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CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: August 20, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Vanessa Carder, Acting Director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services;
Eric Levitt, City Manager
Department: Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
Subject: Adopt a Resolution Accepting the Corporation for National and Community Service’s AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Grant in the amount of $70,477 for FY 2025-2028- First Year of a Three-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. 2025-357:
1. Ratifying the submission of a new grant application for year one of a three-year grant through the Corporation for National and Community Service’s AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP); and
2. Authorizing the City Manager to accept the grant award in the amount of $70,477; 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 for the period of April 1, 2025 ($17,618.25 in FY 24-25) through March 31, 2026 ($52,858.75 in FY 25-26).
Executive Summary
The Senior Services Division received notification of a new first year of a three-year (2025-2028) grant award for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in the amount of $70,477. This grant will be used to recruit and coordinate senior-age volunteers in activities that benefit the local community.
Background
The City has participated in the federally funded Retired and Senior Volunteer Program 2 7
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(RSVP) for 51 years. The RSVP program provides funds for staff to coordinate the Work Plans of the volunteer program. The RSVP staff member(s) recruit volunteers, select work sites, make site visits, and prepare reports to meet grant requirements. RSVP volunteers, age 55 and over, perform various service activities within the community under different Memorandum of Understandings, with one of the larger commitments being local law enforcement as Citizens on Patrol (COP) volunteers. RSVP volunteers do not receive pay, but they can request up to $30 per quarter as reimbursement for their transportation expenses. This is paid out of grant funds. RSVP volunteers can serve up to forty hours a week providing support for senior lunch programs, local non-profits, community centers, public safety agencies, and hospitals. They also provide disaster preparedness with the California Highway Patrol and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. This past year, 141 volunteers contributed 28,649 hours with an economic value of over $911,035. Health and wellness, self-improvement, connecting with others, and building new skills are the most notable benefits for the RSVP volunteers.
Discussion
On April 7, 2025, staff received the Notice of Grant Award letter from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) in an amount of $70,477. This funding will allow staff to continue the services provided by RSVP. The first year of a 3-year grant cycle (2025-2028) will end March 31, 2026. The fiscal cycle of the RSVP grant begins nine months into the current city fiscal year cycle (FY2024/2025), with an approximate 25%/75% fiscal year allocation. The City provides a contracted budgeted match of 50.3% for the RSVP in the amount of $76,354 in shared costs to reimburse volunteer stipends, program expenditures and the agreed upon staff salary percentage for the RSVP. This grant match funding is budgeted in account no. 001-380-0502. The City also provides in the amount of $1,158 an in-kind contribution for the cost of utilities (phone included) for the program’s office space.
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.
Fiscal Impact
The City required match of $76,354 is funded by the General Fund and is already included in the adopted budgets for FY 2024–25 and FY 2025–26. In-kind utilities in the amount of $1,158 are accounted for via existing overhead charges.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California adopt Resolution No. 2025-357:
1. Ratifying the submission of a new grant application for year one of a three-year grant through the Corporation for National and Community Service’s AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP); and 2 7
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2. Authorizing the City Manager to accept the grant award in the amount of $70,477; 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 for the period of April 1, 2025 ($17,618.25 in FY 24-25) through March 31, 2026 ($52,858.75 in FY 25-26).
Attachments
Attachment 1 Resolution No. 2025-357 RSVP Grant, 1st Year Attachment 2 2025-2028 RSVP Grant Application
Attachment 3 2025-2026 RSVP Notice of Grant Award
Attachment 4 2025-2026 RSVP Grant Budget & Grant Budget Narratives Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
May 1, 2024 The Mayor and City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-107 of the Mayor and City Council of San Bernardino, California approving a continuation of submitted budget application for year three of a three- year grant through the National and Community Services Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, accepting the grant award in the amount of $57,309, and appropriating the grant funds for the period of April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025.
June 21, 2023 The Mayor and City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-105 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California approving a continuation of submitted budget application for year two of a three-year grant through the National and Community Services Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, accept the grant award in the amount of $54,809, and appropriate the grant funds for the period of April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024.
May 4, 2022 The Mayor and City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-78 ratifying the submission of a continuation grant application for Year One of a 3-Year grant with the Corporation for National and Community Service’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, Accept the Grant Award in the amount of $54,809, and Appropriate the Grant Funds for the Period of April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2 023.
October 20,2021 The Mayor and City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-253 ratifying the submission of a continuation grant application for year three of a three-year grant with the Corporation for National and Community Service’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), accepting the Grant Award in the amount of $54,809, and appropriating $73,989 in matching funds for the continued operation of the RSVP for a total amount of $128,798, for the Period of April 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022.