Coronado council fights grant politics, approves $1.1M

After nearly four hours of voting on dozens of community grants, the Coronado City Council approved just over $1 million in taxpayer funding—about $83,000 below the available allocation. The longest, tensest debate focused on Emerald Keepers, where members cla

For nearly four hours on June 16, the Coronado City Council moved through its annual community grant program—naming organization after organization, hearing quick showings of support from councilmembers, and then voting unanimously.

Most of the evening followed that familiar rhythm. Then the discussion reached Emerald Keepers.

That’s when the mood shifted. The agenda item became the night’s longest and tensest exchange, as councilmembers argued over whether taxpayer money should go to an environmental advocacy nonprofit that also takes positions on city policies.

By the time the votes were counted, the council approved just over $1 million in grants—coming in about $83,000 under the allocation available for this year’s program.

Each year since 2000. the city has set aside public funding for local organizations across four broad areas: arts and culture. community pride and sense of place. economic development. and social services. This year’s grant budget was $1.202 million, set under Policy 28 at 1.35 percent of the city’s General Fund revenue.

The meeting was also shaped by a procedural change the city introduced for longtime grant recipients. For organizations that have received funding for the same program for at least two consecutive years. the council now uses an expedited approach: renewal requests go through a letter of intent and brief program update rather than a full application. New applicants and groups seeking support for different programs can apply for mini-grants of up to $15,000.

City staff said the expedited process reduces administrative burden for both the city and nonprofit applicants while preserving the council’s authority to increase. reduce. or deny any award. Policy 28 is also set to return to the council later this year or early next year for possible long-term updates. including a potential multi-year grant approval framework.

This year, there was no change up for a vote Tuesday. The council’s expedited framework was approved in February.

Staff had proposed $961,149 in renewal funding for 16 returning organizations, generally matching what they received last year. Two returning organizations asked to deviate from that baseline. Emerald Keepers requested an additional $2,500 for expanded youth leadership and engagement programming. Musica Vitale asked to increase funding for its main stage and school program from $15. 000 to $27. 000. reversing a reduction made during last year’s allocation process.

Alongside renewals, the city received 13 mini-grant applications totaling $184,170. Six had previously received city support or had an established history in the program; seven were new applicants. Unusually, the city said there was more money than applicants this year, leaving a surplus of $56,861 in available funding.

The council chose a grant-by-grant walk through of all 37 applications, largely in order. Public comment was opened for each item before the council voted.

The Emerald Keepers debate turned on one question: what does “community support” include when a nonprofit also advocates on policy?

Emerald Keepers came before the council with two renewal grants—$27,800 for community programs and education, and $42,300 for youth services and leadership development.

Councilmember Mark Fleming raised the matter before the council reached the item itself. speaking first about recusals in general and then making it personal. “I absolutely feel that Council Member Steward is unable to be objective when it comes to Emerald Keepers. and should recuse herself. ” he said. adding that he was “happy to go into more detail if needed.”.

Steward, who founded Emerald Keepers but resigned her position after running for City Council, did not recuse. When the item came up. she said simply that she agreed with the staff-recommended award “as written.” Mayor Duncan later clarified for the record that conflict-of-interest decisions at the council level aren’t legal determinations made by the city attorney. but ethical judgment calls each member makes individually.

Fleming then laid out his concerns directly, comparing Emerald Keepers to membership-funded community groups like the Rotary Club and the Optimist Club rather than the nonprofits he felt should be subsidized “in perpetuity.” His sharper point was about advocacy.

“It feels very, very inappropriate for the city to be funding an organization that, in large part, is a lobbying organization that comes and lobbies the city council,” he said.

Emerald Keepers President Dave Landon responded by drawing a line between what the group is doing and what city funding is for. He told the council the organization currently has no paid staff. keeps city grant funds in a separate account from its other revenue. and has raised $80. 974.66 from outside donors and fundraising this fiscal year.

He argued that the requested grant was also a bargain compared to what the city would have to hire to replicate the work.

“You would not be able to find an FTE [full-time employee] with the level of expertise required to fill that role for the city for $70,000,” Landon said, noting Coronado has no dedicated sustainability department of its own.

Pressed about the “lobbying” criticism, Landon rejected the framing. “Every one of us here tonight. we’re here for the organizations — we’re all lobbying you. and we all lobby for funds to support what we do within the organization. I don’t view those as being lobbying the City Council. I view that as supporting what this community is all about.”.

That exchange prompted Duncan to ask city staff directly about whether the city has an in-house sustainability position. Staff confirmed the city has budgeted for a sustainability planner role and is “currently in the recruitment process,” with hopes of filling it “in the coming months.”

Councilmember Carrie Downey stepped in with a different lens on what advocacy means for a 501(c)(3). She pointed to federal nonprofit tax rules that allow a 501(c)(3) to lobby in support of its core mission.

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with what they’re doing now,” she said, noting the group had never used a paid lobbyist and that its members were simply telling the council what the organization wanted.

Duncan said legality wasn’t what he was challenging. He said nobody was accusing Emerald Keepers of illegal lobbying, but rather, of whether it was appropriate for the city to fund a nonprofit that then advocated for or against policies coming before the council.

He also pointed to issues where the organization has been vocal, including Emerald Keepers’ stance on a recent single-use plastic ban and the city’s new restrictions on beach bonfires. Duncan said he wanted more information about where within the organization grant money would be spent.

Downey answered that the grant process itself is structured for organizations to advocate. She said the annual grants were essentially “an open invitation. ” telling Duncan that the city had received “a lot of emails that were lobbying us” ahead of the meeting and that she didn’t see anything wrong with it.

“That’s what today is — telling them, ‘Come lobby us,’” Downey said, adding with a laugh that some critics in the past had taken to calling the annual allocation meeting “the beg-a-thon.”

In the end, both Emerald Keepers grants passed—but not in the exact amounts requested. For youth services and leadership development. the council approved $42. 300. passing at the staff-recommended level instead of the $44. 800 Emerald Keepers had requested for additional Climate Week programming. Fleming cast the lone dissenting vote on each Emerald Keepers item.

The controversy wasn’t the only place where the council argued—over how much to fund, and which requests fit the city’s definition of community need.

A newly formed swim program called Making Waves, proposed by the Anchor Booster Club, drew confusion from Downey and Steward as they tried to sort out how it related to a defunct predecessor club. When the council moved forward, it funded the program at half of the $15,000 request.

Minutes later, a similar partial-funding approach showed up again with Crown City Water Polo’s pool-fee request.

Coronado Hospital Foundation’s $15. 000 mini grant request for a new wellness clinic nearly didn’t survive a motion to deny from Fleming. He pointed to the prior year’s funding—saying the council had supported a mini grant the year before on the understanding that the foundation wouldn’t return seeking more.

Councilmember Purvis pushed back. She recalled how small purchases can matter when the outcome is urgent.

“I’ll tell you a story,” she said. “A couple years ago, we didn’t approve a grant for a heart monitor in their ER. Two weeks later, I was in the ER, and they didn’t have a heart monitor that worked. Those are the kind of small purchases that maybe we can help out with and make a difference for the hospital. and it is the only (facility) on the island when we have a medical emergency.”.

Downey, who had been silent until then, said Purvis’ story changed her mind. “I suppose looking at it, it’s only $15,000,” she said. “At least it shows that we care about what they’re doing. So you convinced me.”

Steward called the grant “very appropriate.” With the motion now withdrawn, Fleming withdrew his denial motion and moved to approve the grant as presented. It passed unanimously.

Three first-time mini grant applicants were turned down outright: the Community Connection Center. which supports Ukrainian and Slavic immigrant families; the South County Economic Development Council’s mobile business outreach proposal. which multiple councilmembers said duplicated work already funded through the city’s tourism district; and the Steps Foundation’s wellness program for Naval Special Warfare spouses.

Steward voted against Steps Foundation despite an emotional personal account of military spouse life, saying existing Navy and community programs already cover the need.

Near the close of the meeting, the council also approved two requests that arrived outside the normal process. One was a $30,000 renewal-level grant for the Coronado Junior Arts League. The organization missed the April 19 grant application deadline during a leadership transition. but the council granted a one-time exception for an oral request. The other outside request was a separate $5. 000 grant to help the Coronado School of the Arts Foundation replace a sound board shared by multiple community theater groups.

By night’s end, Duncan said the city was on track to come in roughly $83,000 under the available allocation.

“I do think it’s amazing that Coronado is able to basically donate a million dollars back to nonprofits,” he said, thanking grant program administrator Kelli Maples, senior management analyst for the city, for what several councilmembers called an enormous annual lift.

Downey reflected on how the program has changed over time. “We’ve come a long way,” she said. “We have a lot more transparency now into what people are doing with the funds.”

The council’s approved renewal grants ranged from arts and civic events to major operating support. Classics for Kids received $15,750, with Councilmember Kelly Purvis calling it “a phenomenal program” and urging the council to support the amount requested.

The Coronado Chamber of Commerce received $70,000 for business advocacy, $24,000 for the visitor center website, and $15,000 for the holiday parade and tree lighting, while Downey said she supports the Chamber’s efforts and called the grants “a bang for the buck.”

Coronado Community Band received $1,500 for the July 4th patriotic concert and $18,500 for general operating support, for a combined $20,000. “Talk about bang for the buck,” Downey said, adding that the band does “so much with so little.”

