Agenda Item: 12
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: January 24, 2023
SUBJECT: 2023 COMMUNITY SERVICES AND ARTS GRANTS
DEPARTMENT: Recreation and Community Services
PRESENTER: Amy Seyerle
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Approve the 2023 Community Services and Arts Grants Committee’s program funding recommendations in an amount not to exceed $100,000 for Community Services Grants and $100,000 for Arts Grants, for a total not to exceed $200,000.
2. Direct staff to execute Grants Program Agreements with the agencies approved for funding.
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clarita has provided funds for nonprofit organizations through the Community Services and Arts Grants program for approximately 33 years. Each year, a Grants Committee (Committee) is assembled to determine funding categories, review and rate applications, and make funding recommendations for community service and arts projects throughout Santa Clarita.
This year’s Committee included Mayor Jason Gibbs; Councilwoman Marsha McLean; Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission Chair Jonathan Waymire; Arts Commission Chair Susan Shapiro; and three staff members from across the Economic Development, Community Development, and Public Works departments. The Committee, with the exception of Arts Commission Chair Susan Shapiro, is responsible for reviewing and rating the Community Services grants.
All grants under the Arts categories were reviewed and rated by a separate Peer Review Rating Panel, which included the following members:
1. Susan Shapiro - Arts Commission Chair
2. Melissa Valencia - Arts Education Consultant, Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture
3. Alan Reinstein - Retired Educator, Sulphur Springs School District
4. Jeremy Thompson - Teaching Assistant, College of the Canyons
The Committee continues to be responsible for determining the funding categories and making funding recommendations based on aggregate scores for each of the individual grant applications. This year, the Committee selected “City of Santa Clarita Community Benefit” for Community Services grants and “Supporting the Arts in the City of Santa Clarita” for Arts grants as the focus areas.
The maximum funding limit for each category was broken down as follows:
1. Community Services Grants - $5,000
2. Communtiy Arts Grants - $5,000
3. Arts Organization Capacity Grants - $5,000
4. Santa Clarita Presents Grants - $7,500
With the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2023-23 budget, the City Council approved a budget for the Community Services and Arts Grants program of $200,000. The allocated amount for each area of the grant program is $100,000 for Community Services grants and $100,000 for Community Arts, Arts Organization Capacity, and Santa Clarita Presents grants.
Community Services Grants - Twenty-nine Community Services Grants applications were received, with requests totaling $140,700. This year’s grant program includes a recommendation from the Committee to fund 22 of the applicants with a total grant allocation of $100,000.
Arts Grants - Thirty-five Arts Grants applications were received across all three Arts categories, with grant requests totaling $180,200. The Committee is recommending that funding be awarded to 20 of the applications, totaling $100,000.
Attachment A provides a list of the agencies and their respective programs or projects recommended for funding.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $200,000 are available in the Recreation and Community Services Grants expenditure account 1005000-517101 (General Fund).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Proposed Grant Funding - 2023
Attachment B - Not Recommended for Funding - 2023