HomeMy WebLinkAboutCM Acceptance of Grant from Marin Community Foundation____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: July 15, 2024
Disposition: Resolution 15318
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: City Manager, Sustainability Division
Prepared by: Cory Bytof
Sustainability Program Manager
City Manager Approval: ___
TOPIC: ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FROM MARIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE GRANT OF FUNDS FROM THE MARIN
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR A TWO-YEAR CLIMATE JUSTICE AND
ENGAGEMENT MANAGER AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT
OF $297,960
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution accepting the grant of funds from the Marin Community
Foundation for a two-year Climate Justice and Engagement Manager and appropriating funds in the
amount of $297,960.
BACKGROUND:
The City of San Rafael is committed to fostering a vibrant, equitable, and sustainable community for
all residents. This is reflected in City Goals and Objectives, specifically in the Policy Focus Areas,
which include: 1. Economic Growth, 2. Sustainability, Climate Change, and Disasters, 3. Diversity,
Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and 4. Housing and Homelessness. Funding for these initiatives
comes from a variety of sources, including the General Fund, State and Federal sources, and grants.
City staff are continually researching and applying for funding to achieve these bold initiatives.
ANALYSIS:
Earlier this year the Marin Community Foundation launched a Climate Justice Initiative grant program.
The purpose of these grant funds is to advance equitable and just climate resilience in Marin County.
This is a primary focus of the work being conducted in the City’s Sustainability division, particularly
as it applies to sea level rise adaptation planning efforts in the Canal neighborhood. Numerous other
projects are being conducted in the Canal neighborhood simultaneously by several City departments
and other agencies as well. These include work related to housing, broadband access, lighting and
public safety, and the Priority Development Area planning, among many others. Local community-
based organizations have been requesting that the City approach the work and requisite community
engagement in a strategic and efficient manner so as not to create confusion, engagement fatigue,
or inadvertently create an extractive process that does not center the needs and desires of local
residents.
After conferring with the City Manager’s Office and other departments to confirm needs and scope,
Agenda Item No: 4.f
Meeting Date: July 15, 2024
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
the City applied for the spring cycle of Marin Community Foundation’s Climate Justice Initiative and
was recently awarded the grant. The grant would be used to hire or contract with an individual for a
two-year term to coordinate the various departments and ensure that engagements are coordinated
and conducted in the most equitable and efficient way possible. In addition, this position would be
able to identify core climate justice principles and ensure they were “baked in” to all major projects in
the Canal neighborhood as they are implemented, as opposed to “sprinkled on” after the fact. These
include commitments to social and economic equity, sustainability, climate resilience, and local
workforce development.
If accepted, the work should be completed by October 2026. See Attachment 2 for the grant
application, narrative, timeline and budget, and Attachment 3 for the draft grant agreement. The
Climate Justice and Engagement Manager would work closely with the City’s Civic Engagement
Manager and would coordinate with community partners and outside agencies.
FISCAL IMPACT: If the grant is accepted, funds would be appropriated in the City’s Grant Fund (283)
Project #21173 in the amount of $297,960.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options to consider relating to this item:
1. Adopt the resolution as presented.
2. Adopt the resolution as amended.
3. Direct staff to return with additional information.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a resolution accepting the grant of funds from the Marin Community Foundation for a two-year
Climate Justice and Engagement Manager and appropriating funds in the amount of $297,960.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Grant Application for MCF Climate Justice
3. Grant Agreement
RESOLUTION NO. 15318
RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE GRANT OF FUNDS FROM THE MARIN COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION FOR A TWO-YEAR CLIMATE JUSTICE AND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $297,960
WHEREAS, the Marin Community Foundation is providing grant funding to local jurisdictions
and nonprofit entities through their Climate Justice Initiative Spring 2024 Cycle for Advancing
Equitable and Just Climate Resilience in Marin County; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael applied for and was notified on May 29, 2024 that it had been
selected to receive grant funds in the amount of $297,960; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has numerous projects in and around the Canal
neighborhood that require extensive community engagement and planning; and
WHEREAS, this grant funding will allow the City to hire a two-year Climate Justice and
Engagement Manager to coordinate the various projects and ensure cross-departmental collaboration
and prioritization of climate justice needs related to sustainability, social equity, community resilience,
workforce development, and adaptive infrastructure.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Rafael
hereby:
1. Accepts the award of grant funding from the Marin Community Foundation to hire a two-
year Climate Justice and Engagement Manager to coordinate across departments.
