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Commission Recognizes Memorial Park Improvement Corporation for Charitable Gaming, Asks for Bylaws and Financial Reporting
Summary
After extended questioning about scope, governance and fundraising, the commission approved recognition for the Memorial Park Improvement Corporation and added a requirement that the nonprofit supply bylaws, program summaries and financial reporting recommendations before charitable gaming activities proceed.
The City Commission voted to recognize the Memorial Park Improvement Corporation (MPIC), a 501(c)(3) formed to raise funds for improvements across Memorial Park, while adding specific conditions intended to improve transparency.
Mark Stowers, who said he serves as MPIC president and as the Leprechauns’ public relations director, told the commission the organization’s mission covers the park’s full 24-plus acres and described early fundraising activity: "We have raised money through the beer festival... the 5K has been phenomenal," and he reported about $12,000 in receipts so far, with approximately $3,000 spent on a patio and $3,000 donated to the Royal Oak Sandlot League.
Commissioners pressed for clearer governance and financial transparency. Several members said they had not seen MPIC’s bylaws in the packet and asked how funds would be used, how the board is constituted and whether a city staff representative would be on the board. MPIC said its bylaws permit between three and nine board members and that Judy Davis (a city staff member noted during the meeting) had accepted an invitation to join the board.
A substitute motion to postpone action for two weeks to collect missing documents failed. Commissioners then amended the original recognition motion to require MPIC deliver a copy of its bylaws to the city and to provide the program overview, community engagement summary, fundraising initiatives and year-end financial information as recommended in the agenda packet. The amended motion passed (the chair announced “Ayes have it”).
The commission and MPIC also discussed whether the recognition authorized charitable gaming only for a single raffle; a commissioner and staff clarified the approval under discussion was a one-time permission for a raffle (charitable gaming license application) and that the city could later notify the state gaming authority if it sought to revoke recognition.
Next steps: MPIC will provide bylaws and the requested documentation to the city as a condition of recognition. Commissioners said they expect continued cooperation and a reporting back to the commission on use of funds and partnership arrangements.
