CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Justin J. Martin, Assistant City Manager
DATE: October 15, 2024
SUBJECT: City Grant Funding for Community Services/Cultural Arts Programs, Special Events and School-Based Activity Sponsorships
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve $75,000 in City grant funding for Community Services/Cultural Arts Programs and Special Events/School-Based Activity Sponsorships, as recommended by the Grants Ad Hoc Committee.
BACKGROUND
Each year the City Council budgets funds for community grants and sponsorships as part of the adopted budget. This grant funding is allocated to recognize and support the importance of many human services, cultural and community assistance programs and organizations that serve Laguna Niguel residents. This year, the City has allocated $75,000 for community grants and sponsorships in the adopted Fiscal Year (FY) 2024- 2025 Budget.
The City's Community Grants and Sponsorships Council Policy includes specific grant requirements for each type of grant/sponsorship program. These requirements can be found in Attachment "A". Community grants and sponsorships support City Council Goal 6 (Communication and Community Outreach) of the Strategic Plan Implementation Action Plan.
There are three categories for the grants program: Community Services/Cultural Arts; Special Events; and School-Based Activity Sponsorships.
1. The Community Services/Cultural Arts Grant Program:
• Organizations must be non-profit and provide services in Laguna Niguel for Laguna Niguel residents and/or provide services for students attending schools that serve Laguna Niguel residents.
2. The Special Events Grant Program:
• Charitable and non-profit organizations that wish to offer special events for the benefit of the community.
3. School-Based Activity Sponsorships:
• Serve a specific purpose, meet a community goal, or fill a gap in programs and services available to students.
ANALYSIS
Annually, during the grant cycle, staff solicit grant applications during the specified application period by posting the grant application on the City's website and through contact with previous recipients via email.
For this grant cycle, the City received a total of $110,825 in grant/sponsorship requests.
Of these, twenty applications (totaling $90,325) were received for the Community Services/Cultural Arts Grant Program; two applications were received (totaling $8,000) for the Special Events Grant Program; and, four applications (totaling $12,500) were received for the School-Based Activity Sponsorships. All received grant requests are summarized in Attachment "B".
A publicly noticed, special meeting of the Grants Ad Hoo Committee was held on September 19, 2024. The Grants Ad Hoc Committee, which consists of Mayor Jennings and Council Member Gennawey, reviewed all the submitted grant requests for FY 2024- 2025 and weighed the merit of each request in terms of the organization and the unmet need for the service or program that focuses on Laguna Niguel residents. The grant award recommendations in each grant program/sponsorship category are as follows:
Community Services/Cultural Arts Grants
Organization Program Recommended
Funding
Age Well Senior Services* Meals on Wheels Program. $3,000 Aliso Niguel High School Entry fees, coaching, costumes, and $1,000 Dance Team travel expenses.
Aliso Niguel High School Maintenance and replacement of $4,000 Instrumental Music instruments, professional services,
Boosters, Inc. and purchase of props and vinyl floor.
Aliso Niguel Theatre Purchase new stage spotlights. $2,500 Company Booster Club
Alzheimer's Orange Dementia and aging education, $2,500 County memory screening, and training.
Assistance League of Operation School Bell - school $4,000 Capistrano Valley clothing for students in need.
Beach Cities Quilters Materials for donated quilts. $1,000 Guild
Dana Hills Instrumental Repair and replace instruments; $4,000 Music Association purchase new speakers, portable
racks, and uniforms.
Extraordinary Lives Donate ELF's Children's Emotional $1,000 Foundation Wellness programs to classrooms
throughout Laguna Niguel.
George White Elementary Meet the Masters Program of the Arts. $2,000 PTA
Helping the Behaviorally Subsidize program costs. $1,500 Challenging Child (HBCC)
Laguna Niguel Woman's Sponsor students to attend BASE $5,000 Club Enrichment Art Course.
Ocean Institute Adopt-A-Class Program. $3,000
Parkinson's Exercise Support two weekly classes for $4,000 Program for You individuals with Parkinson's Disease.
ProjectR Provide hands-on environmental $1,000
education to 3rd-5th graders at Hidden
Hills Elementary.
Rx Ballroom Dance Teaching costs, teacher training, $2,500 curriculum development, and program
evaluation.
South County Outreach** Supplement essential operational $7,000 expenses.
StandUp for Kids Housing vouchers, bus passes, and $3,500 basic necessities.
Veterans Legal Institute Serve up to 15 Laguna Niguel $1,000 veterans with legal services and/or
appropriate referrals.
