I'd like to call to order this meaning of the community enhancement program committee meeting.

The time is 603.

And will our city recorder please call roll.

Did I mess up?

Yeah.

Okay.

Committee member Shimon?

Here.

Committee member Falconer.

Here.

Committee member Martinez?

Here.

Committee member Marshall.

Here.

Committee member Anunne.

Yes.

Here.

Chair Gonzalez.

Present, thank you.

Chair Winslow.

Here.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair Gonzalez.

This is going to be Chair Gonzalez's last meeting because a warm congratulations as he is our new Metro Council president.

And so his replacement, Miles is in the room.

Hi Miles, thank you.

Congratulations.

So this is bittersweet uh to not have Juan Carlos on this committee anymore.

But I will not go on and on.

We'll keep on the strict time and follow the agenda.

So item B on the agenda is public comment.

Time provided for anyone wishing to speak to the committee.

Comments are limited to two minutes.

Is there anyone wishing to give public comment this evening?

Anyone on Zoom wishing to give public comment?

Okay, seeing none.

Consent agenda items considered routine that are adopted with a single motion without discussion.

Counselors may remove items prior to the motion to adopt.

Any removed items are discussed and acted upon following the approval of the remaining items.

What is the wish of the committee?

Just the minutes here.

Move to approve.

Thank you.

Committee member Falconer moved to approve, and it was seconded by committee member Martinez.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Hearing none.

The consent agenda is approved by the CEP committee.

Any additions or deletions.

Staff has no additions or deletions.

Okay, any by committee members.

Seeing none.

Presentations.

Council will hold questions until the end of each presentation.

And we're gonna begin our presentation with the American Legion Washington Post 2 and their veterans tribute park teacher concept.

And so I would invite that committee up to the table.

There are two microphones.

So if there's more than two of you, please feel free to share.

Thank you again for having us.

And again, especially thank you for awarding us the 2020 grant to start this project.

We really appreciate it, and I think it's long overdue here in Forest Grove.

First of the thing I'd like to do is introduce myself.

My name is Tim Rippe.

I am tonight acting in the capacity as the chair of the Forest Grove Veterans Action Network.

And to my right here is Dale Fowler, who is the commander of American Legion Post 2 here in Forest Grove.

And on line for us is our consultant with regard to landscaping, uh Miguel Camacho from Place Landscaping Services.

So as a part of the update for this program, we wanted to just remind you that the purpose of the park was to establish a community space where everyone can honor, recognize, and connect with or reflect on military members, veterans, and their families who serve and support and sacrifice in defense of the Constitution of our nation.

To assist us in this design phase, we uh interviewed and hired uh two different uh people and we decided to hire uh place man uh place landscaping services.

You as city councillors should be familiar with them as they have helped the city on a number of projects with the East Park, uh Stik's Park and a number of other places.

So they're well versed in the city's uh master plan for parks and recreation.

So they've been very helpful with for this this particular project in itself.

As we've designed the concept, the design will be inclusive of military members and veterans from all six branches of the services, uh regardless of the time or conflict in which they serve.

It will honor the veteran services sacrifice, and we will not be focusing on wars, conflicts, or military campaigns.

And we will be focusing on the service and support in general terms of soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and guardians, and not on individual names, like I was familiar with a lot of veterans' parks.

And I I wouldn't like to again point out this is intended to be a tribute park for service and sacrifice, not a memorial park.

So we constantly are referring to 99% of the parks that are out there are memorial parks.

Ours is a tribute park to recognize the service and sacrifices of those serving today and in the past.

Some of the public input that we've gotten from citizens was why don't you also do something for first responders?

That did not occur to us when we made the application.

But it is something that we want to let you know that we are in fact considering for potential future expansion.

So it's not in the scope of this contract, this grant, but uh we had a meeting with both Chief Garing and Chief Mazilli this morning, and they're both in support of and interested in some sort of future expansion to uh recognize first responders.

