April 16, 2024
Library and Community Services
DATE: April 16, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
LaShonda White, Deputy City Manager - Community
Services
Ranjana Maharaj, Deputy Director of Community
Services-Recreation
Stephanie Ny, Associate Administrative Analyst
Subject: Resolution to Accept and Appropriate the Local Government: Connecting Neighbors to Neighbors Grant
from the State of California, Governor’s Office of
Planning and Research
FINANCIAL IMPACT: These actions do not create any direct cost or liability to the City’s General Fund. The actions contemplated here
would generate a one-time grant that does not have to be repaid. These funds would be administered by the
Community Services Department, Recreation Division in
accordance with the grant agreement.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City staff is requesting City Council to adopt a resolution to accept and appropriate grant funds in the amount of
$750,000 from the State of California, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research to support neighborhood
engagement.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE
grant funds in the amount of $750,000 from the State of California, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research to support neighborhood engagement – Community
Services Department (LaShonda White 510-620-
6828/Stephanie Ny 510-620-6563).
AGENDA
REPORT
April 16, 2024
DISCUSSION:
The Community Services Department, Recreation Division (“Recreation”) has been awarded the Local Government: Connecting Neighbors to Neighbors grant in the amount of $750,000 from State of California, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research to support neighborhood engagement. The City of Richmond is one of nine agencies selected through a statewide competitive process.
The Neighbor-to-Neighbor program seeks to build on evidence-based practices to create strong networks in and across neighborhoods that support one another as well as jointly tackle shared community challenges. Through January 2026, twenty neighborhoods will be engaged in neighborhood surveys and workshops to determine priorities within the grant scope, followed by neighborhood events that align with these priorities. Through the grant, eligible events include:
Community engagement events, such as a large-scale public workshop or back- to-school fair, that are focused on neighborhood support and recognition. Climate action or disaster preparedness activities, such as tree planting or home gardening.
Local volunteer opportunities, such as community garden work, food distribution, or a neighborhood clean-up that leverages parks and community facilities. Training opportunities addressing environmental or resiliency issues specific to the neighborhood, such as earthquake preparedness, wildfire response, and first aid/CPR.
Recreation is requesting City Council adopt the resolution to accept and appropriate grant funds in the amount of $750,000.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Grant Award Notice