Agenda Report
TO:
FROM:
Honorable Mayor and City Council
Housing Department
June 13, 2022
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF PASADENA ASSISTANCE FUND GRANT AWARDS FOR PROGRAM YEAR 2022
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
1 ) Find that the recommended action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pt.Jrsuant to State CEQA Guidelines per Section 15061 (b) (3), the "Common Sense" provision that CEQA only applies to projects that may have an effect on the environment; and
2) Approve the proposed award of Pasadena Assistance Fund program year (PY) 2022 grant funds in the total amount of $50,000 to the Armory Center for the Arts and the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena.
BACKGROUND:
On March 1, 2013 the City of Pasadena transferred $1.7 million from the Human Services Endowment Fund to the Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) to create the Pasadena Assistance Fund (PAF). The PAF is an endowment fund managed by PCF.
The City retains authority over awarding grants from earnings generated by the fund. All donations to the endowment become part of the principal and remain in the fund in perpetuity. Profits are grown from the principal through investment tools utilized by PCF.
Those profits are then granted to Pasadena non-profit agencies that provide human services to Pasadena residents. The PAF represents a partnership between the City and PCF to serve the local community. Since inception, the fund has grown to over $-3.25 million, and has awarded over $450,000 to Pasadena non-profit agencies. Those who wish to donate to the PAF endowment fund may do so at the PCF website www.pasadenacf.org.
MEETING OF 0~113/2022 AG.ENDA ITEM NO. _ l ___ _
Pasadena Assistance Fund PY22 Award
June 13, 2022
On November 18, 2021, the City issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for federal funding under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program; PAF was included as a supplemental funding source in the amountof $100,000. The NOFA was publicly advertised as an opportunity for non-profits to apply for funding. However, no applic:ations were received for the supplemental PAF grant funding. Rather than returning this year's award back to the PAF endowment fund, ~taff recommends awarding $25,000 each to the Armory Center for the Arts and the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena under contracts administered by PCF. On July 27, 2020, City Council awarded $50 ,000 inPY20 and PY21 PAF grants to each of these organizations. The Armory Center will 1.1se the PAF funds to provide high quality, multi-session arts instruction courses to over 300 young people, and The Boys & Girls Club will provide innovative and enriching arts programming to over 475 young people.
Approval of the subject recommendation will support the PAF endowment fund's purpose to help Pas.adena residents build better lives through grants to local human service organizations serving . Pasadena.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The action proposed herein is exemptfrom the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b )(3), the "General Rule" provision of CEQAwhich applies to projects which may have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibilitythat the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. The approval of the proposed Pasadena Assistance Fund grant awards is a funding mechanism only and is excluded from the definition ofl'project" pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4).
Furthermore, the action proposed herein will not have a significant effect on the environment and, hence, is not subject to CEQA.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
This propose? action supports the City Council Strategic Planning Three~Year Goals in the areas of improving, maintaining, and enhancing public facilities and infrastructure; improving mobility and accessibility throughout the City of Pasadena; and supporting and promoting the quality of life and the local economy.
Pasadena Assistance Fund PY22 Award
June 13, 2022
FISCAL IMPACT:
The recommended actions will have no direct fiscal impact.
Prepared by:
~ 711a644)'b
RA~BSON
Program Coordinator
Approved by:
Respectfully submitted,
for WILLIAM K. HUANG
Housing Director