CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM
Dec
ember 4, 2023
TO: Cit
y Council
FR
OM: Department of Environmental Services
SUBJECT: REVIEW AN D DISCUSSIO N OF CO MMUNITY P ROJECTS G RANT
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff requests direction on potential changes t o the Community Projects Grant eligibility criteria.
BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
On May 9, 2011, the City Council approved executing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and Waste Management related to the expansion of the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center. The executed MOU provides annual funding of up to $150,000 for community projects and programs at the discretion of the City Council. For the first three years (FY 2012-13 through FY 2014-15), the City Council awarded grant funds directly to organizations as identified in Exhibit 1 (page 3). On December 1, 2014, the City Council established eligibility criteria, as shown in Exhibit 2 (page 6), and directed staff to conduct a competitive process to award funds for FY 2015-1 6.
During the awarding of the FY 2016-17 awards, City Council Members requested a future discussion of the program. In preparation f or that City Council discussion, staff reached out to local non-profit organizat ions and advisory boards to discuss the existing grant allocation process and to determine what possible changes could be made to enhance the program.
On February 27, 2017, the City Council incorporated that feedback to develop the existing eligibility criteria in effect today, Exhibit 3 (page 7). Although eligibility criteria is in place, the City Council has the ability to override the criteria during the award process and forgo the competit ive award process. In prior years (FY 2019-20 thru FY 2021-22), the City Council awarded grant funds directly to the Free Clinic for a three-y ear period to maximize responsiveness to emergent community needs as detailed in the award summary (Exhibit 1).
FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES
The existing eligibility criteria adopted in 2017 were intended to provide transpar ency to the process and allow set criteria that could be asses sed by organizations prior to applying for funding in addition to ensuring all funded projects and programs provided direct benefit to Sim i Valley residents.
CPGCriteriaCCmtg12-4-23(klk)
AGENDA ITEM NO.
9A
CPGCriteriaCCmtg12-4-23(klk)
T
o demonstrate that a project or program is of direct benefit to Simi Valley residents, each organization must demonstrate one of the following:
•
Non-profit organizations include satellite locations located in Simi Valley; • 50% of the individuals served by the organization are Simi Valley residents; • Demonstrate that 100% of the people served through the Community Projects Grant monies are Simi Valley residents; or
• The organization is located in Simi Valley.
T
o date, all awardees have provided services either at their primary location or a satellite location (such as school sites) located within the City.
A
t the November 6, 2023 meeting, the City Council requested staff bring an agenda item forward to review the criteria for allocations of the Grant funds. Staff requests direction on potential changes to the Community Projects Grant eligibility criteria.
SUGGESTED CITY COUNCIL MOTION
T
here is no suggested motion.
SUMMARY
T
he City Council initially established eligibility criteria for a competitive award process for the Community Projects Grant in December 2014, effective for the FY 2015- 16 award cycle. The eligibility criteria were refined in February 2017 to ensure that funded projects and programs had a direct benefit to Simi Valley residents. At the November 6, 2023 City Council meeting, staff was directed to return for an additional review of the criteria. ___
_________________________________
Stratis Perros
Environmental Services Director
P
repared by: Mara Malch, Deputy Environmental Services Director INDEX Page
E
xhibit 1 – Grant Award History ....................................................... 3 Exhibit 2 – Community Projects Grant Eligibility Criteria – Adopted December 4, 2014 ....................................................... 6 Exhibit 3 – Community Projects Grant Eligibility Criteria – Adopted February 27, 2017 ....................................................... 7 2 EXHIBIT 1
