Coos Bay parks commission moves to pursue independent parks foundation; seeks Roundhouse grant

The City of Coos Bay Parks Commission agreed to add an agenda item for its next meeting to move forward with creating an independent parks foundation and discussed applying for a Roundhouse Foundation technical assistance grant to cover startup expenses. Cricket Souls, a Parks Commission member, introduced the grant opportunity and said the Roundhouse Foundation is offering awards of up to $5,000 for technical assistance and professional development for rural arts, culture and heritage organizations. "Awards up to $5,000 are available for opportunities that strengthen the skills, talents, and capacity of partners in the nonprofit sector," Cricket said.

Commissioners and guests described the foundation as a separate nonprofit entity that could accept donations, bequests and grants, run fundraising events and provide a vehicle for donors who prefer to give to a nonprofit rather than directly to city government. Greg Hablett, who described experience with an existing local foundation, said forming a foundation typically requires a small founding board, bylaws, a bank account and an attorney review, and may take months to a year to show material fundraising returns. "The hard part is probably finding a group of people that really are interested in doing it," Hablett said.

Speakers noted start-up costs such as filing fees and legal review and recommended a small committed founding group (three to five people) before submitting paperwork. City staff and commissioners discussed whether the Parks Commission should formally “bless” the effort, and the commission agreed to add an action item for the next meeting to vote on moving forward. Christina Teixeira, City of Coos Bay staff, and other staff members also flagged that a foundation is a legally separate entity and that the city would not control it once formed.

Commissioners and contributors described practical benefits the group expects from a foundation: accepting bequests and stock transfers, running fundraising events that city staff cannot, holding and investing donated funds separately from city accounts, providing a vehicle for targeted donations (for example, a picnic shelter or a cemetery project) and coordinating volunteer recruitment through a nonprofit. Participants also discussed insurance and governance needs, including directors and cyber liability insurance and an initial small donation to open accounts.

The commission did not adopt a final structure or vote to incorporate the foundation at this meeting. Greg Hablett said he would speak with the city manager and bring information back to the commission on the twentieth meeting so commissioners could decide whether to place a formal motion on that agenda. Cricket and several other commissioners offered to serve on an initial board if the commission votes to proceed.