DATE:
May 6, 2025
TO:
LaTanya Bellow, City Manager
FROM:
Rebecca Sermeno, Community Services Director
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Adopting The Community Promotion Grant Subcommittee’s Recommendations To Select Biketopia, Emeryville Children And Nature, Emeryville Historical Society, Fishnets And Films, Friends Of ECDC, Friends Of The Golden Gate Library, Kala Art Institute, Misfit Combat, Inc., Nancy Karp & Dancers, Rudy’s Can’t Fail Café, And Scientific Adventures For Girls As Recipients For The Emeryville Community Promotions Grant Program Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the attached resolution adopting the Community Promotions Grant Sub-Committee’s recommendations to select Biketopia, Emeryville Children and Nature, Emeryville Historical Society, Fishnets And Films, Friends Of ECDC, Friends Of The Golden Gate Library, Kala Art Institute, Misfit Combat, Inc., Nancy Karp & Dancers, Rudy’s Can’t Fail Café, And Scientific Adventures For Girls As The Recipients For The Emeryville Community Promotions Grant Program.
Background
The Community Promotions Grant Program (CGP) was established over twenty years ago as a means of “promoting the cultural and artistic aspects of the community and to provide for a high-quality living and working environment in the City of Emeryville.” Under these guidelines, the grant program mostly funded artists and art organizations to conduct free public performances, art education; or activities that increased public access to local artists, such as open studio tours and temporary art exhibitions. Over time, the CGP began providing funds for social services, such as low-income legal assistance and nutrition programs.
Prior to FY 2012-13, virtually all of the community grant funding was drawn from the City’s former Redevelopment Agency (RDA). In FY 2012-13, due to the dissolution of the RDA, funding totaling $58,450 for the grant program was drawn from the City’s General Fund and the funding process was non-competitive, with requests for funding limited to a set number of community organizations that received the same level of funding each year. Staff were directed by City Council to notify all the FY 2013-14 grantees that the program was under review, and to revisit the program under the Community Services Department upon completion of the Emeryville Center of Community Life.
Staff worked on an application process and program guidelines and presented the staff report to City Council on December 6, 2016. The goal of the Community Promotions Grant Program is to fund eligible arts and culture organizations and individuals to provide diverse programs and activities that benefit the greater Emeryville community. The grant guidelines are as follows:
Grant Guidelines:
Submit a completed application by the deadline
Program or activity must be located in Emeryville, or the activity for which the request is being made must occur in Emeryville.
Grants - $10,000 cap
Applicant to complete closing documents upon completion of the project Discussion
On January 21, 2025, the City released a call for applications on the City website, through social media, and by contacting former recipients. By February 26, 2025, the City had received 19 qualified applications.
The selection panel included 1. Mike Haggerty, Public Art Commission Member; 2. Fran Quittel, Economic Development Advisory Committee Member; 3. Andi Eggers, Parks and Recreation Member; 4. Beth Rosales, Commission on Aging Member; and 5. Sarah Smaga, Housing Committee Member. The meeting was facilitated by Rebecca Sermeno, Community Services Director.
The selection panel met on April 3, 2025, to recommend the applications that best fit the grant’s guidelines and goal. The panel was able to hear presentations from each of the applicants and at the end were able to discuss the merits of each program or activity, and then made the following recommendations:
Organization Name
Program/Event Name
Requested
Grant
Recommended Awards
Biketopia
Biketopia community events
$ 7,225
$ 7,000
Emeryville Children & Nature
Emeryville Children & Nature Project
$ 10,000
$ 9,000
Emeryville Historical Society
San Pablo Ave / Triangle Historic Walking Tour
$ 9,714
$ 7,000
Fishnets & Film, Inc.
Emeryville PRIDE
$ 10,000
$ 7,000
Friends of ECDC
Emeryville Early Childhood Music Program
$ 10,000
$ 5,000
Friends Of The Golden Gate Library
Jazz Concert Series
$ 10,000
$ 7,000
Kala Art Institute
Artists-in-Schools Program at Anna Yates and Emery High School $ 10,000
$ 8,500
Misfit Combat, Inc.
Defense Classes
$ 10,000
$ 2,000
Nancy Karp + Dancers
Dancing in the Schools
$ 10,000
$ 9,000
Rudy's Can't Fail Café
Live Music on the Patio Series
$ 10,000
$ 2,000
Scientific Adventures for Girls
TK-5th Grade: Anna Yates Elementary Afterschool STEM Education Program 2025-2026 $ 10,000
$10,000
Fiscal Impact
The recommended awards total $73,500 and the current approved budget includes $73,500 from 230-87300.
Staff Communication with the Public
There has been no staff communication with the public.
PREPARED BY: Rebecca Sermeno, Community Services Director Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
LaTanya Bellow, City Manager
Attachments
Draft Resolution
Exhibit A – Grant Applicants Overview
Community Promotions Grant Program
City Council Meeting | May 6, 2025
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM