Sustainable Dubuque Community Grants and Review Recommendation Copyrighted
May 15, 2017
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 6.
ITEM TITLE: Sustainable Dubuque Community Grants and Review
Recommendation
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of five projects for
funding from the Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant
Program. It is further recommended that the grant review
shift from a quarterly to a bi-annual process, as
recommended by the Resilient Community Advisory
Commission.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant Program-MVM City Manager Memo
Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
THE CITY OF Dubuque
DUB E i"
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007.2012.2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant Program
DATE: May 10, 2017
Sustainable Community Coordinator Cori Burbach is recommending City Council
approval of the following projects for funding from the Sustainable Dubuque Community
Grant Program at a total funding request of $6,807:
Organization Project Amount
Opening Doors Gardens of Hope/Doorways to Hope $1,850
Camp Albrecht Acres CAA Composting Initiative $527
Dubuque Democratic Dubuque Free School $1,430
Socialists
Dubuque Interfaith Power & Reusable Bag Campaign to Reduce $1,500
Light Plastic Checkout Bags
Sisters of the Presentation Green Circle Gardens $1,500
It is further recommended that the grant review shift from a quarterly to a bi-annual
process, as recommended by the Resilient Community Advisory Commission.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator
THE CITY OF Dubuque
UBgkE 1111 11I
ra .II
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007.2012.2013
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator
SUBJECT: Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant Program
DATE: May 9, 2017
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to present the recommendations of the Resilient
Community Advisory Commission, who reviewed Round 15 of the Sustainable Dubuque
Community Grant applications. The memo contains recommendations for funding as
well as a slight change to the application calendar.
BACKGROUND
In 2013, the City Council approved the Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant program
to catalyze community leaders in the Sustainable Dubuque initiative. The grants are
available to any residents, non-profits or businesses who propose a project that
addresses at least one of the twelve sustainability principles and includes an element of
community engagement or education in their project.
$22,500 was allocated for grant disbursement in FY2017. This being the last quarterly
round of funding for the fiscal year, $6,800 remained. Five applications were received.
This is the first round of applications the RCAC has reviewed. All commissioners were
invited to submit their individuals scores. A subcommittee of three commissioners and
myself met to review the aggregated scores and prepare a recommendation for the
RCAC. The recommendation of the full RCAC, as approved at their May 4, 2017
meeting, follows.
DISCUSSION
Action 1:Approval of Grant Applications
The following applications are recommended for funding:
Organization Project Amount
Opening Doors Gardens of Hope/Doorways to Hope $11850
Camp Albrecht Acres CAA Composting Initiative $527
Dubuque Democratic Dubuque Free School $11430
Socialists
Dubuque Interfaith Power & Reusable Bag Campaign to Reduce $11500
Light Plastic Checkout Bags
Sisters of the Presentation Green Circle Gardens $11500
Total recommended funding is $6,807. The $7 above the total remaining budget is
available from previous grantees who spent less than their approved grant award.
Action 2: Reduction in Annual Grant Deadlines
In the past, community grant applications were reviewed quarterly by a committee
formed specifically for this purpose. This sole purpose allowed a recommendation to go
to City Council, and grantees to receive confirmation of awards, within 3-4 weeks.
Because of the new schedule of the RCAC, the time until applicants are notified
whether they are receiving funds has shifted to 6-8 weeks.
The RCAC recommends that grant review shift from a quarterly to a bi-annual process.
The potential negative impacts of this shift would include fewer opportunities for
organizations to apply annually. Especially for neighborhood- or individual-created
events that are often born out of time-sensitive conversations, this could deter
applications. However, the RCAC believes the positive impacts outweigh this
potentially negative consequence. The RCAC believes the minimization of grant
deadlines will encourage applicant organizations to prepare more, and submit more
finalized plans, to the grant program, increasing odds of project success. Second, the
RCAC believes that the reduced number of deadlines will improve the workflow and
effectiveness of support staff and the commission. By freeing up time I currently spend
processing four rounds of grant awards, I will be able to focus more on outreach and
engagement to ensure that the entire community knows about upcoming application
deadlines, and is prepared to submit fully-vetted grant applications.
The RCAC recommends FY2018 deadlines of October 1 , 2017 and April 1 , 2018.
REQUESTED ACTION
I respectfully recommend City Council approval of the RCAC recommendations
regarding Round 15 funding and future Sustainable Dubuque Community Grant
application deadlines.
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