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Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 7.A
Meeting Date: September 27, 2023
From: Kevin Biersack, Financial Services Director
Title: Council Subcommittee Funding Recommendations for the FY 2023/2024 Community Assistance Program
City Council
RECOMMENDATION:
The Council Subcommittee recommends City Council approve the award of grants totaling $70,000 for the FY 2023/2024 Community Assistance Program.
BACKGROUND:
On May 24, 2023, Council approved a Community Assistance Program to support requests for grants from community non -profit organizations and other governmental jurisdictions. Funding for the program for FY 2023/2024 is included in the approved budget totaling $70,000 with grants awarded ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 per approved applicant . Grant applications were advertised on the City’s website and a notice was published in the local newspaper on July 1, 2023. The deadline for the City to receive applications was July 31, 2023.
DISCUSSION:
Council appointed an Ad Hoc Council subcommittee consisting of Councilmembers Gregory and Ross to review the applications and make a recommendation to the full Council for formal action. The subcommittee was provided the application packets on August 18, 2023 prior to meeting with City staff on August 29, 2023 to review and provide feedback and recommendations.
Program Guidelines: Council established the following guidelines for the program:
1. Applicants must be a non -profit 501c -3 organization or a tribal or governmental agency.
2. Applicants must be based in Cathedral City or demonstrate they provide services to residents or businesses of Cathedral City.
3. Applicants must be able to demonstrate they receive funding from other sources and are not relying only on City support.
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4. Preference will be given to applicants meeting health and human service needs of underserved populations.
Subcommittee Recommendations: The subcommittee recommended the following funding awards:
Organization Name Requested/Recommended Award
Act for Multiple Sclerosis $5,000/$3,000
Alzheimer’s Coachella Valley $5,000/$1,000
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 519 $4,800/$1,200
Assistance League of Coachella Valley $13,000/$2,500
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert $10,000/$3,800
Cathedral Center (Cathedral City Senior Center) $15,000/$7,500 Cathedral City High School Band Boosters Org Inc $15,000/$8,000 Cathedral City High School Choirs $15,000/$8,000
Coachella Valley Disaster Preparedness Network $15,000/$2,500 Desert Access and Mobility Inc $15,000/$1,000
Dezart Performs $15,000/$1,000
Dinner with Patsi $5,000/$5,000
Habitat for Humanity of the Coachella Valley $15,000/$5,000 Martha’s Village & Kitchen $15,000/$2,500
Museum of Ancient Wonders $5,000/$5,000
Palm Springs Air Museum, Inc $5,000/$5,000
Riverside County Library Systems $2,000/$2,000
Shelter from the Storm, Inc $15,000/$5,000
Variety Children’s Charities of the Desert $15,000/$1,000 TOTAL AWARDED $204,800/$70,000
In addition, there were four (4) applications the subcommittee determined did not successfully meet the guidelines above.
Note – Applications from the Agua Caliente Elementary School and Wyld Womxn are being referred to the Arts Commission for consideration.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding of $70,000 for the grant awards is included in the adopted budget for FY 2023/2024 approved budget.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal C- Fiscal Stability and Sustainability
Action C-4 Allocate resources necessary to achieve Council’s Goals and Vision