CITY of SIMI VALLEY MEMORANDUM May 4, 2015 TO

AGENDA ITEM NO.

8A

CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM

May 4, 2015

TO:

City Council Department of Community Services

FROM:

SUBJECT: AWARD OF FY 2015-16 COMMUNITY PROJECTS GRANT FUNDS

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the City Council award the $150,000 in Community Projects Grant funding for FY 2015-16 to the Simi Valley YMCA ($47,650), the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley ($35,000), and the Interface Children & Family Services ($55,000) submissions for a total award amount of $137,650.

CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

The Community Services Department is recommending the YMCA proposal be funded at $47,650, the Boys & Girls Club proposal be funded at $35,000, and the Interface Children & Family Services be funded at $55,000 due to meeting the criteria and representing a one-time capital cost. If these three proposals are funded, the City Council could either fund one of the other proposals in an identified need (Youth and Supportive Services were categorized as the priority areas) with the remaining $12,350, or hold the remaining funding for any unusual circumstances in the coming year.

If the City Council determines not to fund as recommended, I recommend that the City Council establish a priority of funding and establish a two-person City Council subcommittee to bring back an alternative recommendation.

BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW On May 9, 2011, the City Council approved executing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and Waste Management related to the expansion of the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center. The executed MOU provides annual funding of $150,000 for community projects and programs to be awarded at the discretion of the City Council. On December 1, 2014, the City Council established eligibility criteria and directed staff to conduct a competitive process to award the FY 2015-16 funds in the amount of $150,000. A total of 37 funding submissions meeting eligibility requirements were received totaling $1,720,662 in program and project requests for the $150,000 available. Unfortunately, the number of deserving organizations, community needs, and valuable services greatly exceed the available funding. However, the volume of applications demonstrates the wealth of resources and services available within the community to address the varied needs.

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The MOU was initially proposed to provide $75,000 annually each to fund the operation and maintenance of the Under One Roof project and to the Simi Valley Education Foundation to be used for classroom educational benefits. For FY 2012-13 and FY 2013-14, the City Council directed that the funds be awarded to the Free Clinic of Simi Valley and the Simi Valley Community Foundation, in the annual amounts of $50,000 and $100,000, respectively. For FY 2014-15, the City Council awarded $15,000 to the Samaritan Center and $67,500 each to the Simi Valley Education Foundation and the Free Clinic of Simi Valley.

The City Council established the following eligibility criteria for the FY 2015-16 funding cycle:
 Incorporated 501(c)(3)  Disclosure of Headquarters Location  Disclosure of Satellite Locations  Single application per organization and/or Joint applications for non-duplicative scope
 Grant Awards o Minimum request - $25,000 o Maximum request - $150,000 o Direct costs only o Expenditure period: July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016
 Detailed scope of work including: o Benefit to Simi Valley o Ability to complete the project within the expenditure period o Community needs are being met o Direct cost detail

The established eligibility criteria and selection process approved by the City Council allow for the applicants to self-identify and communicate the community’s needs. Community Services staff initiated a call for projects in late February, which was open to all non-profits serving Simi Valley, and hosted an applicant workshop in early March to explain the process. Representatives from 35 non-profit organizations attended the voluntary workshop, which illustrates the commitment from the non-profit sector to furthering their missions within the community. Organizations in attendance were encouraged to identify community needs and how their respective organizations would meet those needs in their submissions. Additionally, the workshop assisted in identifying potential partnerships, some of which have already come to fruition. The Community Projects Grant program has already indirectly benefited applicants who have not yet been awarded funds and will continue to do so through resource sharing and networking opportunities.

FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES

The non-profit organizations are a reflection of the values, interests, and needs of the community. Unfortunately, there are not sufficient available funds to award to all the deserving and needed programs, services, and projects. Therefore to assist the City Council in awarding the FY 2015-16 funds, the submissions have been grouped by the primary category of services or population served in the scope of work including the amount requested and whether it is to support new, expanded, or ongoing programs or

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3capital improvements/purchases. Additionally, organizations that noted an urgent financial need have been identified in the list below. Attachment A (page 6) reflects the application summary in a tabular format.

