BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council approved the outside agency application and prioritization during its July 28 meeting. The city is working with the Brookings Area United Way to streamline the process.

Background

“The City Council requested a review of the United Way application for 2021 city social service agency funding requests. Any direction provided by the City Council will assist in developing a better recommendation (from United Way) this fall,” according to a memo by City Manager Paul Briseno. 

City councilors will make the final determination this fall on city funding for 2021. 

“Annually, the City Council grants funds to Brookings social service agencies. In May, the City Council approved a new process for 2021. The City Council will determine the available funds through the traditional budget process. This fall, United Way will accept social service agency applications. Agencies can apply for United Way and/or city funding from one application,” according to Briseno’s memo.

Item details

“Applications from both entities have been compared, and of the 19 city application questions asked many were redundant,” according to Briseno’s memo.

“The United Way has asked that the City Council give direction of prioritization,” according to Briseno’s memo.

The United Way uses a rubric that’s focused on three areas: 

Health – Individuals and families are healthy and safe;

Education – Individuals and families are equipped for success throughout every life stage; and

Self sufficiency – Individuals and families are independent and stable.

The city’s current application lists the following categories as critical: affordable housing; arts and culture; youth development diversity; economic development; education and literacy; environment; government stewardship; health; parks, recreation and open spaces partnerships; preservation/history; safety; and transportation/transit.

The 2021 recommended funding for social service is $225,486, according to Briseno’s memo.

Briseno comments

Briseno talked to councilors and found their picks for greatest need are affordable housing, youth development; and education and literary, with diversity right behind it, Briseno said.

He asked the council to approve the application as presented, and whether those four areas should be the prioritized areas for the United Way’s consideration.

“I think the primary reason why we’re looking for that direction from city council is – this year more than ever, because of the United Way process, because of COVID – you’re gonna be receiving a lot more requests from outside agencies,” Briseno said. 

Councilor comments

Councilor Holly Tilton Byrne asked for clarification on the areas of priority.

Briseno said he had requested three areas, but he mentioned diversity because it came in so close to education and literacy.

Affordable housing was of the greatest interest to the councilors, Briseno said, adding youth development, and education and literary were tight for the second spot.  

Tilton Byrne said she didn’t “weigh” what her top three were.

“I feel like these are the areas that we have kind of narrowed this pool of funding down to. And for me, it’s very difficult to kind of cherry-pick three or four areas,” Tilton Byrne said, adding sometimes the priorities change on a case-by-case basis.

She asked if they could revisit the topic annually. 

“I think that’d be a great recommendation for city council, because every year, the needs of this community changes,” Briseno said, adding Heidi Gullickson, executive director of Brookings Area United Way, could advise the council on an ongoing basis.

Councilor Leah Brink asked Gullickson if the recommendations would be helpful. Gullickson said having the prioritization helps her organization understand the council’s goals.

It doesn’t mean that an organization wouldn’t be funded because it doesn’t fit into one of those “top priorities,” but it does help to have some sort of prioritization, Gullickson added.

“As Paul mentioned, there’s probably going to be more requests that come in than the dollars that are going to be available,” Gullickson said. “We would love to typically fund everything at a full ask that comes in, but we don’t necessarily have the resources to do that every time, just as the city may not have the resources to do that.”

Bacon asked Gullickson how they decide how much funding to give each applicant. 

“Typically, we try to fund at the fullest amount available, but sometimes that’s at a 98% or an 80%; it just depends on the dollars and the requests,” Gullickson said.

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.