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applications from 17 agencies totaling a little over $700,000 against an available funding balance of <br /> approximately $550,000. The majority of requests were for capital related projects as well as smaller <br /> projects related to housing services, medical, health and food services. The Human Services and <br /> Housing Commissions ranked all applications according to the established priorities and recommended <br /> some level of funding for each application. <br /> Funding for the Community Grant Program includes an annual allocation of $40,000 each to civic arts <br /> and youth related programs. This, combined will a small amount of carryover funding for each side, <br /> provides a grand total of approximately $92,000 in available funding. The program received a total of 9 <br /> arts based applications with an aggregate request of $52,000 versus $42,000 available and 11 youth <br /> applications totaling $78,000 versus $50,000 available. Civic arts applications received anywhere from <br /> 60-84% of their requested amount with the exception of one project that received full funding. Youth <br /> applications included only one project which did not receive a recommendation for funding. The <br /> remaining applications received between 45% and 93% of their requested amounts. Neither <br /> Commission has proposed to carry over funds to the coming year. <br /> Mr. Erickson highlighted several programs including Axis Community Health's continued work on their <br /> north Pleasanton clinic which is planned to be operational in early 2016, the city's Housing <br /> Rehabilitation Program which assists lower-income homeowners with grants and loans to improve and <br /> maintain their homes, Open Heart Kitchens food and meal distribution programs, Tri Valley Havens <br /> youth educations and workshops, and Livermore Valley Opera's continued promotion of art in schools. <br /> Mr. Erickson presented the recommendation of each Commission and staff and asked the Council to <br /> authorize staff to reallocate any funds received from the payoff of past Housing Rehabilitation Program <br /> loans back into that same program. <br /> Mayor Thorne asked how the HHSG recommendations align with the needs assessment recently <br /> prepared for the city. <br /> Mr. Erickson explained that in November the Human Services Commission adopted priorities for the <br /> coming year's grant program. These priorities incorporated the key findings of the needs assessment <br /> and are reflected in the application criteria. <br /> Councilmember Brown noted that the needs assessment identified a strong need for dental services, <br /> which she did not see called out by any particular program. <br /> Mr. Erickson explained that last year kicked off the city's funding cooperation with Pleasanton Unified <br /> School District's Student Health Services which is intended to address dental and optometry care <br /> among other student health needs. Through this program, the city has been providing grants to <br /> students based on income for dental care. Staff hopes this program will continue to grow, hopefully in <br /> conjunction with efforts by Axis Community Health. He stressed that the Human Services is very <br /> strongly aware of the need, wishes to support it, and is striving to encourage agencies to help in <br /> bringing these services forward. <br /> Councilmember Pentin said it is the Commission's purview to prioritize the funding when an applicant <br /> providing these services comes forward, as opposed to the Commission seeking out agencies to fill the <br /> specific need. <br /> City Manager Fialho confirmed although explained that in the coming fiscal year the Commission has <br /> specifically identified a priority to target dental services for various income and age demographics. The <br /> Commission will be working with a specialist to craft a program that can then be marketed to various <br /> agencies so that they can then apply for the funding to implement the program. <br /> City Council Minutes Page 9 of 11 April 21, 2015 <br />