Council ends council appointment to Sister City Committee and waives community center fees for inaugural fundraiser

The Port Hueneme City Council on Jan. 21 voted to remove the requirement that a city council member serve on the Sister City Committee and approved a resolution waiving facility fees for the committee’s first fundraising event.

Staff said the Sister City Committee had taken steps to form a nonprofit entity and requested (1) that the council eliminate the council appointment and (2) a waiver of fees for use of the Orvien S. Carpenter Community Center auditorium for a fundraiser scheduled for March 25. The fundraiser is intended to establish a scholarship program for Port Hueneme students and will feature music, food and a mariachi performance.

Staff identified the fees as a $32 application fee, a $500 refundable security deposit, and a $750 rental fee. Council discussed the risk to the city of waiving the refundable deposit; staff said insurance would be required and that the city had treated the Sister City Committee as a city-started nonprofit and judged the risk of unpaid damage claims to be low. A written public comment supporting the waiver noted the scholarship purpose and the committee’s early-stage nonprofit status.

Council voted unanimously for both parts of the staff recommendation: to eliminate the council appointment to the Sister City Committee and to waive the application fee, refundable security deposit and rental fee for the March fundraiser. Staff said the committee’s scholarship funds will benefit students in Port Hueneme.

The council’s action means the Sister City Committee will operate without a designated council member liaison; staff said the change is consistent with common practice once a city-created group incorporates as an independent nonprofit.