The criteria for some of this the spot that we were looking at already?

Well, that's fast.

Um centrally located in Forest Grove, visible accessible to the public, easily accessible, ADA compliant, and a sufficient amount of space for parking spaces and with restrooms nearby.

Some of the features very quickly would be a flagpole, some seals for each of the different services, benches for sitting and reflecting, uh, and uh some sort of means by which we can then add some educational aspects like a QR code that will then take them people to a website where they can get more information.

Uh as far as next steps, we'll continue to get information from farmers markets and doing surveys with those that pass by our booth, and and uh one of the things that we've done is uh with landscape uh uh with place is look at the city parks that are available, uh and we've kind of kind of narrowed it down to uh four sites at three different parks, but the the public is pointing at just two of those sites as their favorite, and we'll continue to develop that with further info for the public.

We also hope to be able to present a final or create a final design, agree it to a final design uh in August with our last meeting with place, present to the parks and recreation commission in September and come back to the council in October.

The reason we wanted to do that early enough is that there is an Oregon Department of Veterans Affair grant for the parks like this.

That application is in January.

So we want to be able to be in place to be able to do it.

It's a two-year cycle.

We miss it this January, we have to wait two years.

We don't want that's all I have for you.

Are there any questions?

Any questions?

Councilor Shimmel or committee member Schimmel.

Does the grant adequately complete the project or are there other funds that need to oh, this is just for the design.

In the outcome of the design, the design phase, the grant will be a design and a estimated uh construction budget.

So this that's as far as we're that's the outcomes.

Then we're gonna have to get into the construction phase, and that's going to be involved if our our desire, our hope is that it gets included in the city's master plan for parks and recreation.

That means that there will be some funds available, but that we're not looking at city funds exclusively.

We recognize we're gonna have to get donations and fundraising.

Much of this stuff we're hoping for uh donations in kind uh from companies that are willing to support this project.

And we don't have an idea yet as to what that amount might look like.

We hope to have that in August and present those kinds that kind of information uh by October to you.

Thank you.

Which two parks are is the community?

So the the three parks were Lincoln Park, Thatcher Park, and the lower Forest Glen Park.

Now, Lincoln Park had two different sites.

There was a site that was next to Sunset Drive and a site that was more centrally located between Sunset and Maine.

Uh that was just kind of north of where the restrooms and the picnic gazebo thing is.

Uh so there's a field there.

We were looking at that.

That's the Thatcher Park, actually, it turns out right now with the surveys is the preferred site by residents, by citizens.

Forest blend, because it has no established parking, no restrooms is kind of a limit that out of the way.

Are you tracking like the geographic areas that people are living in that are engaging in those surveys?

Because I'm just wondering, it feels like sometimes a lot of our something we deal with too is like we get a lot of feedback from the west side or certain neighborhoods in Forest Grove.

And I'm just wondering like how the east side, like if we got that community engagement from the East Side that they're willing to drive to Thatcher Park for it, or if we're just missing like checking with people that live in that area.

So we have not been tracking where the survey responses are.

Okay.

Great.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Okay, great.

Thank you so much.

Our next presentation is from the Forest Grove Elks Lodge 2440 backpack program.

Hello.

Hi.

My name's Danielle.

This is Heather and Nicole, and we are the face of the Forest Grove Backpack Program.

Um, we are currently working out of the Forest Grove Elks Lodge, and they provide a room for us.

Um the Forest Grove Backpack Program has been able to accomplish so much since receiving the CEG grant on January 26, 2026.

Since that date, we have been able to provide 2,678 bags of food to students within the Forest Grove School District.

We packed and delivered food bags between 129 and 146 students each week.

Um this also includes up to 14 students each week with dietary restrictions, which require specially purchased items for um allergies and food needs like kosher, low sugar, onion-free, peach-free, products that are not packaged in cans, um, two dairy-free kids, two kids that are gluten-free, six kids that require nut-free items.

