CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
STAFF REPORT
J
anuary 12, 2026
To: Cit
y Council
Fr
om: Office of the City Manager
Samantha C. Argabrite
Subj
ect: Approval of the 2026 City Support of Special Events grant recipients and authorization for the City Manager to execute grant contracts Staff Recommendation
I
t is recommended that the City Council:
1. A
pprove the recommendation of the Special Event Support Review Committee to award 2026 City Support of Special Events grants; and
2. A
uthorize the City Manager to execute grant contracts with the recipients.
Background
I
n January 2014, the City Council adopted Policy A -31, City Support of Special Events, which established procedures, eligibility requirements, and budget parameters for providing City support to qualifying special events. For calendar year 2026 events, the City allocated $25,000 in grant funding. Sixteen eligible applications were initially received requesting $67,000; however, one applicant withdrew their application during the public meeting.
Discussion
T
he Special Event Support Review Committee met publicly on December 10, 2025, to review applications and hear presentations. Applicants were evaluated based on community benefit and local impact. After listening to public comments, receiving presentations from each non- profit present, and reviewing applications, the Committee recommended awarding grant funding to the following non-profits:
AGENDA ITEM NO.
9A
Financial Impact
The City’s adopted Fiscal Year 2025– 26 Annual Budget includes $25,000 for the 2026 City Support of Special Events program. This action will have no additional impact to the City’s General Fund.
City Council Priority
This item supports the Thriving Community pillar of the City Council priorities.
Suggested Motion
I move to adopt the recommendation of the Special Event Support Review Committee to award 2026 City Support of Special Events grants as outlined and authorize the City Manager to execute grant contracts with the recipients.
Agency Event Name Committee
Recommendation
Simi Valley High School PTSA Every 15 Minutes $2,000
For the Need Foundation Rocket Day-Reach for the Stars $3,000 Body Brain Train Punchathon $3,000
Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Foundation Hispanic Heritage Festival $3,000 The Samaritan Center Second Chance Prom $3,000
Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce Street Fair(s) $1,430
Simi Valley PTA/PTSA Council Junior Olympics $1,214
GiGi’s Playhouse Inc. GiGi's Playhouse 5K $1,500
Kiwanis Club of Simi Valley ROUND-UP Country Music Festival $1,214 Simi Valley Veterans Foundation Sweetheart Dance $1,000 Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise Happy Face Music Festival $1,214 Simi Valley Library Foundation Love and Laughs Comedy Night $1,214 Soroptimist International of Simi Valley Little Black Dress $0 Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise Oktoberfest $1,214
Sarah’s House Hands Across Simi Valley $1,000
TOTAL: $25,000
2 Summary
Since the adoption of Policy A -31 in 2014, the City has provided financial support to nonprofit organizations through the City Support of Special Events Program. For calendar year 2026 events, the City allocated $25,000 in grant funding and received sixteen applications requesting a total of $67,000, with one applicant withdrawing their application from consideration. The Special Event Support Review Committee met publicly on December 10, 2025, to review applications, hear presentations from applicants, and consider public comment. As a result, the Committee recommended awarding the full $25,000 in grant funding. Staff recommends approval of the recommended awards and authorization for the City Manager to execute grant contracts.
Prepared by: Heidi DiNardo, Senior Management Analyst
Attachments:
Attachment A – Special Event Policy
Attachment B – Action Minutes 12.10.25 Final
Attachment C – Committee Recommendations
Attachment D – 2026 Special Event Support Applications
3 CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES & PROCEDURES MANUAL
POLICY
It is the policy of the City to support a limited number of special events through cash sponsorships to promote development of new and expansion of existing cultural, educational, and entertainment events taking place within Simi Valley, benefitting Simi Valley, and bringing people to Simi Valley.
PROCEDURES
1. To be e ligible for City support of a special event, the event organizer must meet the following criteria:
a. The event organizer must obtain a Special Event Permit from the City for the event. b. The event organizer must be a non‐profit organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
c. The event o
rganizer must provide the City with a report describing how City funds were used and containing the outcom es of anything described in the recipient’s application for funding.
