Title
Approval of 2018 Neighborhood Matching Grant Proposals
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve Neighborhood Matching Grant (NMG) proposals listed in the attached Review Team Recommendation. Final funding is contingent on negotiation of agreements with recognized neighborhood associations to complete each project in 2018, or 2019 if a project is located in a public right-of-way.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve funding for six (6) neighborhood matching grants.
Staff Contact:
Katie Pruit, Associate Planner, Community Planning & Development, 360.570.3746
Presenter(s):
Clark Gilman, Councilmember and Neighborhood Matching Grant Review Team Chair
Katie Pruit, Associate Planner and Neighborhood Liaison
Background and Analysis:
The Neighborhood Matching Grant program helps the City of Olympia Recognized Neighborhood Associations (RNAs) fund community-driven projects.
When the program was established, the Olympia City Council stated its goal is “to encourage projects that foster civic pride, enhance and beautify neighborhoods, expand citizen involvement, and promote the interests of the Olympia community. To accomplish this goal, the Olympia City Council will make available grant funds to Recognized Neighborhood Associations up to a 50/50 matching basis. The City Council firmly believes that community participation and commitment to accomplish improvements within our City are mutually beneficial to all Olympia residents.”
In 2016, staff reviewed the scope of the program to ensure compliance with Parks and Public Works development standards and overall compliance with federal labor standards. This review found that projects on City-owned property require extensive staff support and legal review to ensure compliance with City policies, standards and other applicable requirements. Therefore, pre-approval from affected departments is required. All proposals recommended for funding have been pre-approved.
2018 Application and Review Process
The City Council approved a budget of up to $23,000 to fund the Neighborhood Matching Grant program in 2018. Each proposal is eligible for grant funding up to $5,000, or up to $8,000 for a collaborative proposal submitted by two or more RNAs.
On December 14, 2017, each RNA received an invitation to apply for 2018 funding. Application materials were posted to the Neighborhood Programs website and on January 8, 2018, staff provided neighborhood matching grant information to the Coalition of Neighborhood Associations. Grant support workshops were held on January 25 and February 1, 2018, with staff from Planning, Public Works, and Parks.
The deadline for application submittal was March 1, 2018. The City received seven (7) applications requesting $20,013 in matching grants; six (6) applications are eligible and recommended for funding.
A team of five (5) reviewed each application:
• Clark Gilman, Councilmember
• Laura Keehan, Parks Planning and Design Manager
• Michelle Swanson, Public Works Senior Transportation Program Specialist
• Eric Christensen, Public Works Engineering & Planning Supervisor
• Michelle Sadlier, Historic Preservation Officer
The following criteria was used to rate each application:
1. Project results in a direct and lasting environmental benefit to the neighborhood and/or wider community;
2. Project enhances and beautifies the neighborhood and/or wider community;
3. Project fosters community engagement and enrichment opportunities through the use of neighborhood sweat equity;
4. Project is ready to begin after funding has been approved;
5. Project is likely to be completed by December 31, 2018;
6. Project is easily accomplished with volunteers; and
7. Project does not require extensive City staff involvement to be completed.
Review Team Recommendation
The attached table provides a summary of each application received and recommended for funding. The average score, type of additional staff support, project value (match plus funding request), RNA contribution (match), and City grant fund request, is all included. A copy of each proposal is available in the City Council’s office.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
RNAs continue to have a strong interest in this program. The City has funded many projects including street murals, community festivals, neighborhood signage, and community resources (such as the attached Southwest Olympia Neighborhood Association map funded in 2017). All these projects bring residents together and benefit the wider community of Olympia by strengthening the vitality of our neighborhoods. The 2018 proposed projects will continue this tradition to provide environmental, aesthetic, and community engagement benefits to City residents and businesses.
Options:
Note: All options would be contingent on negotiation of agreements with recognized neighborhood associations to complete each project in 2018.
1. Approve the Neighborhood Matching Grants as recommended by the Review Team.
2. Approve partial or full funding of a subset of grant requests that the Council finds consistent with the goals of the program.
3. Do not fund some of the applications recommended by the Review Team.
Financial Impact:
The 2018 budget provides up to $23,000 to fund the Neighborhood Matching Grant program. The total requested is $16,513 leaving a balance of $6,487 in the Neighborhood Programs budgeted expenditures.
The estimated staff time to support each matching grant typically ranges from 20 to 60 hours, totaling 120-360 staff hours for the six (6) recommended projects. Funding for this time is included in the City budget or within the grant applications.
Attachments:
Recommendation
SWONA Map