City of Sunnyvale
Agenda Item
21-1104 Agenda Date: 12/8/2021
REPORT TO SUBCOMMITTEE
SUBJECT
Review of Calendar Year 2021 Grants and Consideration of Calendar Year 2022 Community Events and Neighborhood Grant Program Applications
BACKGROUND
This fiscal year, City Council allocated $34,000 to support community and neighborhood events through the Community Events and Neighborhood Grant Program (CENGP). Community Events receive $21,000 and Neighborhood Grants receive $13,000.
The Community Event and Neighborhood Grant Distribution Subcommittee (Subcommittee) provides funding recommendations. The Subcommittee consists of three members of the City Council tasked with conducting an annual grant review that includes: 1) reviewing the grant application process; 2) recommending changes to City Council for approval; 3) reviewing grant applications; and 4) presenting recommended funding levels to City Council for approval.
At the August 24, 2021 Subcommittee meeting, the following recommendations were prepared and subsequently approved:
1) New Requirements for Neighborhood Grantees: applicants must be registered as an active neighborhood association by the time of their proposed event 2) Reimbursements will only be processed between July and December of each grant cycle The Subcommittee met to review and approve the grant application materials for Calendar Year 2022. Based on previous feedback provided by the Subcommittee the application was updated to define more clearly what constitutes a neighborhood association. Additionally, language was included in the application packets to inform grantees that reimbursements will be processed between July and December to ensure that grant funds are managed within the fiscal year where funding was appropriated.
The application period was open between September 3 and October 29, 2021. Outreach included contacting former grantees, local non-profits, neighborhood associations and community partners to notify them of the funding opportunity.
The purpose of this report is to review the grant applications received for the 2022 funding cycle and seek direction from the Subcommittee on the recommended funding for each. The Subcommittee is scheduled to present its recommendations to City Council January 25, 2022.
Attachment 1
21-1104 Agenda Date: 12/8/2021
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.2.1, Community Engagement - Goals and Policies Goal B: Achieve a community in which all community members can be actively involved in shaping the quality of life and participate in local community and government activities.
Goal C: Create a strong, positive community identity, rich in cultural diversity.
Council Policy 7.2.18, Special Events
D. Community Event Program
The City may fund community events through this program.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action considered does not constitute a “project” with the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4) in that is a fiscal activity that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potential significant impact on the environment.
DISCUSSION
2021 Grant Cycle Update
The 2021 grant cycle was from January 1 to December 31, 2021. The table below highlights the organizations that received funding and their estimated requested reimbursement.
Neighborhood Association Grant Award Reimbursement
Charles Street $1,500 $1,500
Cherryhill $1,400 $1,400
Lakewood $1,370 $600
Cherry Chase $1,500 $1,500
SNAIL $1,500 $1,500
SunnyArts $1,500 $1,500
Valley Forge $640 $633*
Knitters in Silicon Valley $590 $590*
Neighborhood Grants Total $10,000 $9,223
Community Group Grant Award Reimbursement
Duo Duo Pet Parade $4,500 $4,000
SVBC $5,000 $5,000*
SDA - Summer Series $5,000 $5,000*
SDA - Jazz & Beyond $5,000 $5,000*
SDA - Holiday Tree Lighting $4,500 $4,472*
Community Events Total $24,000 $23,472
Attachment 1
21-1104 Agenda Date: 12/8/2021
*Reimbursement requests already processed
Grant Award Reimbursement
Neighborhood Grants $4,500 $4,472*
Community Events $24,000 $23,472
CENGP TOTAL $34,000 $32,695
2022 Grant Application Summary
For the 2022 grant cycle, we received 15 applications for neighborhood grants and 10 applications for 13 community events, which is a 67% increase from the prior cycle.
