The Lacey Human Services Commission spent much of its Jan. 8 meeting reviewing the human services grant program and discussing possible updates to the policy and scoring rubric that guide grant awards.

Staff reported most 2025 grant contracts have been executed and circulated a draft policy and rubric for 2026. Michelle Chavez said the commission will hold focus groups with human-service agencies and partners (the first is scheduled for Jan. 21 at 1:30 p.m. in the boardroom, with Zoom participation available) and aims to have a strategic plan and recommended priorities to present to the City Council by April.

Chavez summarized several policy options raised in the staff report, including adding a cap on administrative costs, limiting eligibility to projects or service delivery only, changing the maximum grant amount (the current maximum referenced in discussion was $50,000), and creating a minimum application amount. Commissioners offered feedback and flagged trade-offs: one commissioner cautioned that a strict cap on administrative costs could disadvantage smaller or newer nonprofits that rely on a portion of grant funds for essential staffing and operations; another suggested adding rubric points or earmarking a share of funds to support emerging organizations.

Several commissioners proposed holding applicant presentations across two consecutive nights (or back-to-back sessions) to ensure applicants receive adequate time and attention; multiple commissioners volunteered to help facilitate focus-group sessions and scoring work. Staff said they would bring the rubric and policy back for further, in-depth discussion at a future meeting and asked commissioners to be prepared for a longer session when the discussion resumes.

Separately, staff noted the commission could host the next regional diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) meeting at the commission's next scheduled meeting and that the city clerk and mayor's office are coordinating interviews for a vacant commission seat; staff reported three applicants had applied and interviews are being scheduled in January.

The commission did not adopt policy changes on Jan. 8; members asked staff to return with refined options and additional information after the planned focus-group process.