SR-306-001-03
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FES j 3 1990
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CED:CNS:JR:lro5
Council Meeting 2/13/90
Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: city Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Approve support for a Binational AIDS
Conference, "AIDS in the Latino Communities: A
Mexico/u.S. Perspective"
INTRODUCTION
This report transmits the staff recommendation regarding the
January 16, 1990 request by Latino Resource organization (LRO)
for funding to support a June 1990 binational AIDS conference to
be hosted in Santa Monica.
BACKGROUND
LRO, in collaboration with with Chicano Studies Research Center
at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and other
government, education and community organizations in the united
states and Mexico, will seek to bring together over 200
spokespersons, community based organizations, community leaders,
researchers and other interested individuals, to discuss policy
strategies aimed at preventing the spread of AIDS in both
countries.
The steering committee for the conference has
designated LRO as responsible for raising funds for the event.
LRO has requested $20,000 from the city (of a projected budget of
$50,000.) Council directed staff to meet with organizers of the
conference and assess the request.
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Staff met with three representatives of the conference strategic
planning committee which included a physician who is a member of
the Los County AIDS commission, staff of the Mexican Consulate
and the Board president of LRO. These conference representatives
described the purpose and proposed program, their outreach
efforts to date and the projected revenues and expenses for the
conference.
DISCUSSION
After careful consideration of the request,
including the
meeting with several of the conference organizers, a review of
the proposal and analysis of the budget, City staff recommends
that the Council provide support at a level of $5,000 for
conference publicity and outreach. This recommendation is based
on the following analysis:
(1) AIDS and HIV infection is a significant health and
social issue locally, nationally and internationally.
There are concerns and needs particular to the Latino
community that require special focus.
(2) While it is an important issue, this conference is not
specifically targeted to Santa Monica (rather its focus
is national and binational). Therefore, it would be
more appropriate for the City to be one of several
sponsors at $5,000 rather than the single largest
supporter at 40% of the conference budget. A $5,000
contribution is commensurate with benefit derived from
the Santa Monica community.
This is a multi-sector conference involving Mexican and
American local, county, state and federal government
entities, educational institutions, corporations and
community organizations. Therefore, funding sources for
the conference budget should reflect this diversity
rather than disproportionately burden one localIty.
Investment from all participating and benefiting sectors
will enhance the success of the conference.
(3) City funding would be most justified for publicity and
outreach -- both of which could directly benefit the
Santa Monica Latino community rather than items such as
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lodging for Mexican dignitaries and staff from visitIng
organizations.
The conference plans are clearly ambitious for a volunteer, first
time effort. However, the goals are important and any progress
towards sharing information, knowledge and programs as well as
influencing policies and resource allocation on the national and
international level is critical and worthy of City support.
The Santa Monica Latino community, social service providers,
educators and health care practitioners can, if involved, benefit
greatly from this effort.
It is for this reason that staff
recommends targeting City funding of $5,000 for publicity and
outreach. It is hoped that particular emphasis will be placed on
publicity and outreach to Santa Monica.
BUDGETARYI FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed action will require allocation of $5,000 from the
non-departmental contingency Acct. #01-700-274-00000-7785-00000.
RECOMMENDATION
City staff recommends that the Council:
( 1)
endorse the
conference: and (2) allocate $5,000 as detailed for publications
and outreach for the binational AIDS conference: and (3) award
funds to LRO with the requirement that LRO submit a brief written
assessment of the conference along with documentation indicating
use of City funds within 30 days after conference.
Prepared by:
JUlie Rusk, Human Services Coordinator
Department of Community and Economic Development
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