Title
Agreement Renewal - Keep Alachua County Beautiful (B)
Explanation
Keep Alachua County Beautiful (KACB) is the sponsor of "The Great American Cleanup," "Trash Troopers," and other anti-litter/beautification activities. The Great American Cleanup is held the third Saturday in April of each year and recruits over 6,000 volunteers to pick up litter, remove graffiti, paint run-down buildings, clean up illegal dump sites and otherwise beautify Gainesville, the smaller cities in Alachua County and the unincorporated area of Alachua County. Over 453 tons of garbage and recyclables were removed from public right-of-ways and areas during the April 2001 events associated with the cleanup. KACB's contribution to the community for the Great American Cleanup alone is valued at $295,325.
KACB was certified in 1995 as the local affiliate of Keep Florida Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful. The City of Gainesville has been a KACB member since the certification of this non-profit organization and has supported KACB with an annual contribution of either $15,000 or $20,000 for each of the past six years. The City of Gainesville has also provided in-kind services ranging in value from approximately $12,000 to 15,000 each year in support of the Great American Cleanup activities. In addition, the City of Gainesville provided free office space and photocopying to KACB in 1994, prior to KACB's certification as a Keep Florida Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful affiliate.
KACB requests that the City of Gainesville identify up to $15,000 in in-kind services to renew the agreement with KACB for the 2002 Great American Cleanup and contribute $15,000 to renew its membership in Keep Alachua County Beautiful. In return, KACB will perform specified cleanup and beautification projects in coordination with the City Solid Waste and Parks Divisions. These projects include, but are not limited to, "The Great American Cleanup," graffiti removal, tree and shrub plantings, and public education programs for litter and graffiti prevention.
In addition, KACB has requested an additional $10,000 for continued implementation of "The Beautiful Block Program." This program is to recruit block captains from targeted neighborhoods and provide guidance and tools to empower neighborhoods to keep their own blocks clean and beautiful. Staff supports implementation of such a program.
Fiscal Note
Funds are available in the Solid Waste Division's operating budget.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) authorize the City Manager to renew the contract with Keep Alachua County Beautiful in an amount up to $15,000 in in-kind services for the "Great American Cleanup"; 2) to contribute $15,000 for a membership with Keep Alachua County Beautiful for the period beginning October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2002; and 3) to expend $10,000 for implementation of "The Beautiful Block Program."