City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: City Manager
Meeting Date: October 19, 2026
Report #:2610-6850
TITLE
Approve $15,000 from Council Contingency to the Know Your Neighbors Grant Program; CEQA – Not a Project
RECOMMENDATION
Recommend transferring $15,000 from the Council Contingency to the Know Your Neighbors Grant Program as discussed at the October 5, 2026 City Council meeting.
BACKGROUND
The Know Your Neighbors Grant Program is designed to help neighbors better connect with each other while strengthening community and improving the quality of life and neighborhoods in Palo Alto. The goals of the Program are to:
1. Build a sense of community.
2. Develop or renew neighborhood relationships.
3. Encourage interaction between generations and cultures.
4. Increase governance and organizational leadership of neighborhood associations.
5. Develop collaborative partnerships between Palo Alto neighborhoods and the City.
Citizens or Neighborhood Associations may apply for a Know Your Neighbor Grant for activities such as block parties, neighborhood crime prevention and safety activities, and gatherings involving the building of connections between neighbors. Events hosted by individual community members can qualify for a grant up to $1,000. Events hosted by Neighborhood Associations can qualify for a grant up to $1,500. Grants may be applied for at any time throughout the year and are awarded on activities that meet eligibility requirements on a "first come, first served" basis. The grant program is managed by the Community Services Department. More information including eligibility requirements can be found on the program website: https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/Community-Services/Other-Services/KnowYour-Neighbors-Grant
ANALYSIS
The Mayor and Vice-Mayor recommended transferring $15,000 from the Council Contingency to the Know Your Neighbors Grant Program at the October 5, 2026 City Council meeting.
The Fiscal Year 2027 Adopted Operating Budget includes a $50,000 allocation for the Know Your Neighbors Grant Program. By early September 2026, the full program budget had been awarded to 47 grantees, demonstrating the popularity and community benefit of the program.
There are currently nine pending grant applications. With additional funding, the grant program would re-open and will accept applications until June 30, 2027 or until fully expended.
Section 4 of the City Council and Boards and Commissions Policy for Travel and Miscellaneous Expense Reimbursement requires any requests for expenditure of Council Contingency Funds over $10,000 require action by Council motion, which shall be by Colleagues’ Memo placed on Consent.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
This action would transfer $15,000 from the Council Contingency account to the Know Your Neighbors Grant Program in the Community Services Department FY2027 operating budget, increasing the FY27 Grant Program budget from $50,000 to $65,000 (one-time). The Council Contingency Fund balance of $115,000, would be reduced to $100,000 after the transfer.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Following Council approval, staff will promote the program to the community and will notify the pending applicants that additional funding has been made available.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is not a Project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act APPROVED BY:
Ed Shikada, City Manager