After staff review of the 40 funding submissions received, a total of three submissions were excluded from consideration. Two were found to be duplicate submissions. One was submitted under another applicant as the fiscal agent without having its own tax identification number, and therefore was not eligible as a joint application and exceeded the single application allowed per organization. The remaining 37 applications (Attachment B, page 8), for a total of $1,720,662, have a minimum request of $25,000 and maximum request of $150,000. Some applicants’ submissions may fall in multiple categories but were identified by the primary category and listed alphabetically below and in Attachment A. Those submissions that identified a critical or urgent need have been noted below as well.

Animals

1. Tiny Loving Canines, $25,000 for ongoing program 2. Wildlife Care of So Cal, $35,000 for ongoing program

Arts

1. Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Foundation, $25,000 for capital improvements 2. Simi Valley Cultural Association, $25,000 for expansion of programs and capital purchases

Cultural

1. JR Jainclan Foundation, $150,000 for capital improvements

Education

1. Chamber of Commerce Workforce Education Coalition with Royal High School,
$44,580 for expansion of program
2. Simi Valley Adventist School, $70,000 for capital improvements 3. Simi Valley High School Music Boosters, $109,338 for capital improvements 4. Simi Valley High School Parent Teacher Student Association with Simi Valley
High School, $61,031 for capital improvements

Emergency Preparedness

1. American Red Cross, $35,000 with Simi Valley Unified School District for new program

Law Enforcement

1. Forever Found, $28,192 for new program 2. Simi Valley Police Foundation, $25,000 for new and expanded programs 3. Ventura County K9 Search and Rescue, $42,000 for capital purchase

Medical

1. Community Pregnancy Clinic, $25,000 for ongoing program, critical need 2. Free Clinic of Simi Valley, $25,000 for new program 3. Slice of Lime Foundation, $25,000 for ongoing program

Military Support

1. For the Troops, $150,000 for ongoing program

Resource and Referral

1. United Way of Ventura County, $150,000 for ongoing program

Seniors

1. ACTION, $29,000 for ongoing and expanded programs

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2. Conejo Valley Senior Concerns, $30,000 for new and ongoing programs, critical need
3. Long Term Care Services of Ventura County, $25,000 for ongoing programs

Substance Abuse

1. Action Family Foundation, $48,000 for expanded program 2. Not One More, $71,000 for new program 3. Project SAFER Educational Foundation, $29,500 for expanded program 4. Reality Improv Connection (DBA Straight Up), $36,000 for expanded program

Supportive Services
1. Interface Children & Family Services, $55,000 for capital improvements, critical need
2. Life After Brain Injury, $25,000 for new program 3. Many Mansions, $25,000 for expanded program 4. Serving Those in Need, Inc., $50,491 for ongoing program 5. The Samaritan Center, $25,000 for ongoing program 6. Villa Esperanza Services, $25,000 for ongoing program, critical need
Sustainability
1. Church of the Living Christ, $25,000, for capital improvements
Youth
1. Simi Valley YMCA, $47,650 for capital purchase 2. The Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley, $35,000 for capital improvements 3. United Parents, $25,000 for ongoing program 4. Ventura County Foster Parent Association, $25,000 for expanded program 5. Women of Substance and Men of Honor Inc., $38,880 for ongoing program

Previously, the City Council awarded in the areas of capital improvement planning, and medical and supportive services for ongoing programs. Through the approved selection process of allowing the applicants to use their applications to identify community needs, staff has used the volume of applications to identify the categories with the greatest community need. Therefore, staff has identified that the areas of supportive services and youth demonstrate the greatest need for local funding. Due to the one-time expenditure and ongoing benefit associated with the capital purchase and improvement requests in these high need categories, it is recommended that the City Council select the Simi Valley YMCA ($47,650), the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley ($35,000), and the Interface Children & Family Services ($55,000) submissions for a total award amount of $137,650.

