Scotts Valley Funds Nine Grantees as Requests Top Pool Threefold

Scotts Valley's community grant pool drew more than three times as many requests as it could fund, and on Oct. 21, 2026, the City Council approved its review committee's picks unchanged by a unanimous voice vote. The council also heard that the city won a full $300,000 grant to expand senior center staffing and hours, and approved modest recreation fee increases effective Jan. 1, 2027.

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• Eight nonprofits and one business win community grants after requests of more than $145,000 chased a $45,000 nonprofit pool
• O'Neill Sea Odyssey asks for full funding, but the council approves the slate without changes
• $300,000 senior center grant would create two permanent full-time positions, longer hours and in-person Meals on Wheels
• Recreation fees rise roughly 4% on some programs starting Jan. 1, 2027

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Grant Pool Squeeze: Nine Winners, Many Left Out

The basics: The city's June 2026 budget set aside $50,000 for community grants. That included $5,000 for autism certification and $45,000 for other nonprofits. The request for proposals ran Aug. 20 to Sept. 18 and drew 15 nonprofit proposals totaling just over $145,000, plus one $445.50 autism certification proposal. Staff said the staff report's $158,000 figure was a typo.

Why it matters: With requests far outstripping supply, a four-person scoring panel decided which youth, senior and health programs get city support this year. The panel included three staff members and one community member.

Where things stand: The committee recommended full or partial funding for eight nonprofits and one business:

• Boys and Girls Club, $12,500 toward a van down payment
• Community Bridges Meals on Wheels, $6,000
• Damien's Ladder, just over $9,000 (partial)
• Scotts Valley Community Theater Guild, $6,000 (partial)
• Dientes, $5,000
• O'Neill Sea Odyssey, $5,000 (partial)
• Reggie Stevens Foundation, $5,000 (partial)
• Scotts Valley Educational Foundation, $1,000 (partial)
• Mountain Light Acupuncture, for autism certification

Councilmember Derek Timm asked about applicants who came up empty: "Is there a way — do they get feedback on their scoring?" City staff answered: "The city clerk does notify the people that are receiving the award and those that did not." Staff added that some applicants ask for feedback.

A room full of grantees: Eight public speakers addressed the council, and most came to say thank you.

• Lee Dubois, executive director, Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County, said the money will buy a second vehicle to shuttle children to the Scotts Valley clubhouse.
• Anne Bennett Young of Damien's Ladder cited 110 home repairs last year and a commitment to 130 this year.
• Amalia Andrade, board director, Reggie Stevens Foundation, said the group's free Sunday sessions serve 50 to 60 young athletes weekly and the grant will replace old equipment.
• Cheryl Noble, board member, Scotts Valley Education Foundation, and student Campbell Flores, activities chair, Scotts Valley High School Associated Student Body, made the case for an annual Respect Week speaker.
• Dana Wagner, director, Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County, pitched a pilot of 15- to 30-minute weekly social calls to isolated seniors. She framed it as a possible countywide model, and a councilmember said they would keep close tabs on it.

The other side: Tracy Weiss, executive director, O'Neill Sea Odyssey, asked the council to reconsider its partial award and fully fund the proposal while the group keeps fundraising.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Councilmembers said they wished they could fund more. "There were more than three times the requests than what we could provide," said Timm. Vice Mayor Steve Clark pointed to the program's shaky footing: "We kind of do it on a wing and a prayer in terms of having funding for this." Councilmember Krista Jett praised the range of grantees: "I love that tonight we have organizations represented in this room that serve every generation of our community."

The council approved the awards without alteration by unanimous voice vote, with no individual tally recorded. The vote also authorized the city manager to execute contracts in a form acceptable to the city attorney.

What's next: The city manager will execute grant contracts. Applicants who were not funded can request scoring feedback through the city.

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Senior Center Lands Full $300,000 Grant

The basics: The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is a federal program that funds local community services. The council authorized the city's application in February.

Why it matters: The award would transform a part-time operation into a fuller senior hub. Recreation Division Manager Allison Pfefferkorn announced the news: "We were awarded the full $300,000 to support our senior center services."

Where things stand: Today the center has a permanent part-time recreation coordinator and a temporary part-time recreation leader. It is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and closed the third Friday of each month.

The grant would make both positions permanent and full-time, test expanded hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., add classes and events, and bring back in-person Meals on Wheels. Resolution 2106 would raise the coordinator from 0.5 FTE to 1 FTE and establish a full-time recreation leader position. FTE, or full-time equivalent, measures staffing as a share of one full-time job. The item was presented as carrying no additional net budget impact for fiscal year 2026-27.

Wagner welcomed the return of congregate meals and said Meals on Wheels would promote center activities. A local service provider thanked the council for bringing in outside CDBG dollars but noted that the program's reporting requirements are extensive.

The other side: A public commenter urged audits of claimed services and asked that the two new positions not be remote, citing general fraud concerns. Mayor Donna Lind responded: "There's detailed information provided to the committee with number of meals served and all the benefits."

A councilmember asked about the long-term budget impact. City staff replied, "The grant's good for 3 years," and promised to report back on the expanded programs.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Timm moved Resolution 2106, calling the grant "a game changer for our senior center." The vote came after a recess for technical difficulties. Members could be heard voting "aye," but no result was announced, so the outcome should be confirmed in the official minutes. If adopted, the resolution means more staff hours and programming for older residents. It also raises a question the council will eventually face: how to sustain those positions after the three-year grant ends.

What's next: Staff committed to returning with updates on the expanded senior programming.

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Recreation Fees Inch Up for 2027

Why it matters: The changes are small, but the debate showed council sensitivity to how park-use fees land on families and school groups.

Where things stand: Staff said recreation fees are updated about twice a year. Recreation fees take effect Jan. 1 so summer programs aren't repriced mid-season. Some rates stayed flat, and others rose roughly 4%.

Staff reported no public outreach on the changes except one garden fee request, which led to a lower fee. No one spoke during the public hearing.

The other side: A councilmember supported the increases but described a case in which a school bus group was approached about a use fee. The councilmember asked staff to apply fees in a tempered, reasonable way. Staff said gazebo areas carry rental fees, no fee was charged in that case, and outreach is meant to inform visitors.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The resolution carried by unanimous voice vote. Most park users will see modest changes, and staff now have clear direction to use discretion with casual park visitors.

What's next: The new fees take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

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Minor Items

• Infrastructure financing district approved: Timm reported final approval of an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District, described as the county's first. He said the district, with the county and fire district each participating at 25%, can leverage future development to issue bonds for roads, the town center and a future firehouse. "It's not a new tax for our community," said Timm.
• Regional reports: Councilmember Greg Wimp relayed regional (AMBAG) targets of more than 5,000 public EV chargers by 2030 and more than 18,000 by 2045. Clark warned that "we're anticipating about 25,000 people may lose their Medi-Cal benefits."
• Sky Park pickleball complaint: A neighbor said a February petition signed by 20 residents has brought little relief and that the Park Commission postponed action. He asked the council to close and relocate the court; the council took no action.
• Scotts Valley Drive wrap-up: The city manager said installation of video detection cameras is expected to begin at the end of October, alongside preparations for winter storms.
• Consent calendar: The calendar was approved by unanimous voice vote, with corrected dates on the July and August Treasurer's Reports.

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Looking Ahead

Watch the official minutes for the outcome of Resolution 2106, and watch for staff updates on expanded senior center hours, programming and the Meals on Wheels friendly-call pilot.