At the Feb. 25, 2025 Tumwater Budget and Finance Committee meeting, staff outlined plans to open the Community Human Services program application period on May 1 and to collect applications during the month of May.

Staff said they will schedule presentations and decision-making at a subsequent Budget and Finance Committee meeting. The originally planned date for presentations (June 27) conflicts with staff and several council members' attendance at the Association of Washington Cities conference. Staff asked committee members to check calendars and advised they could either schedule a special meeting in June or move the presentations to the July committee meeting.

Administrator Parks (city administrator) told the committee that applicants have asked about the delayed timeline and that many would prefer an earlier decision. "If there is a way at all for us to reschedule and have it happen sooner than the July, that would be likely preferable to the people that would like to use the money," Administrator Parks said.

Staff asked whether the application materials should set an upper limit for individual awards to manage expectations. The committee discussed specifying a maximum award amount in the materials (staff suggested possible per-award caps such as $2,500 to $3,000) and making clear that not all applicants will receive funding.

One committee member (Prakshi) supported a stated cap and the expectation that not all requests would be fully funded, saying it would "manage expectations." Staff said application materials were prepared and ready and that they would work with council to word the guidance before opening the application window.

Next steps: staff will contact council members to identify availability for either a special June meeting or for the July meeting and will finalize application materials and guidance (including suggested per-applicant award limits and a statement that not all applicants will be funded) before the May 1 opening.

Ending: Staff said applications will open May 1 and that committee members will be notified of the scheduled presentations and award meeting once council calendars are reconciled.