HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.GRB.20250206.RegularMeeting Minutes – Steering Committee Meeting
Date: February 6, 2025
Time: 10am
Location: City Hall Copper Pass Conference Room and Teams
Attendees In Person: Natalie Blumentritt (Presenter); Judy Clausson, Tracy Anderson,
Morgan Fixel, Chris Menges, Robin Sturgeon
Attendees Online (TEAMS): Tracy Anderson
Not in Attendance: Ann Mullins, John Barker
1. New Colleague Introduction: Robin, a new team member, is introduced. Robin will
help with grants and other city projects but is currently observing and learning about
the process.
2. Meeting Updates: The meeting's schedule was uncertain, with some members
potentially absent, but they proceed with the discussion.
3. Grant Process Update:
o Reviewers are currently evaluating grant applications. Their scores are
expected by February 9, 2025, with follow-up meetings planned for the week
of Presidents' Day (February 17).
o Steering Committee will review funding recommendations in March.
o Funding recommendations will be finalized in mid March, with final council
approval expected in early April.
o There are two reviewers requiring extensions, one from Health and Human
Services and another from Community Nonprofit, due to their workload.
4. Meeting Schedule Discussion:
o There was a discussion about possibly changing the meeting day to
accommodate members' schedules. After considering various options, it
was decided to hold meetings on the second Thursday of each month, with
the next meeting scheduled for March 13, 2025.
o There might be a potential conflict for the May meeting due to parent-teacher
conferences, which will be addressed later.
5. Cultural Vibrancy Fellowship:
o All participants have confirmed their involvement. There are 7 youth and 12
adult participants.
o Checks for the artist fellowship were sent out on Wednesday.
o The first fellowship event for the adults is scheduled for the February 11,
2025, at the Red Brick, and the youth group's event will also be held there on
February 18.
6. Future Opportunities:
o There was a discussion about possibly having the artists' work showcased at
the Aspen Farmers Market over the summer, with the idea of selecting
pieces to display and promote. City staff will be check with Sarah Roy, who is
involved with the program.
7. Collaboration and Learning: There’s ongoing collaboration between RFV
Grantmakers (SkiCo, ACF, Pitkin County, COA), which is fostering idea-sharing and
learning, improving the grant process.
8. Funding Disparities: There are concerns about the perceived disparity in funding
across different program areas, despite the clear distinctions in funding sources.
9. New Grant Categories or Tax Measures:
o A suggestion was made to create a new fund for food security and local
farming resilience in the valley, potentially funded by a small tax (e.g., $0.10
per dollar spent in restaurants).
o However, implementing such a tax would require a ballot measure, which
would be a significant process.
10. Federal Funding:
o One member noted concerns about how federal funding changes might
impact nonprofits.
o There’s uncertainty around the potential impact of federal grant changes on
nonprofits, with ongoing discussions between community partners to
understand how they are being affected. No firm details have emerged yet
about the federal funds being turned off or turned back on.
11. In-Kind Requests and Single Events:
o There’s a specific focus on single-event requests, which asked for funding
for just one event. The challenge is determining how to treat such requests,
as they don’t provide ongoing services.
o It was suggested that if a single-event organization requests in-kind support
(e.g., space at the Wheeler Opera House or parks), the process should be
competitive, but in some cases, if there is unused space or resources, it
could be a first-come, first-serve basis.
12. Impact and Outcome Reports: These reports, while adding work, are seen as
valuable by the reviewers since they help clarify an organization’s purpose and
impact. Some organizations may not effectively communicate their work, making
the reports crucial for understanding.
13. Concerns with the Grant Application Process: One committee member raised
concerns about organizations find it time-consuming to apply for multiple grants,
and there's a sense that simplifying the process could save time for nonprofits and
encourage more time spent on service delivery. However, different funders have
distinct criteria, which complicates standardization.
14. Further Discussions: It was suggested that a meeting be held to assess the results
of past collaborations (Pitkin County Capacity Grant and SkiCo/ ACF). Tracy
Anderson also mentioned research into the shared application process with SkiCo
during last year’s grant cycle to provide more information to Steering Committee
Members.
6. Next Steps:
o Staff:
1. Follow up on the extension requests for two reviewers from Health
and Human Services and Community Nonprofit.
2. Finalize meeting schedule with the second Thursday of each month.
3. Confirm plans for the Aspen Farmers Market showcasing event for
artists’ works.
7. Next Steering Committee Meeting:
• Date: March 13, 2025
• Time: 10:00 - 11:00 AM
• Location: Copper Pass Conference Room
Meeting Adjourned: 11:10am