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Match board approves revised rubric, directs public-art advising funds and approves yoga-mat transfer
Summary
The Match board voted to approve a revised scoring rubric and to direct advising funds toward public-art and mural applications; the board also approved conveying community yoga mats to a local instructor and confirmed website and banner operational steps.
The Manitou Springs Match board approved several operational actions intended to streamline grant review and increase outreach.
The board voted to approve a revised grant-scoring rubric after discussion and minor edits. Ren (the member who presented the revision) said she removed a proposed new requirement that applicants include itemized vendor quotes, arguing that would represent a new burden for applicants. The board amended the motion to include both the prior (current) rubric and the proposed revised rubric in the materials it sends to city council for transparency; the board reported the amended motion passed by voice vote (recorded in the meeting as seven to nothing).
Ralph Routton, chairing the session, said the board will notify council by email and include both versions so council can choose whether to review the changes formally. Board members agreed the project completion report could remain the primary place for detailed expense breakdowns and that requiring itemized quotes on initial applications could deter small $1,000 requests.
On partnerships and applicant support, the board approved refocusing the Creative Alliance/Crane advisory funds to prioritize public-art and mural applications. The board agreed this change will be framed as a strong recommendation in FAQs rather than an absolute requirement and will compensate Crane/Audrey Gray for advisory time from the board’s existing operating funds.
The board also approved transferring a set of community yoga mats—purchased under an earlier grant and currently stored at the MAC—to local instructor Stephanie Buts (Butts), who will manage inventory and distribution for the yoga community. Members cited long-standing cleaning and maintenance issues and the city’s preference not to hold inventory. The transfer was approved by voice vote.
Other operational items included confirmation that the city will assume control of the Match website code (Kinsey reported GitHub and contracts are in place and the transition is underway) and a discussion of banner production: the board received a first large green banner from District 11 printing, agreed to increase the font noting Match funding on smaller banners, and recommended QR codes linking to application guidelines. The board agreed to store banner inventory at a small set of pickup points (MAC, Chamber and one board member) with a check-in/check-out system.
Next steps: staff will finalize the rubric edits and send materials to council, update the FAQs to reflect Creative Alliance advising for public-art applications, finalize banner wording and QR links, and confirm the website-transfer timetable. The board also scheduled a future discussion to create clear policy guidance on ownership and disposition of durable goods purchased with Match grant funds.
