Agenda Item # 3

Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting

05/26/2015

Agenda Report # 116


TO: Mayor and Council

SUBJECT: Learn to Swim Grant through AFLAC Foundation

INITIATED BY: Parks and Recreation

Recommendation: Approval is requested to submit an application and, if approved, accept a grant in the amount of $7,848.00 for the first year of award and later amounts awarded in year two and three of the pilot program from the AFLAC Foundation through the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley.

Background: The Columbus Aquatic Center Learn to Swim mission is “To create lifelong participants in aquatic activities for their health, safety, enjoyment and career opportunities.” Columbus Parks and Recreation will partner with the Muscogee County School District to help children in this program develop their swimming and water safety skills.

Analysis: The Parks and Recreation Department and the Muscogee County School District recognize the need for Learn to Swim programs. This funding will be used to teach kindergarten students the necessary water safety and swimming skills.

Financial Considerations: This will be at no cost to the City as it is a grant award. This is a three year pilot program and more funds will be forthcoming in the last two years of the program. All funding will be used for the Learn to Swim program over the next three years.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: None is expected.

Legal Considerations: Council must approve the acceptance of this funding

Recommendations/ Actions: Approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit a grant application and, if approved, accept the first year funds in the amount of $7,848.00 and the subsequent amounts awarded in year two and three of the three year pilot program.


A RESOLUTION

NO. _____


A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO APPLY FOR A GRANT AND IF AWARDED ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD FROM THE AFLAC FOUNDATION THROUGH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,848.00 THE FIRST YEAR AND SUBSEQUENT AMOUNTS IN YEARS TWO AND THREE OF THE THREE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, eight children drown each week in the United States; 68% of African American children do not know how to swim; 56% of Hispanic children do not know how to swim; drowning is preventable; swimming is a low-impact form of exercise that can help combat obesity and diabetes, by keeping a body strong and healthy and aquatics provides sports and employment opportunities; and,

WHEREAS, Columbus Parks and Recreation and the Muscogee County School District have recognized that the above facts need attention and desire to apply for a grant to bring a “Learn to Swim Program” to kindergarten children in the community; and,

WHEREAS, these children will develop their swimming and water safety skills; learn knowledge outside the classroom about career opportunities in Aquatics and Sports and Recreation opportunities, while connecting real life experiences to educational goals and lifelong wellness opportunities. They will receive hands on experience in all facets of aquatics integrating aquatic skills and training with 21st Century Technology in the aquatics industry to motivate, excite, educate and prepare for their future; and,

WHEREAS, this is a three year pilot program and the grant award will be approximately $7,848.00 for the first year and will receive other amounts in years two and three.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

That the City Manager or his designee is hereby authorized to apply for a grant and if awarded accept a grant in the approximate amount of $7,848.00 for the first year of award and later amounts awarded in year two and three of the pilot program from the AFLAC Foundation through the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley.


___________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the _________ day of _____________ 2015, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of _____________ members of said Council.


Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Buck voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.

_____________________________ _________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor