Staff Report
PREPARED BY: SHELAYNE HAMMACK
Management Analyst
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 04/18/2017
ITEM NO: 13
DATE: APRIL 10, 2017
TO: TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2017/18 COMMUNITY GRANTS FUNDING
RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Fiscal Year 2017/18 Community Grants funding recommendations.
BACKGROUND:
The Town of Los Gatos offers two Community Grant programs: the Arts, Cultural, and
Educational Program (Arts Program) and the Human Services Program. The Town distributed a
total of $119,800 for Community Grants during Fiscal Year (FY) 2016/17. The Arts Program was
funded at $19,800. At its March 1, 2016 meeting, Council approved an additional one time
allocation of $10,000 for the Human Services Program for West Valley Community Services,
raising the total Human Service Program to $100,000. As a starting point for the FY 2017/18
Community Grants process, staff indicated the availability of $19,800 for the Arts Program and
$90,000 for the Human Services Program.
For FY 2017/18, the Town accepted applications from January 11, 2017 through February 7,
2017. All previous grant applicants were notified and the availability of applications was
advertised on What's New, the Town's website, and all forms of the Town's Social Media.
DISCUSSION:
For FY 2017/18, the Town received five applications for the Arts, Cultural, and Educational
Program and ten applications for the Human Services Program (see Attachment 1 for the
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RECOMMENDATIONS
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DISCUSSION (cont’d):
applications). The total amount requested by all fifteen applications is $178,094, exceeding the
anticipated budget of $109,800.
Arts, Cultural, and Educational Program
Following the Town’s practice, the Arts and Culture Commission Grant Subcommittee met and
reviewed all the Arts, Cultural, and Educational applications on February 23, 2017. The
Subcommittee made their allocation recommendations (see Attachment 2).
The Arts and Culture Commission considered the Subcommittee’s recommendations at its
meeting on March 15, 2017. A public hearing was held at that meeting and all five applicants
spoke to the Commission. Before discussion, the Commission Chair and the Vice Chair recused
themselves from the discussion due to conflicts of interest. The remaining five Commissioners
discussed the Subcommittee recommendations and voted to make some changes. Attachment
3 contains the Arts and Culture Commission's final recommendations for FY 2017/18 to the
Town Council.
The Commission's recommendations are based on maintaining a variety of organizations and
programs which they believe will make a positive impact in Los Gatos. The two new
organizations that are recommended for funding in FY 2017/18 are Los Gatos Morning Rotary
for the Plein Air Festival and the New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) for their cataloging and
digitizing project. The organizations that are recommended to continue receiving grants are
the Los Gatos Community Concert Association, NUMU Explorer Program, and the Art Docents
of Los Gatos.
Human Services Program
Similar to the Arts and Culture Commission process, the Community and Senior Services
Commission Grant Subcommittee met on March 1, 2017. The Subcommittee reviewed all the
applications and made its allocation recommendations (see Attachment 4).
The Community and Senior Services Commission considered these recommendations at its
meeting on March 28, 2017. A public hearing was held and eight out of the ten applicants
spoke to the Commission. The two applicants that were not present were YWCA of Silicon
Valley and United Way Silicon Valley. All seven Commissioners were present to discuss the
Subcommittee recommendations and voted to make some changes. Attachment 5 is the
Community and Senior Services Commission's final recommendations.
Like last year, the Commission is requesting a $10,000 increase to address the unmet needs in
Los Gatos. The Commission discussed that grant funding should increase every year consistent
with population and/or Consumer Price Index increases. The Commission's recommendations
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SUBJECT: RECEIVE AND APPROVE THE FY 2017/18 COMMUNITY GRANTS FUNDING
RECOMMENDATIONS
APRIL 10, 2017
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DISCUSSION (cont’d):
are based the programs they believe are expected to most directly affect Los Gatos residents
during FY 2017/18. Organizations were also selected based on their budgetary needs, their
other funding sources, and how the Los Gatos funds affect the organizations ’ budgets.
The two new programs that are recommended to receive grants in FY 2017/18 are the Los
Gatos Saratoga Recreation 55+ Senior Program and the Los Gatos Saratoga Recreation
Clubhouse Scholarship Program. The organizations that are recommended to continue to
receive grants are West Valley Community Services, Live Oak Senior Nutrition and Service
Center, Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence, Live Oak Adult Day Services, Counseling and
Support Services for Youth, and Parents Helping Parents.
As stated earlier in this report, the grant requests exceeded the grant money available. The
Commission made difficult decisions as part of its recommendations. Compared to last year
fiscal year, the Commission is recommending lower funding levels for Next Door Solutions to
Domestic Violence and Counseling and Support Services for Youth. Even though these
organizations are valuable to the Town, the Commission determined that these organizations
have the ability provide services to the community with less funding from the Town.
After evaluating all of the organizations, it was evident that YWCA and United Way have several
other funding sources and the Los Gatos grant is very minimal in their overall budgets. The
Town’s grants have a larger impact for other organizations, and therefore the Commission
decided not to fund these two organizations to stay closer to the Community Grants budget.
If the Council agrees with the Commission’s recommendation for a total budget of $100,000 for
the Human Services Program, the Council should be clear if this is a single year allocation or if
this is expected to be the base amount for next fiscal year as well. Given the Five Year Forecast,
the Town may not be able to sustain an ongoing increase to the Human Services Program.
If the request for a total Human Services grant budget of $100,000 is not approved, the
Commission is recommending that the same applicants receive grants at a proportionally
reduced amount to total $90,000 (see Attachment 6).
CONCLUSION:
The Council is being asked to approve the Community Grants for FY 2017/18 consistent with
the Commissions’ funding recommendations. This action will be reflected in the Proposed
FY 2017/18 Operating Budget.
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SUBJECT: RECEIVE AND APPROVE THE FY 2017/18 COMMUNITY GRANTS FUNDING
RECOMMENDATIONS
APRIL 10, 2017
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2017\04-18-17\Community Grants\Staff Report FINAL.docx
FISCAL IMPACT:
Based on the Town’s current expenditures and revenues, the additional $10,000 for the Human
Services Program can be absorbed in the Proposed FY 2017/18 Operating Budget . Given the
Five Year Forecast, the Town may not be able to sustain an ongoing increase to the Human
Services Program.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. FY 2017/18 Grant Applications
2. Arts and Culture Commission Grant Subcommittee Recommendations
3. Arts and Culture Commission Final Recommendations for the Art, Cultural, and Educational
Program
4. Community and Senior Services Commission Grant Subcommittee Recommendations
5. Community and Senior Services Commission Final Recommendations for the Human
Services Program ($100,000 Budget)
6. Community and Senior Services Commission Alternate Recommendations for the Human
Services Program ($90,000 Budget)