Wellness & Prevention Support prevention education $3,000 Center programming and mental health
services for ANHS students.
TOTAL $56,500
*Age Well Senior Services also received $6,795 in CDBG funds. **South County Outreach also received $9,879 in CDBG funds and $40,000 in PLHA funds.
Special Events Grants
Organization Program Recommended
Funding
Glennwood Foundation, Cover a portion of the costs associated $2,500 Inc. dba The Lighthouse to the staff member responsible for Group supporting various events.
Laguna Niguel Fund scholarships to Emerald Cove $4,000
Elementary School Outdoor Science Camp (ECOS) in
Foundation March 2025.
TOTAL $6,500
School-Based Activity Sponsorships
Organization Program Recommended
Funding
Aliso Niguel High School Student Intervention/Homework Club. $3,000 Aliso Viejo Middle School Mock Trial Program; Supplies for end- $3,000 of-the-year 8th grade awards and 8th
grade dance.
Dana Hills High School Positive Behavior Interventions and $3,000 Supports (PBIS) Program.
Niguel Hills Middle School Supplies for Wellness Room - Shark's $3,000 Cove: Motivational speaker.
TOTAL $12,000
The Grants Ad Hoc Committee is recommending a total of $75,000 in grant funding and sponsorships for FY 2024-2025.
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The City Council may decide not to approve the grant awards for the Community Services/Cultural Arts grants and School-Based Activity sponsorships, as recommended by the Grants Ad Hoc Committee, and approve alternative grant awards.
FISCAL REVIEW
The City has sufficient funds in the adopted FY 2024-2025 Budget to award the Ad Hoc Committee's recommended grant requests.
LEGAL REVIEW
There is no legal review required for this item.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve $75,000 in City grant funding for Community Services/Cultural Arts Programs and Special Events/School-Based Activity Sponsorships, as recommended by the Grants Ad Hoc Committee.
Quation 0. Martin
Tamara S. Letourneau Jystin J. Martin/
City Manager Assistant City Manager
Dorna Farhadi Favian J. Bravo
Human Resources Manager Management Analyst
Attachments:
A. City Grant and Sponsorships Council Policy
B. FY 2024-2025 Grant Requests Summary
ATTACHMENT A
City Grant and Sponsorships Council Policy
CITY GRANTS COUNCIL POLICY
AND SPONSORSHIPS Adopted: 11/14/2018
Last Revised: 3/1/2022
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines and procedures for the City's Grants and Sponsorships Program. This policy outlines the mission and operating parameters of the program and provides guidance on the application process, qualifications for funding, approval process, and the role of the City/CDBG Grant Sub Committee in this program.
All grants and sponsorship funds will be held in reserve until specific funding requests and recommendations are reviewed and approved by the City Council.
A. School-Based Activity Sponsorship Requests
The City may provide sponsorships of school-based activities for special programs and projects not fully funded by other funding sources. The City Council gives preference to sponsorship requests that benefit large groups of students or students who need financial assistance in order to participate in the activity. As part of the annual budget process, the City Council determines the amount of funds each year to support school-based activities as it deems prudent and reasonable.
These funds are held in reserve until specific funding requests and recommendations are reviewed and approved by the City Council. Awards are granted on a first come, first serve basis. Each sponsorship program approved by the City Council is designed to serve a specific purpose, meet a community goal, or fill a gap in programs and services available to residents. Typical school-based activity sponsorship requests include Grad Nite, Homework Club and special school-based events and programs that arise during the school year such as Destination Imagination or Robotics competitions.
1. Grad Nite
Each year, both Aliso Niguel and Dana Hills high schools provide Grad Nite activities for graduating seniors. This event is planned by parents, with no funding from the School District. The event is intended to provide a safe and sober way for teens to celebrate their graduation. The City's contribution helps to keep the cost to the graduating students as low as possible and provides funding for scholarships for those who cannot afford to attend.
The City Council has traditionally granted $2,000 to 3,500 per year, per school, to the Dana Hills High School Grad Nite Committee and the Aliso Niguel High School Grad Nite Committee. Both committees annually send letters to the City requesting these funds. When the letter is received, a staff report is prepared and placed on a future City Council agenda for City Council consideration of the funding request.
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2. Homework Club
Homework Clubs at Niguel Hills Middle School, Aliso Viejo Middle School, Dana Hills High School and Aliso Niguel High School provide after school homework assistance for students. Teachers stay after school to provide this tutorial assistance. The City provides funds to the schools based on the actual cost of payments paid to teachers for participating in this program, in a not to exceed amount determined during the annual City grant process.