2. The amount of City support shall be adopted as part of the City’s Annual Budget each year.
For calendar year 2014, the City Council intends for $25,000 to be made available. The City’s f
unding shall be made via cash spon sorships, subject to a written agreement between the City and the recipients .
3. A Special Event Support Review Committee shall be created to review applications for City support and make funding recommendations to the City Council, which will then review, edit (as desired), and award f unding. The Committee will be comprised of one member A‐
Effective:
Attachment A
4 CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES & PROCEDURES MANUAL
from each of the City’s four Neighborhood Councils and one member from the Council On Aging. In addition to publicly stating its own general guidelines about how applications will be evaluated, the Committee will incorporate the City Council’s following preferences into its recommendations:
a. Prefe
rence to fund events where event proceeds are used locally within Simi Valley. b. Preference to fund events with greater community/public benefits over events with lesser community/public benefits.
4. The City shall enter into written agreements with each recipient to ensure funding is used as described in recipients’ applications for funding and to protect the City’s interests.
5. Nothing in this policy precludes the City Council from deciding to otherwise sponsor or support any other special event by separate action.
HISTORY
January 27, 2014 Policy adopted by City Council.
5 S
pecial Event Support Review Committee
Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 6:30 p.m.
ACT
ION MINUTES
1. Call to Order/Welcome/Pledge of Allegiance/Roll Call T
he meeting was called to order at 6: 30 p.m. with the following Committee Members and staff in attendance:
B
obby Calderon, Chair
Geoge Bowman, Vice Chair
Laura Hurd
Gloria Bowman
Serena Kahm
Heidi DiNardo, Senior Management Analyst
C
ommittee Chair Calderon led the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Agenda Review
S
taff explained that at the previous Special Event Support Review Committee meeting on December 3, 2025, the committee unanimously voted to limit public comments to two minutes each.
A
fter reviewing the Agenda, and with no questions, the Agenda was approved by consensus.
3. Public Statements Regarding the Action Minutes for the December 3 , 20 25 Meeting, or Items Listed on This Agenda
N
one.
4. Approval of Action Minutes for the December 3, 2025, Meeting T
he Action Minutes were approved unanimously, with a motion by Vice-Chair Bowman, a second by Committee Member Kahm.
5. Public Statements/Comments Regarding Committee’s General Criteria to Rate Applications for Grant Funding for Special Events
6 Attachment B
Special Event Support Review Committee December 10, 2025, 6:30 p.m.
City Hall Community Room
Staff presented the background and overview of the Special Event Support Review Committee and emphasized the funding preferences outlined by City Council where proceeds are used locally within Simi Valley and where there is greater community/public benefit.
6. Public Statements/Comments Regarding Review of Applications T
he following members of the public spoke:
1. B
ob Murdock, spoke in support of Body Brain Train
2. Bob Stotz, spoke in support of Body Brain Train
3. John Whittaker, in support of Body Brain Train
4. Patti Torres, spoke in support of Body Brain Train
5. Liz Bower, spoke in support of Body Brain Train
6. Leon Roth, spoke in support of Body Brain Train
7. Kathryn Williams, spoke in support of Body Brain Train
8. Dianna Carrasco, spoke in support of Body Brain Train
9. Kathy Conrad, spoke in support of Body Brain Train
10. Aet Van Noppen, spoke in support of Body Brain Train
11. Jenny Allan, spoke in support of Body Brain Train
12. Virginia Seaton, spoke in support of Body Brain Train
13. Meaghan von Frausing-Borch, in support of Boy Scouts c/o Kiwanis Club
14. Raquel Kanalz, in support of Kiwanis Club
15. Kristy Grayson, in support of Veterans Foundation
16. William (minor), in support of Kiwanis Club
17. Nia Vante, in support of Kiwanis Club
18. Henry (minor), in support of Kiwanis Club
7. Presentations by Non-Profit Organizations
T
he following members of the public spoke:
1. N
ikki Lian, represented Body Brain Train (Punchathon)
2. Allie Mayernik, represented For the Need (Rocket Day – Reach for the Stars)
3. Frankie Cohen, represented GiGi’s Playhouse (5K Run/Walk)
4. Donna Smith, represented Kiwanis Club of Simi Valley (ROUND-UP)
5. Larry Borovay, represented Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise (Happy Face & Oktoberfest)
6. Laura Malinowski, represented Sarah’s House (Hands Across Simi Valley)
7. John Tolson, represented Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce (Simi Valley Street Fair/s)
8. Gina Truncale, represented Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Foundation (Hispanic Heritage Festival)
