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Lafayette Communities That Care asks city to be EPIC backbone; council asks staff to review and seek deadline extension
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Summary
Lafayette Communities That Care asked the city to be the administrative backbone for a five-year EPIC prevention grant; council asked staff to review legal and fiscal obligations and to seek a possible deadline extension rather than committing at the meeting.
Representatives of Lafayette Communities That Care (CTC) asked Lafayette City Council on Oct. 28 to serve as the official applicant and administrative backbone for Colorado's EPIC prevention grant, a five-year opportunity that would provide roughly $410,000 per year to fund youth mental-health, family-connection and substance-use prevention programs.
Ignacio Perez, CTC director, said the coalition would continue to lead programmatic work, that Bridges of Opportunity (a local nonprofit) would manage day-to-day fiscal and administrative functions, and that the city would complete a one-time financial risk assessment and sign the grant contract if awarded. Perez said the proposed partnership included modest administrative revenue to the city (roughly half of the indirect rate for administrative overhead) and a light-touch accountability plan of monthly/bi-monthly check-ins and quarterly financial snapshots.
Council discussed legal, fiscal and timing questions. City attorney and staff advised that serving as fiscal agent/backbone typically requires legal review of grant terms, a city resolution or formal action to record the city's commitment, and an assessment of the city's ability to manage federal- or state-funded reimbursement contracts. The applicant told council the grant is reimbursement-based and that a portion of the award can be advanced; Bridges of Opportunity described its role as the operational fiscal manager.
The application deadline is imminent (the applicant said a Monday 5 p.m. deadline). Council did not approve the city as backbone at the meeting. Instead, council asked staff to prioritize review if feasible, to request a deadline extension from the state if necessary, and indicated a willingness to provide a council letter of support while staff evaluates legal and fiscal exposure. Staff said council action (typically a resolution) would be required before the city could formally accept backbone obligations if the grant is awarded.