CUSD provides periodic billing to the City for these services.
3. Holiday Parade Band Sponsorship
Traditionally, each Capistrano Unified School District high school band that participates in the annual holiday parade receives $1,000. The sponsorship covers the cost of transportation to the parade route, uniform cleaning and miscellaneous instrument repairs. The parade is enhanced by having the bands that provide variety to the parade lineup for the enjoyment of all.
4. Special School-Based Events and Programs
From time to time, various non-profit and school groups approach the City Council for funding for a variety of special programs, activities and projects (i.e., Destination Imagination). These requests are generally placed on a City Council agenda, with a presentation from the requesting organization.
The Council generally grants these requests, with sponsorships usually ranging from $750 - $1,500. Funding is provided for these requests each year through the annual budget process.
B. Community Services and Cultural Arts Grants
The Laguna Niguel City Council recognizes the importance of the many human service, cultural and emergency assistance programs and organizations that serve community residents. As part of the annual budget process, the City Council appropriates funds as it deems prudent and reasonable to award grants to non- profit community service organizations.
1. Policy
a. Organizations must provide services in Laguna Niguel for City residents, and/or provide services for students attending schools that serve City residents.
b. Organizations must have a current non-profit status to be considered for funding.
c. Grants shall not be available to organizations who intend to directly or indirectly act as a conduit to provide the grant funding to other organizations. Grants to organizations that are primarily philanthropic in nature, i.e., those who fundraise on behalf of CITY GRANTS AND SPONSORSHIPS 2 of 4 COUNCIL POLICY
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other organizations, shall be considered restricted grants to be used solely for the purposes for which the grant was made.
Exceptions may be granted if the organizations can demonstrate that grant funds will be used by the requesting organization for a specific project benefiting Laguna Niguel residents.
d. Requests for funding for capital improvements and ongoing operation, and maintenance activities shall generally not be awarded. Exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the City Council.
e. Applications may be submitted at any time prior to the annual submission deadline. Late applications will be held over to the next funding period.
2. Procedures
a. The City Council shall appoint two of its members to serve on the City/CDBG Grant Sub Committee. This Sub Committee reviews all applications and funding requests and presents its
recommendations to the full City Council.
b. Following adoption of the annual City budget and meeting of the Sub Committee, the
c. City Council shall consider the Sub Committee recommendations and approve final grant awards.
C. Community Special Events Grants
The City Council recognizes the importance of community-wide special events tha ring various cultural and recreational opportunities to the City. As part of the annual budget, the City Council shall appropriate funds as it deems prudent and reasonable to award grants to charitable and non-profit organizations that wish to offer special events for the benefit of the community.
1. Policy
a. Organizations must be a charitable or non-profit organization to be eligible for funding.
b. The event must be a major community event primarily for the benefit of Laguna Niguel residents.
c. The number of events funded under this program shall be limited to three per fiscal year.
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d. Events will be considered for funding on a first come, first serve basis.
e. No more than $5,000 per fiscal year shall be awarded for any event.
f. Funding shall first be used to offset the costs of City-incurred expenses, such as Police and Public Works costs. Remaining funds may be used to defray other event related expenses. g. Upon being awarded funding, an organization shall provide insurance certificate naming the City of Laguna Niguel as additionally insured.
h. If the event includes the service of alcohol, awardee shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
2. Procedures
a. A completed application form must be submitted to the City prior to consideration for funding.
b. The City/CDBG Grant Sub Committee shall review all
applications and present its recommendations to the City Council. c. The City Council shall consider the Sub Committee
recommendations and approve final grant rewards.
