Sunnyvale Council approves expanded community events, neighborhood grants program; Art & Wine funding deferred to spring

The Sunnyvale City Council on Jan. 13 approved an expanded community events and neighborhood grants program for calendar year 2026, increasing the total fund to $150,000, adding a second application cycle and creating a new block-party tier.

City staff said the fall cycle may allocate up to $120,000 (80 percent) of the total and the spring cycle in March will allocate the remaining funds. The city’s Recreation Services lead, Angela Chan, told council the program added a third funding tier for neighborhood grants, increased event funding to cover up to 50 percent of an event’s budget and introduced a block-party application intended for small, local gatherings.

Council and the subcommittee recommended funding 12 neighborhood-grant applications and all 10 requested block-party applications at their requested levels. Staff said some community events were recommended for full or partial funding under a committee practice of 'closing the gap'—paying the difference between projected revenue and event costs so events that would otherwise lose money can proceed.

The Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce applied for a $20,000 grant for the 2026 Art & Wine Festival. Chamber CEO Russ Melton said the festival is intended to be "cash flow positive," and described the event as a fundraiser whose proceeds support ongoing Chamber programs. Subcommittee members and staff explained that because the Chamber’s application projected positive cash flow, the fall-cycle recommendation was to not fund it; the Chamber may resubmit in the spring or discuss a city sponsorship model.

Vice Mayor Richard Mellinger moved to adopt staff and subcommittee recommendations; the council approved the motion with a recorded result showing five yeas, zero nays and one abstention (one member absent). Mayor Klein and council members who spoke praised the staff process and urged community groups to apply in the spring cycle.

The council directed staff to update the city grants web page and continue discussions with the Chamber about possible sponsorship or spring-cycle funding. The spring cycle deadline and any sponsorship proposals were to be handled by staff and returned to council for decision.

Votes at a glance: the motion to adopt the staff recommendation for fall-cycle funding and program changes carried 5–0–1 (Councilmember Sall abstained; Councilmember Srinivasan absent).