9. Michael Kort, represented Simi Valley High School PTA (Every 15 Minutes)
10. Jon Bonesteel, represented Simi Valley PTA/PTSA Council (Junior Olympics)
11. Jennifer Frank, represented Simi Valley Library Foundation (Love and Laughs Comedy Night)
12. Kristy Grayson, represented Simi Valley Veterans Foundation (Sweetheart Dance)
7 Special Event Support Review Committee December 10, 2025, 6:30 p.m.
City Hall Community Room
13. Pastor Paul Bishop, Spirit Life Church of Jesus Christ (Taste of Life)*
14. Annika Sumby, represented The Samaritan Center (Second Chance Prom) N
o representative was present for Soroptimist.
*
Pastor Bishop withdrew his application at the time of his presentation, referencing the impact he felt to support other organizations, particularly Body Brain Train.
8. Committee Review of Applications and Approval of Funding Recommendations for the City Council
S
taff explained that the Committee Members must hold their discussion in the public setting and with a vote that evening, the applicants would be aware of the Committee recommendations.
A
six-minute break was taken from 8:30 p.m. to 8:37 p.m.
T
he Committee Members then discussed the applications and the process they would use to reach a consensus. A ranking system would be used, with each Committee Member placing organizations in order from 1 to 15, with 1 being their preferred recipient. The discussion focused on the community impact and which organizations had representatives present. Deliberation on the community benefits from event proceeds, the number of recipients or attendees, and the overall impact, even if the event was smaller, was considered.
F
urther discussion ensued, and a motion was made by Vice- Chair Bowman and seconded by Chair Calderon. The vote passed with a 3 to 2 vote of allocations recommended to the following:
8 Special Event Support Review Committee December 10, 2025, 6:30 p.m.
City Hall Community Room
Ch
air Calderon thanked everyone for their time and stated that the staff would bring the Committee’s recommendations to the City Council, tentatively scheduled for the January 12, 2026, meeting.
9. Adjournment
Ch
air Calderon adjourned the meeting at 9:43 p.m.
He idi DiNardo
Senior Management Analyst
9 Agency Event Name Committee Recommendation
Simi Valley High School PTSA Every 15 Minutes $2,000
For the Need Foundation Rocket Day-Reach for the Stars $3,000 Body Brain Train Punchathon $3,000
Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Foundation Hispanic Heritage Festival $3,000 The Samaritan Center Second Chance Prom $3,000
Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce Street Fair(s) $1,430
Simi Valley PTA/PTSA Council Junior Olympics $1,214
GiGi’s Playhouse Inc. GiGi's Playhouse 5K $1,500
Kiwanis Club of Simi Valley ROUND-UP Country Music Festival $1,214 Simi Valley Veterans Foundation Sweetheart Dance $1,000 Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise Happy Face Music Festival $1,214 Simi Valley Library Foundation Love and Laughs Comedy Night $1,214 Soroptimist International of Simi Valley Little Black Dress $0 Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise Oktoberfest $1,214
Sarah’s House Hands Across Simi Valley $1,000
TOTAL: $25,000
10 Attachment C
11 Attachment D
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14 15
16 17
18 19
20 21
22 23
24 25
26 27
28 29
30 31
32 33
34 35
36 37
38 39
40 41
42 43
44 45
46 47