AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Consider approval of Resolution 2021-127R, allocating up to $640,000 in one time grant funds from the City’s General Fund for non-profit activities that mitigate adverse impacts of the Coronavirus Pandemic; authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to act as the Official Representative of the City in matters related to said grant funds on behalf of the City; providing for the reallocation of any funds not awarded for non-profit activities related to the pandemic; and declaring an effective date.
Body
Meeting date: July 6, 2021
Department: Planning and Development Services
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: $640,000
Account Number: 12072325.54518
Funds Available: $640,000
Account Name: Click or tap here to enter text.
Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: On April 20, 2021, City Council approved Resolution 2021-67R, which designated categories and criteria for the use of General Fund dollars made available due to the award to the City of CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds. This resolution approved publication of a Notice of Funding Availability open to applications by agencies serving San Marcos, to allocate one-time funding of $640,000.
City Council Strategic Initiative: [Please select from the dropdown menu below]
COVID Response
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Background Information:
The attached Resolution 2021-67R set forth the following basic criteria for a one-time Notice of Funding Availability to provide the opportunity for local agencies to apply for funding for programs:
• Notice of Funding Availability open to applications by all non-profits, governmental, and faith based programs serving San Marcos
• Agency must have a track record of producing results OR up to three letters of recommendation
• Strong preference for low overhead expenses
• Programs must have public benefit
• Applications to be evaluated by Human Services Advisory Board
• Additional points for case management, child care, internet support, car payments, job training, homelessness prevention
Program Specifications:
• San Marcos resident, including non-citizens
• Difficulty must be related to the pandemic
• Need based (not first come first served)
Income restrictions
• Staff recommends waiting to consider income restrictions until after agencies have proposed programs. At the time of project approval, City Council can specify income restrictions if desired. Staff’s recommendation will be as follows: 120% of the City of San Marcos Median Household Income
The Notice of Funding Availability was published in English and Spanish on May 9, and the application period was open from May 9 to June 6. The application form contained the formal list of criteria to be used for evaluation and risk assessment of the applications.
Seven applications were received and were forwarded to the scoring committee which was comprised of the following volunteer members of the Human Services Advisory Board: Co-Chairs JoAnn Parsons and Mary Earls, and member Eleanor Owen‐Oshan. Each committee member scored the applications independently and then met (virtually) on June 23 to discuss the final recommendation, with Carol Griffith, Housing and Community Development Manager acting as moderator for the discussion. Ms. Owen-Oshan abstained from review of the Hays County Food Bank application.
Applications are attached for reference. A summary table is attached as part of the recommendation.
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
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Alternatives:
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Recommendation:
As shown in the “Applications-Recommendations” attachment, staff recommends following the scoring committee’s recommendation:
• Allocate $140,880 of the funding
• Incorporate the remaining $499,120 into the Human Services Advisory Board application process this year, and remove the stipulation that the program must be related to negative impacts of the pandemic.
It is believed needs exist within the non-profit community but the tie to the pandemic cannot be easily documented. Therefore, removing the pandemic nexus requirement will likely result in many more applications for funding.