2018-11-28 VCFGC Minutes MINUTES OF THE REGULAR RESCHEDULED VERNON
COMMUNITY FUND GRANT COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE CITY OF VERNON HELD WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018, IN COUNCIL CHAMBER OF CITY HALL LOCATED AT 4305 SANTA FE
AVENUE, VERNON, CALIFORNIA
Members Present: Juliet Goff, Julia Juarez, Michael Gavina, David Juarez, Steven Froberg
Members Absent: Leticia Lopez
CALL TO ORDER & FLAG SALUTE
Vice Chair Juliet Goff called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. and lead the flag salute.
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA City Clerk Maria Ayala announced that were no changes to the agenda.
PUBLIC COMMENT No public comment provided.
PRESENTATION
1. Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grantee Presentation - East Los Angeles Community
Corporation
Presentation by: Isela Gracian
Recommendation: No action required by the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee. This is a presentation only.
Ms. Adalia Rodriguez, Vice President of Human Capital, provided a brief summary of the
highlights of the East Los Angeles Community Corporation’s programs and thanked the
Committee for the support provided to the East Los Angeles Community.
Committee Member Julia Juarez inquired about number of people who come in to use the space.
Ms. Rodriguez replied that East Los Angeles Community serves an average of 3,000 community
residents in Boyle Heights per year and they also use the space to deliver some of the other programs.
2. Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grantee Presentation - City of Bell
Presentation by: Allan Perdomo Recommendation: No action required by the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee.
This is a presentation only.
City Clerk Maria Ayala announced that Allan Perdomo will be providing the Committee with a
PowerPoint presentation.
City of Bell Community Services Director Alan Perdomo conducted the presentation.
Vice Chair Goff inquired if there are public schools adjacent to the park and inquired if they have
access to the field.
Mr. Perdomo replied that the Ernest Debs Field Park is between two schools and Orchard
Academy (to the left of the park) is a charter school. Both schools have access to the field. Mr.
Perdomo invited the Committee Members and staff to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony and
thanked the Committee for the help and support provided to make the project possible.
Fran Jemmott, Jemmott-Rollins Group inquired about the use of the light on the park were turned
on in the evenings and a discussion ensued between Committee Member, staff, and presenter
regarding the hours of operation of the park and type of lighting used.
Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting
November 28, 2018
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MINUTES
3. Minutes of the Regular Vernon Community Fund Grant Committee Meeting
held on August 15, 2018 Recommendation: A. Receive and File It was moved by Steven Froberg and seconded by Michael Gavina to approve the Minutes of the
Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting held on November 8, 2017 and the minutes of the Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting held on August 15, 2018. Motion carried, 4 – 0.
Yes: Julia Juarez, Michael Gavina, David Juarez, Steven Froberg
No: None Abstained: Juliet Goff
GRANT AWARDING
4. Award of Fiscal Year 2018/2019 Docket II Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grants Recommendation: A. Find that the award of the grants proposed in this staff
report is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”)
because it is a government fiscal activity that will not result in direct or
indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA Guidelines section 15378. And even if such action were a “project,” it would be exempt from CEQA review in accordance
with Section 15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies to projects
that may have an effect on the environment; and
B. Award Fiscal Year 2018/2019 Docket II grants totaling $150,000 to the five applicants identified below at the amounts recommended:
1) Applicant: Alzheimer's Greater Los Angeles*
Original Amount Requested: $50,000 Amount Recommended: $30,000 $40,000
Proposed Term: 1 year
*Returning Grantee
2) Applicant: CA Derby Dolls Original Amount Requested: $50,000
Amount Recommended: $40,000
Proposed Term: 1 year
3) Applicant: Echo (formerly Center for Nonviolent Education & Parenting) Original Amount Requested: $40,000
Amount Recommended: $20,000
Proposed Term: 1 year
4) Applicant: Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles* Original Amount Requested: $50,000
Amount Recommended: $30,000
Proposed Term: 1 year
*Returning Grantee
5) Applicant: Girls on the Run of Los Angeles County
Original Amount Requested: $25,000
Amount Recommended: $20,000
Proposed Term: 1 year
Maya Cacavas, Jemmott-Rollins Group, reported on the first grant applicant, Alzheimer’s Greater
Los Angeles. Ms. Cacavas advised the Committee that this is a returning grantee applying for
their second grant for the Alzheimer’s Latinos Family Caregiver Education Project which provides
bilingual education services.
Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting
November 28, 2018
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A discussion ensued between Committee Members and staff regarding the grant recommended
amount. Committee Members and staff came to a consensus to amend the recommended grant
amount to $40,000 (due to a typographical error on the agenda).
Committee Member David Juarez inquired about the procedures to determine the grant award
recommended amounts.
Fran Jemmott explained that there is discussion between Jemmott-Rollins Group and City Administration team to review, support, recommend changes, and redistribute the funds.
Finance Director William Fox further explained the collaborative process.
Committee Member Michael Gavina disclosed that a family member belongs to the organization’s Board, sought legal counsel’s advice regarding his voting participation on the item.
Senior Deputy City Attorney Zaynah Moussa advised Mr. Gavina that his participation in the vote
for this item would not be a conflict of interest.
Maya Cacavas, Jemmott-Rollins Group, reported on the second grant applicant, CA Derby Dolls, and advised the Committee Members that the organization is applying for general operating
support to cover 12% of their total operating budget.
Vice Chair Juliet Goff inquired as to why the organization was applying for a general operating
support grant. A dialogue ensued between the Committee and staff regarding the specific services the organization provides to neighborhood residents, social services, and the City of Vernon
population.
Committee came to a consensus to approve the general operating support grant as presented.
