Agenda Item # 7
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
04/12/2016
Agenda Report #109
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: Coca-Cola Bottling Company Serve Your City Grant
INITIATED BY: Parks and Recreation
Recommendation: Approval is requested to submit an application and if awarded
accept funds for $2,500 from Coca-Cola Bottling Company through a Serve Your
City Grant for our ?Little Free Library Program. The books will be donated by
the organizations in the community and will be stored at one of our recreation
centers. No matching funds required.
Background: A Little Free Library is a ?take a book, return a book? free book
exchange. They come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common version is a
small wooden box of books. Anyone may take a book or bring a book to share.
Little Free Library book exchanges have a unique, personal touch.
The books that will be used to fill the Little Free Libraries will be donated
by organizations within the community. As a department we have been collecting
books for approximately two years and storing them at one of our recreation
centers. We have garnered partnerships with the local Chattahoochee Valley
Library System, the Columbus Literacy Alliance, Barnes and Noble, UGA
Cooperative Extension Service, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Newspaper, Fort
Benning Children and Youth Services, and Midtown Columbus. These partnerships
will enable us to continue to gather books and keep the Little Free Libraries
maintained and stocked for years to come.
We have a lofty goal to eventually place a Little Free Library in every park we
have which would total about 52 Little Free Libraries. We want to begin our
program by placing Little Free Libraries in our parks that have recreation
facilities. We will use the staff at the facilities to help maintain the
libraries and to act as ?librarians? for our libraries making sure they stay
stocked with lots of books for people of all ages. We will also use our RSVP,
Retired Senior Volunteer Program, as well as other partner organizations such
as the Columbus Literacy Alliance, and UGA Columbus Extension office to help in
maintaining the books at each Little Free Library.
We will use old metal newspaper boxes that we will acquire from the Columbus
Ledger-Enquirer to retro into new Little Free Libraries. We will also be
utilizing the carpentry staff of the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department
to build artistic and wooden Little Free Libraries as well.
Analysis: Parks and Recreation is requesting to receive grant funds from
Coca-Cola Bottling Company Serve Your City Grant to fund this program.
Financial Considerations: The grant amount requested is $2,500 for the
Department of Parks and Recreation and the city of Columbus. There is no City
match required.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: None is expected
Legal Considerations: Council must approve to apply for and if granted accept
these funds.
Recommendations/ Actions: Approval is requested to submit an application and if
awarded accept funds for $2,500 from Coca-Cola Bottling Company through a
Serve Your City Grant for our ?Little Free Library Program. The books will be
donated by the organizations in the community and will be stored at one of our
recreation centers. No matching funds required.
A RESOLUTION
No. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR, AND IF
AWARDED, ACCEPT A GRANT FROM THE SERVE YOUR CITY GRANT THROUGH COCA-COLA
BOTTLING COMPANY TO FUND A ?LITTLE FREE LIBRARY?.
WHEREAS, the Coca-Cola Bottling Company announced a new grant entitled
?Serve Your City?; and,
WHEREAS, the goal of the Serve Your City Program is to inspire moments
of happiness and togetherness by engaging with our communities to ?Pay It
Forward? to the next generation with a unique and exciting experience through
this program. Serve Your City is a community initiative that encourages
residents and organizations to come together for a day of service; and,
WHEREAS, grant funding is available for agencies that have the most
volunteers sign up for the day of services; and,
WHEREAS, $2,500 grants are being made available for agencies initiating
new programs in their communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS
FOLLOWS:
That the City Manager or his designee is hereby authorized to submit an
application and if approved, accept funds from the Serve Your City Program
through Coca-Cola Bottling Company to fund ?Little Free Library? program.
___________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held
the _________ day of _____________ 2016, and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of _____________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Buck voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_____________________________ _________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike
Tomlinson, Mayor
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