2004-01-12 Regular Meeting, Public Hearing, and Workshop Meeting

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• ~ Voluntary. Contribution Plan ~o Benefit Beautification and Trails -Initiatives for L-a Porte In 1 g8i tits CEty~oflrving impVemented a Vo%ntary ~~or~tyrib P/aEi fig Land e~aq -Ir~r-the aty. Sinae that time, ~ ta-ty has ~eived over $620,000 that has been used to acquire additrona/ parkland forthe aty. - The,wngram is a very simple one. Residents who choose to, mark a biox on their uti%ity by%% to pay a voluntary $1 [~iribubon help tv expand p~an~ spade tfiroughout tfie a-ty. Ab~vut $15,000 is a~//eefeoo- eaidi year from r~aeer~is rvtio either dbnala° $i, or dioa~ to rofirid tip it~r uli/itji -bier-m -the next~do/ra~ mat money is cad ~tn expand ~exisGrng,aar~k~spacae ~or purchase /and ~~r new pares Thane who dmeoae not in participati° can ignore the ~i donation on tfieir bi//. Residents who wou/d rathermund up d~irbi//s to ifie next do//ar can avntact ifie city's custnmers~vic~ of/ic~ and they wi// ,wogram their a+arounts ta7 auinmatica//y rr~und up and o~aost die dil9~renc~ to tfie Park aarount=. Other Texas cities, such as .Euless, have implemented .similar programs to .bereft .beautification or trails or other special parks projects that have been earmarked for special funding. The City of Huntsville offers voluntary oontributwns for youth scholarship programs, the City of Galveston offers a voluntary contribution program for EMS services for their ]amaica Beach station, and the City of Raleigh, North Carolina offers a voluntary contribution plan do fund trees along street rights of way in the city. These are examples of other uses for this type of program in other sties. The amount contributed by individuals or businesses can vary based on how the program is set up. Several boxes can be inserted into the utility bill giving participants the choice of whatever contribution they dtoose bo give. Ms. Alexander has indicated that, except for the rounding up portion, the Finanoa Department has the capability to implement this program without the need for any additional equipment or software. ~ ~ - Should the City Council choose do implement the Voluntary Contribution Plan for Beauiafication and Trails in La Porte, the following steps would be appropriate: o Develop and pass an Ordinance authorizing the program o~.. Set up procedures in the Finance Department th establish voluntary participation in the program. ' Exoerptied from tl~e Dla//as Pibming /l~rvs; Wednesday November 26, 2003.