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DUVAL COUNTY · LOCALlocal legislationEnacted
Enacted

City Grant Funding for Ben’s Place Services

Original title: ORD Approp $38,091 from a Gen Fund Operating Special Council Contingency Acct to the Gen Fund Operating Subsidies & Contributions to Private Org Acct to Prov City Grant Funding to Ben’s Place Services for the Low-Cost Transitionary Day Prog as Described Herein; Waiving Sec 118.107 (Nonprofits to Receive Funding Through a Competitive Evaluated Award Process), Pt 1 (General Provisions), Ch 118 (City Grants), Ord Code, to Allow for a Direct Contract with Ben’s Place; Apv, & Auth the Mayor, or Her Desig, & the Corp Sec to Execute & Deliver on Behalf of the City a Grant Agrmnt btwn the City & Ben’s Place for the Prog; Prov for Oversight by the Grants & Contract Compliance Div of the Finance Dept (Staffopoulos) (Introduced by CM White) (Co-Sponsors CMs Clark-Murray & Salem) 11/26/24 CO Introduced: NCSPHS, R, F 12/2/24 NCSPHS & R Read 2nd & Rerefer 12/3/24 F Read 2nd & Rerefer 12/10/24 CO PH Read 2nd & Rerefer 1/6/25 NCSPHS Approve 8-0 1/6/25 R Approve 5-0 1/7/25 F Approve 6-0 1/14/25 CO Approve 17-0 Public Hearing Pursuant to Ch 166, F.S. & C.R. 3.601 - 12/10/24

Record date · January 14, 2025

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What This Bill Does

The City Council has approved a $38,091 grant for Ben’s Place Services to support their Low-Cost Transitionary Day Program. This ordinance bypasses the standard competitive bidding process for nonprofits to allow for a direct contract between the city and the organization.

Why it matters

This ordinance authorizes the transfer of $38,091 in taxpayer funds to a private nonprofit, Ben’s Place Services, for a specific social service program while the city's usual competitive grant requirements.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Ben’s Place Services

The organization receives $38,091 in city funding and enters into a direct contract with the city.

Directly affected

City Finance Department

The Grants & Contract Compliance Division is assigned the responsibility of overseeing the grant agreement.

Key Facts

  • The city is appropriating $38,091 from the General Fund Operating Special Council Contingency Account.
  • Funds are being moved to the General Fund Operating Subsidies & Contributions to Private Org Account.
  • The ordinance waives Section 118.107 of the City Ordinance Code, which normally requires nonprofits to undergo a competitive evaluated award process.
  • The waiver allows the city to enter into a direct contract with Ben’s Place Services.
Show all 9 facts
  • The grant is specifically for the 'Low-Cost Transitionary Day Program'.
  • The Mayor (or their designee) and the Corporate Secretary are authorized to execute the grant agreement.
  • The Grants & Contract Compliance Division of the Finance Department is assigned oversight duties for the contract.
  • The ordinance passed the City Council with a 17-0 vote on January 14, 2025.
  • A public hearing was held on December 10, 2024, pursuant to Florida Statutes and City Rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why didn't Ben’s Place Services have to compete for this grant?
The City Council passed an ordinance specifically the requirement for a competitive evaluated award process (Section 118.107) to allow for a direct contract.
Who is responsible for making sure the money is spent correctly?
The Grants & Contract Compliance Division of the Finance Department is tasked with oversight of the grant agreement.

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Full breakdown

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Discoveries

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Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

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Bypassing Competitive Bidding

The city utilized a specific ordinance waiver to bypass its own standard competitive grant process for a nonprofit, a common but notable administrative exception.

Ben’s Place Services

Sources

Open source document

webapi.legistar.com

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance30
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz10
    Current news / social attention level

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