HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-04-2025 HRC Agenda Packet
Human Relations Commission
AGENDA
Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
The Human Relations Commission holds in-person meetings. Zoom participation will not be
supported. Attendees of City Council or Advisory Body meetings are eligible to receive one hour of
complimentary parking; restrictions apply, visit Parking for Public Meetings for more details.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:
Public Comment prior to the meeting (must be received 3 hours in advance of the meeting):
Mail - Delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Address letters to the City Clerk's Office at 990
Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, 93401.
Email - Submit Public Comments via email to advisorybodies@slocity.org. In the body of your
email, please include the date of the meeting and the item number (if applicable). Emails will not
be read aloud during the meeting.
Voicemail - Call (805) 781-7164 and leave a voicemail. Please state and spell your name, the
agenda item number you are calling about, and leave your comment. Verbal comments must be
limited to 3 minutes. Voicemails will not be played during the meeting.
*All correspondence will be archived and distributed to members, however, submissions received
after the deadline may not be processed until the following day.
Public Comment during the meeting:
Meetings are held in-person. To provide public comment during the meeting, you must be
present at the meeting location.
Electronic Visual Aid Presentation. To conform with the City's Network Access and Use Policy,
Chapter 1.3.8 of the Council Policies & Procedures Manual, members of the public who desire
to utilize electronic visual aids to supplement their oral presentation must provide display-ready
material to the City Clerk by 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Contact the City Clerk's
Office at cityclerk@slocity.org or (805) 781-7114.
Pages
1.CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kasprzak will call the Regular Meeting of the Human Relations
Commission to order.
2.PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
The public is encouraged to submit comments on any subject within the
jurisdiction of the Human Relations Commission that does not appear on this
agenda. Although the Commission will not take action on items presented during
the Public Comment Period, the Chair may direct staff to place an item on a
future agenda for discussion.
3.CONSENT
Matters appearing on the Consent Calendar are expected to be non-
controversial and will be acted upon at one time. A member of the public may
request the Human Relations Commission to pull an item for discussion. The
public may comment on any and all items on the Consent Agenda within the
three-minute time limit.
3.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - MAY 7, 2025 HUMAN RELATIONS
COMMISSION MINUTES
5
Recommendation:
To approve the Human Relations Commission Minutes of May 7, 2025.
4.BUSINESS ITEMS
4.a OVERVIEW AND UPDATE ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIC PLAN
9
Recommendation:
Receive and file the Economic Development Strategic Plan overview
and update.
4.b UPDATE AND OVERVIEW OF THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN 11
Recommendation:
Receive and file the Climate Action Plan overview and update.
4.c SAN LUIS OBISPO POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATE 13
Recommendation:
Receive and file the update from the San Luis Obispo Police
Department.
4.d FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 DEI HIGH IMPACT GRANT FUNDING
INFORMATION AND PRIORITIES REVIEW
15
Recommendation:
Review, provide feedback, and approve the revised DEI High Impact
Grant funding information and priorities for Fiscal Year 2025-26 to be
sent to City Council for final approval.
5.PUBLIC HEARINGS
Note: Administrative decisions by the Human Relations Commission may be
appealed to the City Council in accordance with the appeal procedure set forth
in Chapter 1.20 of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code.
6.COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
6.a STAFF & COMMISSIONER UPDATES AND AGENDA FORECAST
Receive a brief update from Deputy City Manager Greg Hermann, DEI
Manager Matt Pennon, and DEI Admin Specialist Samantha
Vethavanam.
7.ADJOURNMENT
The next Special Meeting of the Human Relations Commission is scheduled for
July 9, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. The
July 2, 2025 Regular Meeting will be cancelled.
LISTENING ASSISTIVE DEVICES are available -- see the Clerk
The City of San Luis Obispo wishes to make all of its public meetings accessible
to the public. Upon request, this agenda will be made available in appropriate
alternative formats to persons with disabilities. Any person with a disability who
requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting
should direct such request to the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 781-7114 at least
48 hours before the meeting, if possible. Telecommunications Device for the
Deaf (805) 781-7410.
Agenda related writings or documents provided to the Human Relations
Commission are available for public inspection on the City’s website, under the
Public Meeting Agendas web page: https://www.slocity.org/government/mayor-
and-city-council/agendas-and-minutes. Meeting audio recordings can be found
on the City’s website:
http://opengov.slocity.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=60981&dbid=0&repo=CityCl
erk
1
Human Relations Commission Minutes
May 7, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
Human Relations
Commissioners Present:
Commissioner Mason Ambrosio (arrived at 5:09pm),
Commissioner Vincent DeTurris, Commissioner Esmeralda
Parker, Commissioner Sierra Smith, Chair Angie Kasprzak
Human Relations
Commissioners Absent:
Commissioner Stephanie Carlotti, Vice Chair Catuih Campos
City Staff Present: Deputy City Manager Greg Hermann, DEI Administrative
Specialist Samantha Vethavanam
_____________________________________________________________________
1. CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Human Relations Commission was
called to order on May 7, 2025 at 5:06 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 - APRIL 2, 2025 HUMAN RELATIONS
COMMISSION MINUTES
Motion By Commissioner Smith
Second By Commissioner Parker
To approve the Human Relations Commission Minutes of April 2, 2025.
Ayes (4): Commissioner DeTurris, Commissioner Parker, Commissioner
Smith, and Chair Kasprzak
Absent (3): Commissioner Ambrosio, Commissioner Carlotti, and Vice
Chair Campos
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2
CARRIED (4 to 0)
Commissioner Ambrosio joined the meeting at 5:09pm.
4. BUSINESS ITEMS
4.a HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE AND STRATEGIC PLAN OVERVIEW
AND UPDATE
Homelessness Response Manager Daisy Wiberg presented the staff
report and responded to Commission inquiries.
Chair Kasprzak opened Public Comment
Public Comment:
None
--End of Public Comment--
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5.a REVIEW 2025-26 HUMAN SERVICES GRANT SUBCOMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION TO
COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL
DEI Admin Specialist Samantha Vethavanam presented the staff report
and responded to Commission inquiries.
Chair Kasprzak opened Public Comment
Public Comment:
Jerry Mihaic
Jack Lahey
Sister Theresa Harpin
Brandee Puitt
Dianna Vojaw
Marina Bernheimer
Gary Petersen
Ana Huynh
Jason Main
Devon McQuade
Jane Connely
Greta Burk
Jessica Yacoub
Elaina Smolen
Laura Edwards
--End of Public Comment--
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3
Motion By Commissioner Parker
Second By Commissioner DeTurris
To provide the following funding recommendations to City Council for the
2025-26 Human Services Grants:
1. Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County
(CAPSLO) – Homeless Prevention/Stable Housing Program: $20,000
2. Housing Authority of the City of San Luis Obispo (HASLO) –
Housing Stability with Supportive Services: $15,000
3. Long Term Care Ombudsman Services of SLO County –
Ombudsman Services: $5,000
4. Lumina Alliance – Emergency Shelter Program for Sexual Assault and
Intimate Partner Violence: $20,000
5. Meals that Connect – Nutrition for Healthy Seniors: $5,000
6. Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) –
Housing/Wellness Navigator Program: $15,000
7. People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) – City of SLO Housing Program:
$10,000
8. Restorative Partners – Opportunity to Fund: $10,000
9. Shower the People – Shower Program: $20,000
10. SLO CASA – General SLO CASA Program Support: $15,000
11. SLO Legal Assistance Foundation (SLOLAF) – Senior Homeless
Prevention: $10,000
12. United Way of SLO County – 211 Homeless Intake and Homeless
Prevention Screening Services: $5,000
Ayes (4): Commissioner Ambrosio, Commissioner DeTurris,
Commissioner Parker, and Commissioner Smith
Noes (1): Chair Kasprzak
Absent (2): Commissioner Carlotti, and Vice Chair Campos
CARRIED (4 to 1)
6. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
6.a STAFF & COMMISSIONER UPDATES AND AGENDA FORECAST
Deputy City Manager Greg Hermann and DEI Admin Specialist Sam
Vethavanam provided the following update of upcoming projects:
• New DEI Manager, Matt Pennon, will be starting on May 8th.
• DEI High Impact Grant discussions will start at the June HRC
meeting.
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4
• Staff from the Police Department (PD), Economic Development &
Tourism, and Sustainability & Natural Resources will also provide
updates at the June HRC Meeting.
• DEI and PD will have a booth at Pride in the Plaza on Saturday
May 31st.
• An upcoming Mixteco Cultural Competency Zoom training will be
taking place Thursday, May 8th.
