1 David Yakobson
From: Elizabeth Van Denburgh <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 9:49 AM
To: Caroline Torosis; Lana Negrete; Barry Snell; Ellis Raskin; Natalya Zernitskaya; Dan Hall; Jesse Zwick; councilmtgitems
Cc: Oliver Chi; Sergio Ramirez
Subject: City Council Mtg. 3/24/26 - Special Meeting to Clarify Neighborhood Organization Grant Program Guidance (sorry, I couldn't find an item number.)
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Torosis and City Councilmembers,
Thank-you for bringing this issue back for discussion. The process has been difficult from the initial resolution to eliminate city grants, to the support by Chief Batista to provide us budget, then to the study session on September 30, 2025, the initial application which did not reflect, in my opinion, what was said in the study session or a subsequent meeting with Mr. Chi and Mr. Ramirez, updated applications which did not change any significant wording to a 24 hour notice meeting for further clarification. The process has been opaque at best.
I, as Wilmont chair, I am only a steward of a more than 35-year-old organization that was initiated by the city to activate and support resident input. Our board decided to submit the application, which I delivered last Thursday to City Hall in person, because the continuation of the organization is important based on past and future history of resident input to government regarding the impact of their actions or non-actions on our neighborhood. We encourage having a more reliable dialogue with management and the council. That is what some would call integrity.
I would like clarification in the meeting tonight of:
Does 3b. "The use of funds for communications, including mailers, to inform members about meetings, events and programming is permissible". I appreciate the overturn of the "postcard" ban since this is one of the ways we notify members of our annual meeting. Our question is does that also allow us to reach out to residents to solicit membership in Wilmont to ensure we get as many voices involved with our organization as we can?
Does 3e. mean that we can decided as an organization, not to collect demographic information from our members, or do you still look to require individual demographic information.
We would appreciate clarification on these items.
Many thanks,
Elizabeth VanDenburgh
Wilmont Chair
Item 16-A
March 24, 2026 (Special Meeting)
Item 16-A
March 24, 2026 (Special Meeting)