KINNDcities · Council brief
Taking part in KINNDcities
KINNDcities gives cities, counties and public agencies a structured way to work with KINNDship, a local-cross border community development organization. It turns civic participation into development capacity, smart community readiness and public-private collaboration, without outsourcing the community's voice.
What the city would take part in
A practical review of where the city stands on participation, partnerships and development capacity.
Resident, business and institutional engagement across community, academia, professionals, the public sector and private partners.
Connecting the city's priorities to exchange and opportunity with partner communities abroad.
Working sessions with public partners on participation-friendly development.
Options and cost
| Option | Cost | Agreement | In short |
|---|---|---|---|
| Observer | Free | No agreement needed | Follow the KINNDcities work and scope the fit before anything is signed. |
| Municipal Member | $5,000 a year reference fee | MOU · final terms set in the MOU | Formal participation in KINNDcities under an MOU. |
| Partner Channel | Custom | Custom MOU | One focused channel for a city that wants one thing done well. |
No card payments: the city pays by invoice, or as the MOU sets out. Channels a Member or Partner Channel can include: Smart communities and AI utility, Policy innovation, Municipal exchange, Municipal innovation (Academy), Civic exchange.
How approval works
- InquiryCityA short form. No prices and no commitment. A named contact replies.
- Discovery callBothGoals, limits and the city's calendar. We also confirm who can sign, and up to what amount.
- ScopeBothChoose Observer, Municipal Member or a Partner Channel, and the channels that fit.
- MOU draftKINNDshipPrograms, roles, reporting and terms, written for a public body.
- Legal reviewApproval · BothThe city attorney and our counsel review the draft.
- Authority approvalApproval · CityCouncil, board or city manager, by the city's own process. Often an open meeting.
- Liaison appointedCityThe city names its liaison. Their access follows the MOU.
- PilotBothPlan and deliver the first pilot. Residents can be invited where the MOU allows.
- Report & renewBothReporting you can take to council, and renewal on the city's own timeline.
Most cities take several months to reach a signed MOU. The city's own calendar sets the pace.
What your attorney will see in the MOU
- Term and renewal
- Scope, channels and deliverables
- Roles, including the city liaison
- Reporting to the city
- Data, privacy and public records
- Accessibility
- Insurance
- How either side can end it
What we can provide for the file
- MOU and pilot annex
- Council resolution and staff-report wording
- One-page public-benefit statement
- W-9 and good-standing certificate
- Insurance certificate (COI)
- Conflict-of-interest and no-gifts policy
- Open-records acknowledgment
- Accessibility statement (WCAG 2.1 AA)
Sample wording for a staff report
Staff recommends that the [Council] authorize the [City Manager] to execute a memorandum of understanding with KINNDship for participation in KINNDcities as a [Municipal Member / Partner Channel], for the term and on the terms set out in the attached MOU, subject to review by the City Attorney.
For staff to adapt to the city's own format. This is not legal advice.
Good to know
KINNDcities is in development, with early municipal conversations under way. KINNDship does not guarantee government action, funding or outcomes, and taking part does not imply an endorsement by either side. Observer is free and needs no agreement, so a city can follow the work before deciding anything.
