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Dunedin commission delegates limited grant-application authority to city manager
Summary
The commission approved a revised grant policy authorizing the city manager to submit and, in certain cases, approve grant agreements within delegated purchasing authority; staff said the change aims to increase flexibility and capture funding opportunities.
The City Commission voted unanimously to adopt an updated grant policy that gives the city manager authority to submit grant applications and to approve certain grant agreements without separate commission approval. City staff said the change is intended to let staff act quickly when grants require no match, when the required match is within the city manager’s delegated purchasing authority, or when the match was already approved in the annual budget.
Nicole Delfino, strategy and sustainability manager, and Camille Zoller, the city’s new grants specialist, presented the proposed changes and the rationale. Zoller told the commission the 2007 policy required an executed resolution before applying for grants and that a 2016 revision added limited exemptions. With a staffed grant specialist in place, the proposed update would allow more flexibility while continuing to notify commissioners through the city manager’s report when staff applies under the manager’s authority.
Commission discussion focused on safeguards: Commissioner Descartes warned that some grants can create ongoing operational obligations not obvious in the application; Vice Mayor and others asked for transparency on in-kind matches and how staff would quantify them. Staff said they will develop a matrix to monetize in-kind contributions and disclose potential operations and maintenance commitments in the city manager’s report. During discussion, staff also said they are preparing an application for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to harden the water-treatment building; the city has budgeted $500,000 for the hardening and staff said they would apply for the $250,000 HMGP award and, if successful, use $250,000 of city funds as the required match.
The commission adopted the revised policy by voice vote. Commissioners praised staff for the work and said routine reporting will be important to maintain transparency.
