TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Brian Ambrose, Community Services Director
PREPARED BY: Gretchen Sedlacek, Assistant Management Analyst
SUBJECT:
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Lunch at the Library Summer 2026 Grant
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ABSTRACT
For the past two (2) years, