Neighborhood committee recommends $112,000 in nonprofit grants and forwards $192,000 Boys & Girls Club playground to council

The Neighborhood Improvement Services Advisory Committee recommended city staff award $112,000 in general-fund grants to local nonprofit partners and forwarded a separate $192,000 capital-improvement request from the Boys & Girls Club to the City Council for recommendation, staff said at the committee meeting.

Pamela Trafton, Neighborhood Improvement Services manager, told the committee the department received five Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications and seven general-fund applications for the FY 2026–27 cycle, plus one capital-improvement request. "Please note also that these recommendations are contingent upon budget approval," Trafton said.

Trafton provided a breakdown showing a $77,000 general-fund budget and $50,000 in CDBG funding, for a combined program-year total of $127,000; staff recommended $112,000 in general-fund awards for nonprofits and identified the Boys & Girls Club playground request as a separate capital allocation of $192,000.

Committee members asked for details about the playground request, which targets a site at the Liberty (referred to as Liberty Crossing/Liberty Center). Staff said the project lies inside a low- and moderate-income zone and would serve the immediate neighborhood in addition to club users. "Because the site is in our low moderate income zone, it will benefit not only the Boys and Girls Club, but it'll benefit the whole area," a committee member said; Trafton confirmed the application is now on the council docket for recommendation.

Trafton also noted that staff will not release grant funds until the city budget is formally adopted and HUD/CDBG approvals—where applicable—are complete. The department plans to publish awardees and next steps after council action and budget adoption.

The committee's recommendations will move to the City Council for final authorization as part of the normal budget and capital-approval processes.