Council pulls consent item to ask about 3 Birds Alliance financials; staff recommends reduced funding
Summary
Council pulled a consent item to question 3 Birds Alliance financial disclosures and performance; staff recommended $150,000 funding (less than requested) and agreed to follow up on missing audit information and residency/performance metrics.
Council member Bergen pulled consent item 2h to ask why the organization listed as the 3 Birds Alliance appeared to have incomplete financial disclosures and an audit note indicating noncompliance. Bergen cited a discrepancy: the organization reported $1.1 million in total salaries but showed only one listed salary of about $137,000 for the executive director and asked where the rest of the salary funds were shown.
City staff said applicant records and audits are part of the application package and that the recommendation to fund 3 Birds this year is based on prior performance; staff said funding being recommended for 3 Birds was $150,000, which is below the organization's request. Staff agreed to follow up to provide more information on financial documentation and on performance metrics, including how many Aurora residents the organization serves.
Council did not object to moving the consent calendar forward after the item was pulled for questions; Bergen said she was comfortable with funding but wanted staff to investigate the financials and performance before future funding decisions.