Some of the students we provide for are also McKinney Vento or houseless.

Despite the challenge of rising food costs, we are working hard to find the best deals to stretch every dollar every week.

We have three full-time volunteers and a small handful of other volunteers that help from time to time with a total of 556 volunteer hours just since the end of January.

This includes weekling weekly shopping trips, which sometimes include three or more stores, and many times three or four shopping carts full of food, picking up donations from um donors, stocking shelves with the items, and picking up the backpacks that students return from the week before.

We pack the bags of food and deliver them to 14 different schools.

We have an amazing community that has also donated approximately $8,197 in food, $243 in cash, and we were given the incredible opportunity to run a 50-50 raffle in which we raised uh 1,087.

We're also currently working to apply for other grants and donations to help sustain the program.

To date, we have spent 10,346 and 84 cents of the $20,000 grant.

So we are on track for the year.

We look forward to beginning the 2026 and 2027 school year with the remaining funds.

Do you have any questions for us?

Great.

Thanks, Danielle.

Any questions?

Councilor Schimmel.

Just curious how the budget looks going into the next school year.

Does it look like you'll be able to get through, or is there other sources that look promising?

Um, as of right now, we are working on applying for um donations through local companies to help subsidize some of that food.

Um these funds will help us definitely get through the end of January.

Um we're looking at about halfway through the school year next year with what we have now.

Um, and hopefully the community will continue to support us.

Um we'll receive other grants from elsewhere as well.

Um usually we get grants from the Elks Lodge, we receive grants from Sedexo.

Um there's a multitude of places that we're receiving help from.

Okay, any other questions.

Well, thank you all so much.

Thanks.

I know you have even student volunteers.

I see them in the back.

Thank you all for volunteering.

Um, and thanks for the work you do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next presentation is from Pacific University, and it's the Long House Project.

Good evening.

Good evening.

And uh I first want to thank the committee again for the incredible support that you've shown um supporting the Pacific University Longhouse Project.

The Longhouse was conceived uh by our students as a community gathering space and a way to um feel at home and practice and express their cultures.

Um Erica Andrew, I'm the associate director of development for grants, and um I'll be representing our project tonight.

So the um longhouse, we continue to raise funds to purchase construction construction documents for the longhouse.

We needed to raise approximately 140,000 um, and thus far we have raised um 20k from the committee and an additional 14,000 from the community.

In addition to this, we have submitted almost $300,000 in um grants, um, all of which have been declined.

We have two additional grants outstanding to the tune of $35,000 that we're still waiting to hear from.

So we remain committed to the project.

Um we continue to seek grants and philanthropic support from the community, and the uh support that the committee has shown for our project is an important part of our case that we have community support for this project.

Um right now the uh timeline for completion of the project is to be determined.

Fundraising was uh has been much more challenging than we anticipated.

Um I think the political environment right now around diversity, equity, and inclusion has turned, making um a lot of foundations that would traditionally support us um hesitant, and also as you all know, there is so much immediate need for um for the the um basic needs of people and that that should be taking precedence over construction projects.

Um I was so uh impressed to hear about the thousands of of bags of food that that previous group was able to supply, and that's such an excellent use of of funds and community support.

So um thank you for your support, and that is where our project stands.

Are there any questions?

Any questions?

Maybe not a question but a comment.

Um thank you for continuing the effort.

I think you know, I I hope that you don't lose hope because I do think that you know um administration's change shifts, you know, tides change and they'll change again.

Um, and so I'm I'm really hopeful that you know this temporary setback and you know the obstacles that are created um will fall behind us and we'll eventually see this thing through.

So I appreciate you being here and continuing the work.

I appreciate that support.

That's my hope as well.

Any other questions?

I don't think so.

Thank you so much.

Saint Vincent's DePaul utility assistance program.

Hi, um, I'd also like to thank you guys for giving us the funds for helping us with our utilities program.

My name's Dave Wirtz.

I'm the president of our St.

