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not cover all the costs. This is a fairly expensive program for a school to operate and she was concerned that every school will be asking for funding and how can we create parity. The question is how can the city assist all the schools to have a robotics program rather than one school. That is the biggest issue she has with the request. She believed that Ms. Banks needs to get together with a group of parents to discuss what assistance could be given to the District for all the elementary and middle schools to establish an after school program, rather than simply funding equipment for a single school. Mayor Pico said $3,300 is not a lot of money and the City does support individual leagues in a lot of ways with various special equipment. He no problem investing in additional nets and other kinds of equipment, which is not different than elsewhere. Mr. Campbell had no problem giving money to an individual school or to the water polo group. He believed there is a grant process with limited funds and that grant process considers everyone that applies. He did not believe this was opening a Pandora's Box, because everyone still has to go through the grant process. As long as they satisfy the requirements and it benefits the youth of the community, then he supported it. Ms. Michelotti indicated she was still concerned about giving money to one school and the fact that Council did set priorities at one time. She asked staff for clarification if this sets a precedent. Mr. Wolfe believed that it does set a precedent. The difficulty from a staff level is the potential for increased grant requests. The biggest challenge for the commissions will be evaluating each request for funds when there is limited funding available. There are many good organizations which provide beneficial services, but there are limited resources. Mr. Campbell said that was a good point. There is a limited amount of funding and he did not want to allocate more than $20,000 for allocation. The Commissions just need to be aware of the amount available and they can allocate as they choose. Ms. Ayala pointed out that only six applications were received by the Youth Commission. There is a history of giving to schools in the past and there was no great increase in the number of applications. Ms. McKeehan said the fewer parameters and criteria are established, the more difficult it is for the Commissions to know what Council wants them to do. There is also an accountability model for staff and the Commissions that clearly identifies what money is given and how it is used to meet the purposes for which it is given. She agreed there may be fewer applications when the rules are clearer, but there are also fewer problems. She felt the grant process had just gotten to a point where it works well and now Council wants to open the process and change the priorities that have been set. Pleasanton City Council Special Meeting Minutes 11 07/09/02