At the request of a City Council member, the city manager will
give monthly updates to the Council on the progress of a grant
writing firm hired in November 2001.
At the request of a City Council member, the city manager will give monthly updates to the Council on the progress of a grant writing firm hired in November 2001.
Councilman Robert Scattini, who is gaining a reputation for his hard-line stance on the city’s over-hiring of consultants, asked interim City Manager Ed Kreins for periodic updates on the firm – San Francisco-based Randall Funding and Development.
Kreins, who will depart his post May 2, said incoming city manager Dale Shaddox can present the grant information at every other regular Council meeting.
Scattini has recently shown concern over the firm’s lack of success in obtaining money for Hollister. RFD has not obtained any grant funding since its hiring.
“Somebody dropped the ball on this,” Scattini said. “I don’t know if it was the grant writer or the department heads.”
Each week, RFD sends a list of newly available grants to Fire Chief Bill Garringer, who distributes the list to all department heads. Those officials must write a letter of authorization for each opportunity the city wants RFD to pursue. Available grants fall under such categories as public safety, housing and economic development.
Initially, department heads had not been aggressive in their weekly round of requests, Garringer said. After 10 months, the city had authorized applications for only six grants. According to the contract between Hollister and RFD, the firm must obtain at least $500,000 in grant funding by November, or RFD will continue writing grants until at least that amount is awarded.
The city made a $20,000 down payment in 2001 and pays a monthly fee of $4,000. RFD did halt billing for the past four months, although those bills have been reinstated for the remainder of the contract. The total cost for the firm’s services will come to $100,000.
“It doesn’t seem feasible,” Scattini said.
He added, “My goal as a City Councilmember is to watch the people’s money.”
Garringer said five or six grant applications are pending and the city is applying for two others.
The Council receives one other report each month – an update from Public Works Director Clint Quilter on issues regarding the long-term wastewater management plan.
