TO:City Council
FROM:Community Funding Review Committee
DATE:February 13, 2024
SUBJECT: FY 2023-24 Community Environmental Enhancement Grant Recommendations
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Approve Community Environmental Enhancement Grants totaling $35,200.
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute Community Environmental Enhancement Grant agreements with Grantees.
3. Authorize expenditure in the amount of $35,200 from A/C #632-8420-682-5920 (NC0105, Community Enhancement Fund/Grants) for Community Environmental Enhancement Grants.
4. Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Minimal administrative staff costs associated with executing contracts and compliance monitoring are included in the Adopted FY 2023-24 General Fund Budget and $45,000 for Grant funding are included and available in the Adopted FY 2023-24 Solid Waste Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The Community Environmental Enhancement Grant (CEEG) provides financial support for community beautification and environmental projects. During the City’s budget process, City Council renewed its support for the program by appropriating $45,000 in FY 2023-24 to be used for CEEG. The CEEG provides grantees a maximum grant award of $4,500 and a minimum grant award of $2,000.
Since 1998, the City has funded projects such as tree planting, litter collection,
FY 2023-24 Community Environmental Enhancement Grant Recommendations February 13, 2024
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6 recycling projects, composting, waste reduction programs, water/energy conservation, food diversion (composting, donation, or recovery), and public outreach and education.
CEEG grant applications for FY 2023-24 were accepted from November 13, 2023, through December 14, 2023. Public outreach for the grant program took place in November and December and included news postings on the City’s website, social media channels, the November and December issues of the CityScene, as well as the Sustainability Blog. A Community Grant Program workshop was held September 21, 2023, for interested applicants and the workshop recording is available on the City’s website. In addition, emails were sent to previous environmental enhancement grant recipients and a press release was sent to local media outlets. Complete program information can be found on the dedicated City Manager’s Office Grant Opportunities webpage (www.toaks.org/grants) on the City website.
A history of the CEEG (previously called the Community Enhancement Grant and changed by City Council at the September 14, 2021, City Council meeting) awards for the past five years is attached for City Council reference (Attachment #1).
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
There were eight CEEG applications received with a total requested amount of $35,200. Staff conducted an initial review of the CEEG applications to confirm they met minimum qualifications. No applications were rejected for non-compliance with the program requirements during staff’s initial review.
City Council-appointed Community Funding Review Committee (CFRC) members separately reviewed each application and scored them based on several grant- specific criteria, including the organization’s mission and background, program goals and objectives, and benefit to City residents.
Allocation Scoring Method
In May 2019, the CFRC approved an allocation method based on collated points scored on the application as shown in Table 1.
Table 1
85 – 100 points scored on application 100% of requested amount 70 – 84 points scored on application 75% of requested amount 55 – 69 points scored on application 50% of requested amount 54 or below points scored on
application
No funding
FY 2023-24 Community Environmental Enhancement Grant Recommendations February 13, 2024
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6 On January 17, 2024, the CFRC met to discuss the collated scores of the applications. Collating the nine committee members’ scorecards and using the approved allocation method in Table 1 revealed that all eight applications scored over 85 points and are recommended for 100 percent of the funding requested, for a total funding recommendation of $35,200.
The CFRC unanimously (7-0, with two members absent) recommends awarding CEEG grants in the amount of $35,200 to eight programs (Attachment #2).
Next Steps
Upon approval, CEEG grantees will enter into agreements with the City for a one- year period, effective March 1, 2024. The agreement reserves the right to request reimbursement of all or part of the funds if the funds are not provided for the program as described in the contract. Grantees will receive payment upfront and will be required to submit a Final Performance Report that demonstrates how the City funds were used to benefit the community.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
C. Operate City government in a fiscally and managerially responsible and prudent manner to ensure that the City of Thousand Oaks remains one of California's most desirable places to live, work, visit, recreate, and raise a family.
G. Continue City's commitment to community and cultural programs and services (such as Performing Arts/Theatres, Libraries, TOTV, Visual Arts, Youth and Senior Programs).
PREPARED BY: Clyde Doheney, Community Funding Review Committee Chair
Sarah Mailes, Community Services Analyst
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – Community Environmental Enhancement Grant Award Five-Year History
Attachment #2 – 2023-24 Community Environmental Enhancement Grant Award Recommendations
CMO: 483-10\wl\H:\COMMON\City Council\Council Items\2024 Staff Reports\021324\021324 FY 2023-24 Community Environmental Enhancement Grant Recommendations