STAFF REPORT - Town Council, July 23, 2009

Town of Cary Hometown Spirit Award (TC10-002)
For information only: Structure and Process to implement the Town of Cary Hometown Spirit Award Program
Speaker: Sue Rowland, Town Clerk

From: Sue Rowland
Prepared by: Sue Rowland
Approved by: Benjamin T. Shivar, Town Manager

Executive Summary: Staff is sharing implementation information with the Town Council on the Town of Cary Hometown Spirit Award Program.

Background: In 2008 Cary resident William Clifton Barnes submitted a proposal to the Town Council pertaining to a “Small Town America Award Program”. Council members Frantz and Smith brought this idea to the Town Council at the September 25, 2008 council meeting, and council directed staff to research the idea and report back to council. On February 26, 2009 the Town Council approved a preliminary concept for a “Preservation and Continuation of Traditional Small Town America Award” and the criteria proposed by staff.

Discussion: Staff has worked to further define the award program and has established the following structure and process. The award program is now known as the “Town of Cary Hometown Spirit Award”, and it utilizes the same criteria that council approved on February 26, 2009. Staff shares this information with the Town Council for information purposes. Staff will implement this award program in Calendar Year 2009.

Town of Cary Hometown Spirit Award

CRITERIA

One award will given annually to an individual who enhances the quality of life in Cary by preserving, promoting and carrying out positive and quantifiable traditional small-town community values and traits as embodied in the following criteria.

· Helps Out Neighbors And Fellow Cary Residents

• e.g., starting a program where residents can volunteer to help each other with home repairs or simply going beyond the call of duty in assisting other citizens

· Demonstrates Hospitality

• e.g., someone who welcomes new residents, citizens and visitors, and helps them get to know the town and its small-town culture and helps them adjust to a new environment, or simply a citizen who exhibits “Southern” or “Cary” hospitality in an ongoing or extraordinary manner.
  
  

· Promotes And Preserves Traditional American Past-Times

• e.g., bringing citizens together as a community in traditional ways by organizing or being a key volunteer for such events as a founder’s day celebration, a heritage music event, hayrides, ice cream socials, picnics, bandstand events, etc.

· Shows A Concern For Preservation And Works To Preserve Traditions And The Small-Town Atmosphere In The Community

• e.g., working to preserve historical Cary documents, structures, or events or someone who leads the charge to make Cary more family friendly

· Promotes Entrepreneurship Through Supporting Locally Owned Business

• e.g., starting a local currency program that rewards citizens for shopping locally

· Promotes A Sense Of Community In Their Neighborhood And All Of Cary

• e.g., starting fun family friendly activities in his/her neighborhood where citizens have the chance to meet and interact with one another

· Demonstrates Patriotism Through Promotion And Preservation Of The Country's Symbols And Dedication To The U.S. Military, Past And Present

• e.g., organizing or being a key volunteer for a formal event to honor our veterans or current military members

· Serving The Community Through Business

o e.g., a business owner who goes above and beyond their role to support and provide a service to the community in a down-home, hospitable manner

ELIGIBILITY

Any Cary resident, 21 years of age and older, who meets any of the criteria listed above as well as demonstrates leadership and integrity and is respected by his/her peers may be eligible for the award. Individuals may receive the award once. Town of Cary employees and any Cary residents who are serving or have served in any elected official capacity are not eligible for the award. Memorial awards will not be given in honor of deceased Cary residents.

PROCESS

• Solicit applications in late August through early October timeframe.
• In October the Town Clerk invites individuals to a meeting to select one award winner (examples of people who might be invited to this meeting include the following or any combination thereof: board/commission chairs or members; department directors; past award winners; other staff and citizens involved with other Town or community award programs; etc.).
• All nominees are publicly recognized at the November Town Council meeting; the one award winner is announced by the Mayor.
• The one award winner and family is invited to attend the community Tree event in December and is publicly recognized on-stage by the Mayor. Immediately following the tree lighting event there is a reception in award winner’s honor.

SELECTION DETAILS

All nominee applications will be shared with the individuals who are invited to the meeting to select the winner, and they will individually review the information prior to the meeting. The clerk will schedule one meeting in October, and the attendees who are present will select the winner.

AWARD/RECOGNITION

· All nominees will be invited to attend the November council meeting for public recognition. Each nominee application will be highlighted and the individual will be given a Thanks Certificate. The Mayor will then announce the winner and present him/her with a plaque from the Town.

· All nominees will be recognized with a write-up on the Town’s Web site.

· Photos of the most recent winner with excerpt from nomination form may be displayed in a designated area at Town Hall. The winner’s name will be engraved on a perpetual plaque at Town Hall.

Past winners will be invited to all future December receptions, and they will be recognized. 

The most recent past winners will be invited to the November council meeting and will be given a role to assist the Town Council in announcing the new winner. 

COST

There will be a small cost with instituting a new award such as:

· Advertising and other costs associated with soliciting nominees

· Plaque given to award winners

· Engraving costs

· Perpetual plaque that remains at Town Hall

· Framing for photo (one time cost as photos are switched out annually)

· Reception for award winner and his/her family (this is an add-on to PRCR community tree reception)

Costs are not expected to exceed $250 per award winner. There are sufficient funds in the FY2010 budget to cover these expenses.

Fiscal Impact: The award program will cost approximately $250 per year to implement. There are sufficient funds in the FY2010 budget for this program.

Staff Recommendation: Staff provides this report for informational purposes only and will implement the program in Calendar Year 2009. No additional council action is required.