HomeMy WebLinkAboutVII (E) Discussion/ Action re: Neighborhood Grants Funding Recommendations Agenda 2-16-99
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MAYOR•COMMISSIONER
` Ocoee S.SCOTT VANDERGRIFT
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vi ODANNY IIOWELL
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O OCOEE, FLORIDA 34761-2258 SCOTT A.GLASS
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JQ C/ GOQQ P, CITY MANAGER
ELLIS SI IAPIRO
Staff Report
Date: February 9, 1999
To: The Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners
From: Janet G. Shira, Community Relations/Projects Director l
Subject: Most Valuable Partnerships (MVP) Neighborhood Matching Grants
Alternative Funding Policy Recommendation for FY 1998-1999
Issue
Should the Mayor and City Commissioners consider an alternative funding policy for the MVP
Neighborhood Matching Grant projects for fiscal year 1998-1999?
Background
Last year the City Commission awarded a total of more than $15,000 to MVP grant applicants.
As you know, the program was adopted with a matching provision whereby applicants have to
match the City's grant with a specific combination of cash and/or in-kind services and volunteer
hours. Seven projects were successfully completed in 1998 using City funds, combined with
matching funds from the applicants and many hours of volunteer time.
The City Commission increased the overall grant dollars to $20,000 this year. Eleven
neighborhoods were represented at the MVP pre-application workshops held in November;
however, only six neighborhoods have applied for the grants this year.
Three of the applicants have asked for the $2,500 maximum grant from the City. These
applicants would have to contribute some level of additional cash funding to complete their
projects as well as volunteer hours. The other three applicants have requested amounts under the
maximum. Their projects can each be completed with less than $2,500 cash, although they also
have significant amounts of volunteer labor involved.
Discussion
In order to stimulate interest in the program and to encourage the people who took the time to
apply, the City Commission may want to consider a change in the funding policy this year. The
policy states that applicants must match the dollar amount requested from the City and that no
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MVP Program Staff Report
February 9, 1999
more than 50 percent of that can come from volunteer time. Most of the projects this year
involve a substantial amount of volunteer labor, but the applicants have also had to pledge cash
to meet the matching funds criteria.
Assuming that all six projects met all of the other requirements under the MVP Program, if the
City were to provide the cash needed for these projects (up to the 52,500 maximum per
applicant), with the applicants' match coming mostly from volunteer labor, the overall
contributions would still be 50-50. Totaling the cash needed for all six applicants (again at the
52,500 maximum per applicant), the City's contribution would be S11,522. The applicants
would each still contribute their volunteer hours, any cash needed above the $2,500 limit, and
any in-kind donations. Under the applications submitted, this would total 512,000.
An initial review of the applications has been made and several applicants need to submit further
documentation in order to comply with the program criteria. This alternative funding policy
would not exempt them from complying with all other program requirements. It would simply
serve to emphasize the City Commission's commitment to helping neighborhoods.
Although the City Commission has shown its dedication to the program by the increase in
funding over last year's allocation, it is staffs opinion that more needs to be done to promote the
program. To this end, it may also be beneficial to use some of the grant money budgeted to fund
some promotional items. Lastly, we may want to consider inviting more people to the
Completion Party to show them the types of projects being done, and we may also want to have
more MVP Project Booklets made up to distribute to various homeowners' associations,
neighborhood groups, and non-profit organizations in Ocoee, again to publicize the program.
Recommendation
Staff respectfully recommends that the Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners approve
funding all the cash necessary for the six projects, up to a maximum of 52,500 per project,
subject to the applicants meeting all other requirements of the program. The "match" would
therefore be equal to the volunteer hour contributions by the applicants, any cash needed above
the $2,500, and any partner contributions as indicated in their applications.
Staff further recommends that the balance of the funds in the Neighborhood Matching Grants
Account (001-511-8206) be used to cover the cost of the MVP Projects Completion Party, the
annual Projects Booklet which highlights each project, and various promotional items such as an
MVP Program brochure to publicize the program to groups throughout Ocoee.
cc: Ellis Shapiro, City Manager
Wanda Horton,Finance Director