REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on a Resolution Delegating Authority to the City Manager to Execute Documents Associated with the Acceptance of a Grant from the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Grant Program in the Amount of $21,076 for Funding of the City of Santa Clara’s Container Gardening Program and Related Budget Amendments
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Sports, Recreational and Arts Assets
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara operates a community garden at Everett N. "Eddie" Souza Park, 2380 Monroe Street, and will open a second community garden in the near future in the Lawrence Station Area at 3450 Copper Road. Both community gardens are located near high-density housing. The Parks & Recreation Department (Department) operates the community garden program within established guidelines and offers classes, workshops, and special events under the supervision of a Recreation Coordinator with the assistance of volunteers and community partners.
In November 2022, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (Authority) announced the release of a Program Grant application cycle. The Program Grant is funded through voter initiatives, Measure Q and Measure T (parcel tax). The Grant application process sought project proposals that bring nature into the urban areas within the Authority’s boundaries and in one or more of the following categories: Environmental Stewardship & Restoration; Parks, Trails, and Public Access; Environmental Education; and/or Urban Agriculture/Food Systems. Grants would be evaluated based on project proposals that meet one or more of the above categories, provided recreational opportunities had public support and emphasized community building. The advertised range of Program Grant funds to be awarded was between $20,000-$100,000.
DISCUSSION
On February 9, 2023, the Department applied for an Authority Program Grant for an Urban Gardening Initiative supporting container gardening in the category of environmental education. The Department’s grant application responded to an identified need for access to community garden programs by residents who live in condominiums and apartment complexes. The Department’s program will help connect residents living in high-density housing with nature through a series of sustainable gardening workshops integrated with hands-on projects that encourage social connections, access to resources and support plant as well as insect biodiversity.
Santa Clara’s Urban Gardening Initiative will include six educational workshops focused on container gardening for residents living in apartments and condominiums. Participantswill establish and maintain sustainable container gardens in their homes. The grant will provide 50 containers appropriate for gardening in various sizes as well as plants, soil, and tools to sustain the garden after the workshops conclude. The program is scheduled for the 2024 calendar year. The grant will also support the development of the workshop curricula so that workshops can continue to be offered after the grant lifecycle. The program guidelines can be found in Attachment 1.
On May 18, 2023, the Authority Board approved thirteen Program Grants for the two-year program cycle for non-profits and agencies who met the eligibility and grant criteria. The City of Santa Clara was awarded $21,076 for its Urban Gardening Initiative supporting container gardening. The approved budget can be found in Attachment 2.
The Grant requires an authorizing Resolution by the City Council (Attachment 3) and the appropriation and allocation of funds to be received. The purpose of this item is to seek Council approval of the required resolution as well as the appropriation and allocation of funds to the Parks and Recreation Operating Grant Trust Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered, the adoption of a Resolution for the acceptance and allocation of funds does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Acceptance and appropriation of the $21,076 Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Grant will help support the gardening education program with staffing and supplies. The requested budget amendment appropriates the grant in the Parks and Recreation Operating Grant Trust Fund. The grant requires a city match in the amount of $5,945, for a total grant project amount of $27,021. The source of the match will be the FY 2023/24 Parks and Recreation General Fund Operating Budget. Attachment 2 provides additional budget details.
Budget Amendment
FY 2023/24
|
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
Parks and Recreation Operating Grant Trust Fund |
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
Other Agencies Revenue |
$124,918 |
$21,076 |
$145,994 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditure |
|
|
|
|
Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Grant |
$0 |
$21,076 |
$21,076 |
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and Finance Department.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the City Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, e-mail clerk@santaclaraca.gov.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Adopt a resolution delegating authority to the City Manager to execute all documents associated with Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Grant;
2. Approve the FY 2023/24 budget amendment in the Parks and Recreation Operating Grant Trust Fund to recognize the grant revenue of $21,076 and establish a Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority Grant appropriation in the amount of $21,076 for funding of the City’s Container Gardening Program (five affirmative Council votes required to appropriate additional revenue).
Staff
Reviewed by: James Teixeira, Director of Parks & Recreation
Approved by: Jōvan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Urban Grant Program (UGP) Guidelines 2022/23
2. UGP Container Gardener Budget
3. Resolution for SCVOSA Urban Grant Program