CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: August 20, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Eric Levitt, City Manager;
Vanessa Carder, Acting Director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
Department: Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
Subject: Accept the Corporation for National and Community Service’s AmeriCorps Senior Companion Program (SCP)
Grant in the amount of $ 322,662 for FY 2025-2026 – 2nd Year of a 3-Year Grant Award (All Wards)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California adopt Resolution No. 2025-359:
1. Ratifying the submission of the application for year two of a three-year grant through the Corporation for National and Community Service’s Senior Companion Program; and
2. Authorizing the City Manager to accept the grant award in the amount of $332,662; and
3. Authorizing the City Manager or their designee to conduct all negotiations, signing and submittals of necessary documents to receive grant awards; and
4. Authorizing the Director of Finance and Management Services to appropriate the grant funds in the amount of $332,662 for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026 in revenue and expenses.
Executive Summary
The Senior Services Division received notification of the second year of a three-year (2024-2027) continuation grant award for the Senior Companion Program (SCP) in the amount of $332,662. This grant will enable the City to carry out a national service program by the Domestic and Volunteer Service Act of 1973 by continuing to provide essential services that enable Volunteer Companions ages 55 years and older to provide senior-age residents (clients) with independent living assistance.
Background
The City has participated in the federally funded Senior Companion Program (SCP) since 1975. The Mayor and City Council most recently ratified and approved on August 7, 2024, the first year of a three-year (FY2024-2027) budget for the Senior Companion Program.
Senior Companion Volunteers have assisted the City’s senior-age adult residents with physical, emotional, and/or mental health limitations or needs. They are provided a small stipend for mileage and meals for their services. Most of the residents are elderly and without family.
Discussion
On June 10, 2025, staff received the Notice of Grant Award e-mail from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) for an amount of $332,662. This will be the second year of a 3-Year grant cycle (07/01/2024 – 06/30/2027) administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps Seniors).
Throughout 2024–2025, an average of 28 Senior Companion Volunteers provided 48 clients with 28,856 hours of service at a value of $708,707. Volunteer Companions assist clients with chronic care disabilities, emotional impairment and visual impairment, and they provide respite care for their families. They perform valuable tasks such as grocery shopping, transportation to doctor’s appointments, assistance with mail correspondence, socialization, and other life skills that allow senior-age and disabled clients to remain in an independent living status. This funding would work to continue the administration and operation of the Senior Companion Program.
The City of San Bernardino’s grant match, as the grantee, in the amount of $120,102 is from the General Fund; there are no other funding sources for the match portion.
The City’s match shares the costs of local travel by staff and volunteers; training conference attendance; program supplies; volunteer mileage, recognition, and food stipends; and staff salaries/benefits and bears the full cost of internal service charges (IT, office space, printing, postage, and phone), criminal background checks, and the coordinators’ time and effort to renew the grant (noted as Excess Amount in the grant budget).
2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
This request aligns with Key Target 3c. Improved Quality of Life - Constantly Evaluate Public Safety Service Delivery Models to Enhance the Quality of Service by aiding seniors in the community.
Fiscal Impact
The FY2025-2026 budget includes the City’s grant match obligation in the amount of $120,102 to fulfill City-funded program costs, for a total of $452,764. Appropriated grant funds and the City’s match share most costs of staff and volunteers in varying proportions beneficial to the SCP.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California adopt Resolution No. 2025-359:
1. Ratifying the submission of the application for year two of a three-year grant through the Corporation for National and Community Service’s Senior Companion Program; and
2. Authorizing the City Manager to accept the grant award in the amount of $332,662; and
3. Authorizing the City Manager or their designee to conduct all negotiations, signing and submittals of necessary documents to receive grant awards; and
4. Authorizing the Director of Finance and Management Services to appropriate the grant funds in the amount of $332,662 for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026 in revenue and expenses.
Attachments
Attachment 1 Resolution No. 2025-359 SCP Grant 2nd Year Attachment 2 2025-2026 SCP Grant Application
Attachment 3 2025-2026 SCP Notice of Grant Award Year 2 of 3 Attachment 4 2025-2026 SCP Grant Budget & Budget Narrative, Year 2 of 3 Attachment 5 2025-2026 SCP Budget Details
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
August 7, 2024 – The Mayor and City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-173 accepting the Senior Companion Program grant award in the amount of $332,662 and appropriating the grant funds for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
October 18, 2023 – The Mayor and City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-151 accepting the Senior Companion Program grant award in the amount of $332,662 and appropriating the grant funds for the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.
August 17, 2022 – The Mayor and City Council approved Resolution No. 2022-180 ratifying the grant application submittal, accepting the grant award of $332,662 and related match requirements, appropriate grant revenue expenditures and grant match expenditures for the Senior Companion Program for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.