CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting: Tuesday, June 7, 2022
Subject
Recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission to approve funds in the amount of $96,460.46 for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Community Funding Grant Program and approval of final funding amounts for the Community Funding Program, to be included in the Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Recommended Action
Consider the recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission to approve funds in the amount of $96,460.46 for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Community Funding Grant Program. Determine and approve final funding amounts for the Community Funding Program, to be included in the Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023; and provide direction to staff.
Background
The Community Funding Grant application process opened in January and closed on February 1, 2022. The city received 21 applications for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2023 Community Funding Grant Program application cycle. Staff reviewed all submitted applications for completeness and preliminary eligibility (Attachment A). The 21 applicants had the opportunity to attend the March 3 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, provide additional information on their request, and answer any clarifying questions from the Commission.
Evaluation Process
At the April 7 regular meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission facilitated the evaluation process and provided a funding recommendation to City Council. After receiving public comment on the item, the Commissioners each completed an evaluation form (Attachment B) before providing their total out of 100 for each application. Staff received the totals from each Commissioner and compiled them into the evaluation totals form (Attachment C), which the Commission used to discuss and determine their recommendation to Council.
Eligibility
After initial review of the 21 submitted applications, 20 applications fully met eligibility requirements and one application had pending eligibility, requiring further consideration by the Commission. Final eligibility was determined by the Commission during the evaluation process. The Commission agreed to provide rankings for all 17 eligible organizations.
The Commission deemed four organizations ineligible or otherwise not qualified. Able 2 Shine was excluded from funding discussions with a unanimous vote, based on pending eligibility. STEMBoost, Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival, and Monta Vista High School Speech Boosters Inc. were determined to be ineligible because they were not free to Cupertino residents. STEMBooost received a vote of 4 yes and 1 abstained, Silicon Valley Jewish Film Festival received a unanimous vote, and Monta Vista High School Speech Boosters Inc. received a vote of 4 yes and 1 no.
These decisions of eligibility are based on the Community Funding Grant Policy (Attachment D) restrictions/guidelines that note admission to or participation in the organization’s event must be “free of charge” to Cupertino residents, unless stated in the application and approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission, and more than 75% of the requested funds allocated for direct service costs versus administrative costs.
Discussion
Parks and Recreation Commission Funding Recommendation to City Council The Commission carried a unanimous motion to recommend to City Council funding for the following organizations at a total of $96,460.46:
West Valley Community Services - $10,000
Women SV - $20,000
Senior Services – Heart of the Valley - $6,160.46
Fremont Union School District - $20,000
American Cancer Society – Relay for Life - $6,000
Omniware Networks – $2,000
Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation - $8,300
Breathe California of the Bay Area - $4,000
Cupertino Union School District - $20,000
The Commission considered the historical funding information (Attachment E) and the suggested funding range of $70,000 to $90,000 when providing their recommendation. The suggested funding range was included in the Community Funding Grant Policy, which was adopted by City Council at their December 1, 2020, meeting.
The Commission carried unanimous motion to recommend that, if there are additional funds, to award the applicants fully in the following order based on the remaining rankings:
Youngzine - $6,000
Tian Hong Foundation - $4,500
Chinese American Coalition for Compassionate Care - $13,000 Rotary Club of Cupertino - $12,000
Cupertino Bhubaneswar Sister City Initiative - $15,000
Euphrat Museum of Art – DeAnza College - $15,000
Palisadoes Foundation - $3,750
Cupertino Educational Endowment Foundation - $20,000
Sustainability Impact
No sustainability impacts.
Fiscal Impact
If Council approves the Parks and Recreation Commission’s recommended funding amount of $96,460.46, final funding amounts for the Community Funding Program will be included in the Recommended Final Budget for FY 2022-23. ___________________________________
Prepared by: Rachelle Sander, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Reviewed by: Joanne Magrini, Director of Parks and Recreation Approved for Submission by: Dianne Thompson, Assistant City Manager Attachments:
A – Community Funding Applications and Preliminary Eligibility Evaluations B – Commissioner Community Funding Evaluation Form
C – Evaluation Totals and Parks and Recreation Commission Recommendation D – Community Funding Grant Policy
E – Community Funding Historical Funding Information FY 2018-2022