Coronado Floral Association received $95,600 toward the Coronado Flower Show’s tent costs after cutting rental contract costs by about 5 percent instead of requesting its usual increase. “I really appreciated that they cut their expenses and cut back a little bit,” Purvis said.

Coronado Fourth of July Celebration received $105,000, with Downey recusing herself from the vote and Duncan describing it as a program that benefits both “our patriotism” and the local business community.

Coronado Historical Association received $104,000 to keep the museum free. Fleming pressed the association on its reserve funds and a recently announced major gift before voting yes. “I do believe that the city of Coronado does have a role in helping to support the Coronado Historical Association. ” he said.

Coronado Island Film Festival received $50,000 for the five-day festival and $50,000 for year-round programming and outreach. Duncan said events like it increase the city’s sales tax and also, more importantly, its T.O.T. at the hotels.

Coronado Philharmonia Orchestra received $50,543. Downey said even when shows sell out, the performance costs still require additional support. “They need additional funds to keep that kind of caliber of musicians playing for us,” she said.

Coronado Schools Foundation received $24,850 for the Coronado Art & Wine Festival. Duncan framed the grant as a net positive for the city, saying “The net is actually lower than the grant amount when you look at the positive economic effect.”

Emerald Keepers received $27,800 and $42,300 for community programs and youth leadership, respectively. Landon defended the grants by saying Coronado does important sustainability work but. unlike neighboring cities. “we do not have a dedicated environmental department.” Both passed 4-1. with Fleming opposed.

Other renewal grants included KMAC Foundation receiving $15. 000 toward accessible sailing; Lambs Players Theatre receiving $75. 000; Memorial Day Ceremony Planning Committee receiving $4. 000; Musica Vitale receiving $15. 000 toward its Main Stage & School Program and $10. 000 toward Crown City Choral/Coronado Choir after the council declined a request to raise the main grant to $27. 000; and Safe Harbor Coronado receiving $50. 000 toward family support services and $75. 000 toward healthy families programs.

Villa Lobos Chamber Music Festival received $14,386 toward Coronado residency and $7,920 toward school outreach. Purvis said the quality was “amazing” and noted it served a large share of the population at the library.

Mini grants approved included Anchor Booster Club receiving $7,500 toward the Making Waves swim program—half of its $15,000 request. The council said it wanted to give the organization money to get started rather than subsidize the full program at once. Fleming suggested that if more funding was needed next year, it would come with more detailed requests.

Camp Able at Coronado received $15,000 toward camperships. Downey described the camps that empower disabled community members as “humbling.”

Coronado Community Theater (Coronado Playhouse) received $15,000. Downey said it was another “bang-for-your-buck” option because it allows other nonprofits to host fundraisers.

Coronado Hospital Foundation received $15,000 for its wellness clinic after the denial motion was withdrawn.

Coronado School of the Arts Foundation received $15,000 toward Artistry in Action.

Crown City Water Polo received $7,500 toward BB&M Aquatic Center pool fees—half the request. Steward said she wanted to mirror what the council did for Anchor Booster Club.

PAWS of Coronado received $15,000 toward its Ruff Run.

So Say We All received $4,170 toward a Coronado storytelling showcase. Duncan said he was impressed by the presentation and suggested the council could “give it a shot this year.”

Storytellers of San Diego received $10,000 after the council split the difference between the organization’s past $5,000 grant and its $15,000 request.

West Wind Brass received $15,000 toward the Coronado Brass Connections residency.

For the two outside-the-normal-process approvals: Coronado Junior Arts League received $30,000 after missing the April 19 deadline, and Coronado School of the Arts Foundation received $5,000 to replace a shared sound board.

During public comment. incoming CoSA Foundation president Arlene Ventimiglia told the council that after the organization submitted its regular $15. 000 “Artistry in Action” application. it discovered the theater’s sound board needed replacement. She estimated the cost at $5. 000 to $8. 000 and said it would benefit everyone using the space. including CoSA itself. the school. the Coronado Philharmonia. and other groups renting or performing there. Downey said she saw it as a small amount that would help “almost half the people in here” and asked for the council to consider it separately.

By the time the meeting ended. the numbers were clear—$1.1 million in approved grants. a budget that allowed more money than applications. and a rare surplus. What wasn’t simple was the message the evening carried: even when a program is built to fund community work. the question of what counts as appropriate advocacy against what counts as community service can turn a routine vote into a fight.

And for Emerald Keepers, the fight ended the same way it began—over whether the city is willing to fund the voice that then challenges the city itself.

Coronado City Council community grants Emerald Keepers Mark Fleming Carrie Downey Duncan Kelli Maples nonprofit grants Policy 28 sustainability planner