Neighborhood Partners Fund Board Meeting - April 6, 2026

The Neighborhood Partners Fund Board met on April 6, 2026, at 10:10 AM to hear presentations from 11 neighborhood associations seeking grant funding for beautification, safety, and community engagement projects. The board also elected a chair and vice chair, approved minutes from previous meetings, and received a staff report on the Fiscal Year 2026-27 program guidelines. A total budget of $80,000 is available for competitive grants, with individual requests up to $10,000. Associations must provide a minimum 25% volunteer labor match, with volunteer labor valued at $34.79 per hour. The board will make funding recommendations at its April 20, 2026 meeting, with final approval by the mayor and city council on June 17, 2026. Projects must be completed between July 2026 and June 30, 2027.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the final minutes by reference from the regular meetings of June 9 and June 24 of the previous year.
• Re-elected Liz Becker as chair and Matthew Tramp as vice chair, both by unanimous voice vote.

Report by Staff

• Joshua Garzeta, Senior Community Program Technician, presented the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Neighborhood Partners Fund program guidelines and application process. The program provides matching grants of up to $10,000 for neighborhood-based associations registered with the City of Las Vegas. A total budget of $80,000 is available. The application period ran from January 12, 2026, to March 12, 2026. Three workshops were held, and notice was provided via press release, social media, and newsletters.

Discussion Items

• Beverly Green Neighborhood Association: Proposed a beautification sign at Sixth Street and St. Louis, emulating a sign at Paradise Palms. The sign would be installed on private property with homeowner permission and include a ceramic coating to deter graffiti. The board discussed potential maintenance issues if the property is sold. The association provided a waiver disclosure stating the sign must be disclosed to a new owner, who could elect to remove it.
• Buffalo Coalition Neighborhood Association: Requested funding for neighborhood safety initiatives, including a neighborhood watch program, self-defense classes, monthly trash cleanups, a community block party, and replacement of damaged watch signs. The coalition consists of 172 homes, is not a formal HOA, and relies on donations. The requested grant would represent approximately 75% of their annual budget.
• Copper Palms Homeowners Association: Proposed purchasing three decorative benches for common areas. The project cost is $9,644, with a request for $6,000. The HOA will contribute $6,079, including $3,644 in cash and $2,435 in volunteer hours. The board inquired about wheelchair accessibility, reserve fund levels (currently at 94% of target), and local sourcing.
• Crestwood Neighborhood Association: Presented a multi-neighborhood collaboration with Hillside Heights and Huntridge for "Neon Lights" – a garbage station art installation, community cleanup, and celebration. The project involves three phases and requests $8,000, with $4,500 in in-kind donations and over $8,000 in volunteer hours. The event aims to unite over 1,000 homes and activate Huntridge Park.
• Francisco Park Neighborhood Association: Proposed historic signage to highlight the neighborhood's architectural significance, designed by nationally recognized architects. The project cost was reduced from $6,000 to $4,000 using local vendors. The association noted that 53% of residents are Hispanic and that community engagement has been challenging due to the current political climate.
• Fremont Street Loft Homeowners Association: Requested $10,000 for civil engineering work to expand green space, reducing urban heat island effect and improving air quality. The community is recovering from a major fire and is in litigation with the developer. The HOA contributed $5,000 to the prior phase and expects to phase future work.
• Glen Heather Estates Neighborhood Association: Proposed a neighborhood cleanup and block party with nine dumpsters, shredding bins, new watch signs, and a celebration. The association has less than $1,000 in its account. The board questioned the number of dumpsters (nine for 182 homes) and costs for shredding ($136 for three bins) and watch signs (12 signs at approximately $40 each).
• Grand Entries Neighborhood Association: Proposed a beautification project at the main entrance, including removal of diseased trees, fence repair, tree trimming, graffiti removal, and installation of artificial turf. The association is 13 months old and has 404 homes. The board raised concerns about liability and legal releases for work on private property; the city attorney noted that separate documentation beyond a pledge letter would be needed.
• Hillside Heights Neighborhood Association: Presented the same collaborative "Neon Lights" project as Crestwood, focusing on installing 10 dog waste stations and art pieces, a neighborhood cleanup, and a celebration. The association noted that construction on nearby roads is expected to be complete before the event.
• Hillstone Estates 2 Homeowners Association: Requested funding for additional lampposts at the front entrance to improve safety and illumination. Previous grant-funded wrought iron installation reduced burglaries from six to nine per year to just one in two years. The board recommended LED lighting for brightness and energy efficiency. The HOA has contributed to prior projects and will contribute to this one.
• Rancho Nevada Estates Homeowners Association: Requested $10,000 for a permanent monument welcome sign at the entrance. The neighborhood was established in 1963, but the HOA was not formed until 1994, leading to mixed membership. The HOA has funds set aside and will maintain the sign under its reserves.

Key Outcomes

• The board will conduct a deliberation meeting on April 20, 2026, to make funding recommendations. The recommendations will be forwarded to the mayor and city council for final approval on June 17, 2026.
• Member Estrada recused himself from the Grand Entries Neighborhood Association presentation due to being its board president.
• The board noted that Zoom Grants may not show all past projects due to leadership changes; associations were encouraged to mention past awards and provide photos when possible.
• The board emphasized that projects on private property must have a signed waiver releasing the city and the association from liability, to be obtained before the deliberation meeting.