Placement: Consent Agenda
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Approve and Authorize the Execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with the President and Fellows of Harvard College Acting Through the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.
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Submitted By: Kate Parmelee, Deputy City Manager for Strategic Initiatives & Innovation
Strategic Plan Link: The City’s Mission to utilize innovation.
Summary Brief (Agreements/Contracts only)
1. Prepared by: Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.
2. Parties: City of Port St. Lucie (“City”) and President and Fellows of Harvard College acting through the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative at the John F. Kennedy School of Government (“Harvard”).
3. Purpose: This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) provides a grant to the City of $150,000.00 which will offset the employment expenses of hiring our current Bloomberg Harvard Initiative Fellow (“Fellow”). Under the MOU, the Fellow will work on a specific policy area for the City Manager’s leadership team for up to two (2) years.
4. New/Renewal/Modified: New.
5. Duration: Up to two (2) years.
6. Benefits to Port St. Lucie: The Fellow will work with the City Manager’s leadership team to provide valuable skills and insight to support the City in improving services to residents.
7. Cost to Port St. Lucie (Annual and Potential): The City will cover the Fellow’s employment costs (e.g., salary, benefits) and Harvard will issue grant payments to the City on a quarterly basis through the remainder of the two (2) year period. The grant payments will serve to offset the City’s employment costs. Thereafter, the City may choose to continue to employ the Fellow as a contract employee. Additionally, the MOU requires the City to provide office space and access to software programs as may be appropriate for the Fellow’s work, as well as access to additional training resources as deemed necessary.
Presentation Information: N/A
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve the attached MOU with Harvard, authorize the City Manager to execute same, and authorize the City Manager to take any actions necessary to implement and administer the terms of the MOU.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and approve the attached MOU with Harvard, authorize the City Manager to execute same, and authorize the City Manager to take any action necessary to implement and administer the terms of the MOU.
2. Move that the Council deny the staff’s recommendation and provide direction.
Background: Through the City’s participation in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, the City was selected to host a Bloomberg Harvard Summer Fellow for ten (10) weeks. Thereafter, the City was invited to host the same Bloomberg Harvard City Fellow for two (2) years and enter into the instant MOU. Fellows help create lasting change in cities by applying the skills and capabilities honed through their professional education to improve city government.
Issues/Analysis: N/A
Financial Information: The City will pay the Fellow’s employment costs (e.g., salary and benefits) and Harvard will issue grant payments to the City on a quarterly basis through the remainder of the two (2) year fellowship which will serve to reimburse those employment costs. The total grant award is capped at $150,000.00, but the MOU provides for a one-time cost of living increase adjustment so long as supporting documentation is provided and the increase applies to similarly situated employees in accordance with City policy.
Special Consideration: The Fellow will be supervised by the City Manager’s Office and serve as a member of the City’s Strategic Initiatives & Innovation Team throughout their tenure. The City has engaged the Fellow in an employment agreement for the requisite period, and the authorization of this MOU will provide for the grant proceeds that will offset the City’s incurred employment costs for the Fellow (e.g., salary, benefits).
Location of Project: N/A
Attachments:
1. Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative Memorandum of Understanding.
2. Employment Agreement.
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: Legal Intake 25129-04
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Richard Berrios, City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by Richard Berrios, City Attorney.