• The Construction Board of Appeals Meeting was held on May 6th,
which upheld the City Building Official’s determination of code
violations at 1150 Laurel Lane.
Commissioner DeTurris requested that the July 2, 2025 meeting be moved
to July 9, 2025.
Motion By Commissioner DeTurris
Second By Commissioner Smith
Action Taken: By consensus, the Commission moved the July 2, 2025
Human Relations Commission meeting to July 9, 2025.
CARRIED (5-0)
Chair Kasprzak provided updates on the following events:
• SLO Climate Coalition events
• Diversity Coalition events
• RACE Matter Brunch and Film Fest
• Mujeres de Accion Coffee event
• Bike month events
• Tiny House Tours at Waterman Village
• Pride Season
Commissioner Smith shared that the July HRC Meeting will be her last.
Homeless Response Manager Daisy Wiberg shared the following updates:
• 40 Prado is hosting a resource fair on June 4th
• Welcome Home Village groundbreaking sometime in June
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:34 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Human
Relations Commission is scheduled for June 4, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council
Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
_________________________
APPROVED BY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: XX/XX/202X
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Item 4a
Human Relations Commission
Agenda Report
For Agenda of: 6/4/2025
Item Number: 4a
FROM: Samantha Vethavanam, DEI Administrative Specialist
Phone Number: (805) 781-7064
E-mail: svethava@slocity.org
SUBJECT: OVERVIEW AND UPDATE ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIC PLAN
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and file the Economic Development Strategic Plan overview and update.
BACKGROUND
In July 2023, the City Council adopted an updated Economic Development Strategic Plan
(EDSP). The original EDSP was adopted in 2012 and updated in 2015. The overarching
goal of the plan is to continue to advance the economic vitality of the City of San Luis
Obispo (City) and develop strategies that strengthen the City's economic development
efforts while integrating the principles of sustainability, diversity, equity, and inclusion . The
current EDSP also emphasizes business retention, expansion of arts and culture, and
ongoing contributions to the vibrancy of downtown.
The EDSP has created broad themes that encompass the three following key pillars and
their subsequent action plans:
1. Business & Entrepreneurship Vitality
2. Placemaking & Promotion
3. Talent Development & Attraction
To keep the community informed on progress towards the goals of the EDSP, C ity staff
publish quarterly updates online. The latest update, from April 25, 2025, can be found
here. Of particular interest for the Human Relations Commission within the EDSP are the
following items, which overlap with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives:
1.4.2: Encourage business development in sectors that support the long -terms
goals of the City as it relates to sustainability and DEI.
1.4.3: Use information gathered from the business license demographic questions
to reach out to specific types of businesses to help determine the unique needs of
minority-owned businesses and develop a plan to address identified challenges
with assistance from relevant partners.
1.4.4: Encourage and promote inclusive business practices Citywide by capturing
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Item 4a
and showcasing best practices discovered from the DEI Business Grant program
and other relevant programs. Share and distribute creative solutions to the broader
business community.
1.5.2: Continue to partner with the Office of DEI to implement the economic
development related actions in the DEI Major City Goal and planned DEI strategic
framework as well as the DEI related actions in the updated EDSP.
1.5.3: Leverage information gathered from surveys, business visitations, insights
from local partners, and other sources to dete rmine business support gaps and
monitor improvements over time.
1.5.4: Ensure awareness of business support and economic development
resources, especially within minority communities and among business owners
who are new to the area or may have language ba rriers.
2.1.2: Ensure that the City’s efforts related to sustainability and open space
protection (as documented in the CAP) and DEI (as documented in the forthcoming
DEI Strategic Plan) are incorporated into the ED&T work program, as appropriate.
2.2.1.1: Highlight diverse residents, visitors, business owners, and employees to
share testimonials of their experiences in SLO. This could be individuals sharing
stories of their business, occupation, hobbies, personal history, or experience with
local events and destinations.
2.2.2: Highlight the diverse culture, history, assets, and amenities of the City to
help foster a sense of inclusion.
2.4.3: Investigate the alignment of artistic and cultural initiatives across the City.
2.4.5: Engage the Office of DEI to develop initiatives that encourage increased
participation in arts programming by underserved groups, including youth.
This item will include an overview of the Economic Development team and their roles
within the City, an overview of the EDSP and some progress highlights, and an update
on the items listed above.
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Item 4b
Human Relations Commission
Agenda Report
For Agenda of: 6/4/2025
Item Number: 4b
FROM: Samantha Vethavanam, DEI Administrative Specialist
Phone Number: (805) 781-7064
E-mail: svethava@slocity.org
SUBJECT: UPDATE AND OVERVIEW OF THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and file the Climate Action Plan overview and update.
BACKGROUND
The City of San Luis Obispo (City) first adopted their Climate Action Plan in 2012. In 2020,
the City adopted a new Climate Action Plan which also established a goal of carbon
neutrality by 2035. In 2022, the City approved a new update to the Climate Action Plan
series, which built upon the efforts of the past and consists of three volumes:
Volume 1: Stories from 2035, which includes a summary of the Climate Action
Plan through stories told from the future about a post-COVID 19 carbon neutral
San Luis Obispo and the foundational actions that were undertaken to get there.
Volume 2: Technical Foundation and Work Program, which describes the
Climate Action Plan update process, provides a greenhouse gas emissions
inventory summary, describes the foundational actions required to achieve deep
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and includes a work program for plan
implementation.
Volume 3: 2023-2027 Work Program, which provides clear direction on the
projects and programs the City will implement from 2023 through 2027 to advance
climate action. It also includes a 2020-2022 Climate Action Plan progress update.
While the plan is centered around reducing community greenhouse gas emissions, it also
focuses on using resources more effectively, improving community equity and well-being,
and developing an economy that is set to recover from the impacts of COVID -19 and
thrive in a rapidly changing 21st century.
The Office of Sustainability and Natural Resources has made a conscious effort to center
diversity, equity, and inclusion values in all climate action work. Equity has a strong nexus
to climate change and sustainability and is therefore included as a core consideration in
every implementation project plan of the Climate Action Plan.
This item will include an overview of the Sustainability and Natural Resources team and
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Item 4b
their roles within the City as well as an overview of the Climate Action Plan and its
progress, especially highlighting areas where equity has played a role.
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Item 4c
Human Relations Commission
Agenda Report
For Agenda of: 6/4/2025
Item Number: 4c
FROM: Samantha Vethavanam, DEI Administrative Specialist
Phone Number: (805) 781-7064
E-mail: svethava@slocity.org
SUBJECT: SAN LUIS OBISPO POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATE
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and file the update from the San Luis Obispo Police Department.
BACKGROUND
In 2023, the San Luis Obispo Police Department (SLO PD) began work on their 5-Year
Strategic Plan, which was subsequently finalized and disseminated in early 2024. The
Strategic Plan will guide the direction and work effort of the SLO PD for the next five
years, from 2024 to 2029. The strategic planning process included broad community
engagement that allowed the strategic planning team to best align SLO PD’s goals with
the community's needs and expectations.
The Strategic Plan includes six goals or “pillars” that were identified as key priorities
during the planning process, including:
1) Service to the Community
2) Community Engagement
3) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
4) Recruitment and Retention
5) Health and Wellness
6) Improve Infrastructure, Equipment, and Technology
Within each goal, objectives were also developed to guide the work effort over the next
five years and beyond. The plan also contains individual “Action Items” which support the
work plans for each objective.
Furthermore, each summer, the police department provides an update to City Council on
their SLO PD Annual Report for the previous year. Last year, Chief Rick Scott provided
the update on August 20, 2024, for the 2023 Annual Report. This year, Chief Scott will be
presenting again to City Council sometime in late summer, depending on Council’s
agenda schedule.
The Annual Report provides an overview of the past operational year, covering several
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Item 4c
key areas integral to the department’s operations and future planning such as
organizational structure, finances, community engagement, officer wellness, department
statistics, technology, recruitment and retention, the Community Action Team, and
neighborhood wellness.
The 2024 presentation highlighted the department’s accomplishments including the
substantial decrease in all crimes, its crime prevention efforts moving forward, and the
development of the Five-Year Strategic Plan. Included in that report was also information
on the Community Service Officer (CSO) program, which is a modern approach to least
harm policing, placing highly qualified and trained non-sworn officers throughout the city.
The CSO team focuses on low-level and nuisance type activities such as drinking,
littering, and noise violations. CSOs also provide traffic control when needed, provide
security and other assistance at crime scenes, assist with custody and release of
property, and issue citations for non-moving traffic violations, as well as enforce other
violations of the Municipal Code.
The (new) CSO team continues to thrive, expanding from four officers to six in 2023 and
issuing a total of 110 citations and making a total of 391 arrests that would have
consumed limited police patrol resources.
Additionally, the department currently tracks and responds to hate crime/incident data
and reports this information annually to City Council. SLO PD has also historically, and
will continue to, provide this data on a quarterly basis to the Office of DEI.
Data is received via the City’s website – in late 2022, the police department further
assisted the community by including a section on their website informing the public of the
process to report a hate crime/incident. The website includes an online form for reporting
as well as a flowchart in both Spanish and English (see image below) on what to do if
someone believes that they witnessed or experienced a hate crime/incident. The City’s
Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) continue supported efforts and included a
section on its website linking to SLO_PD’s page and providing additional resources for
individuals who witness or experience a hate crime/incident.
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Item 4d
Human Relations Commission
Agenda Report
For Agenda of: 6/4/2025
Item Number: 4d
FROM: Samantha Vethavanam, DEI Administrative Specialist
Phone Number: (805) 781-7064
E-mail: svethava@slocity.org
SUBJECT: FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 DEI HIGH IMPACT GRANT FUNDING
INFORMATION AND PRIORITIES REVIEW
RECOMMENDATION
Review, provide feedback, and approve the revised DEI High Impact Grant funding
information and priorities for Fiscal Year 2025-26 to be sent to City Council for final
approval.
BACKGROUND
The DEI High Impact Grant is currently provided on an annual basis through the City of
San Luis Obispo’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The program provides
financial support to nonprofit organizations to enhance the sense of belonging for all
people in the San Luis Obispo community. The funding allocation is an effort to uplift and
support local projects, programs, and initiatives that contribute to creating a San Luis
Obispo that is welcoming, inclusive, equitable, and safe. The scope of equity and
inclusion work is inherently broad and complex, and the funding seeks to support
initiatives that show an understanding of systemic and structural issues and how to
address their “root causes” in a demonstrable way.
The Human Relations Commission (HRC) has historically reviewed and set the funding
priorities for the grant. This year, HRC will first review the current funding priorities, as
revised by the Office of DEI, along with any public input, and make a recommendation to
City Council, who will provide final approval. This will continue to occur on a two-year
basis in alignment with the City’s Financial Plan process.
The revised DEI High Impact Grant information for Fiscal Year 2025-26 presented for
review includes the funding priorities, illustrative examples of systemic and structural
issues, funding examples, funding requirements, fundin g criteria, additional information,
prohibitions, and the decision process.
NEXT STEPS
HRC will review and revise, as needed, the DEI High Impact Grant funding information
and priorities and make a recommendation to send the finalized information to City
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Item 4d
Council for approval or make a recommendation to staff to further revise the information
and bring it back to the next HRC meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
A - Revised 2025-26 DEI High Impact Grant Funding Information and Priorities.
Page 16 of 20
DEI High Impact Grant Revised Funding Priorities
DRAFT – 5/23/2025
Statement:
The DEI High Impact Grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations to
enhance the sense of belonging for all people in the community of San Luis Obispo. This
funding allocation is an effort to uplift and support local projects, programs, and initiatives
that contribute to creating a San Luis Obispo that is welcoming, inclusive, equitable, and
safe. The scope of equity and inclusion work is inherently broad and complex, and the
funding seeks to support initiatives that show understanding of root cause issues and
intractable problems, can demonstrate measurable success, and will contribute to some
aspect of systemic change.
Funding Priorities:
Funding should primarily focus on advancing and implementing diversity, equity, and
inclusion through innovative practices that seek to narrow equity gaps and address
intractable, systemic, and structural issues. Eligible projects may provide a one-time
service with long-lasting impacts.
Illustrative examples of systemic/structural issues include:
1. Lack of affordable housing development and access to housing.
2. Lack of access to culturally and linguistically appropriate behavioral health
services.
3. Impact of poverty and unemployment.
4. Lack of diversity in government and governing institutions.
5. Racial and socio-economic disparities in the criminal justice system.
6. Lack of environmental justice and equitable access to sustainable resources.
7. Lack of equity in access and representation in decision-making processes and
leadership roles.
8. Lack of diverse individual civic engagement related to voting representation and
election education.
9. Lack of diverse employers and work programs.
Funding Examples
DEI High Impact Grant funds can be used for innovative, new or existing projects,
initiatives, and ongoing programs to reduce equity gaps and improve social justice
initiatives for underserved and underrepresented communities in the City of San Luis
Obispo.
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Proposal may focus on specific underserved and underrepresented communities, but all
projects, applications, and concepts must provide access to the entire City of San Luis
Obispo community-at-large and contribute to a positive systemic/structural change.
Examples of previously funded activities include: (examples are illustrative and not
ranked)
• Enhancing language access for Spanish-speaking community members in public
historical exhibits.
• Expanding access to education and knowledge on social services programs by
developing public how-to videos in English, Spanish, and Mixteco.
• Creating cultural spaces for learning purposes to expand community building and
belonging for all.
• Enhancing board leadership programs to include a diversity lens to create more
inclusive governing bodies and government organizations.
• Providing and enhancing ally or advocacy training programs designed to build
community momentum and social justice.
• Public community art projects designed to uplift and bring social awareness of
social cause issues impacting equity, communication, and stories of underserved
and underrepresented communities.
• City-wide trainings and panel discussion events on sensitive topics that create
awareness, equity, belonging, and challenges exclusive narratives.
Funding Requirements
1 Complete and submit a grant application (must include)
1.1 One-page DEI Statement that includes:
1.1.1 Applicant’s understanding and application of DEI concepts/values
1.1.2 Affirming language that creates access and a sense of belonging to all
community members.
1.1.3 Explain how the proposal will advance DEI in the City of SLO.
1.2 One-page detailed budget for the proposal including how the total amount
requested will be allocated.
1.3 Organizational chart (if joint application, all organizations must provide chart)
1.4 Document certifying Federal Tax-Exempt Status
2 Applicants must demonstrate core values of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion
in their purpose/mission statement and daily operations and have been providing
DEI-related initiatives or programs within SLO County for at least two (2) years
prior to application. (The proposal can be for something new, but the recipient
organization must have been operating locally for at least two [2] years.)
3 Grant recipients must enter into a contract with the City prior to receipt of DEI
funds, the form of which can be found here: Download sample contract.
4 Grant recipients must complete periodic impact reports and provide them timely.
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5 Grant recipients must submit a final impact report at the end of project or at 12
months from start, whichever comes first. Grant recipients will be expected to
return unused funds. Download sample report.
Funding Criteria
1 Applicants must be a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, government or
education entity, or faith-based organization
2 80% of the funded activities must occur in the City of San Luis Obispo.
3 Funded activities must serve at least 80% City residents. Applicants that provide
services to neighboring communities, but also serve a significant number of City
residents, will be considered.
4 Requests must be for programs or services with the ability to show measurable
impact and success. New creative approaches that are rooted in best practices or
evidence-based, as well as proven approaches, are highly encouraged.
5 Collaborations between one or more organizations or groups are welcome and
encouraged. At least one organization in the partnership needs to be an eligible
entity noted above.
Additional Funding Information
1 Single applicants’ minimum request of $5,000 and a maximum request of $20,000
2 For partner applications (two or more applicants) there is no minimum dollar
amount request, but the maximum request is $40,000. A lead organization must
be identified in the application.
3 A maximum of one (1) grant award is allowed per organization (or per partnership
if a collaborative project)
4 Funding may be used for new (innovative) or existing projects, programs,
concepts, or initiatives that have proven success and/or utilize best practices or
innovative approaches.
5 Innovative projects, programs, concepts, and initiatives are highly encouraged.
6 Projects, programs, concepts, and initiatives that leverage existing or other
funding sources to supplement proposal is highly encouraged.
Prohibited Use of Funds
1 Funds CANNOT be used for advancing, advocating, promoting, or highlighting
political causes, entities, ballot measures, or candidates.
2 Funds CANNOT be used for advancing, advocating, promoting, or highlighting
religious causes, entities, individuals, or activities. Funding CANNOT be used for
the purpose of disseminating religious information.
3 Funds CANNOT be used for profit or personal gain.
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Funding Decisions
The Human Relations Commission (HRC) will exercise discretion when developing
funding recommendations.
The HRC will review, with support from the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, all
applications (that are completed, timely submitted, and meet the funding criteria) and
develop funding recommendations based on the answers and attestations provided in
each application. Recommendations will be presented to the City Council for approval.
Proposals will be evaluated for meeting an identified and defined
intractable/systemic/structural problem or need, potential to succeed, ability to make a
high impact, or advance systemic change, and for centering efforts to address inequities
for underserved and underrepresented communities while serving all community
members.
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