The City Council could then hold the remaining $12,350 of grant funding for any unusual circumstances in the coming year. Alternatively, the City Council may identify additional community needs, urgent or emerging, and choose to fund submissions that meet those due to the critical necessity of the services or programs, similar to how it handled The Samaritan Center’s grant award during the FY 2014-15 funding cycle. However, it may be difficult to determine the level of urgency of each request.

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The following alternatives are available to the City Council:

1.

Award funding to the Simi Valley YMCA ($47,650), the Boys & Girls Club of Simi

Valley ($35,000), and the Interface Children & Family Services ($55,000) submissions for a total award amount of $137,650;

2.

Award the remaining $12,350 to an ongoing program of City Council’s choice in

the supportive services or youth categories;

3. 4.
Do not award the remaining $12,350 and hold for a potential future need; Select the 11 submissions in the areas of supportive services or youth categories for further consideration at the May 11, 2015 City Council meeting;

5.

Appoint a subcommittee of two City Council Members to bring back a

recommendation for funding with criteria as determined by the City Council;

6. 7.
Select additional or alternate categories for further consideration; Award $150,000 of the FY 2015-16 Community Projects Grant funds to a combination of applicants as determined by the City Council;

8.

Provide staff with alternate direction.

Staff recommends Alternative No. 1.

SUMMARY

The City Council directed staff to conduct a competitive process to award the $150,000 FY 2015-16 Community Projects Grant funds utilizing the established eligibility criteria. A total of 37 eligible funding submissions were received. The volume of submissions in the areas of supportive services and youth demonstrates the great need for local funding. It is recommended that the City Council select the Simi Valley YMCA ($47,650), the Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley ($35,000), and the Interface Children & Family Services ($55,000) submissions for a total award amount of $137,650. With the remaining $12,350 of grant funding, the City Council could either fund one of the other proposals in an identified need (Youth and Supportive Services were categorized as the priority areas), or hold the remaining funding for any unusual circumstances in the coming year.

Sommer Barwick, Director Department of Community Services

Prepared by: Mara Malch, Senior Management Analyst

INDEX

Page
Attachment A – FY 2015-16 Community Projects Grant Application Summary ........6 Attachment B – FY 2015-16 Community Projects Grant Funding Submissions........8

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Attachment A
6

FY 2015-16 COMMUNITY PROJECTS GRANT APPLICATION SUMMARY
Attachment A
7
FY 2015-16 COMMUNITY PROJECTS

GRANT APPLICATION SUMMARY

Attachment B - Community Project Grant FY 2015-16 Funding Submissions

8

Community Projects Grant Application
FY 2015-16 Funding Cycle

Name: Tiny Loving Canines, Inc

Date Submitted: 02/26/2015
Address: 2828 Cochran St #215 Contact Name: Linda Nelson Contact Title: Director

City: Simi Valley CA 93065

Telephone Numbers: Linda Nelson

Email: [email protected] Satellite Locations: Rescue Shop: 1555 Simi Valley Town Center, #587, Simi Valley, CA 93065

Co-Applicant: N/A

Yes:

No: X

Federal Tax Identification Number: 26-4639832

What dollar amount are you requesting? Minimum grant award - $25,000. Maximum grant award - $150,000.

$25,000

By checking the box and entering my name below, I am acknowledging that I have the authority of the aforementioned organization to submit this application and verify that the project, if funded, can be completed by June 30, 2016. Authorized Representatives Signature: Linda Nelson

Attachment B - CommunityAPtrtoajcehcmt Genrat nBt

9

FY 2015-16 Funding Submissions

Attachment B - Community Project Grant

10

11

Community Projects Grant Application
FY 2015-16 Funding Cycle

Name: Wildlife Care of Southern California

Date Submitted: 03/23/2015
Address:

City: Simi Valley CA 93065

Contact Name: Anna Reams Contact Title: Director Telephone Numbers: Anna Reams Email: [email protected]

Satellite Locations: Burbank Co-Applicant: N/A

Yes:

No: X

Federal Tax Identification Number: 77-0390358

What dollar amount are you requesting? Minimum grant award - $25,000. Maximum grant award - $150,000.

