Chan
City Manager