* Direct award by City Council
** Additional funds from prior years’ unexpended balance
COMMUNITY PROJECTS GRANT AWARD HISTORY
FY 2023-24
Body Brain Train $13,800
Free Clinic of Simi Valley $21,200
GiGi’s Playhouse Inc. $20,000
Many Mansions $10,000
Sarah’s House $25,000
Simi Valley Cultural Association $12,500
Simi Valley Education Foundation $12,500
Simi Valley Friends of the Library $10,000
Simi Valley Historical Society $12,500
The Arc of Ventura County $12,500
FY 2022-23
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura
County
$15,000
Body Brain Train $43,800
Boys and Girls Club $50,000
CAREGIVERS $11,200
Many Mansions $10,000
FY 2021-22*
Free Clinic of Simi Valley $150,000
FY 2020-21*
Free Clinic of Simi Valley $150,000
FY 2019-20*
Free Clinic of Simi Valley $161,102**
FY 2018-19
Area Housing Authority of VC $10,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of VC $15,000
Free Clinic of Simi Valley $15,000
Friends of SVPD Explorers 2910 $15,000
Long Term Care Services of VC $15,000
Many Mansions $10,000
My Kaleidoscope Project $10,000
Simi at the Garden, Inc. $15,000
Simi Valley Education Foundation $10,000
Simi Valley Family YMCA $10,000
The Arc of Ventura County $10,000
The Samaritan Center $15,000
3 * Direct award by City Council
** Additional funds from prior years’ unexpended balance FY 2017-18
Action $10,000
American Foundation for Suicide
Prevention
$10,000
Big Brothers and Big Sisters $15,000
Boys & Girls Club $20,000
Community Pregnancy Clinic $10,000
Conejo Valley Senior Concerns $10,000
Forever Found $10,000
Free Clinic of Simi Valley $20,000
Many Mansions $10,000
The ARC of Ventura County $10,000
The Samaritan Center $25,000
FY 2016-17
All It Takes $20,000
Coalition for Family Harmony $20,000
Conejo Valley Senior Concerns $10,000
Forever Found $20,000
Interface Children & Family Services $10,000
Not One More $10,000
Simi at the Garden $20,000
Simi Youth Baseball $20,000
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul $20,000
FY 2015-16
Boys & Girls Club $25,000
Chamber of Commerce Workforce
Coalition
$15,000
Conejo Valley Senior Concerns $25,000
Interface Children & Family Services $25,000
Simi Valley Cultural Association $20,000
Southeast Ventura County YMCA $20,000
Tiny Loving Canines $10,000
Ventura County Foster Parent Association $10,000
FY 2014-15*
Free Clinic of Simi Valley $67,500
Simi Valley Education Foundation $67,500
The Samaritan Center $15,000
4 * Direct award by City Council
** Additional funds from prior years’ unexpended balance FY 2013-14*
Free Clinic of Simi Valley $50,000
Simi Valley Community Foundation $100,000
FY 2012-13*
Free Clinic of Simi Valley $50,000
Simi Valley Community Foundation $100,000
5 SR1-Admin 01-17
Community Projects Grant Eligibility and Award Criteria City Council Approved December 4, 2014
Incorporated 501(c)(3)
Disclosure of Headquarters Location
Disclosure of Satellite Locations
Single application per organization and/or Joint applications for non- duplicative scope
Grant Awards
o Minimum request - $25,000
o Maximum request - $150,000
o Direct costs only
o Expenditure period: City Fiscal Year (July 1 - June 30) Detailed scope of work including:
o Benefit to Simi Valley
o Ability to complete the project within the expenditure period o Community needs are being met
o Direct cost detail
EXHIBIT 2
6 City Council Approved Eligibility Criteria
(Revised By City Council on 2/27/2017)
Incorporated 501(c)(3)
Disclosure of Headquarters Location
Disclosure of Satellite Locations
Single application per organization and/or Joint applications for non- duplicative scope
Grant Awards
o Minimum request - $10,000
o Maximum request - $150,000
o Direct costs only
o Expenditure period: City Fiscal Year (July 1 - June 30) Funding Eligibility Requirements
○ Guidelines for funding non-profit organizations includes satellite locations being within Simi Valley, or
○ 50% of the indiv
iduals served by the organization are Simi Valley
residents, or
○ Demonstrate that 100% of the people served through the Community Projects Grant monies are Simi Valley residents. ○ Located in Simi Valley
Detailed scope of work including:
o Benefit to Simi Valley
o Ability to complete the project within the expenditure period o Community needs are being met
o Direct cost detail
EXHIBIT 3
7