Item 2D: Approval of Neighborhood Matching Grants

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Approval of Neighborhood Matching Grants Meeting Date: May 12, 2008 Agenda Item Number: 2D Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Michael Kinnison www.eugene-or.gov/neighborhoods Contact Telephone Number: 682-5009 ISSUE STATEMENT The City Council is asked to approve the FY08 Neighborhood Matching Grant proposals recommended for funding by the Department Advisory Committee. BACKGROUND On June 12, 2000, City Council adopted Resolution 4632, approving and adopting standards and guidelines for operation of a Neighborhood Matching Grants program. Between FY00 and FY03, seven previous sets of applications were submitted to the council. After a three-year hiatus, funding was reinstated in FY07 for an additional three years, at $50,000/year. To date, over $321,000 in matching grants have funded 61 projects spread among 18 different neighborhood associations. For FY08, the Department Advisory Committee held four meetings in April in which public comment was received and applicants were provided an opportunity to respond to questions about their proposals. th Ten proposals were reviewed and ranked by the committee. One proposal (5 and Blair Right-of -Way Improvement Project) was dropped from consideration after the required neighborhood association endorsement was rescinded. The proposal with the lowest score (Amazon Beautification) in the project rankings is not considered by the Department Advisory Committee to be a good fit for a matching grant and is not recommended for funding. The eight remaining proposals, totaling over $30,341 in grant requests, are recommended for full funding. The following summary of recommended projects lists the applicant organization, associated neighborhood and requested grant amounts in parenthesis. Willakenzie Field Team Benches (Cub Scout Pack 20, Harlow, $950): This project will provide two aluminum team benches for the baseball field in Willakenzie Park. The fields currently provide no seating for players. Edison Elementary Garden and Composting Project (Edison Elementary School Garden Committee, South University, $1,500): This project will expand a garden and composting program at Edison Elementary School. The program will be integrated into school activities and curricula, incorporate experienced gardeners from the neighborhood, reduce cafeteria waste and teach valuable lessons on growing food, recycling and caring for the soil. Y:\CMO\2008 Council Agendas\M080512\S0805122D.doc