2. Agrees to be bound by all terms and conditions of the grant agreement as may be
required by the Marin Community Foundation and as may be necessary to fulfill the terms of the grant
agreement and to complete the project.
3. Authorizes the City Manager or their designee to act as a representative of the City, to
negotiate and execute on behalf of the City all agreements and instruments necessary to complete the
project and to comply with the Marin Community Foundation grant requirements, including, without
limitation, the grant agreement.
4. Appropriates funds in the amount of $297,960 from Project # 21173 to be spent on
the grant work plan agreed upon with the funder.
I, Lindsay Lara, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was
duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the San Rafael City Council held on
the 15th day of July 2024, by the following vote to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Bushey, Kertz & Mayor Kate
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Hill & Llorens Gulati
LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk
Marin Community Foundation Climate Justice Initiative Spring 2024 Cycle
City of San Rafael Grant Application, March 20, 2024
The Canal
Located south of the San Rafael Canal, the Canal neighborhood is a vibrant community
boasting a population of 12,000 residents, with a density surpassing that of San Francisco's
Mission District. Primarily inhabited by Latinx immigrants from Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico,
and Honduras, also including a Vietnamese-American community, this community is rich in
cultural traditions, fostering strong networks and a drive for economic self-sufficiency. Over 82
percent of employed Canal workers commute to jobs within Marin County, playing a significant
role in the local economy.
However, alongside its vibrancy, the neighborhood grapples with significant social and
economic challenges. Despite relatively high employment rates, nearly one-third of residents
live below the federal poverty line. Over two-thirds of occupied housing units are deemed
"overcrowded" by Census standards. Housing affordability has become a pressing issue,
heightening the risk of displacement with limited relocation options. Compounding these
challenges is the vulnerability to sea-level rise due to the area's low elevation, further
exacerbating existing concerns.
Narrative for Grant Proposal: Climate Justice and Engagement Manager
The City of San Rafael is committed to fostering a vibrant, equitable, and sustainable
community for all residents. This is reflected in City Goals and Objectives, specifically in the
Policy Focus Areas, which include: 1. Economic Growth, 2. Sustainability, Climate Change, and
Disasters, 3. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, and 4. Housing and Homelessness.
Currently, numerous projects in and around the Canal Neighborhood require community
engagement and effective planning across departments, but the City lacks the resources to
conduct this coordination. These projects include a Priority Development Area, utility and
infrastructure upgrades, parking policies, various projects related to waste management,
Pickleweed Park Improvement Project, various transportation projects, a community-led sea
level rise study, a broadband project, and community initiatives such as the Marin Climate
Justice Collaborative and neighborhood plan development. To effectively address the complex
challenges faced by our diverse population, including the Canal Neighborhood, we seek funding
to establish a new, two-year fixed-term position, a Climate Justice and Engagement Manager.
This position will be pivotal in coordinating department efforts to ensure that the many current
and ongoing projects focused in and around the Canal Neighborhood prioritize community
engagement, equity, resilience, and sustainability as they are planned and implemented.
1. Community Engagement and Equity:
One of the core responsibilities of the Climate Justice and Engagement Manager is to
facilitate coordinated, robust, and meaningful engagement with community members. This
will ensure community opinions and concerns are heard and actively incorporated into
projects and deliverables for the many projects focused on the Canal neighborhood and
priority equity community members citywide. The Manager will help ensure accessibility for
language, content, ADA compliance and will conduct meetings at times and locations that
are accessible to most residents as possible. They will also work to reduce community
fatigue by combining meeting topics where appropriate and utilizing various means of
engagement informed by community preferences.
The Manager will be a primary liaison between community members, groups, and the City.
They will work to foster relationships, find new ways of sharing power, and include
community voices in decision-making processes using the Spectrum of Community
Engagement to Ownership while ensuring City project managers understand and utilize the
process. By fostering these and other equity-based frameworks and metrics in City project
management, the Manager will work to ensure that projects are inclusive and responsive to
the needs of all residents, particularly those from historically marginalized communities.
