Report Prepared by: Jennifer Arellano, Recreation Supervisor, Parks and Recreation
Title
SUBJECT: Acceptance and Appropriation of Grant Funding in the Amount of $3,000 from FY 2019 Merced County First Five Mini Grant for the Applegate Park Zoo’s Lights Before Christmas Event
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers accepting and appropriating grant funding in the amount of $3,000 from Merced County First Five for the Applegate Park Zoo’s Lights Before Christmas event.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Accepting grant funds from Merced County First Five and increasing revenue in account 024-1254-360-02-01 - Zoo Special Events (Contributions and Donations) in the amount of $3,000; and,
B. Appropriating $2,425 to account 024-1205-542-29-00 - Community Service Zoo (Supplies and Services), and $575 to account 024-1254-542-29-00 - Zoo Special Events (Supplies and Services); and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager or Assistant City Manager to execute the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by Staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to conditions other than recommended by Staff (identify specific findings and/or conditions amended to be addressed in the motion); or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2018-19 Adopted Budget
DISCUSSION
Merced County First 5 provides Proposition 10 funding through an application process to fund one-time mini grants and encourage community participation and development of projects that address Merced County First 5’s vision and mission. Their vision is that all children in Merced County will thrive in supportive, loving and nurturing environments, enter school healthy and ready to learn, and become productive, well-adjusted members of society. First 5 considers applications that provide services to their target population of children from birth to age 5 in two annual funding cycles. The General Mini Grants program provides funding up to a maximum of $3,000 to help applicants accomplish their objective(s).
The Parks and Recreation Department applied for a general mini grant this past November and was awarded the full amount of $3,000 for costs associated with the 4th Annual Lights Before Christmas event at Applegate Park Zoo. The event is an opportunity for children and families in the community to experience the Zoo decorated for Christmas and all lit up at night, transformed into a sparkling winter wonderland, while they observe the animals in their nocturnal habitats. The event was held on the evenings of December 14 and 15, 2018, from 5:30-8:00 pm, and offered fun activities for the kids, Christmas music, free hot cocoa and candy canes, one dollar popcorn, hot dogs and nachos, crafting, a snow play area, a craft vendor fair, animal viewing and petting, and pictures with Santa.
Local businesses and community groups that cater to the needs of young children and youth in the community were invited to decorate particular spaces along with Zoo staff. This was done in order to recognize the important services these groups provide, while also highlighting some of the resources available to children and their families in Merced. Each decorating group was asked to include a banner or sign in their area to indicate their participation in the event. In addition, every family that attended received a “goodie bag” that contained informational handouts about services available for youth, as well as some freebie items like arcade tokens. Additionally, children 5 and under were given free admission to the event, sponsored by First 5.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
The funds of $3,000 will be available within the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 budget to help with costs associated with the Applegate Park Zoo’s Lights Before Christmas Event. To fund the event and track spending accurately before the grant could be received, in November 2018, $2,425 was transferred from account 024-1205-542-29-00 - Community Services Zoo (Supplies and Services) to account 024-1254-542-29-00 - Zoo Special Events (Supplies and Services) to increase budget appropriation for the event. Therefore, the grant money is appropriated back to the same two accounts.
ATTACHMENTS
1. First Five Contract