Vincent DePaul organized organization.

We're a food pantry, and we also help with utilities, uh specifically Forest Grove Utility.

So I'll let you know our projects on schedule.

Um we've paid out 11,314 for utilities so far since the first of the year, uh, which averages about 419 dollars per household.

Uh and the highest we paid is $834, the lowest is $77.

Uh uh.

Uh this helps people in need of utility assistance.

Allows them to keep their lights on, their water on, and it gives some relief to help them pay for other expenses that they have for their rent, and um uh we do have the requirement that they stay that they've been in their house for 12 months and that they have not received any help from us in the past 12 months.

Uh just to let you know, we're also a food assistant uh or food pantry mainly, and um I don't have to go there, I guess.

But um, but having this money helped us to offset and pay for more food because food costs have risen and uh we get less food from the Oregon Food Bank, so we have to spend more money on food.

So we buy food from Winco.

Uh we buy meat from Empire Meat in Portland because we also give out meat with our food package program, and uh gosh, I just like to thank you guys.

We're on schedule.

I mean, we expect this, the rest of the funds to help us the rest of the year.

Thank you.

Any questions?

I'm not seeing any word.

Nope.

Nope.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you for doing the work.

And now we're gonna have our CEG or yeah, community impact grant uh the Forest Grove Cornelius Chamber of Commerce, small business incubator.

Thank you so much.

Uh good evening, Mayor, Counselors, City Manager, and Metro Council present.

Muchas gracias, bienvenidos.

We're very excited.

Um it was three years ago that we were here.

How we got here was really kind of a miracle.

Um, that we were given the CIG, and it was by voices that basically said it would make all the difference to put this money in their bucket to go and do the things.

So we've done the things.

Um so over the past year, we're gonna just gonna talk about this past year.

Uh the Forest Grove Incubator at the Forest Grove Cornelius Chamber of Commerce has continued to grow into a trusted resource uh for entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout our region.

Um we have served more than 300 entrepreneurs, provided over a hundred one-on-one coaching sessions, delivered 15 uh business trainings and helped launch 21 new businesses in our region, and when we talk about what that looks like, that's generational cycles every time you launch a business and it's intentional, it grows into the next generation, and that is our community.

So our services are available in both English and Spanish, ensuring entrepreneurs have access uh to guidance and resources they need to start grow and sustain their businesses.

Well, our work is centered in Forest Grove and Cornelius.

Uh we are also serving entrepreneurs from surrounding communities, including Banks, Gaston, North Plains, Yales Creek, Dilly, Brennonia, Canby, Newburgh, and Woodborn.

Why trust they trust us when someone comes to us and wants to open a business, it's not about making money for that business or for that nonprofit.

We will carry them through, open up their business, but it's not carrying them through to make money for another nonprofit that may have a 24 month or a 12-month stipulation.

We actually do an intake survey.

Ask them where are you at?

What do you want to do?

Let's look at it.

What business is your model?

Is it an LLC?

Is it an S port?

Is it what is it?

And we go in and provide them at no cost.

Thanks to the CIG grant that you provided.

I remember sitting here three years ago, where Leslie, who is sitting here on Zoom, said, What if we invested in that?

And here we are.

We're investing in that.

So now we are 21 businesses stronger here.

Because of your grant.

So one of the greatest accomplishments has been definitely earning the trust of business community.

And so today we stand strong by saying that we are 300 in one year.

One year.

300 entrepreneurs served, 21 businesses started, 100 one-on-one coaching sessions, 15 business trainings.

We look at our business community.

And what that looks like.

So what do we do?

Well, we're bringing in business formation, licensing, um, business planning, marketing, and branding, cash flow management, access to capital, government contracting, AI for entrepreneurs.

That's been a huge one.

Business credit, technical assistance.

But I think the one for me that is what I want to leave you with is our greatest source of new entrepreneurs is word of mouth.

They trust us, they're coming here to us.

We've got a great solid team.

So I just want to thank you for investing in us and this.

And I would love to give you another presentation of what that looks like for you in terms of regional dollars that are staying here.

Millions for all of these businesses that have been started here that for generations to come will amplify our economic economic region.

So thank you so much.

Thank you.

Any questions?

Councillor Schimmel.

A comment.

I've I've had the privilege of a front row seat to this program as my daughter was one of the earlier, early adopters, and uh the trust was certainly an imperative, and and says you really built a lot of confidence in her as she established her business and it continues to thrive today.

So uh I I credit the the strength um and ingenuity of that that program for getting her started.

It's a it's a very scalable model, and I tell you, we've we have five to seven individuals coming in to whether it's forest grove or corn Cornelius coming in to seek guidance every single day, and it's beautiful to see that.

So thank you so much for investing in us, and we really appreciate that.

Uh congrats, I have one question.

I think it's amazing the 21 new businesses.

I was wondering, do you know how many are in forest grove?

Like they're all forest grove Cornelius, all 21.

Oh, I thought you said that they were so we've got we've got two that are um in uh Woodburn and Salem.

Okay.

Do you know so do you know the number that are in Forest Grove and then the number that are in Cornelius?

I can get those to you, yeah.

Okay, that'd be great.

Just curious.

Okay, perfect.

Any other questions?

Okay, great, thank you.

Um, we're gonna move on to item F, which is discuss and approve the 2026-27 CEP grant program, and I'm gonna turn it over to our assistant city manager, Miss Kim Ezel.

Um, and then our comms team, uh Stephanie and Joyce as well.

Right, I think that's the plan.

I'm going for it.

Good evening, CEP committee.

We are excited to talk to you about the next year of grant availability as well as to introduce some of the history and background of the program.

And with that, I will turn it over to Stephanie and Choice.

Yes, thank you.

So, as we said tonight, this is what we'll be covering during the course of the presentation.

CEP fits within the community connection goal with the outcome to increase partnership and collaboration among community organizations in the city.

Today's presentation provides an overview of the CEP program, including how the program is funded, its purpose, and the process.

We'll review the proposed process for the fiscal year 2026-27.

Also, we'll discuss the total funding available for this grant cycle and how these funds will be allocated.

We'll review the CEP Metro eligibility requirements, and finally, we will ask the committee to discuss the proposed process and provide approval to move forward with this year's grant cycle.

Please for every ton of waste disposed at the transfer station, one dollar is dedicated to the community enhancement program.

In addition, 50 cents per ton is collected on all putricible solid waste, which is organic waste that naturally decomposes, such as food waste and other biodegradable materials.

Next slide.

To be eligible for funding, a project must demonstrate a clear connection to the designated solid waste community enhancement area.

The CEP committee has designated that area as the Forest Grove School District Boundary.

A project may qualify in one of two ways.

The project itself is physically located within the Forest Grove School District boundary, or the project benefits individuals, organizations, or programs located within the school district boundary, even if some project activities occur elsewhere.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, including neighborhood associations, and charitable organizations that have 501 C3 tax exempt status.

Schools and institutions of higher education are also eligible to apply for funding projects that benefit our community.

Local governments, government advisory committees, departments, and special districts may apply as well.

Government applicants must include documented support from their local executive office, demonstrating that the project has organizational approval.

CEP funds are not intended to replace federal, state, local, or regional funding sources.

Projects must be non-sectarian, meaning they cannot promote or inhibit any religion.

Projects may not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, or sexual orientation.

If the proposed project is located on private property, applicants must demonstrate a clear public benefit and provide documentation showing the property owner's permission for the project to occur.

Eligible projects must target one of these goals.

Improve the appearance or environmental quality of the community, reduce the amount of waste generated or decrease the toxicity, expand opportunities for reuse, recycling, or waste reduction, rehabilitate or upgrade facilities, equipment or property owned or operated by qualifying 5013 nonprofit organizations, preserve or enhance natural resources, including wildlife habitat, riparian areas, wetlands, forests, and other environmentally significant areas while increasing public awareness and access, improve or expand recreational facilities programs or opportunities for community members, enhance public safety through projects that make our community safer, provide direct benefits to youth, seniors, low-income individuals, or other underserved populations.

Thank you.

In addition to Metro's eligibility requirements, the committee can establish local funding priorities to help make grant recommendations.

CEP grants may be awarded annually, depending on available funding and committee direction.

However, Metro requires that funding be awarded at least once every three years.

The CIG community impact grant traditionally has been awarded on a three-year cycle, allowing organizations to undertake larger long-term projects with stable funding.

The current CIG grant award period runs through June 30th, 2027.

So the committee may wish to continue that approach or explore other funding options for future grant cycles.

So just a recap of what we did in 2024-2025 CEP growth program.

All nine applicants for the CEP grant applied for $20,000 grant.

I think this is the largest year for applications.

So this coming cycle.

Yeah, do you want to go?

Can we go back one slide?

Okay, do we want to have discussion on the options right now?

Do we feel comfortable with that?

If anyone have a thought question.

The budget would be next year if starting at zero if we spent this year's money.

Yeah, we a hundred thousand.

We we bring in about a hundred thousand dollars in this program per year.

Um, there would be this would be the last year that we're awarding the 40,000 CIG.

So next year's funding cycle, if you choose to allocate the full 46,500 this cycle, have about 100,000 for next cycle.

You opt not to award the 46,500, you will have about 140,000 next cycle.

You know, before we start discussing the options, like let's just recap.

So we know that the need that our community has is very large, right?

We had the most applications last year that we've ever had.

That's 17 applications.

Um we also, you know, from the presentations and the need, know that 46,000 is not a lot.

Um so I think the pickle that we're in or the dilemma that we're facing is I mean, obviously, what do you do?

Um, is it better to wait to pause for a year and try to build up our bank account and be able to award grants to people to organizations, which maybe will last on their budget a year, um, to do smaller grants this year.

I don't I mean, just restating what you already said, just to make sure we all understand the complexity of the issue.

Anyone have an opinion about it one way or the other chair, I'll I'll go ahead and chime in.

Yeah, go ahead, co-chair.

Yeah, thank you for uh uh sharing those reflections.

I mean, I think it's important to, as you mentioned, because there is so much need and there's what feels like constant cycles of of crisis in our community that we deploy resources so that we can hopefully support those most impacted by uh different different disparities.

Um given the funding amount, I almost feel like um what would make sense is three grants of fifteen thousand dollars.

I mean, just could kind of keep it um uh general, uh generally with the spirit of what we've done in the past, because I remember a few years ago we used to have like a formula that allocated 10,000 from each, and it often resulted in some organizations getting two or five or seven thousand dollars, and um kind of looking backwards, we then decided to uh want to make larger awards to make a deeper impact in the community to give organizations and community groups um uh just a greater uh sense of capacity uh to impact uh impact folks.

So I think if we gave three grants, uh three one year grants of uh uh fifteen thousand dollars each, that would kind of hit the balance given given the short um uh uh bank account balance uh in the in the grant program this year.

I know it'd leave a a few thousand dollars here, but maybe there's some flexibility the day of the award to to give it a little extra to an organization.

But that's my recommendation.

Thank you.

Any other thoughts?

I would agree with with that statement.

Um the money's not it's not gonna gain any by holding it that portion till next year.

So why if there's a need for it now, utilize it now?

Okay, counselor Shimmel, did you want to Yeah?

Well, I I I also agree.

I thanks for entering the another option with the 15, 34 15.

Uh yeah, having yeah, I've only been through this one cycle, last cycle and previously experiencing as a nonprofit the the minutiae of numbering of calculations that you that this council endured.

Uh so I I applaud the transition to the 20,000 to have a greater impact for sure.

