City of Gainesville - File #: 150448.

• File #: 150448.
• Version: 2
• Name: Habitat/City Partnership Potential
• Type: Discussion Item
• Status: In Committee
• File created: 10/15/2015
• In control: General Policy Committee
• On agenda: 11/30/2015
• Final action: 8/11/2016
• Title: Habitat/City Partnership Potential (B) This item is a request for the City Commission to hear a presentation from Blake Hakimian, a senior Political Science major at the University of Florida (UF), on how UF students can participate and give back to the community through a community partnership and volunteers program.

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
11/30/2015	2	General Policy Committee	Approved as Recommended	Pass
10/15/2015	2	City Commission	Referred	Pass

Title
Habitat/City Partnership Potential (B)

This item is a request for the City Commission to hear a presentation from Blake Hakimian, a senior Political Science major at the University of Florida (UF), on how UF students can participate and give back to the community through a community partnership and volunteers program.

Explanation
Blake Hakimian, a senior at UF, would like to work with the City of Gainesville in identifying and coordinating volunteer opportunities for students on community projects. At the City Commission meeting of October 15, Mr. Hakimian reported about a Habitat for Humanity project with which UF Students participated. At UF, Mr. Hakimian has over 500 Volunteers that can assist with projects. Mr. Hakimian would like to create a partnership that allows students to contribute to other meaningful projects within the City (See Attachment A - proposal from Mr. Hakimian).

The City of Gainesville has many opportunities for students to participate and learn about City Government. Each year, City departments (City Manager’s Office, Public Works, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, Administrative Services, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), Regional Transit System, Gainesville Fire Rescue, Gainesville Police Department, Gainesville Regional Utilities, Equal Employment Office, and other offices) accept interns from various fields of study to work and learn about city government (see Attachment B -- Memo from Paul Folkers to the Mayor and the City Commission on Internship Opportunities with the City). Many of these students are hired for part-time jobs during the summer, and others are hired for permanent placement when such opportunities and funding are available for students. In addition, city employees participate in mentoring opportunities with the Alachua County School Board through the EEO.

The City’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department (PRCA) routinely recruits volunteers to work on special projects like the Dow...