Neighborhood
Association
Project Funding
Requested
Recommended
Funding
Downtown Sunnyvale
Heritage District
Holiday Arch Project $500 $500
Heritage Association Arches for Hope $1,410 $1,250
Heritage Group (Murphy
Park)
Candy Cane Avenue $1,500 $750
Cumberland South 15th Annual 4th of July
Parade and Potluck
$950 $950
Ortega Park Neighborhood Programs
and Socials
$1,500 $1,150
Wrightmont Corners Wrightmont Community
Activities boost
$800 $800
Charles Street Gardens Charles Street Gardens
Gravel Pathway Refresh
$1,500 $1,150
Cherryhill Bring Back the B’s (Bees
and Butterflies)
$1,500 $1,150
Cherry Chase Neighborhood outreach &
community engagement
$1,500 $1,150
Lakewood Village LVNA Activities - NNO $1,500 $1,150
SNAIL 2022 National Night Out $1,500 $1,150
SunnyArts SunnyArts events for 2022 $1,500 $1,150
Valley Forge Valley Forge Block Party $700 $700
Ladies Who Lunch Monthly Social Activities $1,500 $ - Sunnyvale Moms Group Lego/Stem Activities $1,500 $ - TOTAL REQUESTED $19,360 $13,000
Attachment 1
21-1104 Agenda Date: 12/8/2021
Community Group Event Funding
Requested
Recommended
Funding
Chamber of Commerce Art and Wine Festival $10,000 $3,000 San Miguel PTA Family Costume Night,
Weekly Zumba Classes
$1,000 $500
South Asian Cultural
Assoc. of Sunnyvale
Sunnyvale Diwali
Celebration
$7,000 $3,000
Sunnyvale Heritage
Society & Museum
A Walk Through Time $3,702 $2,000
Self-Help for the Elderly Mid Autumn Festival $4,000 $1,500 Silicon Valley Bicycle
Coalition
Bike Month $5,000 $2,000
Sunnyvale Downtown
Association
Jazz and Beyond $4,500 $3,000
Sunnyvale Downtown
Association
Summer Series $4,500 $3,000
Sunnyvale Downtown
Association
Sunnyvale Wine Stroll $4,500 $1,500
Sunnyvale Downtown
Association
Holiday Tree Lighting $4,500 $1,500
California University Health Awareness Day $25,000 $ - National Alliance on
Mental Illness
Emotional Support Line
Launch
$500 $ -
Sunnyvale Arts
Commission
Gingerbread Village $5,500 $ -
TOTAL REQUESTED $79,702 $21,000
Funding
Requested
Recommended
Funding
Neighborhood Grants Requested $19,360 $13,000
Community Events Requested $79,702 $21,000
TOTAL CENGP FUNDING $99,062 $34,000
Attached is a grant application summary for the neighborhood and community event grantees along with all completed grant applications. For privacy reasons, personal information of individuals and project team members submitting applications has been redacted.
The Subcommittee’s recommendations for grant distribution are based on the $34,000 allocated for CENGP within the FY 2022/23 General Fund financial plan in project 835490 - Community Events & Neighborhood Grants. For the 2022 CENGP cycle, staff recommends approving all grant applications
Attachment 1
21-1104 Agenda Date: 12/8/2021
with the funding amounts outlined in the 2022 Grant Application Summary table. The total grant distribution amount would be $34,000.
However, to more clearly align the budget with the timing on the decision to award the grants, staff will be recommending a budget modification upon full Council approval of the grants, to add $34,000 to the current year budget. This will make funding available for the 2022 calendar year grant cycle.
Funding for the for the 2023 grant cycle will be proposed in the FY 2022/23 budget so the amount of funding allocated will be known before the City solicits grant applications. Any funding that is not reimbursed in the current fiscal year (e.g. if an approved 2022 event occurs in July of 2022, and therefore in the FY 2022/23 Fiscal Year), will carry forward to the following fiscal year to provide budget for reimbursement. Staff will clarify this with the recipients and adjust internal policies and forms as needed going forward.
FISCAL IMPACT
Starting in FY 2021/22, CENGP funding is included in project 835490 - Community Events & Neighborhood Grants. Funding is planned annually across the General Fund 20-year financial plan.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the Subcommittee agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board, on the City’s website, and the availability of the agenda and report in the Office of the City Clerk.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Recommend funding levels outlined in the 2022 Grant Application Summary table be submitted to Council for final approval.
2. Take other action as determined by the Subcommittee.
RECOMMENDATION
Alternative 1: Recommend funding levels outlined in the 2022 Grant Application Summary table be submitted to Council for final approval.
Staff recommends approving grant applications with the funding amounts outlined in the 2022 Grant Application Summary table. The total grant distribution amount would be $34,000.
Prepared by: Tracey Gott, Recreation Services Manager
Reviewed by: Damon Sparacino, Superintendent of Recreation Services Reviewed by: Cherise Brandell, Director of Library and Recreation Services Reviewed by: Teri Silva, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2022 Neighborhood Grantee Summary
2. 2022 Community Event Grantee Summary
3. Neighborhood Grant Application Packet
4. Community Events Grant Application Packet
Attachment 1