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Monte Sereno council asks staff to propose smaller, targeted community grants this year
Summary
Facing concerns about optics ahead of a parcel‑tax outreach, the council instructed staff to return with a proposal to reduce the community grants budget, prioritize historically funded organizations and consider soliciting recommended groups rather than running a full open application process.
The Monte Sereno City Council directed staff to return with a revised community‑grants proposal that would reduce the total funds for the coming year and prioritize organizations the city has historically supported.
City staff reviewed proposed policy updates that would tighten eligibility to organizations that serve Monte Sereno residents or that support the city’s general‑plan policies; staff also proposed new evaluation criteria and a reporting requirement for grantees. The staff report noted the council had approved $25,000 in community grants in each of the last two years.
Vice Mayor Shannon argued for showing fiscal restraint while the city prepares to ask residents in November about increasing funds for police services, saying she favored "skipping this year" or scaling back grants so the city would not appear to be spending discretionary money at the same time. Other council members said many past recipients provide meaningful local benefits and suggested a middle ground of reducing the total amount while continuing to fund key programs such as the concert series.
After discussion the council passed a motion asking staff to return with a proposed reduced grants budget, to consider soliciting historically funded organizations rather than opening a broad application this year (subject to city‑attorney review), and to include recommended amounts and a prioritized list when the item returns for council consideration.
