Loading...
20230913 Special Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Agenda PacketSpecial Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting Agenda September 13, 2023 Page 1 of 2 Agenda City of Vernon Special Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting Wednesday, September 13, 2023, 10:00 AM City Hall, Council Chamber 4305 Santa Fe Avenue, Vernon, California Frank Gaviña, Chair Mark Gonzalez, Vice Chair Clara Bustamante, Member Ronit Edry, Member Steven Froberg, Member Leticia Lopez, Member Michelle Ybarra, Member The public is encouraged to view the agenda and meeting through the CityofVernon.org/publicmeetings webpage. You may address the Committee in the Council Chambers, via mail or email to PublicComment@cityofvernon.org, include the meeting date and item number in the subject line (mail and/or email must be received at least two hours prior to the start of the meeting). CALL TO ORDER FLAG SALUTE ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT Members of the public interested in addressing the Commission during this Special meeting may address any item which has been described in the notice of this Special Meeting in accordance with Government Code Section 54954.3(a). Special Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting Agenda September 13, 2023 Page 2 of 2 CONSENT CALENDAR All matters listed on the Consent Calendar are to be approved with one motion. Items may be removed from the Consent Calendar for individual consideration. Removed items will be considered immediately following the Consent Calendar. 1. Meeting Minutes Recommendation: Approve the May 17, 2023 Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting Minutes. NEW BUSINESS 2. Vernon CommUNITY Fund Allocation and Grantmaking Recommendations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 Recommendation: Discuss the Vernon CommUNITY Fund grantmaking program allocation for FY 2023-24, provide recommendations for grantmaking, and determine distribution for Direct Service Grants and Scholarship Grants. ORAL REPORTS 3. Brief Reports, Announcements, or Directives to Staff ADJOURNMENT On September 7, 2023, the foregoing agenda was posted in accordance with the applicable legal requirements. Regular and Adjourned Regular meeting agendas may be amended up to 72 hours and Special meeting agendas may be amended up to 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Agenda Report Meeting Date:September 13, 2023 From:Lisa Pope, City Clerk Department:City Clerk Submitted by:Sandra Dolson, Administrative Secretary Subject Meeting Minutes Recommendation Approve the May 17, 2023 Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting Minutes. Background Staff has prepared and submits the minutes for approval. Fiscal Impact There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Attachments 1. May 17, 2023 Regular VCFGC Meeting Minutes MINUTES VERNON COMMUNITY FUND GRANT COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY MAY 17, 2023 COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE CALL TO ORDER Chair Gaviña called the meeting to order at 10:11 a.m. FLAG SALUTE Chair Gaviña led the Flag Salute. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Frank Gaviña, Chair Mark Gonzalez, Vice Chair Clara Bustamante, Committee Member Michelle Ybarra, Committee Member ABSENT: Ronit Edry, Committee Member Steven Froberg, Committee Member Leticia Lopez, Committee Member STAFF PRESENT: Lisa Pope, City Clerk Diana Figueroa, Administrative Analyst Scott Williams, Finance Director Frances Jemmott, Consultant James Hull, Consultant APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA MOTION Vice Chair Gonzalez moved and Member Ybarra seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Members Edry, Froberg and Lopez absent. PUBLIC COMMENT None. Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 3 May 17, 2023 CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION Vice Chair Gonzalez moved and Member Ybarra seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Members Edry, Froberg and Lopez absent. The Consent Calendar consisted of the following item: 1. Approval of Minutes Recommendation: Approve the November 16, 2022 Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee meeting minutes. NEW BUSINESS 2. Fiscal Year 2022-23 Docket II Vernon CommUNITY Fund (VCF) Scholarship Grants Administrative Analyst Figueroa presented the staff report. MOTION Vice Chair Gonzalez moved and Member Ybarra seconded a motion to award Fiscal Year 2022-23 VCF Docket II Scholarship Grants totaling $40,000 to the following students: Applicant #1 from Maywood Center for Enriched Studies - $6,000; Applicant #2 from Alliance Collins Family - $5,000; Applicant #3 from Maywood Center for Enriched Studies - $3,000; Applicant #4 from Maywood Center for Enriched Studies - $6,000; Applicant #5 from Brio College Prep - $3,000; Applicant #6 from Maywood Center for Enriched Studies - $6,000; Applicant #7 from Garfield High School - $6,000; and Applicant #8 from Garfield High School - $5,000. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0, Members Edry, Froberg, and Lopez absent. ORAL REPORTS Administrative Analyst Figueroa discussed the need for a special meeting following the City Council’s budget adoption. CONSENSUS By consensus, the Committee determined to conduct a special meeting on July 19, 2023, at 10 a.m. Administrative Analyst Figueroa presented the updated Vernon CommUNITY Fund webpage and SELA Region Video Campaign. She shared a thank you letter from Libros Schmibros Lending Library for the City’s grant allocation. Regular Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 3 May 17, 2023 City Clerk Pope announced upcoming Commission vacancies and encouraged applications. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Chair Gaviña adjourned the meeting at 10:25 a.m. ________________________ FRANK GAVIÑA, Chair ATTEST: _______________________ LISA POPE, City Clerk (seal) 4 1 2 Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee Agenda Report Meeting Date:September 13, 2023 From:Carlos Fandino, City Administrator Department:City Administration Submitted by:Diana Figueroa, Administrative Analyst Subject Vernon CommUNITY Fund Allocation and Grantmaking Recommendations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 Recommendation Discuss the Vernon CommUNITY Fund grantmaking program allocation for FY 2023-24, provide recommendations for grantmaking, and determine distribution for Direct Service Grants and Scholarship Grants. Background The City Council created the Vernon CommUNITY Fund (VCF) to provide grants to charitable and governmental entities for projects and programs that benefit those residing and working in Vernon and, on February 4, 2014, the City Council established the Vernon CommUNITY Fund