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Home My WebLink About2018-06-26; City Council; ; Expand the City of Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Opportunity Grant Program scope to include Carlsbad residents of all ages and increase the maximum grant amount to $300 pCA Review --- 9 CITY COUNCIL Staff Report . Meeting Date To: From: Staff Contact: Subject June 26, 2018 Mayor and City Council Kevin Crawford, City Manager Bonnie L. Elliott, Sr. Management Analyst bonnie.elliott@carlsbadca.gov or 760-434-2865 Expand the City of Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Opportunity Grant Program scope to include Carlsbad residents of all ages and increase the maximum grant amount to $300 per person per year. Recommended Action Adopt a Resolution authorizing expanding the scope of the City of Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Opportunity Grant Scholarship Program to include Carlsbad residents of all ages and increase the maximum grant amount to $300 per person per year. Executive Summary On April 14, 1998, City Council established the Opportunity Grants scholarship program to offer scholarship opportunities for Carlsbad youth in recreation programs based on very low-income standards (AB 14,640). The eligibility criteria was established based on the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards. Staff has received requests from current scholarship recipient families for more scholarship funds because recreation program costs have gone up over time. There has also been a demand to provide recreational programs to very low-income adults, especially senior citizens. To be responsive to those requests, staff recommends expanding the Opportunity Grant scholarship program benefit to very low-income applicants of all ages and increasing the per person maximum award from $150 to $300 per year. Since the Opportunity Grants Scholarship program was established by Council, staff is requesting Council amend the program scope to include Carlsbad residents of all ages and increase the maximum grant amount to $300 per person per year. Discussion In 1998, the Opportunity Grant Scholarship Program was established to provide assistance for community youths who could not normally afford to participate in recreation programs. By awarding grants to Carlsbad families, the city aimed to encourage the development of positive June 26, 2018 Item #14 Page 1 of 9 self-esteem and social responsibility, decrease juvenile crimes, and promote physical fitness and health, thus creating a safe community. On April 14, 1998, City Council established the program to offer scholarship opportunities for Carlsbad youth, 17 years old and under, in recreation programs based on very low-income standards. The eligibility criteria is based on the San Diego County Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards and is updated annually. Staff designed an information booklet (Exhibit 2) and application to disclose submittal requirements for households to prove eligibility (Exhibit 3) which is reviewed by staff. Applications are accepted between April 16 and December 31 for the following calendar year. Initially, two income categories were defined based on the number of family members and family income levels. Families in Category One were eligible for a 75 percent discount on an individual program fee and families in Category Two were eligible for a 50 percent discount on an individual program fee. A maximum annual amount of $100 for Category One families and $75 for Category Two families was established. About 15 years ago, the process was simplified to award each eligible person $150 per year. The program was originally funded by staff fundraising and outside donations; however, both strategies resulted in varying levels of success. Beginning in FY, 2012-13, at the request of the city manager, the City Council approved an annual $10,000 General Fund budget reque~t to ensure there would be adequate funding to support ongoing grant requests each year and eliminate the need for fundraising. Over the past few years as program fees have gone up staff has received requests for more scholarship funds. Recently, there have also been requests to provide recreational programs to very low-income adults, especially senior citizens. Many scholarship recipients have requested to participate in activities and programs that require an adult to be in attendance, such as open swim, special events and parent/child classes. These low-income adults cannot afford to participate in family events and programs requiring adult supervision. Therefore, these programs that encourage family-unit participation are unavailable to scholarship recipients. To be responsive to those requests, staff recommends expanding the Opportunity Grant scholarship program benefit to very low-income applicants of all ages and increasing the per person maximum award from $150 to $300. Fiscal Analysis Currently, the Parks and Recreation Department awards approximately $10,000 to Opportunity Grant Scholarship Program recipients. Staff estimates that expanding the scope of the program will require an additional $20,000; for an annual cost of approximately $30,000 for the June 26, 2018 Item #14 Page 2 of 9 Opportunity Grant Scholarship Program. Sufficient operating funds are available in the Senior Programs Fund to address anticipated grant requests from seniors and award $300 per person per year. Sufficient operating funds are available in the Parks & Recreation Administration Budget and Opportunity Grants Fund to address anticipated new non-senior grant requests and award increases to $300 per person per year. Next Steps Staff will revise the brochure and application to include all ages and increase the individual grant award to a maximum of $300 per year. Staff will also alert current scholarship recipients of the increase in award for individuals and make necessary adjustments to their Activity Management Software Solution accounts. Environmental Evaluation (CEQA) Pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21065, this action does not constitute a "project" within the meaning of CEQA in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and therefore, does not require an environmental review. Public Notification This item was noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting date. ,,. Exhibits 1. City Council Resolution. 2. Opportunity Grants Application Booklet. 3. Opportunity Grants Application 2018. June 26, 2018 Item #14 Page 3 of 9 RESOLUTION NO. 2018-116 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD PARKS AND RECREATION OPPORTUNITY GRANT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO INCLUDE CARLSBAD RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES AND INCREASE THE MAXIMUM GRANT AMOUNT TO $300 PER PERSON PER YEAR. Exhibit 1 WHEREAS, The Parks and Recreation Department aims to encourage the development of positive self-esteem and social responsibility, decrease juvenile crimes, and promote physical fitness and health, thus create a safe community; and WHEREAS, on Aril 14, 1998, City Council established the Opportunity Grants program to offer scholarship opportunities for Carlsbad youth (AB 14,640); and WHEREAS, the Opportunity Grants scholarship program, administered through the Parks and Recreation Department, was designed to enable youth with limited incomes the opportunity to participate in recreation classes, camps and aquatic programs that they may not otherwise be able to afford; and WHEREAS, eligibility criteria is based on the San Diego County Housing and Urban Development (HUD) very low income standards; and WHEREAS, the Parks and Recreation Department has received requests to expand the Opportunity Grants Program to include very low-income seniors; and WHEREAS, the Parks and Recreation Department has received requests to expand the Opportunity Grants Program to include low-income adults that cannot afford to participate in family events and programs requiring adult supervision may also participate; and WHEREAS, staff recommends expanding the scope of the City of Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Opportunity Grant Scholarship Program to include Carlsbad residents of all ages and increase the maximum grant amount from $150 to $300 per person per year. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows: 1. That the above recitations are true and correct. 2. That the Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Department is authorized to expand the scope of the Opportunity Grant Scholarship Program to include Carlsbad residents of all ages and increase the maximum grant award to $300 per person per year. June 26, 2018 Item #14 Page 4 of 9 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 26th day of June, 2018, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: M. Hall, K. Blackburn, M. Schumacher, C. Schumacher, M. Packard. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ~JilJI!~ r-BARBARA ENGLESON, City Clerk (SEAL) June 26, 2018 Item #14 Page 5 of 9