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Item No.8 <br />Type of Business: WK <br />WK: Work Session; PH: Public Hearing; <br />CA: Consent Agenda; CB: Council Business City of Mounds View Staff Report <br />To: Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From: Tim Brennan, Deputy Police Chief/Acting Chief <br />Item Title/Subject: Accepting Charitable Donations/Contributions <br />Date of Report: March 4, 2002 <br /> <br /> <br />NATURE OF REPORT: Occasionally in the past, the police department has been the recipient of <br />donations from a variety of sources. A couple of examples of such donations have been monies from the <br />Lion’s Club which was used to purchase such things as bullet proof vests, first aid equipment, defribillators, <br />and ice cream for National Night Out. The police department has also been the recipient of cash contributions <br />earmarked for our DARE Program. <br /> <br />Recently the police department has identified a couple of unfounded and unbudgeted equipment needs. It has <br />been suggested we solicit contributions from organizations that may be in possession of funds they would like <br />to make available for various community needs. <br /> <br />In considering these possibilities as a source of funding, there is an obvious question as to both the ethics and <br />legalities surrounding this issue. I spoke with the City Attorney about this, and he stated that State Statute was <br />not specific on what was an appropriate means for a municipality to accept contributions. <br /> <br />I checked with some surrounding municipalities to see if this is an issue they have dealt with. One city to our <br />south has both solicited and accepted donations on a regular basis. Funds have been used to purchase <br />equipment items such as a Thermal Imaging Device for their Fire Department. When such donations are <br />accepted, this city does so by recognizing the contributor and defining the use of the funds in the form of a <br />City Council Resolution. <br /> <br />Another city to our west accepts contributions from time to time, but does not actively solicit them. <br /> <br />The City Attorney for the City of Mounds View indicated that the Council could establish guidelines and <br />procedures for utilizing this source of funding, if they should desire. <br /> <br /> <br />Respectfully submitted, <br /> <br />_____________________ <br />Tim Brennan <br />Deputy Police Chief/Acting Chief