Grant Committee (Grant Committee), providing the basic guidelines and operational procedures for said Committee and its officers, including those related to the allocation of funds and the processes for reviewing and ranking applications and awarding grants. The VCF highlights the City's commitment as a good neighbor to the Southeast Los Angeles region and upholds its responsibility to good governance and service to the community. FY 2023-24 VCF Budget Pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Section 2.48.100, the City Council may appropriate funds to the VCF at its discretion. Typically, City Council approves a budget appropriation for VCF funds each fiscal year through the normal budgetary process. With a challenging fiscal year underway due to a significant loss of City revenues and other more broad economic factors affecting the City, during budget workshops for the FY 2023-24 budget, the Council deliberated extensively on the areas in which the Citywide budget could be adjusted to accommodate the City’s short and long-term goals. In addition to the City’s support of community organizations provided through the VCF, the City also looked to establish a Health & Wellness Program that could serve the local community, including the large population of workers in Vernon. This initiative engages Wellness Equity Alliance (WEA), a contracted healthcare firm, to provide a Public Health Officer for the City and expand the services offered by the City’s Health and Environmental Control Department to improve the quality of life for individuals and families in the Vernon Area. Through WEA, the program will provide access to medical personnel for physical and mental health screenings and treatments via the City’s mobile healthcare units, and future plans include the establishment of a Vernon-based clinic that will be conveniently accessible to Vernon's daytime population of workers, Vernon residents, and neighboring community members. After much thoughtful consideration, an amount of $250,000 was approved for the VCF for FY 2023-24 (which began on July 1, 2023), while the City dedicated a sum of approximately $670,000 to its new Health & Wellness Program. 4 1 2 4 1 2 VCF Allocation Distribution At its September 13, 2023 Special Meeting, the VCF Grant Committee is to discuss recommendations for grantmaking in the current fiscal year, and distributions for Administrative Costs (which include third-party support services, Committee stipends, and supplies), Direct Service Grants, and Scholarship Grants. As per VCF guidelines, Administrative Costs shall first be determined for the fiscal year and the amount shall be allocated for payment from funds appropriated to the VCF. It is important to note that Council directed staff to restrict contracted VCF support services solely for the evaluation of organizations and their respective applications for Direct Service Grants; and to eliminate third- party contractor involvement with the review of Scholarship Grant applications in order to mitigate administrative overhead. On August 15, 2023, the City Council approved a three-year Services Agreement with Jemmott Rollins Group (JRG) for an annual amount of $66,000 following advertisement of a Request for Proposals for VCF administrative support services. With the Council approved VCF budget appropriation for the year, pursuant to VMC Section 2.48.100, it is within the authority of the Grant Committee to allocate the appropriated funds across the applicable categories: Administrative Costs, Direct Service Grants and/or Scholarship Grants. Since funds for FY 2023-24 are more limited than in past years, City Council has proposed that the following distribution of VCF funds be considered by the Grant Committee: VCF Allocation Breakdown Amount Percentage of VCF Allocation Administrative Costs $68,000 27% Direct Service Grants $162,000 65% Scholarship Grants $20,000 8% Total:$250,000 100% In addition to determining the distribution of VCF funds, staff also seeks the Grant Committee’s guidance on its preferred focus area for grantmaking. Through the years, the VCF has awarded various organizations with grants that target healthcare, minority advocacy, education, youth recreation, elder care and services, food insecurity, the arts, and more. With this year’s allocation, it would be helpful to share insight on the Grant Committee’s preferences with potential grant applicants to ensure a proper evaluation of funding needs relative to that which is being considered by the VCF. This would help channel funds in a direction that is of particular interest to the Grant Committee. The Grant Committee is encouraged to deliberate on its goals for FY 2023-24, so the budget allocation authorized by Council is optimized to address the most pronounced needs of Vernon Area communities. FY 2023-24 Meeting Schedule Regular meeting dates for the Grant Committee typically occur in May and November, with Direct Service Grants considered for deliberation in November and Scholarship Grants considered in May. Restructuring to two meetings per year has served the VCF well, allowing for a reduction in year-round grant activities performed and simplifying VCF grant program management. Staff recommends continuing with the bi-annual regular meeting schedule but proposes that the Direct Service Grant awards for this fiscal year be postponed until February 21, 2024 (rather than November 15, 2023). With this year’s lengthy Citywide budget planning, the recent award of a new Services Agreement with the VCF consultant, and grantmaking direction from the Grant Committee coming in mid-September, an adjusted grant award timeline would be appropriate. A 4 1 2 VCF fund availability notice would be issued in the coming weeks to announce a Direct Service Grant application period of October through December of 2023, with internal review planned for January of 2024, and a special VCF Grant Committee meeting scheduled for February. This modified timeline would ensure that ample time is provided to the non-profit community to apply for a VCF grant and would be consistent with the three-month application window normally offered for Direct Service Grant and Scholarship Grant applicants. The Grant Committee’s regularly scheduled May 2024 meeting would continue to be dedicated to the award of FY 2023-24 Scholarship Grants. Conclusion It continues to be the City’s mission to achieve alignment with grantmaker best practices and to streamline internal operations. City staff will sustain its efforts to maintain proportional administration activities and related expenses and provide thorough and thoughtful recommendations to the VCF Grant Committee that maximize the City’s support of the Vernon Area. Fiscal Impact There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. Attachments None.