And if you know, if we can you know find some avenue between the the 15 to 22 or three, I'd be in favor of that to what you say get the money deployed.

So I'm hearing consensus to do three fifteen thousand dollars grants each.

Is that an accurate?

And that puts us at 45,000 and there's 46,000.

So that's I don't I mean, I don't think we should go over that because it's like I mean, I guess you could do like 500 if is there do we have consensus on that agreement?

Okay, so three one-year grants totaling fifteen thousand dollars each.

Okay, okay, um, and then moving on.

Um so since you've decided to have grant awards this year, um, we are proposing a preliminary committee evaluation of applications, uh, basically to determine uh top applications for advancement, um, which in turn provides this committee more time to engage with applicants and allow for more comprehensive QA session session.

Um, and then of course we will continue with the six month and one year uh wrap-ups.

I really like this because I I don't know, I've done this a lot, and I felt always feel like the trying to do all the interviews, like so.

We had 17 interviews last time, and it's really hard to have engaging, thoughtful conversation.

Um so any way we could get to like being able to have a really quality instead of quantity.

Um, I think I'm all in favor of this.

I don't know if anyone else has a differing opinion.

I'm open to hear it.

I agree.

Yeah, I I think it's a great if I could add some thoughts here.

I think this is a great idea.

Um right now at Metro, we're going through a really large grant allocation program.

So I'm thinking a lot through the different kinds of uh uh review committees.

So I have some questions because uh some can be like staff recommendation based or or council or committee action based.

Um like for the preliminary committee, would that be would that be primarily uh city staff that evaluate that?

Would that be um committee members and staff or um non-city staff kind of advice?

What what are you thinking about that?

Are you looking for for feedback on that?

Well, so our thoughts were that it would be up to the committee to review these applications um before we decided who would come in and present.

So it would be all of you looking at the applications before they they come in and present.

Okay, see.

I think the thought was similar to like how an RFP process would typically work where all of the committee members would receive all the applications and a matrix for grading, and then it would be the top three, five, seven or so who would come in and give presentations in the interview process.

Okay.

I just if that's what the the committee had in mind.

When I I'm glad I asked because originally when I read this, I imagined that there would be some kind of recommendation, like a slate that is brought to this group by not this group.

So I'm glad to have asked that.

Um so I guess would it mean in um, which I think is fine, but I think in terms of process, would it mean an additional meeting between decision and action?

Or you anticipate it happening offline uh matrix is submitted, things are tallied up before.

Yes, is that right?

Yeah, next slide.

That'll answer your question.

Sorry, thank you.

No, it's okay.

Um, so this is the the timeline that we're gonna follow.

Um so August 3rd through September 11th um is the application period.

Um, and when I I will say that we can begin advertising the grants this week, basically what I'm saying is that we are going to start advertising the fact that these will open August 3rd and continue that advertising throughout the entire application process.

We did that last year, we got a ton of tech.

Um, September 14th through the 28th is the application preview and online scoring by the committee.

So we will provide you a link and a rubric to follow with all of the applicants on it with their application.

Um and then September 30th, the top three to five grant applicants uh will be informed of their presentation date, and then the committee will meet again October 12th to hear.

Thanks.

Can I ask another question?

I'm just so curious about process.

Um, do you anticipate that when the committee members are ranking the applications, they'll give like a dot for five applications, or do you think it'll be more of like a ranked choice?

So people give their their top three, top four, top five, so they'll be ranked, or is it more so generally?

I like these five.

Because I'm wondering the thing that we struggled with in the past when we kind of had a matrix and ranking system was when you added the rankings, some people's top priorities didn't make it to the next round.

So then you're like, well, how do my votes count if it just it just got a little cumbersome in that sense?

But maybe this is way more simple than I think it's gonna be, but I'm just thinking about the last the last uh uh grant making.

No, these are all very good questions.

So my I think our idea was to have it more ranked voice.

Okay.

