DATE:
October 25, 2022
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
City Manager’s Office
TITLE: Agreement Between the City of
Mountain View and the Los Altos
Mountain View Community Foundation
for Solidarity Fund Program
Administration
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager or designee to enter into an agreement with the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation to administer the Mountain View Solidarity Fund Program.
BACKGROUND
In 2021, the City Council appropriated $1 million as part of the Fiscal Year 2021 -22 Adopted Budget, using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds , to support the Mountain View Solidarity Fund (Solidarity Fund), a program that provides direct cash assistance to Mountain View residents impacted by the COVID -19 pandemic. In September 2021, Council approved recommended parameters for the use of City funds for an enhanced Solidarity Fund program and agreement terms with the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation (LAMV/CF) as the Solidarity Fund’s fiscal sponsor (Attachment 1).
On October 12, 2021, Council approved a n agreement between the City and the LAMV/CF to administer the Solidarity Fund in Fiscal Year 2021-22 (Attachment 2).
In 2021, utilizing strong community relationships and implementing a simple and accessible application process, the Solidarity Fund was able to quickly disburse $970,000 in direct cash assistance grants to 1,353 low -income residents from 393 households in less than two months.
Examples of the types of needs addressed by these grants include rental assistance, utility bills, food, medical bills, and paying down debt accumulated due to the pandemic. Recipients received an average of $2,535 in direct cash assistance. A final report of the Mountain View Solidarity Fund program is included as Attachment 3 to this report.
On June 14, 2022, the City Council appropriated $800, 000, as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 -23 Adopted Budget allocated funds from the City’s second tranche of ARPA funds, for a second year of support for the Solidarity Fund to provide grants to assist vulnerable and low-income Mountain View residents who continue to experience economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Agreement Between the City of Mountain View and the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation for Solidarity Fund Program Administration October 25, 2022
ANALYSIS
Fiscal Year 2022-23 Recommended Agreement
The recommended agreement is for a term beginning November 1, 2022 and expiring June 30, 2023. The agreement includes terms to provide up to $4,000 in one-time, broad-based financial assistance to extremely low-income eligible residents (at or below 30% o f area median income) residing in one of three Mountain View ZIP codes (94040, 94041, and 94043), expanded program outreach to neighborhood and community -based organizations in Mountain View, assistance with educating and connecting residents to local safe ty-net providers, and weekly and monthly reporting metrics.
LAMV/CF will continue to serve as the fiscal sponsor of the Solidarity Fund and will enter into an agreement with the City to receive and track City funds for distribution by the Solidarity Fund , provide administrative support that includes assisting with weekly and monthly reporting as required by the City, and meet the City’s insurance and liability requirements as outlined in the City’s standard agreement. The City will disburse funds to LAMV /CF in two installments of $400,000 based on performance and adherence to program parameters. Administrative fees will not exceed 7.5%, or $ 60,000 of the $800,000 in City appropriation for the Solidarity Fund.
LAMV/CF can return administrative fees not expended back into the Solidarity Fund for distribution as community grants without Council approval.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Fiscal Year 2022 -23 Adopted Budget allocated $800,000 from ARPA funds to support the Solidarity Fund direct cash assistance program. The City was awarded approximately $15.7 million in direct funding over two years. The first distribution, approximately $7.8 million, was received in October 2021 and was allocated by the City Council as part of last year’s budget development process. The second distribution is approximately $ 7.8 million and is expected to occur in October 2022. The Cit y has until December 2024 to obligate these funds and until December 2026 to fully expend them.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not authorize an agreement with the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation to administer the Mountain View Solidarity Fund Program.
2. Direct changes in agreement terms.
3. Provide other direction.
Agreement Between the City of Mountain View and the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation for Solidarity Fund Program Administration October 25, 2022
PUBLIC NOTICING
Agenda posting and a copy of report was sent to Adin Miller, Executive Director, Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation, and the Mountain View Solidarity Fund.
Prepared by:
Christina Gilmore
Assistant to the City Manager
Approved by:
Audrey Seymour Ramberg
Assistant City Manager/
Chief Operating Officer
CG/6/CAM
608-10-25-22CR
202434
Attachments: 1. September 28, 2021 Council Report
2. October 12, 2021 Council Report
3. Final Report of the Mountain View Solidarity Fund Program