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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFS 2014-06-17 Item 2B - Resolution - "Tukwila, City of Opportunity Scholarship" ProgramTO: City of Tukwila Jim Haggerton, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM Mayor Haggerton Finance & Safety Committee FROM: David Cline, City Administrator DATE: June 4, 2014 SUBJECT: Tukwila City of Opportunity Scholarship ANNUAL REPORT The City received seven applications for the City of Opportunity Scholarship: one application from Aviation High School in the Highline School District and six applications from Foster High School in the Tukwila School District. All applications were forwarded to the selection committee members for review. There was $4,000 available for scholarship awards and two $2,000 scholarships were awarded. ISSUE After going through the scholarship process in 2014 Administration is recommending revisions to the program to include: Defining Substantial Financial Need; • Community Service Requirements; • Make -up and Size of the Selection Committee; • Award Amounts; and • Eligibility of Immediate Family Members of City Employees and Elected Officials. DISCUSSION Defining Substantial Financial Need: The resolution that adopted the City of Opportunity Scholarship indicated that financial need would be demonstrated by the information provided on the FAFSA Student Aid Report. Unfortunately, the Student Aid Report only provides the amount of Expected Family Contribution but does not provide annual family income or the financial information provided in completion of the FAFSA form used to determine need. Eligibility for the Washington State Need Grant is determined by the using the State Median Family Income chart and to be eligible a student's family income cannot exceed 70 percent of the State's median income. It is recommended that the scholarship application be modified to include a financial section that provides- requests the annual family income for the previous year and that eligibility is based on a family income that does not exceed 70 percent of the State's (or King County's) median income. Based upon the Committee's request for further information on this issue, attached is a comparison of the median income information utilized by King County and the State. Community Service Requirements: The Eligibility requirements currently state a minimum of 15 hours of community service. At the previous Finance and Safety Committee meeting members expressed an interest in expanding the community service requirement. It is mandatory for Tukwila School District seniors to complete a minimum of 30 hours of community service to meet their graduation requirements; Highline School District does not currently have a mandatory amount of community service hours as a graduation requirement. If Council desires 5 INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 2 to modify the Community Service Requirement, specific, measureable criteria will need to be identified. Members of the Selection Committee: It is recommended that we modify the make -up of the selection committee to include the Mayor and /or his designee, the Council President and /or a City Council Representative, up to two appointed City employees and School District representative(s). The number of members on the selection committee will not exceed seven people in any given year. Award Amounts: It is recommended that the amount of the annual scholarship fund be increased from $4,000 to $10,000 with the minimum award amount being $1,000 and the maximum award amount being $5,000. This will allow the potential for additional recipients and more substantial scholarship awards. Eligibility of Immediate Family Members of City Employees and Elected Officials: It is a common practice for organizations that issue monetary awards to exclude employees and other individuals who are affiliated with the organization, as well as their family members, from eligibility to avoid a potential conflict of interest or the appearance of impropriety. After consulting with the City Attorney's office it is recommended that we adopt this exclusion. In the alternative, the Council can opt to allow immediate family members of City employees and elected officials, which meet all other eligibility requirements, to apply for the scholarship. These two options are being forwarded to the Committee of the Whole for consideration. FINANCIAL IMPACT Increasing the amount of the scholarship fund from $4,000 to $10,000 will mean an additional $6,000 per year from the general fund. RECOMMENDATION The Council is being asked to approve a resolution amending the Tukwila City of Opportunity Scholarship requirements at the June 23, 2014 Committee of the Whole meeting and the subsequent July 7, 2014 Regular Meeting. ATTACHMENTS Median Income Comparison Table Draft Resolution Finance & Safety Committee Minutes from June 3, 2014 6 Median Income January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014 Number in Family State Monthly King County Monthly 70% State Monthly 70% King County Monthly State Annually King County Annually 70% State Annually 70% King County Annually 1 3,643 5,141 2,550 3,599 43,716 61,700 30,601 43,190 2 4,765 5,883 3,336 4,118 57,180 70,600 40,026 49,420 3 5,886 6,616 4,120 4,631 70,632 79,400 49,442 55,580 4 7,007 7,350 4,905 5,145 84,084 88,200 58,859 61,740 5 8,128 7,941 5,690 5,559 97,536 95,300 68,275 66,710 6 9,249 8,525 6,474 5,968 110,988 102,300 77,692 71,610 7 9,459 9,116 6,621 6,381 113,508 109,400 79,456 76,580 8 9,669 9,700 6,768 6,790 116,028 116,400 81,220 81,480 9 9,879 6,915 118,548 82,984 10 10,089 7,062 121,068 84,748 Each additional member 210 State Median Income Chart from www.dshs.wa.gov King County Income Chart from www.kingcounty.gov DRAFT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, AMENDING THE " TUKWILA, CITY OF OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP" PROGRAM TO INCREASE THE FUNDING LEVEL AND CLARIFY AND REFINE PROCEDURES; AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 1817. WHEREAS, the City of Tukwila has a scholarship program for high school students living in Tukwila; and WHEREAS, the purpose of establishing the scholarship program is to provide financial assistance and opportunity to deserving students to continue their education beyond high school; and WHEREAS, the scholarship grant shall be known and cited as the "Tukwila, City of Opportunity Scholarship;" and WHEREAS, following the initial implementation and awarding of scholarship funds, the City wishes to increase the funding level for the program and clarify and refine procedures; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of