Council approves restructured community grants; reduces sustainability network mailer and adds two small awards

The Lake Oswego City Council on Oct. 21 voted to adopt an amended Resolution 25-48 establishing fall awards for the city’s newly restructured community grants program and to direct staff to refine eligibility and criteria before the spring cycle.

Deputy City Manager Madison Thiesing described how the city combined prior municipal, neighborhood enhancement and historic preservation grant channels into three funding buckets: (1) an earmarked neighborhood association allotment (eligible for reimbursements up to $1,000 per association), (2) community grants for social services (a $30,000 pool for nonprofits serving Lake Oswego residents) and (3) council-goals grants (a $75,000 pool available to nonprofits, businesses, community groups or individuals whose projects advance council priorities). She said the new application is longer and uses a scoring rubric, and this is the program’s first rolling cycle with fall and spring review windows.

The grants subcommittee recommended funding three social-service applicants for this fall cycle (Children’s Center; Friends of Luscher Farm; Clackamas Women’s Services) and left approximately $9,014 reserved for spring. For council-goals grants the subcommittee recommended awards that initially totaled $61,731 with $13,268.30 reserved for spring. During council deliberations members questioned funding for mailers and projects that could duplicate city outreach, and whether the city should fund improvements on private property.

Council members and staff agreed to clarify that the city will generally avoid funding private-property improvements while preserving flexibility for edge cases (for example, privately owned spaces that provide public access or emergency caches). Councilor Gordon summarized the policy intent, saying, “Clarity is kindness up front.” Staff noted the grants are now reimbursement-based and that there is a three-consecutive-year ineligibility rule under the current criteria; staff said they will return with sponsorship mechanisms for long-running community partners.

Council discussion led to a motion to amend the recommended awards: the council reduced the Lake Oswego Sustainability Network award from $15,000 to $7,500 to curtail a planned mailer and to add two previously unawarded projects — Friends of Springbrook Park ($4,325) and Lakewood Center for the Arts ($5,000). The amended council-goals total as presented to council was $63,556.70.

A motion to amend Resolution 25-48 as described was made by Councilor Corrigan, seconded by Councilor Furtick, and passed on a voice vote, 6-0. A subsequent motion to adopt the amended resolution was made by Councilor Verdin, seconded by Councilor Corrigan, and also passed 6-0.

Staff said the grant program will be refined before the spring cycle to clarify private-property eligibility, create sponsorship agreements for recurring partners, and address duplication with city events and outreach. Thiesing told council the spring grant applications will close in February, the subcommittee will meet in March, and reimbursements and final reports will be completed by June.