Community Development Department
DATE: April 12, 2023
TO: Council Neighborhoods Committee
FROM: Anna Reynoso, Housing Specialist II
SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2023-24 Neighborhood Grant Application
RECOMMENDATION
Approve $30,000 in neighborhood grant funding as shown in Table 2 for Fiscal Year 2023-24.
BACKGROUND
The Neighborhood Grant Program provides financial support for new and existing neighborhood associations to carry out programs and activities that encourage participation, strengthen neighborhoods, and improve neighborhood conditions. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide background and analysis of the applications received for the Fiscal Year 2023 -24 Neighborhood Grant cycle and for the Council Neighborhoods Committee (CNC) to consider staff’s funding recommendations.
For Fiscal Year 2023 -24, $30, 000 is budgeted for the Neighborhood Grant Program. At the February 2021 CNC meeting, the CNC voted to modify the funding formula and incorporate a tiered funding model. Neighborhood grants may be awarded up to the maximum outlined in Table 1 based on th e number of households covered by the neighborhood group. Groups applying for a neighborhood grant for the first time are eligible for a $100 bonus. All grant funds must be used between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, and there is no carryover of funds t hat are not used within this period.
Table 1: Maximum Grant Awards by Tier
Maximum Award
Tier A: <500 households $1,000
Tier B: 501 to 1,000 households $1,500
Tier C: 1,001 to 1,500 households $2,000
Tier D: >1,501 households $2,500
Fiscal Year 2023-24 Neighborhood Grant Application
April 12, 2023
ANALYSIS
This Analysis section provides a summary of the F iscal Year 2023-24 grants process, the applications, and staff’s funding recommendations.
FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS PROCESS
Applications for grant funds were accepted from March 1, 2023 through March 31, 2023. Grant applications and program guidelines were posted on the City’s website , mountainview.gov/cncgrant. Notices about the program and grant funding availability were placed on the City’s website, in the Mountain View Voice Online and the Los Altos Town Crier , shared with the CNC Interest List with nearly 300 subscribers, and advertised via the City’s social media and City Hall Connection. On March 9, 2023 and March 22, 2023 , staff held grant application webinar calls via Zoom to walk potential applicants through the process on how to submit an application. Throughout the application period, staff was available for questions.
This year’s process incorporated Spanish and Mandarin translation and interpretation services to increase access to this funding. The program guidelines, grant application, and grant reimbursement forms were translated in Spanish and Mandarin to increase accessibility.
Additionally, both webinars included Spanish and Mandarin interpretation services.
The City received 20 neighborhood grant applications requesting a total of $30,000, which equals the budgeted amount of $30,000. Sixteen (16) groups were past recipients, and four new groups also applied. The complete grant applications from these groups are attached for the CNC’s review (Attachment 3). Staff conducted an initial review of the applications to confirm group eligibility and for application c ompleteness. All groups were determined to be eligible , and the following is a summary of the proposed activities:
• The applicants provided a variety of proposed activities to meet the goals of the grant program.
• Many groups are returning to in -person events. Other groups have proposed a variety of programming that creates flexibility as needed over the course of the year to facilitate participation for those who may remain hesitant about large gatherings due to COVID-19.
• The proposed events include block parties, Halloween celebrations, story hours, ice cream socials, and Holiday events. Many groups also propose to use funds for newsletters, website domains, and Zoom subscriptions.
• There were some trends i n how groups advertised their events and encouraged participation in leadership and volunteer opportunities. A-frames, flyers, and newsletters remain preferred strategies to spread the word, but many groups also manage email lists Fiscal Year 2023-24 Neighborhood Grant Application
April 12, 2023
or Google groups to shar e information. Some groups also rely on platforms such as NextDoor and Facebook.
• A few of the groups also created targeted involvement and leadership opportunities for youth to help design websites, support events, and help with translation services.
FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS
After an initial review of the applications, staff is recommending the grant awards for each group as outlined in Table 2 below. The recommendations below are based on applicant’s eligibility, application completeness, and whethe r the proposed projects were responsive to the goals of the Neighborhood Grant Program. All awards are equivalent to the amount requested by the group or the maximum amount they are eligible for, equaling a total of $30,000. There are also 20 recommended awards discussed below.
Table 2: Fiscal Year 2022-23 Neighborhood Grants
NEIGHBORHOOD
GROUP
TIER AND
MAXIMUM
ELIGIBILITY
AMOUNT
REQUESTED
NEW
GROUP
BONUS
RECOMMENDED
AWARD
1 Blossom Valley
Neighborhood
Association Tier A, $1,000 $1,000 N/A $1,000
2 Community
Action Team Tier D, $2,500 $2,500 N/A $2,500
3 Cooper Park
Neighborhood
Association Tier A, $1,000 $1,000 N/A $1,000
4 Cuesta Park
Neighborhood
Association Tier D, $2,500 $2,500 N/A $2,500
5 Dutch Haven
Neighborhood
Association Tier A, $1,000 $1,000 N/A $1,000
6 Gemello
Neighborhood
Association Tier C, $2,000 $1,100 N/A $1,100
7 Greater San
Antonio
Community
Association Tier B, $1,500 $1,200 N/A $1,200
Fiscal Year 2023-24 Neighborhood Grant Application
April 12, 2023
NEIGHBORHOOD
GROUP
TIER AND
MAXIMUM
ELIGIBILITY
AMOUNT
REQUESTED
NEW
GROUP
BONUS
RECOMMENDED
AWARD
8 Hedgerow Group Tier A, $1,000 $800 $100 $900
9 Monta Loma
Neighborhood
Association Tier C, $2,000 $2,000 N/A $2,000
10 Moorpark Mobile
Homes Tier A, $1,000 $1,000 $100 $1,100
11 North Whisman
Neighborhood
Association Tier B, $1,500 $1,500 N/A $1,500
12 Old Mountain
View
Neighborhood
Association Tier D, $2,500 $2,500 N/A $2,500
13 Rex Manor
Neighborhood
Association Tier B, $1,500 $1,500 N/A $1,500
14 Santiago Villa
Neighborhood
Association Tier A, $1,000 $1,000 N/A $1,000
15 Shoreline West
Association of
Neighbors Tier D, $2,500 $2,500 N/A $2,500
16 Springer
Meadows
Neighborhood
Association Tier A, $1,000 $1,000 N/A $1,000
17 Springer Tree
Neighborhood
Association Tier A, $1,000 $1,100 $100 $1,100
18 Sunset Estates
Mobilehome
Owners
Association Tier A, $1,000 $1,000 $100 $1,100
19 Varsity Park
Neighborhood
Association Tier B, $1,500 $1,500 N/A $1,500
Fiscal Year 2023-24 Neighborhood Grant Application
April 12, 2023
NEIGHBORHOOD
GROUP
TIER AND
MAXIMUM
ELIGIBILITY
AMOUNT
REQUESTED
NEW
GROUP
BONUS
RECOMMENDED
AWARD
20 Wagon Wheel
Neighborhood
Association Tier C, $2,000 $2,000 N/A $2,000
TOTALS $29,700 $400.00 $30,000
NEXT STEPS
Upon approval by the CNC, all grant recipients will enter into an agreement with the City to spend funds as described in their applications. Grant recipients must submit receipts for grant activities by June 30, 2024, and the reimbursement process helps ensure that grants are only used for eligible expenditures and not for personal benefit. All funds must be spent during Fiscal Year 2023-24.
AR/2/CDD
844-04-12-23M
Attachments: 1. Fiscal Year 2023-24 Neighborhood Grant Guidelines
2. Fiscal Year 2023-24 Grant Applicants Summary Table
3. Fiscal Year 2023-24 Grant Application