Dear Council Members,
I am writing in regards to item number 3, award for Grant Writing Services.
As the award is for $60,000, which amounts to 400 hours at the consultant's rate of $150 per hour, I request that Council narrow the topics of research for the grant writer. 40 hours over a 1 year period is about 33 hours per month.
Currently, there are 13 potential items in addition to funding analysis, grant funding research, grant proposal development, grant management and administration, grant writing and administrative training. The selected proposal does not delineate how much time is devoted to these additional processes. Is it 20 or 40 hours for grant writing and administrative training? The funding analysis portion is quite in-depth and will require staff time. How much of the 400 hours will go into this? The consultant states their process as:
"Needs Assessment: (In-Depth Meeting with City Staff to review priorities and funding needs). We learn about the client at the outset of the contract by conducting an in-depth Needs Assessment. Each client is assigned to a lead Project Manager and they meet with the client regularly and continue dialog with them on an ongoing basis. This relationship-building is the key to keeping the grants pursued on target with the client’s overall goals.
Sample questions asked during the Needs Assessment:
List and describe any program initiatives or priority projects. • What needs, projects or content areas would you like to target for funding? Client can list
specific projects or general areas in which you have funding needs. • List any grants for which you are considering applying or have decided to apply.
In addition,
please list what kind of grant-writing support would be helpful for each grant. • List past grant applications you would like to revise and submit again. o The Client will provide an established point of contact for the California Consulting Project Manager to contact regarding the grant. o California Consulting will have reasonable access to the required information and documentation required to complete the grant on behalf of the Client.
o The Client will provide the required information and documentation in a timely manner in order for California Consulting to submit the grant by the deadline.
o California Consulting will provide a monthly report listing the Grant Opportunities we recommend for the Client based on the input from the Staff through ongoing communication.
o We will provide the Client with monthly written reports on grants written, grants in progress, along with upcoming grant opportunities. o We will provide training to Staff in preparation for successful grant proposals and applications.
In addition, as the City is in a budget deficit, any grants that are developed should not require significant matching funds.
In light of Sebastopol's own budget deficit, I would ask that Council narrow the topics down to 3- 4 items of high needs, which would qualify for grants that do not require a City match.
From my regular attention to Council Meetings and Planning Commission Meetings, I would say that Parks and Trails, Water Infrastructure, Roads, Fire Resilience, Cyber Security, Fire Equipment, Bicycle Infrastructure, Linkage for Bike Paths and Sidewalks would be top priorities.
There is no City Wide Evacuation Plan. This should be a priority given that we have a concentrated population of elderly people and we are at risk for both fires and floods.
As the City has already partnered on the Calder Creek Restoration with a non-profit, that seems that would be an obvious priority in funding.
Sebastopol roads are listed as some of the worst in the Bay Area. See a recent article in SF Gate.
https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/bay-area-street-pavement-quality-17559104.php The MetropolitanTransportation Commission ranked Sebastopol with a "poor" rating - "meaning the MTC has determined these roads require "major rehabilitation or reconstruction.'" Sebastopol is one of 5 locations within the Bay Area with a Poor Rating. https://mtc.ca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2021-11/PCI_table2020_data%20%2800F%29.pdf Homelessness should be removed from the topic list. Sebastopol already has the highest per capita of homeless housing and services. We currently spend $75,000 per year on a homeless outreach coordinator (despite the fact that our City Offices are understaffed and City parks are under maintained).
Sebastopol does not need any more homeless services or accommodations see data below.
The County has the most money and the most bureaucratic support for homeless services.
They should be employing their immense resources to tackle this County wide problem and not leaving it up to tiny, underfunded communities.
Sebastopol - Population 7500/ 147 spots = 1 homeless bed per 51 residents Horizon Shine 25
Sebastopol Inn 31 units
Park Village 85 people (still unclear on units)
Community Church Safe Parking 6 spots
Santa Rosa - Population 177,000/ 595 spots = 1 homeless bed per 298 residents Los Guillicos 60 units
Santa Rosa Safe Parking 50 spots
Sam Jones Hall 200 beds
Caritas Center 40 rooms 193 beds 10 additional beds
Hotel Azure 42 units
Rohnert Park - Population 44,500/ 60 spots = 1 homeless bed per 741 residents Labeth Landing 60 unit interim housing
Healdsburg - Population 11,275/ 22 spots = 1 homeless bed per 512 residents (Sebastopol has 10x more homeless housing per capita than Healdsburg
L&M Hotel 22 units
Petaluma - Population 59,400/ 85 spots = 1 homeless bed per 699 resident Petaluma Studios at Montero Place 60 PSH
Petauluma People’s Village 25
Non operational
Sonoma – pending (not operating)
George’s Hideway non operational
Cities with NO Homeless Accommodations
Windsor - Population 26,000
Cotati - Population 7500
Forestville - Population 3700
Cloverdale - Population 8900
Best,
Kate Haug