Um, and then having determining what the top three to five scores would be based on that ranking.

Okay, more than likely.

Yes, yeah, since we're awarding since we're awarding three.

I mean, I don't know, it would be F, but it would definitely be three applicants coming.

So the committee members would have about two weeks to get back their ranking to you.

You would then tabulate those, and then you would connect back with applicants to inform them about top three to five, and then those are the applicants that would then be invited to present and be considered for uh award.

Correct.

Okay, thanks.

I'm glad I asked that.

Counselor Falkner.

Yeah, I guess maybe should we have a conversation here at the committee level then about how many presentations we want to have?

So rather than saying three to five, maybe we should say, you know, if we're doing the ranked choice voting, we I mean, last time we got 17, maybe we get more than that.

Um do we should we discuss how many presentations can this you know, do we have capacity for at that meeting?

I and I think maybe that's how we come to the number of comments.

I agree.

Well, and how much time do you want for each presentation?

I feel like we need at least minutes, if not, yeah.

So I would say six six the top six, we award three.

Yeah.

And that's an hour for presentations and then a half and a half an hour for deliberating and decision.

And that's an hour and a half.

Do we that's just my off the top of my head what I'm thinking, but just so that we're really clear when we're communicating with applicants during this process.

When you say 10 minutes, is that like seven minutes for a presentation and three minutes for QA when we ask folks to prepare?

Good question.

Good question.

Yeah, I think that I think seven to eight minute presentations, two to three minute questions.

Wonderful.

Thank you.

That's that's a good question.

Yeah, I think I've also been really privy to right now.

There's a lot of um uh examination, I'll say on our state's ethic laws and the public meetings and serial communications, all those things that I know as the city staff is really aware of, and I'm sure the council too.

So I think um, I mean I won't I won't be here.

I know counselor Palacios for Metro will will support, but just encourage the committee to think about um when those tabulations, the matrices that they're published, so you know, people that there's no secret voting kind of thing, and everything is transparent to the public.

I think that's really important, especially in the build up to that.

Um but aside from that, I think this has the potential to be a really uh efficient process um to have the committee spend more quality time, I think, with the with top applicants, and um it's gonna be hard because I know there's a lot, a lot of really incredible ideas out there that people have.

So you'll have a you'll have fun work ahead of you.

Thank you, counselor.

Um, I have a like follow-up question to what Chair Gonzalez was talking about, and I don't know if it's in the application or can be, but you know, there was some conversation about some grants and application who's awarded.

So I'm just wondering if also like on our application, it can include like how the money is gonna be used in Forest Grove, like how much of it goes back to the Force Grove community, or I don't know if there's a way to do that.

I just know that sometimes when people are paying into grant cycles, and then those grants go out to other organizations.

There's a question of like, hey, as this can come, you know, community member we're paying into it, so it should stay within.

I don't know, just something that came up today at a different meeting.

There's a question.

Yeah.

So one of the criteria of the Metro grant process is that it either be spent in Forest Grove or for the folks at Forest Grove.

So I think we can ask by some follow-up questions in the application specifically about how the grant will be used in one of those two areas to try to drill down to get through that information.

Perfect.

Great things.

Coach I was gonna see committee member Nunes.

Yeah, committee member Nunez.

I just had a question.

Um, how long were the presentations last cycle?

Because I felt like they were a little short, and I think they were 10 minutes, if I'm not can someone does anyone remember how long presentations were.

I want to say they were either two to three minutes.

Oh, okay.

Yeah, okay.

We had a lot of them, so I don't imagine it would have exceeded.

Yeah, it felt very short.

Yeah.

Okay.

I think last time we had like three minute presentations, two minute questions.

So it was like rapid rounds.

Yeah, yeah.

Well, 10 feels good then.

They can go back and look.

Right.

Okay, are there anything else you need from the committee?

Any other comments or suggestions from the committee members?

Okay.

So I'm gonna adjourn this meeting of the CEP.

And thank you to