99-23037 RESO
RESOLUTION NO.
99-23037
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA,
RETROACTIVELY AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER,
OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO
THE JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AT
HARVARD UNIVERSITY FOR THE 1999 INNOVATIONS IN
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AWARD FOR THE CIVICALL
PROGRAM; AND, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF
SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENTATION, AS REQUIRED, IF
THE APPLICATION IS RANKED AS ONE OF THE TOP 100
APPLICATIONS; AND, AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE
OF THE GRANT, NOT TO EXCEED $100,000, IF AWARDED.
WHEREAS, the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University has issued
a call for nominations for Innovations in American Government through the Ford Foundation; and
WHEREAS, the Ford Foundation will issue ten awards for $100,000 each for the top ten
applicants and $20,000 for the next ten applicants; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach received a notice that the City of Miami Beach's
internal communications system, "CIVICALL", may have the potential to rank as a finalist for a
1999 Innovations in American Government A ward; and
WHEREAS, the City proceeded to prepare an electronic application to meet the January 15,
1999 deadline for submission and future consideration; and
WHEREAS, the City is seeking an opportunity to receive an award for the innovative use
of its "CIVICALL" telephone service.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, retroactively authorize the City Manager, or his
designee, to submit an application to the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard
University for the 1999 Innovations in American Government Award for the CIVICALL Program;
and, authorize the submission of supplementary documentation, as required, if the application is
ranked as one of the top 100 applications; and, authorize the acceptance of the grant, not to exceed
$100,000, if awarded.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 20TH DAY OF JANUARY, 1999.
WMI MAYOR
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK
i'.r-PROVED /4S TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& fOR EXECUTION
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~ITY OF MIAMI BEACH
ITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
tp :\\ci. miami-beach. fl. us
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO. ~
FROM:
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and DA TE: January 20, 1999
Members of the City Co mission
Sergio Rodriguez A '
City Manager ~
A RESOL TION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, RETROACTIVELY AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO SUBMIT AN
APPLICATION TO THE JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT
AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY FOR THE 1999 INNOVATIONS IN
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AWARD FOR THE CIVICALL PROGRAM;
AND, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF SUPPLEMENT ARY
DOCUMENTATION, AS REQUIRED, IF THE APPLICATION IS RANKED
AS ONE OF THE TOP 100 APPLICATIONS; AND, AUTHORIZING THE
ACCEPTANCE OF THE GRANT, NOT TO EXCEED $100,000, IF
AWARDED.
TO:
SUBJECT:
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt the Resolution.
BACKGROUND:
The Innovations in American Government Program was developed by the Ford Foundation to
recognize creative governmental initiatives that are especially effective in addressing government
needs. The program is administered by the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard
University. This year, the City received a letter from the Assistant Director of External Relations
of the Innovations in American Government Program stating that the City's Citizen Information
Service (CIVICALL) was suggested as having the potential to receive a 1999 Innovations in
American Government Award and become a semifinalist.
At the time the City received the notice, there was a January 8, 1999 deadline. However, the City
attained a one week extension by being able to file electronically. Thus, the extended deadline for
an electronic application was January 15, 1999.
To meet this deadline, the City proceeded to prepare and submit an application to the Innovations
in American Government Program for consideration. There was insufficient time to prepare a
resolution beforehand to request City Commission approval prior to the submittal of the application.
AGENDA ITEM ~
DATE l-20-~
With the adoption of this resolution. the City Commission and Mayor are retroactively authorizing
the City Manager, or his designee. to submit an application; prepare and submit any back-up or
supporting documents, as may be needed. and receive a grant award not to exceed $100.000 if
selected as a top ten finalist.
A pool of 100 applicants will be selected in March of this year as semifinalists. They will be asked
to submit a supplementary application, presumably to further expand on the information contained
in the Innovations in American Government application. If the City of Miami Beach is selected as
a semifinalist, an endorsement letter will be prepared for the Mayor's signature. The National
Selection Committee will then visit the 20 finalists late in the spring of 1999 to determine eligibility
for a $20,000 finalist award, as well as to assist the committee in making the selection of the top ten
finalists to receive the $100,000 award.
ANAL YSIS
The City's CIVICALL Program has been identified by the administrators of the Innovations in
American Government as having a potential to become a finalist in this program. An electronic
application was filed to meet the extended January 15, 1999 deadline. If selected as a finalist, the
grant award could be used to expand CIVICALL to a 24 hour service and to provide further
enhancements to the CIVICALL telephone service for the City. The Innovations in American
Government award is a highly prestigious distinction. If the City's CIVICALL Program were
selected as a finalist and received a cash award, there would be no match required.
CONCLUSION:
The Administration recommends approval of the attached Resolution of the Mayor and City
Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, retroactively authorizing the City Manager, or his
designee, to submit an application to the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard
University for the 1999 Innovations in American Government Award for the CIVICALL Program;
and, authorizing the submission of supplementary documentation, as required, if the application is
ranked as one of the top 100 applications; and, authorizing the acceptance of the grant, not to exceed
$100,000, if awarded.
SR/C~C/J4~I:.~~7:/'
Attachment
T:\AGENDA\ I 999\JAN2099\CONSENT\INNOY A TN.CMC