Agenda Item   

AGENDA STAFF REPORT

 

                                                                                                                        ASR Control  08-002417

 

MEETING DATE:

12/16/08

legal entity taking action:

Board of Supervisors

board of supervisors district(s):

All Districts

SUBMITTING Agency/Department:

Sheriff-Coroner   (Approved)

Department contact person(s):

Assistant Sheriff Jack Anderson (714) 647-1801 

 

 

Marilyn MacDougall (714) 647-4135

 

 

Subject:  Authorize Trip to Canada for Sunshine Foundation

 

      ceo Concur

County Counsel Review

Clerk of the Board

Concur

N/A

Consent Calendar

 

 

3 Votes Board Majority

 

 

 

    Budgeted: N/A

Current Year Cost: N/A

Annual Cost: N/A

 

 

 

    Staffing Impact: No

# of Positions:

Sole Source: N/A

    Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A

    Funding Source: Sunshine Foundation of Canada: 100%

 

    Prior Board Action: N/A

 

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S)

 

 

 

1.

Authorize the use of County resources by allowing five members of the Sheriff's Department and one member from the Board of Supervisors (or designee) to travel to Canada from January 26, 2009 through January 29, 2009.

 

2.

Find that the use of County resources for the trip to Canada serves a public purpose of the County of Orange by promoting goodwill, ambassadorship and the spirit of cooperation within the law enforcement community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY:

 

The Sheriff-Coroner requests authorization for five Department members and one member from the Board of Supervisors to travel to Canada as goodwill ambassadors to meet with officials of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Sunshine Foundation of Canada.

 

 

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

 

The Sunshine Foundation of Canada, assisted by its commuity partners, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, makes dreams come true for children challenged by severe physical disabilities or life-threatening illnesses.  Every year for the past 19 years, the Sunshine Foundation's "Dreamlift" program has fulfilled the dreams of critically ill or disabled children by sponsoring a trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World for groups of these children from their region, alternating each year between Orange County, California and Orange County, Florida (where the City of Orlando and the Disney Resorts are located).  

 

Once the children arrive in Orange County, California, they are greeted by members of the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department who volunteer their time to escort these special children throughout Disneyland.  Transportation to Disneyland and the return trip back to the airport is provided by the Saddleback Valley Unified School District at no cost to the County.  The Disneyland tickets for Sheriff’s personnel are funded by the Sheriff’s Advisory Council in partnership with the Sunshine Foundation of Canada.  The tickets for the “Dreamlift” children and Sunshine Foundation personnel are funded by the Sunshine Foundation of Canada.    This year’s trip to Orange County will occur in December 2008.

 

Each year, the Sunshine Foundation of Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police invite members of the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department to attend events with them in Canada  to assist in promoting the trip to Disneyland.  This year, the Sunshine Foundation of Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have invited five members of the Sheriff-Coroner Department and one member from the Board of Supervisors to travel to Canada to meet with officials of both organizations to recognize the County of Orange and the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department and to strengthen the international connection between Orange County, California and Canada.

 

The "Dreamlift" program results in significant positive community interaction and will be covered by local/national television, radio and newspapers from both the Canadian and local media.  It is anticipated that this proposed trip to Canada will also result in positive coverage for Orange County.

 

The travel costs for County personnel will be paid for entirely by the Sunshine Foundation's corporate sponsors.  If approved by the Board, it is projected that one Captain, one Lieutenant, two Investigators, one Deputy, and one member of the Board of Supervisors will travel to Canada as Orange County goodwill ambassadors, and to promote the spirit of cooperation within the international law enforcement community.

 

The Sheriff-Coroner requests that the Board authorize the use of County resources for this trip by allowing the five Sheriff-Coroner Department employees and one member of the Board of Supervisors to travel to Canada while on County time.  These County employees' positions will not be backfilled by the use of overtime.

 

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

 

N/A

 

 

 

STAFFING IMPACT:

 

N/A