Title
Resolution to Authorize the City Administrator to Sign the 2021 Washtenaw Coordinated Funders Memorandum of Understanding Extension
Memorandum
On October 16, 2017 through Resolution R-17-394, the City approved a continuation of the coordinated funding process for human services funding in partnership with Washtenaw County, the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF), the United Way of Washtenaw County (UWWC), the Washtenaw Urban County, and Saint Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor (SJMAA).
The Coordinated Funding process, used by the City to distribute its human services funds since 2011, will continue to coordinate funding priorities, non-profit applications and interventions, and proposal reviews between the City of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, the United Way of Washtenaw County (UWWC), the Washtenaw Urban County, the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF), and the St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor (SJMAA). Decision-making authority will remain separate, with City Council maintaining authority over City Funds, and the governing boards for each of the other funding bodies maintaining authority over their respective funds.
Staff provided an update to the Coordinated Funding Leadership Team at their meeting on April 12, 2019 that a third-year extension of the MOU and program operations grants was recommended. The update was also communicated to grantees in a letter to community partners on July 16, 2019. At the time the extension was to allow the Coordinated Funding Partners time to review and suggests changes to the process, including application of an equity lens. While that is still the goal, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought forth another concern, which is to provide certainty in funding for non-profit partners as they address the fiscal impacts of the pandemic on their operations.
An accompanying resolution would extend the program operations funding for a third year. The resolution below would extend the Coordinated Funding partnership for another year through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) The MOU describes the roles and responsibilities within the public-private Coordinated Funding Model for General Fund allocations for human services including the administration of these funds by the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development. The Resolution authorizes approval of the MOU extension, and requests the signature of the City Administrator on the amended MOU. The amended MOU which shows the term of the agreement July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 is attached for your consideration.
Staff
Prepared by: Teresa Gillotti, Director, Office of Community & Economic
Development
Reviewed by: Derek Delacourt, Community Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Tom Crawford, Interim City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Ann Arbor City Council, the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Board of Directors, the United Way of Washtenaw County Board of Directors, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, the Washtenaw Urban County Executive Committee, and the Saint Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor Board of Directors approved a Coordinated Funding process in the fall of 2017 for FY 2019 and FY 2020 human services funding;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor has reaffirmed this collaboration through Resolution R-17-394 which directed staff to utilize the Coordinated Funding model to identify allocations for human service investments for FY 2018-2020;
Whereas, Ann Arbor City Council, the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Board of Directors, the United Way of Washtenaw County Board of Directors, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, and the Washtenaw Urban County Executive Committee retain the authority to approve their own allocations; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator is authorized to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for the continuation of the Washtenaw Coordinated Funders partnership for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, and to take all necessary administrative actions to implement this Resolution.