establishing the scholarship program is to provide financial assistance and opportunity to deserving students to continue their education beyond high school. Section 2. Scholarship Eligibility Requirements. Recipients of the scholarship program shall meet the following qualifications: • Must be a resident of the City of Tukwila. Proof of residency is required at the time of application. • Must be equivalent to a senior in high school. W: \Word Processing \Resolutions \City scholarship program amended strike -thru 6 -10 -14 CT:bjs Page 1 of 3 9 • Must demonstrate a substantial financial need as indicated on the FAFSA Student Aid Report. Substantial financial need is defined as a household income of less than 70% of the State Median Income. • Must have applied to an undergraduate program at a community college, trade school or university. • Must demonstrate leadership qualities as evidenced by involvement in extra- curricular activities. • Must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher. • Must have completed a minimum of 15 hours of community service. • May not be an employee or immediate family member of an employee or elected official of the City of Tukwila. For purposes of the scholarship program, "immediate family member" includes dependents, anyone residing in the person's household, and anyone within three generations by blood or marriage of the person or the person's spouse, e.g., within three degrees of relationship by blood marriage. Section 3. Funding. A sum of $4;08910,000 per calendar year shall be appropriated and reflected in the City of Tukwila budget. Scholarships will be awarded in increments of not less than $1,000 nor greater than $4;8085,000. Section 4. Scholarship Selection Committee. A Scholarship Selection Committee shall be created and shall include the Mayor and /or his or her designee, the City Council President and /or a City Council representative, and up to two City staff appointees and a- School District d igneerepresentative(s) who can fairly evaluate the level of academic and extracurricular activities represented in the scholarship applications. Section 5. Roles and Authority for the Scholarship Fund. A. City staff shall administer the scholarship fund as directed by this resolution, and it shall be known and cited as the "Tukwila, City of Opportunity Scholarship." B. The Scholarship Selection Committee shall review the program annually and submit a report to Council that summarizes by school district: the applications, available funds, the scholarships awarded, the number of applications that did not result in scholarships, and any recommendations for revisions to the program. C. The Council shall receive the report and request revisions to the program as needed. Section 6. Application Review Process. The deadline for applications to be submitted is March 31 of each year. All applications will be reviewed by City staff to determine that the eligibility requirements have been met. All applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be reviewed by the Scholarship Selection Committee, which will present a recommendation to the City Council for approval of up to four scholarship awards. Scholarship recipients will be notified by April 30 each year. W: \Word Processing \Resolutions \City scholarship program amended strike -thru 6 -10 -14 CT:bjs 10 Page 2 of 3 Section 7. Repealer. Resolution No. 1817 is hereby repealed. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at a Regular Meeting thereof this day of , 2014. ATTEST /AUTHENTICATED: Christy O'Flaherty, MMC, City Clerk De'Sean Quinn, Council President APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: Filed with the City Clerk: Passed by the City Council: Resolution Number: Shelley M. Kerslake, City Attorney W: \Word Processing \Resolutions \City scholarship program amended strike -thru 6 -10 -14 CT:bjs Page 3 of 3 11 12 City of Tukwila Finance and Safety Committee FINANCE AND SAFETY COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes June 3, 2014 — 5:30 p.m.; Hazelnut Conference Room PRESENT Councilmembers: Verna Seal, Chair; Joe Duffie, Kathy Hougardy Staff: David Cline, Peggy McCarthy, Don Tomaso, Laurel Humphrey CALL TO ORDER: Committee Chair Seal called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. I. PRESENTATIONS No presentations. II. BUSINESS AGENDA A. Fireworks Permit for July 4 Event at Starfire Sports Complex Staff is seeking Council approval of a Fireworks Permit Application submitted by Western Display Fireworks Ltd. for the fireworks display at the City's annual 4th of July Celebration at Starfire Sports Complex. The application has been approved by the Fire Marshal and found to be in compliance with standards and regulations, and this vendor and launch location have been working well. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO JUNE 16, 2014 REGULAR CONSENT AGENDA. B. Resolution and Annual Report: City of Opportunity Scholarship Staff is seeking Council approval of a resolution that would amend the requirements of the Tukwila City of Opportunity Scholarship as a result of lessons learned from the inaugural 2014 process. Committee discussions on the four areas of modification recommended by staff are summarized as follows: • Define "substantial financial need" as family income that does not exceed 70 percent of the state's median income. The Committee requested more information regarding median income levels for the city, county and state. While discussing a balance of need versus merit -based award criteria, Committee members expressed an interest in an expanded community service component to the application. • Modify the selection committee makeup to include the option of a representative from the City Council in addition to or instead of the Council President, and the option of additional City Staff and School District representatives, not to exceed seven total Committee members per year. The Committee agreed with this modification. • Increase the total amount of the annual scholarship fund to $10,000, allowing for the potential of additional recipients and /or more substantial awards. The Committee agreed with this modification. • Change eligibility standards to exclude City employees and elected officials in keeping with common practice and on the advice of the City Attorney. The Committee did not agree to this modification but would like to forward both options to the Committee of the Whole for discussion. Committee Chair Seal suggested that if employee relatives are included, their names be blacked out during the selection committee review process. RETURN TO COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.