REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: AARON A. AGUIRRE, Director Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department BY: SHELBY MACNAB, Assistant Director Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department SUBJECT ..Title RESOLUTION - Adopting the Measure P Expanded Access to Arts and Culture Grant Guidelines. ..Body RECOMMENDATION The PARCS Department recommends that the City Council consider the adoption of the grant guidelines for the Measure P Expanded Access to Arts and Culture Grant Program as recommended by the Parks, Recreation, and Arts Commission (Commission). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Fresno Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Transaction and Use Tax (Measure P) allocates 12% of funds collected for competitive grants for nonprofit organizations to expand access to arts and culture. The grant guidelines are prepared by the Fresno Arts Council in partnership with the Commission and must be presented to the Fresno City Council for consideration and adoption. BACKGROUND In 2018, a majority of Fresno voters approved Measure P, which was thereafter codified in Chapter 7, Article 15 of the Fresno Municipal Code (FMC). Twelve percent (12%) of the funds from Section 7-1504 shall be made available on an annual basis to invest in competitive grants for nonprofit organizations that support and expand access to arts and cultural programming. On August 10, 2023 the City of Fresno entered into an Administrative Services Agreement with the Fresno Arts Council to administer the Expanded Access to Arts and Culture Grant Program and on December 7, 2023, the Fresno City Council adopted the grant guidelines for the first year of the grant program. After the first round of grant awards, The Fresno Arts Council drafted proposed modifications to the grant guidelines in partnership with the Commission. On September 30, 2024, the proposed modifications to the grant guidelines were introduced to the Commission and presented during a Commission hearing. On October 28, 2024, a subcommittee comprised of three Commissioners was formed to provide input during the guideline revision process. On November 18, 2024, a second presentation and hearing were held during the Commission meeting. On December 16, 2024, the Commission approved the modifications to the grant guidelines by a vote of 8-0. . The Administrative Services Agreement requires the grant guidelines to be consistent with the priorities, recommendations, and strategies identified in the City's Cultural Arts Plan. The guidelines must also be consistent with Measure P Ordinance requirements. Grant guidelines are required to include all information necessary to ensure a transparent process including scoring criteria, eligible scoring committee members, a process for public disclosure of potential conflicts of interest, priority funding categories, expenditure delivery deadlines, and risk assessments. Proposed updates are outlined in the attached presentation and include the addition of a letter of intent and policy recommendations, eligibility adjustments, expanding the appeals process, and increasing the maximum funding for general operating support for established organizations. Prior to initiating the next round of grantmaking, the Fresno Arts Council and the Commission request that the Council review and approve the guidelines. The proposed grant guidelines have been reviewed by the City Attorney's Office. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this item is not a project for the purposes of CEQA. LOCAL PREFERENCE N/A- Does not apply to this action. FISCAL IMPACT Twelve percent (12%) of the funds made available from Section 7-1504 in article 15 shall be made available on an annual basis to invest in competitive grants. Funding for the grant program and grant program administration is reflected in the FY 2025 PARCS budget and fully encumbered to the Fresno Arts Council consistent with the Agreement. Attachments: Resolution with attachments Fresno Arts Council Presentation