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ATTACHMENT B
FY 2024-2025 Grants Request Summary
FY 2024-25 Community Services/Cultural Arts Grant Request Summary FY 2021-22 Awarded Y 2022-23 Awarded FY 2023-24 Awarded Estimated Number of FY 2024-25 Funding FY 2024-25 Organization Use of Grant Funds Grant Amount rant Amount Grant Amount Residents Sarved Requested Recommended Funding 1 Age Well Senior Services Meals-on-Wheels (MOW) Program $3,000 53,000 $3,000 115 53,000 $3,000
Received $6,795 in CDBG Funds
2 Niso Niguel High School Dance Entry foes, coaching, Coslumes, and Iraval expenses Team $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,500 $1,000
3 Also Niguel High School Mainlenance and replacement of instruments; Vinyl floor for Insirumental Music Boosters. Inc. drumline; Professional seruces for colorguard show design and dril choreography; Purchase of props $4,000 $4,500 $4,000 28 $7,000 $4,000 4 Aiso Niguel Theaire Company Purchase new slage spollighis Boostor Club NA 52,000 1,500 $5,000 $2,500
5 Alzheimer's Orange County 13% FTE salaries; omenlia and aging education, memory screening, and domentia training for caregivers $2,000 $3.500 $3.500 1,000 $5,000 $2,500 € Assistance League of Capistraro Operation School Bat - school clothing for students in need $4,000 $5,500 $4,000 175 $9,325 $4,000
7 Beach Cilies Quilers Gutd Materials for donated quilts $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 29 $1,000 $1,000
• Daria Has Instrumental Music Ronair and renace insinuments: curchise new speakers: and Association purchase new portable racks for the marching band, wind $4,000 50 $4,000 $4,000 onsomble and orchestra uniforms $3,500 $4,000
9 Exraordinary Lives Foundation Donate ELF's Children's Emotional Walness (CHEWW) programs to classrooms throughoul Laguna Niguel $2,500 $2,500 $2,000 240 $3,500 51,000 10 George White Blamenlary PTA Meet the Masters Program - program lee and supples NIA $2,000 $2,000 400 $2,000 $2,000
I Hid He Barinaray Changing Subsie progren coatt NA 25 $2,500 $1,500 NA $2,500
12 Laguna Niguer Woman's Club nsor 7-10 studenis four times in the school year 1o iE Enrichmenl Arl Col $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 7-10 $5,000 $5,000 13 Ocean insulute Adcol-A-Class Program that enables underserved sludon:
from Tile I schools to participale in Ocoan Instilule's hands- $2,500 $3,500 $3,000 50 $6,000 $3,000 on STEM educalion
1 Poisons Execise Program lor Support two wookly classes for individuals with Parkinson's Discase al Laguna Niguel YMCA NIA $4,500 $4,000 80 $6,000 $4,000 15 ProjectR Provide hands-on environmental educalion to 3rd-Sth graders al Hidden Hits Elementary $1,500 $1.000 $1,000 200 $4,000 $1,000 16 Rx Balroom Dance Teaching costs, Leacher (raining, cumculum develcoment, and program ovaluation $2,000 $3,000 $2,500 219 $5,000 $2,500 17 South County Outreach Supplement ostental operational expenses to ansura vailab lity of cn-sto caso manaaces
$9,000 $5,000 $5,000 500 $10,000 $7,000
Received 83,372 in COBO Funde
18 SlandUp for Kids Housing vouchers, bus passes, and basic nocostilles $1,500 $3,500 $3,500 22 $5,000 $3,500
19 Vetorans Legal Institute Sorvo up to 15 Velerans, residing in Laguna Niguel, with legal sorvicas and/or appropriate referrals $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 15 $2,500 $1,000 20 Weinals and Prevention Conster Support programming lor prevention education for parenis and youth; support mental health services for sludents at $2,500 $3,000 $3,000 175 $3,000 $3,000 Jiso Nigudl High School
Total Requested $90,325 $56,500,00
FY 2024-25 Special Events Grant Request Summary
Use of Grant Funds dian Amounted FY 2024-2
Organization Recommended Fundin
* The Lastate Gion, o 55 $2,500 61 $3,000 $2,500
$2,500
Fiaton a Demoniay senat 65 $5,000 $1,000
NIA N/A $2,500
NA - The organization did not submit a grant opalication Total Requested $8,000 $6,500 FY 2024-25 School-Based Activity Sponsorship Program
FY 2022-23 Awarded FY 2023-24 Awarded FY 2023-24 Actual FY 2024-25 Funding Recommended Funding Organization Program Grant Amount Grant Amount Expenditures Requested 1 Also Niguel High School Student Interventow Homework Cas $2,000 $3,000 $3,000 $1,750 $4,000 $3,000 2 Nito Vojo Made Schoi Mock Tral After School Compettion; supplies for end-of-tho- 83,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 year 8lh grade awards and Bih grade dance
3 Dana Hits High School Positive Behavior interventions and Supports (PBIS) Program 53,000 $2,500 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3.000
4 Niguel His Midallo School Supples for Wellness Room - Shark's Cove; molivational $3,000 50 $3.000 $3,000 $3,000
speaker 53,000
Totals $10,750.00 $12,500 $12,000