2019-11-20 VCFGC MinutesMINUTES VERNON COMMUNITY FUND GRANT COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2019 COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER & FLAG SALUTE Chair Lopez called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. and led the Flag Salute. Members Present: Michael Gaviña, Juliet Goff, Mark Gonzalez, and Leticia Lopez, Members Absent: James Chang, Steven Froberg
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA City Clerk Pope announced that there were no changes to the agenda.
PUBLIC COMMENT None. PRESENTATION
1. Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Conflict of Interest Overview
Presentation
Recommendation:
No action required by the Grant Committee. This is a presentation only.
Senior Deputy City Attorney Moussa presented a PowerPoint on Conflict of Interests. MINUTES
2. Minutes of the Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee held on May 15, 2019 Recommendation: A. Receive and File.
MOTION Vice Chair Goff moved and Chair Lopez seconded a motion to approve the Minutes of the Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee held on May 15, 2019, pending verification of Committee Member Gaviña’s noted conflict of interests relating to Proyecto Pastoral on page 3. The motion carried 4-0, Members Chang and Froberg absent.
The Committee requested reordering the agenda to hear Item 4 prior to Grant Awarding.
Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 November 20, 2019
NEW BUSINESS
4. Report on Fiscal Year 2018/2019 Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee
Activity and Planned Allocation for Fiscal Year 2019/2020
Recommendation: A. Find that this report on Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Fiscal Year ("FY") 2018/2019 activity and planned FY 2019/2020 grant activity is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) review, because it is an administrative
action 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; B. Approve recommended FY 2019/2020 Capital Grants fund distribution in the amount of $81,375 (25% of available funds); C. Approve recommended FY 2019/2020 Direct Service Grants fund distribution in the
amount of $244,125; and
D. Approve recommended FY 2019/2020 Scholarship Grants fund distribution in the amount of $20,000. Administrative Analyst Figueroa provided a summary of Fiscal Year 2019/2020 Capital
Grants, Direct Service Grants, and Scholarship Grants fund distribution activity and
planned allocation. A discussion ensued between the Committee Members and staff relating to the administrative component cost of the process, allocation of funds, modifications to make
the process more cost efficient, distribution of capital funds, targeted focus grants, in-house
grant review, and new strategies to evaluate and revise the program. CONSENSUS By consensus, the Committee directed staff to bring back an item to create an ad hoc
committee at a special meeting on December 3, 2019, at 1:00 p.m.
MOTION Committee Member Gaviña moved and Chair Lopez seconded a motion to: A. Find that this report on Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Fiscal Year ("FY") 2018/2019
activity and planned FY 2019/2020 grant activity is exempt from California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”) review, because it is an administrative action 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; B. Approve recommended FY 2019/2020 Capital Grants fund distribution in the amount of $81,375 (25% of available
funds); C. Approve recommended FY 2019/2020 Direct Service Grants fund distribution
in the amount of $244,125; and D. Approve recommended FY 2019/2020 Scholarship Grants fund distribution in the amount of $20,000Grants fund distribution in the amount of $20,000. The motion carried 4-0, Members Chang and Froberg absent.
Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 November 20, 2019
GRANT AWARDING
3. Award of Fiscal Year 2019/2020 Docket I Vernon CommUNITY Fund Direct Service
Grants
Recommendation: A. Find that the award of the grants proposed 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 2019/2020 Docket I direct service grants totaling $75,000 to the
three (3) applicants identified below at the amounts recommended:
1) Applicant: Jovenes, Inc.* Original Amount Requested: $100,000 Amount Recommended: $25,000 Proposed Term: 1 year
*Returning Grantee
2) Applicant: Neighborhood Music School* Original Amount Requested: $85,000 Amount Recommended: $25,000 Proposed Term: 1 year
*Returning Grantee
3) Applicant: Southeast Community Foundation Original Amount Requested: $250,000 Amount Recommended: $25,000 Proposed Term: 1 year
Fran Jemmott, Jemmott-Rollins Group, reported on the grant applications from Jovenes, Inc., Neighborhood Music School, and Southeast Community Foundation. Eddie Tafoya, Executive Director, Southeast Community Foundation, provided a brief
overview of the Foundation’s academic and enrichment programs, hours of operation,
sessions, and teacher’s credentials. MOTION Committee Member Gonzalez moved and Vice Chair Goff seconded a motion to: A. Find
that the award of the grants proposed 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;
Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 November 20, 2019
and B. Award $25,000 to Jovenes, Inc. and $25,000 to Neighborhood Music School. The motion carried 4-0, Members Chang and Froberg absent.
MOTION Vice Chair Goff moved and Committee Member Gaviña seconded a motion to award $25,000 to Southeast Community Foundation. The motion carried 3-1, Chair Lopez abstaining and Members Froberg and Chang absent.
ORAL REPORTS James Hull, Jemmott-Rollins Group, conducted a PowerPoint Presentation summarizing the grants awarded and grant distribution areas.
ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Chair Lopez adjourned the meeting at 11:43 a.m.
________________________ LETICIA LOPEZ, Chair
ATTEST:
________________________ LISA POPE, City Clerk