HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Regular_Tab 22_05/14/20091. VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING:
VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA
AGENDA ITEM TRANSMITTAL FORM
Meeting Date:
5/14/09 Meeting Type: Regular Ordinance #: Click Mere to enter text.
Consent Agenda: No Resolution #: Click here to enter text.
Originating Department: Mayor Pat Watkins
2. AGENDA ITEM TITLE: (Wording form the SUBJECT line of your staff report)
Council discussion and Direction on Loxahatchee River Historical Society 150 Anniversary Donation
Request of $8,000
3. BUDGET /FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Account #: 001.100.582.800 Amount of this item: $8,000
Current Budgeted Amount Available: Amount Remaining after item:
$5,500 Not enough in account to cover request
Budget Transfer Required: Choose an Appropriate Fund Balance: Choose an item.
i'.;;r:
4. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF MAJOR ISSUES: (This is a snap shot description of the agenda item)
2008/2009 Aid to Community Organizations Budget
Donations to date:
• Girl Scouts
• Jupiter High School
• Busch Wildlife
• Girl Scouts
TOTAL
$ 10,000
500
1,000
1, 000
2,000
4 500
5. APPROVALS:
Dept. Head;~l~ ~
~it~~L.~7,c.1.~~
Attorney: (for legal sufficiency)
Village Manager: ,~~`~ --~"
• SUBMIT FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION:
• APPROVE ITEM: ^
Finance Directo~ ~ Reviewed for Financial
" ~ Sufficiency
` ^ No Financial Impact
Yes ^ No ^
• DENY ITEM: ^
MEMORANDUM
Village of Tequesta
Clerk's Office
TO: Mr. Michael R. Couzzo, Jr., Village Manager
Honorable Mayor and Village Council Members
FROM: Lori McWilliams, Village Clerk
DATE: May 4, 2009
SUBJECT: Loxahatchee River Historical Society Donation Request
Please see the attached request by the Loxahatchee River Historical Society regarding
the 150th Anniversary celebration for the lighthouse. The Society is requesting an
$8,000 donation from the Village.
2008/2009 Aid to Community Organizations Budget $ 10,000
Donations to date:
• Girl Scouts 500
• Jupiter High School 1,000
• Busch Wildlife 1,000
• Girl Scouts 2,000
TOTAL 4,500
There is a balance of ~ remaining in the Aid to Community Organizations
budget.
cc : Co i.,cr~.,rc~.
LOXAHATCHEE RIVER • HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Hon. Pat Watkins,
Mayor
Village of Tequesta
345 Tequesta Drive
Tequesta, FL 33469
Apri120, 2009
Dear Ms. Watkins:
As you know, the history of Jupiter-Tequesta is bound up in the story of Jupiter
Inlet Lighthouse. Since the high-powered Fresnel lens was first illuminated on July 10,
1860, it has been our community's shining light -and the symbol of a unique locale -
through the Civil Waz, two world wars and our transformation to a vibrant, modern town.
The yeaz 2010 will mazk the 150` anniversary of the lighthouse. As its guazdians,
the Loxahatchee River Historical Society intends to honor this important occasion with a
series of events that will do justice to our mission, make our surrounding residents proud,
and focus widespread attention on our unique area in South Florida.
What is required for this mission is obtaining the initial working capital to
contract with a skilled events/marketing director, design/produce appropriate
commemorative ware and sponsor several public events from November 2009 through
December 2010.
The key words here aze working capital. The Historical Society, a nonprofit 501
C-3 organization, takes in about $750,040 per year -almost all from tours, gift shop sales
and grants. It may or may not break even in a given year. The Society has virtually no
working capital with which to carry routine vendor bills and sustain itself during the
seasonally leaner months. As such, it lacks the start-up capital necessary to get the
anniversary process underway.
The income from the planned events can also afford the Society aonce-in-a-
generation fund raising opportunity. We hope to raise up to $250,000 during the
commemorative year and generate enough working capital to operate on a sustainable
basis for many years to come.
Achieving this, in part, means overcoming a misconception that has arisen since a
year ago when Congress created the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area
(JILONA) under the protection of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Some are under
the impression that the JiLONA designation means that the federal government either
owns or "picks up the tab" for lighthouse/museum operations.
500 Captain Armour's Way, Jupiter, FL 33469
Phone: 561-747-8380 Fax:561-575-3292 www.jupiterlighthouse.org
DuBois Pioneer Home • Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse $ Museum • Historic Tindall House
z
This is not the case. The federal government is restricted to infrastructure
improvements, such as walking paths and lighthouse repairs. It provides nothing for
operations expenses. The irony here is that the more capital improvements the
government makes to the property, the more the maintenance requirements and the more
strained our operating budget.
The effects of the recession have impacted the Historical Society as they have
your own budget. Our grants, for example, are down b~ some 60 percent with no upswing
in sight. And yet, we must confront the fact that a 150 anniversary celebration can't wait
until the economy improves in some future yeaz.
]n light of all the above and the current economic climate, our Boazd of Directors
believes the best way to raise seed capital is to seek support from all across the
community. And to begin that process we are asking for contributions from surrounding
local governments and employers. These range from $4,000 for the smallest entities to
$16,000 from the lazgest.
We aze hoping that the Village of Tequesta, our closest neighbor, can donate
$8,000 towazds the anniversary project. If it can be done by July the donation will have
the biggest impact on assuring success of the anniversary events. If not the entire amount,
we hope the Village can make available a significant amount now and spread the
remainder over the next fiscal yeaz.
The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, the museum of our local history and the surrounding
Outstanding Natural Area combine to create our local "signature." They inspire artists to
paint, people to move here, tourists to visit and students to learn. Our rich and colorful
history makes us all proud that we live here and makes the Historical Society acutely
aware of the responsibility it has to honor that legacy properly.
If the Village -and others -can pitch in, we believe the benefits will return many
times over.
Thank you for considering this request. We aze prepazed to offer details upon
request and to appear before the Village Council if requested.
Chairman o~the Boazd
Loxahatchee River Historical Society
Personal phone: 575-3350
Email: jdsnyderl@comcast.net