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Report outlines Nanaimo's sponsorship program

NANAIMO – The city has drafted a new sponsorship policy which could go to council in December or January.

A new policy will give the city a single standard for cashing in on sponsorships.

Nanaimo’s sponsorship committee has released a draft policy outlining how the city should tackle new partnerships.

The budding document, still in the committee process, is considered to be a move toward a corporate sponsorship program and outlines principles and the roles of staff and council when it comes to approving third-party deals.

It does not include guidelines for naming rights, although city staff have pitched a separate naming rights and advertising policy as a next step.

According to Philip Cooper, city communications manager, there isn’t currently a policy like this and without one, the city runs into the potential of having an “ad hoc approach” by different parts of the organization.

“This provides a single standard for all city departments to look at and of course, it will have, once approved, the backing of council,” he said.

The new policy outlines responsibilities and principles when it comes to sponsorship agreements.

A sponsorship coordinator, for example, would be the department contact and able to approve up to $5,000, while department heads could approve up to $75,000. Anything higher would be a decision of council.

The policy also says the city won’t enter into deals when organizations profit from the sale or distribution of dangerous goods, or when there’s evidence of unlawful action against people or groups based on things like religion, disability and sexual orientation and gender identity.

The policy is expected to go to council in late December or early January.