The Coronado City Council is set to convene this week at 4 p.m. on June 17 in the City Council Chamber, located at 1825 Strand Way.
During the meeting, the council will prioritize the allocation of its annual community grants, a process streamlined this year to save valuable staff time.
The allocation process is expected to expedite the grant-distribution timeline, which has traditionally been a lengthy process taking approximately 250 hours of staff time to complete each year.
In response to the city’s current staffing challenges, the council voted unanimously in February to adapt this process for the current fiscal year.
This pilot initiative aims not only to reduce the burden on the city staff, especially during a period of key vacancies, but also seeks to develop more efficient grant processes in the future.
City staff has already prepared recommendations for this year’s grant allocations, but the council retains the flexibility to adjust these recommendations during the meeting.
An estimated $172,000 in funding remains unallocated, providing the council with discretion on how these funds can best serve the community.
A total of $913,724 is earmarked for automatic renewal grants, benefiting organizations that have received funding for the same program over a three-year period.
Most of these organizations are recommended to receive 90 percent of their requested allocations, including funding for significant community events such as the Coronado Chamber of Commerce’s holiday parade and tree lighting, and the Coronado Fourth of July celebrations.
Featured events set to receive full funding include the Coronado Floral Association’s Flower Show and the Coronado Island Film Festival.
Among the more notable grant requests are allocations to the Coronado Schools Foundation’s Art and Wine Festival, Reading Legacies, which notably did not reapply for a grant, and a diverse range of other local nonprofits contributing to the community.
On the mini-grant front, an additional $75,000 is designated for organizations that do not qualify for automatic renewals or are new applicants.
Each entity can request up to $15,000, with staff recommendations favoring funding for returning grantees from the previous fiscal year.
Organizations such as the Coronado School of the Arts Foundation, Coronado Junior Arts League, and KMAC Foundation are recommended for full funding, while the Cancer Cartel has not been allocated any funding due to its past record.
Though several applicants have requested funding, including new entries like Coronado Cheer and previously unfunded initiatives such as Camp Able, the allocation for these entities will be left to council discretion.
As the meeting progresses, the council will also weigh in on changes related to waste management in Coronado.
A public hearing will be held regarding proposed rate increases for waste disposal services operated by EDCO.
The rates under consideration include a significant increase for single-family residential services, rising from $27.48 to $37.11, and a similar increase for commercial services.
The council may also fast-track the phase-out of the city-funded waste collection subsidy, which currently covers 15 percent of a single-family home’s waste removal bill.
With the goal of eliminating this subsidy over time, the council has devised three options for a faster phase-out.
These include fully eliminating the subsidy starting July 1, maintaining a one-step reduction plan, or engaging in a two-step phase-out that would gradually decrease the subsidy over two years.
The first option would save the city $310,000 annually, while the second and third plans would incur varying costs for the city in their first years.
The council’s discussions will also revolve around the implications of joining a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) to procure electricity, which has prompted the formation of a dedicated subcommittee for further exploration of the subject.
The subcommittee will be tasked with investigating the potential benefits and ramifications of such a move, and the council will choose its two members to sit on the subcommittee during the meeting.
In addition to these financial discussions, a Policy No. 2 request submitted by Councilmember Amy Steward will be evaluated, focusing on the proposal to install fencing around the dog park located at Cays Park.
This potential task will be included in the meeting agenda for further deliberation, indicating the council’s effort to address community needs and safety.
Public comment will be welcomed, allowing residents to participate and voice their opinions on these important matters.
The council meeting will be broadcast live, and a recording will be made available following the event, ensuring transparency and accessibility to the public.
This week’s meeting is crucial for setting the tone for the council’s engagement with the community and addressing pressing issues related to funding and services that directly impact the residents of Coronado.
image source from：https://coronadotimes.com/news/2025/06/16/city-council-agenda-community-grant-allocations-eliminating-the-citys-waste-collection-subsidy/