Fran Jemmott reported on the third grant applicant, Echo (formerly Center for Nonviolent
Education & Parenting). Ms. Jemmott provided a quick overview of the services rendered by the
organization.
Vice Chair Goff inquired as to how the organization will verify that local residents will benefit from the services rendered through the grant.
Echo Program Manager Sofia Teodoro addressed Vice Chair Goff’s concerns and provided a brief
summary about the Echo parenting programs, tracking, and recruiting of the participants.
Ms. Cacavas, Jemmott-Rollins Group reported on the fourth grant applicant, Girl Scouts of Greater
Los Angeles. Ms. Cacavas informed the Committee that the organization is a returning grantee
seeking a general operating support grant.
Committee Member Julia Juarez inquired about the newly hired staff.
Ms. Cacavas responded that the organization hired a Community Outreach Specialist. Member J.
Juarez inquired as to the number of girls that benefit from the program and a dialogue ensued
between Committee Members and staff regarding the number of girls serviced through the Vernon
service area, strategic plans, parent testimonials of the success of this program and personalized testimonial of the benefits received, verification that this program services the local community
rather than a larger organization.
The Committee further discussed new revised guidelines for returning applicants to provide testimonials on how the previous grant was utilized and evidence of recognition to the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee.
Fran Jemmott reported on the fifth grant applicant, Girls on the Run of Los Angeles County.
Vice Chair Juliet Goff commented that the Girls on the Run is a fantastic program, it is a very well run organization with highly trained volunteers.
Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting
November 28, 2018
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It was moved by Michael Gavina and seconded by David Juarez to approve the proposed grants
with correction to Item No. 1, grant recommended amount of $40,000. A. Find that the award of
the grants proposed in this staff report is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act
(“CEQA”) because it is a government fiscal activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA
Guidelines section 15378. And even if such action were a “project,” it would be exempt from
CEQA review in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies
to projects that may have an effect on the environment; and B. Award Fiscal Year 2018/2019
Docket II grants totaling $150,000 to the five applicants identified below at the amounts recommended: Motion carried, 5 - 0.
1) Applicant: Alzheimer's Greater Los Angeles*
Original Amount Requested: $50,000
Amount Recommended: $30,000 $40,000 Proposed Term: 1 year
*Returning Grantee
2) Applicant: CA Derby Dolls
Original Amount Requested: $50,000 Amount Recommended: $40,000
Proposed Term: 1 year
3) Applicant: Echo (formerly Center for Nonviolent Education & Parenting) Original Amount Requested: $40,000
Amount Recommended: $20,000
Proposed Term: 1 year
4) Applicant: Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles* Original Amount Requested: $50,000
Amount Recommended: $30,000
Proposed Term: 1 year
*Returning Grantee
5) Applicant: Girls on the Run of Los Angeles County
Original Amount Requested: $25,000
Amount Recommended: $20,000
Proposed Term: 1 year.
Yes: Juliet Goff, Julia Juarez, Michael Gavina, David Juarez, and Steven Froberg
No: None
NEW BUSINESS
5. Vernon CommUNITY Fund Scholarship Program Applicant Package and
VCF Scholarship Applicant Evaluation Form
Recommendation: A. Find that the approval of the Vernon CommUNITY
Fund Scholarship Program Applicant Package is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because it is an administrative activity
that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment
and, therefore, does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA Guidelines
section 15378. And, even if such action were a “project”, it would be exempt
from CEQA review in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies to projects that may have an effect on the
environment; and
B. Approve the VCF Scholarship Program Applicant Package, in
substantially the same form as submitted herewith, for implementation and distribution to the Vernon Area Scholarship candidate pool beginning January
2019; and
Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting
November 28, 2018
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C. Approve the VCF Scholarship Applicant Evaluation Form, in substantially
the same form as submitted herewith, for the purpose of assessing all VCF
scholarship applications in a uniform, consistent, equitable manner.
Committee Member Gavina excused himself from the meeting at 12:09 pm
Administrative Analyst Diana Figueroa discussed the proposed.
Committee Member Gavina rejoined the discussion at 12:11 p.m.
Vice-Chair Goff expressed her disappointment that children related to City employees will not be
able to apply for a scholarship. A discussion ensued between Committee and staff regarding this
item. Committee and staff came to a consensus to delete the word “relative” from one of the eligibility criteria listed on page 44:
• Not a City of Vernon employee or relative dependent of a City of Vernon employee,
Vernon City-appointed official, or Vernon City-elected official. No public comment provided.
It was moved by Julia Juarez and seconded by Steven Froberg to approve with amendment to
Eligibility Requirement on page 44, deletion of word “relative” on last bullet point. A. Find that the approval of the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Scholarship Program Applicant Package is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because it is an administrative activity
that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment and, therefore, does
not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA Guidelines section 15378. And, even if such action
were a “project”, it would be exempt from CEQA review in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3), the general rule that CEQA only applies to projects that may have an effect on the environment; and B. Approve the VCF Scholarship Program Applicant Package, in substantially the same form
as submitted herewith, for implementation and distribution to the Vernon Area Scholarship
candidate pool beginning January 2019; and C. Approve the VCF Scholarship Applicant
Evaluation Form, in substantially the same form as submitted herewith, for the purpose of assessing all VCF scholarship applications in a uniform, consistent, equitable manner. Motion carried, 5 - 0
Yes: Juliet Goff, Julia Juarez, Michael Gavina, David Juarez, Steven Froberg
No: None
ORAL REPORTS
No oral reports provided.
ADJOURNMENT With no further business, at 12:28 p.m. Vice Chair Goff adjourned the meeting.
________________________ Leticia Lopez
Chair
ATTEST:
_________________________ Maria E. Ayala
City Clerk