HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 6b. Consideration of 2025-26 Human Services Grant Funding Priorities Item 6b
Department: Administration
Cost Center: 1010
For Agenda of: 12/10/2024
Placement: Consent
FROM: Greg Hermann, Deputy City Manager
Prepared By: Nestor Veloz-Passalacqua, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF THE 2025-26 HUMAN SERVICES GRANT
FUNDING PRIORITIES
RECOMMENDATION
As recommended by the Human Relations Commission (HRC), approve the Human
Services Grants (HSG) funding priorities for the 2025-26 funding year.
DISCUSSION
The City’s biennial review of the HSG Program, previously titled Grants-in-Aid, provides
the community with the opportunity to provide early input into the grant program to ensure
alignment with current community needs. Establishing funding priorities is an essential
step in the grant process, which helps to ensure a transparent, equitable, and intentional
application process.
Background
HSG Program Overview
The City’s HSG Program is a competitive grant that provides financial support to non -
profit organizations that promote the economic and social well-being of the San Luis
Obispo community. Programs requesting funding must be tied to at least one funding
priority, preferably the main priority as listed below, and must be compliant with the HRC
bylaws.
HSG Process
The steps in the review process for the HSG program are as follows:
1. HRC Review of Grant Program Information: The HRC conducted a review of the
current HSG program language on August 15, 2024, to identify potential areas that
needed clarification for the applicants. This initial review allows HRC to incorporate
feedback based on last grant cycle.
2. HRC Community Grant Workshop: The HRC hosted a public hearing on
September 12, 2024, to inform the public about the HSG program, the purpose of
the grant, the current funding priorities, and the application process. During this
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hearing, HRC received community input that is included in the recommended
funding priorities with the goal to align the communi ty’s needs with the grant
program. Draft minutes from this meeting can be found in Attachment A.
3. City Council Approval of 2025-26 HSG Funding Priority: Upon completion of the
HSG program review by HRC and the comments from the public hearing, the City
Council reviews the recommendations and approves funding priorities to take
effect for the 2025-26 grant cycle.
4. HRC Preliminary Funding Recommendation & Public Hearing: Upon receipt and
review of the applications for the 2025 -26 grant cycle, the HRC will hold a public
hearing to present the preliminary funding recommendations. Community
members have the opportunity to provide public input to the commission. At the
end of the hearing, the HRC will vote on their final funding recommendations to be
presented to Council for approval.
5. City Council Approval of Final Recommendations: City Council will review and
approve final funding recommendations for the HSG.
HSG Funding Priorities for 2025-26
After completion of the Community Grant Workshop, the HRC reviewed the HSG program
language and decided to make a few minor adjustments for the 2025 -26 grant cycle. The
HRC recommended to maintain the same funding priorities and added clarifying language
to ensure potential applicants would understand the current focus of the grant program
and the likelihood to be awarded funds based on that.
Human Services Grant Funding Priorities
Previous Language HRC Recommended Language for
Fiscal Year 2025-26
Main Priority:
Homeless prevention including
affordable and alternative housing,
supportive services, and transitional
housing.
The following additional priority funding
areas are not listed in order of
importance:
Hunger and malnutrition prevention
Supportive physical and mental
health services for those in need
Services for seniors, veterans
and/or people with disabilities in
need
Main Priority:
For the 2025-26 Fiscal Year, the main
funding priority is:
Homelessness prevention including
affordable, alternative, and
transitional housing, and supportive
services.
Secondary Funding Priorities:
The following secondary funding
priorities are not listed in order of
importance and may receive funding
if available:
Hunger and malnutrition prevention
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Supportive, developmental, and
care services for children and youth
in need
Services encouraging diversity,
equity, and inclusivity in
marginalized communities, including
access to language services.
Supportive physical and mental
health services for those in need
Services for seniors, veterans and/or
people with disabilities in need
Supportive, developmental, and care
services for children and youth in
need
Services encouraging diversity,
equity, and inclusivity in marginalized
communities, including access to
language services.
In addition, based on previous Council direction, language will be added to the grant
webpage and program materials explaining that the HRC will first fund all qualified
applications that meet the main priority. After qualified main priority applications a re
funded, the HRC will consider applications for the secondary funding priorities.
Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
The HRC conducted a review of the current HSG program language on August 15, 2024.
Public Engagement
As previously noted, the HRC hosted a Community Grant Workshop on September 12,
2024, to inform the public about the HSG program, the purpose of the grant, the current
funding priorities, and the application process. As required, staff released a public hearing
notice in advance of the hearing. Additionally, during the August 15, 2024 meeting, staff
made the announcement and update about the HRC reviewing the Human Services Grant
Program funding priorities.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to the recommended
action in this report, because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA
Guidelines Sec. 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2025-26
Funding Identified: Yes
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Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
General Fund $150,000 $150,000 $ $
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total $150,000 $150,000 $ $
The City budgets $150,000 annually from the General Fund to the HSG program.
Establishing funding priorities does have an immediate fiscal impact but will aid the HRC
in providing a recommendation to Council for final approval.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Council may modify the proposed funding priorities. Council should provide
direction on specific modifications to the proposed funding priorities.
2. Council may continue consideration of the funding priorities. Council should
provide direction to staff regarding additional information needed to decide on
priorities.
ATTACHMENTS
A - HRC Approved Minutes from September 12, 2024
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1
Human Relations Commission Minutes
September 12, 2024, 5:00 p.m.
City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
Human Relations
Commissioners
Present:
Commissioners Mason Ambrosio, Stephanie Carlotti, Vincent
DeTurris, Sierra Smith, Taryn Warrecker, Vice Chair Catuih
Campos, Chair Angie Kasprzak
City Staff Present: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Nestor Veloz-
Passalacqua, Kevin Christian, Deputy City Clerk Sara Armas
1. CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Human Relations Commission was
called to order on September 12, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room
at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, by Chair Kasprzak.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public Comment:
None
End of Public Comment--
3. CONSENT
3.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - AUGUST 15, 2024 HUMAN
RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES
Motion By Commissioner Warrecker
Second By Vice Chair Campos
To approve the Human Relations Commission Minutes of August 15,
2024.
Ayes (7): Commissioner Ambrosio, Commissioner Carlotti, Commissioner
DeTurris, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Warrecker, Vice Chair
Campos, and Chair Kasprzak
CARRIED (7 to 0)
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4. BUSINESS ITEMS
4.a REVIEW OF THE DEI HIGH IMPACT GRANT MID-YEAR REPORTS
Commissioners provided comments on the 2023-24 DEI High Impact
Grant mid-year reports per their assigned grant recipients.
Public Comment:
None
End of Public Comment--
4.b REVIEW OF THE DEI SLO BUSINESS GRANT YEAR-END REPORTS
Commissioners provided comments and updates on the 2023-24 DEI SLO
Business Grant year-end reports for the organizations according to their
liaison assignments.
Public Comment:
None
End of Public Comment--
5. PUBLIC HEARING
5.a HUMAN SERVICES GRANT (HSG) COMMUNITY NEEDS GRANT
WORKSHOP
Staff provided a report on the Human Services Grant (HSG) Community
Needs Grants, including clarifications on past contracts.
Public Comment:
Stephen Vines
End of Public Comment--
Commissioners provided input for modifications to the HSG application.
Motion By Commissioner Smith
Second By Commissioner Ambrosio
Accept the draft application with the discussed modifications regarding
emphasis on verbiage.
Ayes (7): Commissioners Ambrosio, Carlotti, DeTurris, Smith, Warrecker,
Vice Chair Campos, and Chair Kasprzak
CARRIED (7 to 0)
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6. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
6.a STAFF & COMMISSIONER UPDATES AND AGENDA FORECAST
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Nestor Veloz-Passalacqua
provided the following update of upcoming projects:
One hour parking vouchers are provided to Commissioners and
meeting attendees
DEI High Impact Grant Application opened July 22, 2024 and
closed August 31, 2024
30 applications were received with 29 eligible applications for
review. A total of $642,995 is being requested
The DEI Administrative Specialist job posting has been delayed
A meeting with the California Department of Civil Rights (CDCR)
Community Conflict Resolution Unit (CCRU) took place on July 30,
2024
Film Screening regarding UndocuSupport DEI High Impact Grant
Project September 28, 2024
Commissioner Campos reported on upcoming voting and election
workshops.
Chair Kasprzak reported that the Heritage Spanish Festival in Paso
Robles will be help this coming September 15, 2024.
Commissioner Smith reported that the SLO Climate Coalition has a
scheduled event, September 13, 2024.
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Human
Relations Commission is scheduled for October 2, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. in the
Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
APPROVED BY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: 10/02/2024
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