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A summary of the three policy items and related recommendations are detailed below. <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> 1. Explore the potential for implementing an annual formula adjustment to the total <br /> amount of funding allocated to the City Grant program, using rollovers to assure that <br /> unused funds remain in the program <br /> As part of the Working Group's review, staff surveyed 15 cities with similar city- funded <br /> grant programs and determined that the overall adjusted average for the surveyed cities <br /> was $2.16 per capita. Pleasanton's amount is currently $2.87 per capita. The Working <br /> Group also looked at funding uses and the allocation process. <br /> While the Working Group determined that the City's annual allocation is consistent with <br /> surveyed cities, it was concerned with the impact of inflation on programs. It was <br /> recommended that the allocation process be amended to include an inflation formula. <br /> Specifically, the Working Group is recommending that the City Council consider <br /> implementation of an annual adjustment based on the increase in City General Fund <br /> revenue for the preceding fiscal year. As an example, if General Fund revenue in FY <br /> 2009/10 increases by 5% over FY 2008/09, funding for the City Grant program in FY <br /> 2010/11 would be increased by 5 Under this formula, funding would not be reduced <br /> automatically if the City experiences a reduction in General Fund revenues. However, <br /> the City Manager and City Council could develop a budget that includes reductions, or <br /> additional increases, to reflect current budgeting issues. This formula would not impact <br /> CDBG, LIHF and /or HOME funding, since these amounts are not tied to the General <br /> Fund. Because General Fund revenue for FY 2008/09 has decreased, the 2009/10 <br /> Budget includes retention of $190,000. <br /> In addition to the annual adjustment formula, the Working Group also discussed the <br /> potential of "rollingover" funding to a subsequent year if allocated funding to grant <br /> recipients was less than the total amount available. Because the Working Group <br /> recognized that retaining a rollover process for an extended length of time could create <br /> a misrepresentation of the actual amount of money available to the program on an <br /> annual basis, it recommended implementing rollover on a one -year basis only. As an <br /> example, if the City Council approves a general allocation of $190,000 for FY 2010/11, <br /> and the total approved allocation to grant recipients is $180,000, the 2011/12 program <br /> funding amount would be $200,000 ($190,000 base plus $10,000 rollover from <br /> 2010/11). <br /> 2. Review the current outreach process <br /> As part of its review, staff detailed the significant effort taken to adequately inform <br /> interested groups regarding the City's grant programs. As an example, information is <br /> included on the City's website, and interested agencies or individuals that inquire at the <br /> City offices are added to an on -going "interest list" to receive direct mailings of grant <br /> information when it becomes available each year. Currently, there are over 130 <br /> Page 3 of 5 <br />