Sammamish commission summarizes 2024 grant work, begins writing 2025 scopes of work

The Sammamish City Human Services Commission reported that grant review dominated its 2024 work and that staff are now translating approved awards into contracts and scopes of work for 2025 and 2026.

The commission reviewed 85 applications requesting a total of $1,342,758 in 2024, and the commission's recommended allocation of $682,736 was approved by the City Council, a presenter said. "This year in 2024, we obviously elected a chair and vice chair, and then we also amended some of the bylaws for the commission," the presenter said, adding that the commission conducted joint equity training with the cities of Redmond, Kirkland and Issaquah to inform its application review process.

Why it matters: the commission's review and the council-approved allocation determine which local nonprofits receive city funding and the deliverables those nonprofits must meet. Staff said converting approved applications into contracts will require negotiating specific service units, insurance certificates and W-9 forms with each provider.

Staff said they are working with other cities that pool funds to agree on mutual deliverables and that they are "scrutinizing service units" to ensure measures make sense for all parties. "It's a bit like herding cats at the moment, but we'll get there," the presenter said.

Officials said they are working on scopes for 64 applications that received allocated funding and are closing out 2023–24 grants. Staff said they expect quarter-four funding to be available by Jan. 15 and that outcome and demographic reports will follow.

The presenter also raised service delivery concerns raised by residents and providers: several callers reported that local domestic-violence organizations were not returning calls. "We've had lots of folks from different nonprofits and individuals say that when they've contacted local DV organizations, they're not getting calls back," the presenter said, noting the commission will meet with peers to explore whether additional providers can serve the east side or whether outreach/support can be improved.

The commission previewed a 2025 work plan that includes seating two new commissioners, electing a chair and vice chair, reviewing bylaws and scheduling joint commission meetings later in the year. Staff said the calendar is not final and some items may shift between months.

The meeting also included brief commissioner reports and recognition of outgoing commissioners; those personnel items did not alter grant decisions.