Council closes file on request to form ad hoc committee for FY2025–26 nonprofit grant review

The committee voted to close the file on Communication 100, a request to form an ad hoc committee to review applications and develop recommendations for fiscal year 2025–26 VIEV nonprofit grant-in-aid awards.

Council member Heather L. Kimball announced the motion on the floor to close the file and noted the committee would consider the actual award amounts later when the resolution is before the full council. A motion to close file was made by Council member Kaguada and seconded by Council member Galimba. The clerk recorded seven ayes; two council members were excused.

The committee heard procedural comments about how applicants were reviewed. Council member Sherry Inaba described the ad hoc process: four council members — Kimball, Galimba, Kaguada and Inaba — sat on the ad hoc; every council member had the opportunity to score all applications; any application that scored below 70% was disqualified; and the ad hoc met multiple times to evaluate the remaining applications for alignment with public purpose and county code rules on overhead and administration.

Council member Eustace said he and the auditor had discussed additional information that was not available when the ad hoc made decisions and recommended expediting incorporation of auditor criteria into future reviews. Council member Kaguata agreed that the auditor’s information was primarily process-focused and said there was little that could be changed for this cycle.

Kimball said opening scoring to all council members was intended to make the process fairer and allow council members to identify programs that might later be supported with other funds if not awarded through the VIEV grant. She also said the committee would proceed with the vote to close the file.

The committee did not take up award amounts; Kimball said awards will be discussed when the related resolution is presented to council.