City Council Agenda Report
May 26, 2026
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: Salpy Kabaklian-Slentz, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: AGREEMENT AMENDMENT NO. 1 – GRANT WRITING
Background:
In 2023, the City entered into an agreement with California Consulting, Inc., a grant writing firm (“CA Consulting”). This agreement set the terms and fees in place for any grant applications that CA Consulting wrote for the City, but it did not create any obligations or exclusivity requirements.
The agreement allowed the City to utilize CA Consulting’s services up to the City Manager’s annual purchasing authority authorization limit (“signing authority”).
In fiscal year 2024, the City used CA Consulting’s services for two grants. In fiscal year 2025, CA Consulting wrote another two grant applications on behalf of the City. In fiscal year 2026, the City has needed CA Consulting’s services for five grants and would like to utilize them for at least another two. This increase in grant writing fees is about to exceed the City Manager’s signing authority.
While CA Consulting has written a variety of grants for the City, the majority have been a coordinated, strategic effort pursuing grants that will provide the City with the funds to expand and improve its parks. Not only does CA Consulting have grant writers with extensive experience writing for these recreation grants (such as the LA County Regional Park and Open Space grants, or CA Parks: State Parks Program), but their grant writers have a thorough background and understanding of the City’s needs and goals. With their experience and knowledge, they have crafted a coordinated, strategic pursuit of these grants, helping the City submit extremely competitive grants. So far, the City has been awarded $4,200,000 in recreation and $250,000 in public safety grant funds, and expects to be successful for several million dollars more. For this reason, staff advises continuing to utilize CA Consulting’s services for several more grants.
In order to be able to continue using CA Consulting’s services, staff request that City Council approve the Amendment No. 1. This amendment will alter the agreement’s compensation
City Council May 26, 2026
Approval of Amendment No. 1 with CA Consulting,
Inc. for Grant Writing Services
Page No. 2
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section to reflect the maximum compensation amount mirrors the amount allocated in the budget for grant writing services, rather than the City Manager’s signing authority. For Fiscal Year 2025/26, this means that the maximum compensation amount allowed for CA Consulting would be $130,000 (the amount in the FY 2025/26 Budget for grant writing services) rather than $40,600 (City Manager’s purchasing authority authorization limit).
Fiscal Impact:
The FY 2025/2626 Budget includes $130,000 for grant writing services. This amount will remain the same.
Citizens Advised:
N/A
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
The recommended action will further the City’s Strategic Plan Goal 3: Create and Sustain a Resilient and Economically Prosperous City; Build great public destinations.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommend City Council approve Amendment No. 1 to CA Consulting, Inc.’s agreement, increasing the maximum compensation amount to match the $130,000 allocated grant writing amount in the adopted budget for the fiscal year.
Attachments:
1. Amendment No. 1
2. Levine Act Statement