City staff asked the Committee of the Whole Monday to begin the allocation process for the 2026 Community Service Grants (locally funded human-needs line item from fund 02/1963). Staff said the application window will open in October; recommendations will be presented to the Committee on Dec. 8 and for final council approval on Dec. 15.

Hansing, the program lead, told council the program uses the same funding amount and process as last year but noted a difference in scoring: last year’s application cycle had a homelessness preference the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) did not recommend this year. Staff will present homelessness- and housing-working-group information to the CAC in a follow-up meeting. Hansing also clarified that grants may be used for operations. Councilmember Wazowski asked whether funds can be used for operations; Hansing replied they may. Wazowski urged a preference for project-based awards rather than operational support so the funding benefits a wider range of nonprofits.

Council also noted that the council had raised the maximum grant to $50,000 in the prior cycle as a one-time action and that the program description enumerates typical caps and a guideline that about 20 percent of the allocation may go to larger awards. A motion to begin the 2026 allocation process was moved by Berg, seconded by Weigel, and carried unanimously.

Staff said the CAC will finalize any scoring changes in their upcoming meeting and that staff will return with a proposed funding recommendation in December as scheduled.