Charlie Linacombe, OAA director of operations, told the Grants Committee the authority is developing a grants compliance program that will include pre‑scheduled site visits, questionnaires, performance‑measure reviews and light invoice checks as part of operational reviews to substantiate reported progress.

"We're currently tracking the acceptance of award and the related contingency documents from cities and counties. Thus far as of last week, 27% of the awards have completed the necessary steps to have funds transferred," Linacombe said. He said the reviews are intended to verify progress and performance measures and emphasized that OAA staff are not investigators: suspected criminal activity would be referred to the Inspector General, the Attorney General's Office or the Auditor of Public Accounts as appropriate.

Staff proposed standardized acceptance timelines to reduce administration delays: for awards approved for an upcoming year, 90 days to formally accept and 120 days to submit required documentation; for awards approved during the current year, 60 days to accept and 90 days to submit; for renewals, 90 days to accept and 120 days to submit. Linacombe warned that failure to meet timelines "will result in 1 or more of the following actions. Award will be rescinded by OAA... An extension request may be submitted..." and that the executive director can grant case‑by‑case extensions when portal or technical issues are documented.

Committee members asked whether timelines were new and whether grantees had been consulted. Linacombe said specific timelines are new and explained the authority will adjust outreach and coaching to reduce hardships, including asking applicants to prepare draft operational agreements and MOUs earlier in the process.

Linacombe said the authority is developing a multi‑step review process and a risk model to decide which projects require more intensive review. He said severe compliance issues could lead to restrictions, termination of a project or a required performance improvement plan and could affect an awardee’s ability to request additional funds until issues are resolved.

Staff told the committee it will bring a recommended compliance process to the board in June and will publish guidance and offer webinars ahead of the July 1, 2026, effective date for the revised terms.