Title
Authorizing the Office of Financial Services through the Office of Financial Empowerment to accept a $10,000 Phase One grant from the National League of Cities for a new initiative, Cities Addressing Fines and Fees Equitably.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul (the “City”) has established an Office of Financial Empowerment (the “Office”) within the Office of Financial Services; and
WHEREAS, the City authorized the Saint Paul Public Library Debt Write-Off (RES 18-2034) program as part of the 2019 budget, signaling the importance of eliminating barriers to the use and enjoyment of the Library, and benefit the City by increasing access to Library resources for all city residents, and
WHEREAS, the City has an interest to analyze other financial barriers that residents of Saint Paul may be facing as a result of other municipal fines and fees; and
WHEREAS, national studies have shown that municipal fines and fees can impose a crushing burden on low-income residents and aggressive debt collection practices can further exacerbate the financial strain on low-income residents; and
WHEREAS, the Office has been selected by the National League of Cities (“NLC”) Institute for Youth, Education and Families to participate in Cities Addressing Fines and Fees Equitably (“CAFFE”) including technical assistance and grant opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the City applied for $10,000 from the National League of Cities to meet project goals as outlined in RES 19-635; and
WHEREAS, the City was awarded $10,000 for the CAFFE Phase One Grant by the National League of Cities (“Grant”); and
WHEREAS, the goals and objectives of the grant aligns with the goals and objectives of the Office of Financial Empowerment; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor, pursuant to Section 10.07.1 of the City Charter and by receipt of the Grant, certifies that there is available for appropriation funds of $10,000 in excess of those dedicated to Office of Financial Empowerment in 2019; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the City Council of Saint Paul does hereby:
1. Authorize the Office of Financial Services to accept the CAFFE Phase One Grant from the National League of Cities in the amount of $10,000 for the Office of Financial Empowerment.
2. Authorize the appropriate City officials to execute and implement the attached grant agreement.
3. Adopt, upon recommendation of the Mayor that $10,000 is available for appropriation to the Office of Financial Empowerment, supplemental appropriations as specified in the attached financial analysis form.
Financial Analysis
See Attachment.