Although this position is short-term, the Manager will work to identify opportunities for long-
term systemic change within City operations. This includes exploring ways to make
processes more democratic and inclusive. The Manager's responsibilities will involve
engaging with the community, advocates, non-profits, and policymakers to democratize
existing systems and structures.
2. Coordination, Collaboration and Community Planning:
Effective project coordination is essential to maximize resources and capitalize on
collaborative opportunities. The Climate Justice and Engagement Manager will serve as the
linchpin, bringing together departmental teams, local non-profits, and other interested
parties to identify synergies, share resources, and avoid duplication of efforts. This proactive
approach ensures that projects are integrated and contribute to broader City and community
priorities.
The Climate Justice and Engagement Manager will be housed within the Sustainability
Division of the City Manager's office, ensuring cross-departmental coordination and
cooperation. This centralized approach will streamline communication and decision-making
processes, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness. Furthermore, the Manager will ensure
that community input is codified into plans and procedures, such as the Priority
Development Area (PDA), to ensure transparency and accountability in the planning
process.
By serving as a central coordinator, the Manager will support local CBOs with capacity
building and serve as a liaison between CBO staff, community members, City staff, and
project managers. The Manager will ensure that all project managers understand and
implement the concept and application of targeted universalism. This approach will
maximize resources and ensure that projects are aligned with community priorities, echoing
the emphasis on collaboration and partnerships in MCF's Climate Justice initiative.
3. Resilience and Sustainability:
Considering increasing climate challenges such as rising sea levels and extreme weather
events, projects must prioritize resilience and sustainability. The Manager will spearhead
efforts to integrate climate mitigation, adaptation, and future-proofing strategies into project
planning and implementation. By incorporating these principles from the outset, we can
support the development of a more resilient and sustainable community that can withstand
future shocks and stresses. Importantly, the Manager will ensure that community priorities
are at the forefront of planning and other efforts to increase resiliency citywide.
The Manager will actively seek opportunities and partners to realize sustainability goals and
ensure broader participation in the green economy and climate-friendly innovations. For
example, utility providers should be included in conversations to identify opportunities for
electrifying buildings, appliances, and vehicles when planning for underground utility lines.
This directly addresses the goal of distributing resources for equitable climate resilience and
aligns with the broader aim of building community-led resilience processes.
4. Housing Impact Mitigation and Workforce Development:
As San Rafael experiences growth and development, it is essential to mitigate the potential
for housing impacts and displacement while identifying opportunities for affordable housing.
The Climate Justice and Engagement Manager will work closely with stakeholders to identify
housing opportunities and implement strategies to ensure projects benefit all residents.
Additionally, the Manager will identify local workforce development opportunities across
projects, ensuring residents can access meaningful employment opportunities within their
community. This aligns with the City’s Equitable Low Carbon Economy project and other
economic development goals. Applying an equity lens to housing development and job
creation aligns with the City's mission to foster community retention and enhance residents'
quality of life.
Establishing a Climate Justice and Engagement Manager position is vital to advancing the City
of San Rafael's commitment to community engagement, equity, resilience, and sustainability.
Having this position in the City Manager’s office will ensure that these goals and opportunities
are not seen as optional but are considered essential aspects of project development and
outcomes. By coordinating efforts across departments and prioritizing the needs of our diverse
communities, we can create a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future for all residents.
Tasks and Deliverables:
Task 1: Hire and Train Manager
Deliverables: job description, name, and contact information
Task 2: Convene internal City stakeholders and develop a project coordination roadmap
Deliverables: List of projects with project timelines, strategies, and task lists for accomplishing
coordination and climate justice goals
Task 3: Convene external stakeholders and collect input to guide the projects and
engagements
Deliverables: record of digital and in-person engagements, list of common community
suggestions and ways they will be integrated into projects.
Task 4: Review outcomes and compile recommendations for ongoing coordination
Deliverables: Final report of outcomes, successes and failures, and recommendations for
ongoing success and coordination
Timeline:
December 2024 Complete the hiring and training process and begin stakeholder
engagements.
June 2025 Complete initial internal and external stakeholder engagements, develop
and distribute the roadmap.
June 2026 Complete report and recommendations
Budget:
DESCRIPTION COST Per Unit COST TOTAL
– 2 Years
Two-year fixed-term management position $9,550* / month $229,200
Benefits at 30% $2,865 / month $68,760
Total Staffing Costs / Grant Request $297,960
June 26, 2024
Cristine Alilovich
City Manager
City of San Rafael
1400 Fifth Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
Re: Grant # 2024-06085 (Buck Family Fund of MCF)
Dear Cristine:
I am pleased to inform you that a grant in the amount of $297,960 to City of San Rafael has
been approved to create a fixed term Climate Justice and Engagement Manager position to
manage community projects involving the Canal neighborhood and other priority areas. The
period of this grant is 24 months, from June 1, 2024 through October 31, 2026.
Initiation of payment(s) is contingent on applicable terms and conditions as stated in this
agreement.
To confirm your formal acceptance, please accept the terms and requirements listed below by
checking the box at the base of this page and clicking the Submit button.
If you have any questions about the implementation of this grant or about MCF procedures,
please feel free to contact Patricia Juachon, the Director for the Environment Community
Engagement responsible for overseeing this grant, or Renee Lazzareschi, Assistant for the
Environment Community Engagement.
We greatly value your partnership in helping to create equity of opportunity for every resident
of Marin.
Sincerely,
Rhea Suh,
President & CEO
5 Hamilton Landing, Ste. 200 | Novato CA 94949 | ph: 415.464.2500 | fax: 415.464.2555 | www.marincf.org
Terms
1. As a condition of the grant, you are committing to report on the specified dates regarding
your organization's progress relative to the metrics listed in this agreement. (Please note that
any payments scheduled for release after the due date of a progress report will be held by the
Foundation until the report has been submitted.)
2. It is important to note that funding from this grant and any accrued interest may be used
only to carry out activities in and/or for the benefit of Marin County residents, and only for the
charitable purposes and activities set forth in this document.
3. Funds not used for the charitable purposes of the grant, including any unspent balance of
greater than $5,000 at the conclusion of the grant period, must be returned to the
Foundation.
4. If you would like assistance when referencing this grant from the Foundation in any of your
publications or releases, please feel free to call upon our Director of Communications.
5. In accepting this grant, you are agreeing that your organization will maintain accurate
financial and operational records regarding your use of grant funds and that you will make
those records available to the Foundation promptly upon request for the Foundation's review,
except to the extent prohibited by applicable law.
6. In accepting this grant, you are agreeing that your organization does not discriminate
against employees, volunteers, vendors, or any members, clients or students it serves, on the
basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, medical condition, veteran status,
economic status, disability, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, and
beyond these, any other characteristic protected by law.
7. Finally, you are agreeing to make any publications, media presentations, studies, or
research funded by this grant available to the public in a manner acceptable to the
Foundation. Any tangible or intangible property, including copyrights obtained or created by
your organization with funding from this grant, shall remain the property of your
organization, but your organization agrees to grant the Foundation a royalty-free license to
use, reprint, or distribute any such copyrighted materials for informational or promotional
purposes that do not conflict with your organization's charitable purposes.
8. The terms of this Agreement may be revised or modified only with the prior written consent
of both the Foundation and your organization.
Reporting Requirements & Due Dates
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Climate Justice - $297,960
Condition(s)
Organization Payment Holds:
Due: 6/30/2025
Condition: By signing this grant agreement, I agree to any third party evaluation
requested by MCF that may require my or other staff participation in focus groups,
surveys, interviews or other data collection methods. I understand that stipends to
offset staff time would be offered as part of any such request.
Report Due Date(s)
1st Report: 6/30/2025 covering 6/1/2024 - 5/31/2025
Question(s):
1.Please provide an update on your progress made to date toward your grant
objectives.
2.A financial report showing budget to actuals for the reporting period has
been uploaded to the Additional Documents section.
3.What else would you like us to know?
Final Report: 11/30/2026 covering 6/1/2025 - 10/31/2026
Question(s):
1.What was accomplished in connection with this project? Please address each
stated objective, and use any available data and/or stories to help describe
these accomplishments. If any project objectives changed, please explain the
circumstances leading to their modification.
Payment Schedule
June 1, 2024: $297,960
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