City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JUNE 16, 2026 FROM: LIBRARY DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION FOR A GRANT APPLICATION, AND RECEIPT OF LUNCH AT THE LIBRARY GRANT AWARD, FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY IN THE AMOUNT OF $56,309 - SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Authorization of a grant application, and receipt of a Lunch at the Library grant award from the California State Library in the amount of $56,309 and approve a supplemental appropriation in the actual amount of the grant award.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Authorize a grant application for the Lunch at the Library in the amount of $56,309, or the actual grant award, by the California State Library; With at least five affirmative votes, and upon receipt of the award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or his designee, to record an increase in revenue and an appropriation in the amount of $56,309, or the actual grant award, in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Lunch at the Library FY 2025/26 revenue and expenditure accounts, and Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute grant documents with the California State Library, including making minor and non-substantive changes to documents associated with the grant as necessary.
BACKGROUND:
The Riverside Public Library actively pursues grant funding as an alternative funding source to supplement City funds to enable unique program opportunities for the community. Grants offer valuable, unique opportunities for local jurisdictions to compete for funding sources available through, State, Federal, or other agencies to assist in covering the costs of selected projects.
Lunch at the Library is a project of the California State Library, supported with funds from the State of California. Lunch at the Library was developed by the California Library Association and the California Summer Meal Coalition, with support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The California Summer Meal Coalition (CSMC) and California Library Association (CLA) are working with libraries and meal providers across California to offer summer lunch programs that are designed to provide nourishment and summer enrichment for children and teens. All library meal sites provide free summer lunches and engage families with library programs and services. Some libraries are extending the impact of their lunch programs by providing arts, literacy, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math programming for participating children and teens.
DISCUSSION:
On January 28, 2026, the Riverside Public Library received notification from the California State Library of the grant award for the Lunch at the Library Program Fiscal Year 2025/26 for the total amount of $56,309 (Attachment 1). The Riverside Public Library will receive $50,678 of the award upon execution and approval of the grant agreement, certification and claim forms (Attachment 2). The remaining funding will be made available according to the payment schedule and upon the completion of the grant agreement requirements.
This funding will support the Riverside Public Library Lunch at the Library Program for Summer 2026 and engage families with library programs and services. Funds will support programming of the STREAM Mobile to four (4) community centers that will be hosting the lunch program. At these four (4) locations the Riverside Public Library will offer a storytime, an activity, and a STREAM project for nine (9) weeks. This will provide the community and children with the ability to register for a library card, check-out and return books, and register for the Summer Reading Program. Funds will be used to purchase supplies needed to create weekly activity or Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program project bags that can be distributed at pop-up sites. These bags will be used to entertain and express creativity. Funds will also be used to purchase books in both Spanish and English for distribution to the youth participating in the summer lunch program.
The budget for the Lunch at the Library Program is in the following table:
Budget Description
Amount
Salaries/Wages/Benefits1
$16,309
Supplies and Materials
$29,000
Services (Contracted)
$11,000
Project Total
$56,309
Total Award Amount
$56,309
Children will be able to visit the Main Library, La Sierra Library, and Eastside Library at Lincoln Park locations and receive a meal from Riverside Unified School District for nine (9) weeks. An activity or a book that will encourage the use of the library, provide entertainment, or express creativity will be provided at these locations. Paid performers will host programs during lunchtime to provide enrichment opportunities for the children participating at the meal sites. American Sign Language interpreters will also be at each of these performances.
The grant term is February 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027, and all eligible program costs must be incurred by this date.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $56,309, or the amount of the grant award. Upon City Council approval and grant award receipt, an increase in revenue and an appropriation in the amount of $56,309, or the amount of the grant award, will be recorded in the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Lunch at the Library Program FY25/26, revenue and expenditure accounts as listed in the table below. No matching City funds are required.
Fund
Program
Account
Amount
Grants & Restricted Programs
Revenue
Lunch at the Library FY 2025/26
9355600-334100
$56,309
Expenditures
Lunch at the Library FY 2025/26 - Salaries
9440210-440210
$27,309
Lunch at the Library FY 2025/26 - Materials
9355600-426800
$29,000
Total Expenditures
$56,309
Prepared by: Jorge Rocha, Principal Management Analyst
Approved by: Erin Christmas, Library Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Julie Nemes, Interim Finance Director Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachments:
Award Notice
Agreement
CSL Lunch at the Library Grant Award ● Page 2