RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) – During the Rancho Cordova City Council meeting on Nov. 21, council reviewed proposed changes to the Community Enhancement & Investment Fund (CEIF) Grant Process, seeking feedback and providing a preview of the program’s future.

The Community Enhancement & Investment Fund program, now in its 10th year, has awarded nearly $25 million across 598 grants to local organizations since its inception. Council members discussed ways to improve the grant process, following feedback from a June 2024 work session.

“I think this is based on a great discussion from last year and I am really happy to see these lined up. I think these will be great improvements,” said Councilmember David Sander.

The proposed changes aim to streamline the grant application process and provide additional support for grantees. Some key updates include creating a two-year contract option for recurring grantees that have been strong, reliable partners with the city for at least five years. Other recommendations include the establishment of an Idea Incubator Fund to help first-time applicants and new initiatives, and an adjustment to funding for community and cultural events, which could potentially be directed to the City’s Microgrant program.

Feedback from other councilmembers included Mayor Siri Pulipati’s suggestion to raise the microgrant cap to $10,000, up from the current $6,500.

Councilmember Garrett Gatewood expressed concerns about insurance requirements.

“I would like to review the insurance, how it’s being decided on and how we can make that more reasonable. There are times we’ve asked for insurance and I want to see how we can address that to prevent it from becoming excessive. We need to ensure that access to the funds is easy and timely,” said Gatewood.

A major point of discussion was the suggestion to allow the Rancho Cordova Athletic Association (RCAA) to submit a single grant application on behalf of its member sports leagues. Councilmembers expressed differing views on the proposal.

“I think this is a bad policy decision,” said Jim Garcia, a Lincoln Village resident in a letter submitted to the council. “It’s not right to allow one organization to secure a steady funding stream for all the leagues under its umbrella. Every organization that needs funds should be able to apply directly.”

Another resident, Helen Beshaw, voiced concerns about the Rancho Cordova Athletic Association proposal from an equity perspective.

“I am looking at the Rancho Cordova Athletic Association. I would like to know what portion of activities are available for our autistic children and people with mental disabilities. How can we be sure that funding is being distributed equitably?”

Resident James Garcia raised concerns about the allocation of education funds, asking, “What are we really funding? Is it field trips, lockers, weight rooms? With multiple school districts, are we ensuring equal distribution? It seems like everything is going to Folsom Unified School District,” Beshaw said.

Councilmembers defended the current process, dismissing claims of transparency issues.

“I just can’t sit quietly and have some folks say what they said and undermine 20 years of what we have been doing to turn this place into the success that it is,” said Sander. “About 85% of what was said is based on either misinformation, deliberate misinformation or not understanding the whole picture of what we are doing here.”

The city plans to incorporate the feedback into the updated criteria for the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Community Enhancement & Investment Fund grant application, which is expected to open in mid to late February.

For further details, residents can access the full list of community enhancement fund projects on the city’s website at cityofranchocordova.org