JCPC members press to align allocations hearing with bylaws and policy

Council members on June 20 raised concerns that the current allocations hearing format does not fully match the allocations committee’s duties in the JCPC bylaws and the council’s allocations policy.

Angel Redmond, who serves as allocations chair, said the hearing format has been useful but questioned whether the committee is "actually receiving, reviewing, and offering a recommendation" in the way the bylaws describe. "We have, like, an allocations hearing…and I'm looking over what allocations committee is, and that's not necessarily what I do," Redmond said, describing a process that often relies on oral presentations rather than pre‑meeting review of applications.

Staff and other members noted the council has a written allocations policy (revised 2020) that envisions distribution of applications in advance, a mandatory applicant orientation, applicant presentations at a public hearing, committee deliberation and a funding recommendation returned to JCPC for a vote. Hannah (staff) said the policy assumes committee members will have application materials ahead of the hearing and that the hearing includes orientation, presentations and open deliberation.

Members discussed restoring or clarifying the procedural steps so allocations committee members can review proposals in advance and have space for deliberation rather than only hearing live presentations. The group agreed to review the allocations policy language and ensure applications are distributed pre‑meeting so the allocations committee can meet the bylaws’ "receive, review and evaluate" expectation.

Council staff noted the allocations policy and bylaw language will be revisited and guidance circulated to committee members before the next funding cycle. No funding decisions were made at the meeting; follow‑up will be scheduled before the allocations cycle resumes later this year.