Healthy Neighborhood Advisory Committee Meeting - January 14, 2026

Despite lacking a quorum, the Healthy Neighborhood Advisory Committee proceeded to review and discuss the 2026 grant documents, funding levels, and evaluation criteria. The meeting also included updates on housing plans, a neighborhood navigator position, and a micro-grant program.

Discussion Items

• Grant Document Review: Staff presented the 2026 grant guidelines, which are largely unchanged from the previous year. Minor date corrections were made (changing 2026 to 2027 for project completion dates).
• Funding Amount: Total funds available for 2026 are $128,000. The committee discussed raising the maximum grant amount from $15,000 to either $25,000 (allowing funding of roughly five organizations) or $20,000 (funding roughly seven). After considering staff workload and the desire to support fewer but more impactful projects, the committee decided to set the maximum at $25,000. Partial funding remains an option.
• Bonus Points for Hub Programming: A new section was added to the evaluation criteria to award bonus points for proposals that include some or all programming at the hub (5520 Traceway Drive). This is intended to incentivize use of the newly opened facility. Committee members supported the language, noting it could generate creative ideas for the space.
• Evaluation Criteria Discussion: The committee debated how to better differentiate among applicants, especially with fewer grants to award. Topics included:
  • Whether to rank applicants (1 to X) after scoring.
  • How to weigh past receipt of grants, organizational budget size, and whether to prioritize specific focus areas (e.g., food security, youth services).
  • The appropriate scoring scale (1-4 vs. 1-10). Staff and some members preferred a 1-4 scale to avoid splitting hairs; others were open but agreed to keep the current scale for now.
  • Adding a question about history of completing grant projects. Some members worried this could penalize new applicants. The committee decided not to add new questions to the application form for this year, but will discuss priorities and scoring interpretations at the February meeting.
• Other Updates:
  • The city’s housing draft plan will be released soon for public comment.
  • The Neighborhood Navigator position (now one 20-hour/week role) will open February 1, with county funding approved.
  • Micro-grant program discussions are ongoing internally.
  • The Healthy Neighborhoods Strategic Plan is being drafted by staff (no consultant) and is progressing weekly, though grant work has slowed it.

Key Outcomes

• The committee agreed to set the 2026 maximum grant award at $25,000, with flexibility for partial funding.
• The evaluation document will remain as-is for now; scoring scale and criteria interpretation will be revisited in February.
• The February meeting will include an informal discussion on the board’s role and member priorities.
• No formal votes were taken due to lack of quorum.