City Funding for Artist Connection Theatre, Inc.

Original title: ORD Appropriating $25,000 from the Special Council Contingency Acct to the Subsidies & Contributions to Private Org Acct to Provide Funding to Artist Connection Theatre, Inc. (ACT) for the Main Stage Prog & Young Artist Prog (Collectively, the “Program”) as Described Herein; Prov for Carryover to FY 25-26; 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 ACT; Apv, & Auth the Mayor, or Her Desig, & the Corp Sec to Execute & Deliver on Behalf of the City a Grant Agrmt btwn the City & Artist Connection Theatre, Inc. for the Prog; Prov for Oversight by the Grants & Contract Compliance Div of the Finance Dept (Staffopoulos) (Introduced by CM Amaro) (Co-Sponsor CM Johnson) 7/22/25 CO Introduced: NCSPHS, R, F 8/4/25 NCSPHS Read 2nd & Rerefer 8/4/25 R Read 2nd & Rerefer 8/5/25 F Read 2nd & Rerefer 8/12/25 CO PH Read 2nd & Rerefer 8/18/25 NCSPHS Approve 5-0 8/18/25 R Approve 5-0 8/19/25 F Approve 7-0 8/26/25 CO Approve 17-0 Public Hearing Pursuant to Ch 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 8/12/25

Record date · August 26, 2025

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What This Bill Does

This ordinance authorizes a $25,000 grant to Artist Connection Theatre, Inc. (ACT) to support their Main Stage and Young Artist programs. It also waives standard competitive bidding requirements to allow for a direct contract between the city and the organization.

Why it matters

The city is moving $25,000 from a contingency fund to a private nonprofit, bypassing the usual competitive grant process to provide direct financial support for specific theater programs through the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

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

Artist Connection Theatre, Inc.

The organization will receive $25,000 in city funding for its programs.

Directly affected

City Finance Department

The Grants & Contract Compliance Division is required to provide oversight for the grant agreement.

Key Facts

The City Council approved an appropriation of $25,000 from the Special Council Contingency Account to the Subsidies & Contributions to Private Org Account.
The funds are designated for the Artist Connection Theatre, Inc. (ACT) to support their Main Stage and Young Artist programs.
The ordinance waives Section 118.107 of the City Ordinance Code, which normally requires nonprofits to undergo a competitive evaluated award process to receive city funding.
The grant agreement allows for the carryover of funds into the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Show all 8 facts

The Mayor or her designee and the Corporate Secretary are authorized to execute the grant agreement on behalf of the city.
The Grants & Contract Compliance Division of the Finance Department is tasked with oversight of the grant.
The ordinance passed the City Council with a 17-0 vote on August 26, 2025.
A public hearing regarding this ordinance was held on August 12, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the city bypass the competitive bidding process for this grant?

The ordinance explicitly waives Section 118.107 of the City Ordinance Code, which is the section that normally mandates a competitive evaluated award process for nonprofits.

Who is responsible for making sure the money is used correctly?

The Grants & Contract Compliance Division of the Finance Department is responsible for the oversight of the grant agreement.

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