Manvel parks board creates three‑member grants subcommittee to pursue funding opportunities

The City of Manvel Parks and Recreation Board voted on Oct. 24 to create a three-member grants subcommittee to research grant opportunities and the city’s grant-writing policies. Linda Dunn agreed to lead the subcommittee; Mary Anne Atkinson and Brian Wilmer were identified as the other members during the meeting.

"I move that we created a subcommittee in the parks and Recreation Board for grant writing and choice of grant fundings," said Linda Dunn, who made the motion; the chair seconded and the motion was approved by voice vote.

Why it matters: Several board members said many grant programs require affiliation with a nonprofit or dedicated administrative capacity. The subcommittee will examine whether the parks board should serve as the local affiliate for Keep Texas Beautiful, whether to reactivate an earlier 'Keep Manvel Beautiful' nonprofit, and how to comply with the city’s grant approval and chain-of-command policies.

The board and staff agreed on procedures to comply with the Open Meetings Act: the three-person subcommittee may meet and prepare materials but must channel information for public distribution through staff so the full board can consider items in an official packet. Staff said they would email the city grants policy and related materials to the subcommittee.

Outcome and next steps: The motion passed by voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally. Staff will send the grants policy and a list of potential grant deadlines and will support the subcommittee’s research and any special meetings required to meet timely application deadlines.