$35,000

By checking the box and entering my name below, I am acknowledging that I have the authority of the aforementioned organization to submit this application and verify that the project, if funded, can be completed by June 30, 2016. Authorized Representatives Signature: Anna Reams

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Wildlife Care of SoCal

Wildlife Care of SoCal (formerly Ventura County) City of Simi Valley Community Projects Grant
2015 Scope of Work

“ W e f ully support the important work at Wildlife Care of SoCal to care for injured and orphaned wildlife. The education that Wildlife Care of SoCal offers the community in learning how to coexist with native wildlife reminds us each of how we can learn to coexist with our fellow man.
We k now these funds will help make a difference in the local area”

-Simi Valley Community Supporter of Wildlife Care of SoCal-

Executive Summary

On behalf of Wildlife Care of SoCal and in benefit to the greater Simi Valley community, we

respectfully request your consideration of a $35,000 grant for emergency operational funds.

This grant from the City of Simi Valley will ensure that Wildlife Care of SoCal (WCSC) is able to continue providing important services to the Simi Valley community related to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of native wildlife. WCSC operates in tandem with many local government and other agencies, most of whom lack the necessary man power and resources to handle injured and orphaned wildlife. Wildlife Care of SoCal fills this critical gap by providing humane and education-based assistance. In addition, WCSC is one of the only wildlife organizations within the greater Los Angeles and Ventura County area that offers public education programming related to human and urban wildlife coexistence. A grant of $35,000 for emergency operational funds will allow Wildlife Care of SoCal to continue providing these important services to Simi Valley and surrounding communities through 2016, while also allowing the organization to focus on its long-term goal of creating a wildlife rehabilitation and educational nature center that is the only one of its kind in the regional area.

As urban populations continue to grow and expand, the work of WCSC is increasingly necessary in order to ethically and effectively manage the coexistence of humans and animals for a healthier public ecosystem. A grant from the City of Simi Valley to Wildlife Care of SoCal will be disbursed into three specific organizational categories that require immediate funding for continued operation, including wildlife care supplies, professional services, and administrative expenses. This grant will allow Wildlife Care of SoCal to cover direct operational costs and leverage funding from private donors toward achieving the organization’s long-term goal of creating a public destination for wildlife management and education.

Organization Background

Wildlife Care of SoCal was founded in 1994 in Ventura County by a group of local citizens concerned with the increasing victimization of wild animals as a result of urbanization and a lack of public resources for wildlife management. WCSC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) and all-volunteer organization with a mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured and orphaned wild animals, as well as to educate the public on how to better coexist with our wild neighbors for a

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Wildlife Care of SoCal

healthier public ecosystem. WCSC’s professional volunteers work closely with local government and other agencies to provide humane and education-based wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release services. The organization takes in over 1,000 animals on an annual basis, including birds of prey, bobcats, opossums, squirrels, and more. Volunteers are experts in their respective fields and operate as a team of highly trained and dedicated individuals. Volunteers currently work out of their own homes to provide care for injured and orphaned animals brought to Wildlife Care of SoCal by the local community, in addition to fielding emergency calls from public officials and transporting animals to veterinarians.

WCSC holds all required federal, state, and local permits. The organization’s two main areas

of service to the city include wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release, as well as public education and research related to human and animal coexistence. The organization is staffed

by professional volunteers who specialize in a diversity of species and is directed by a local community member with 25-plus years of experience in wildlife management. WCSC has operated in Simi Valley for more than 20 years and is a valued member of the local community and surrounding Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Some of the organization’s top accomplishments include: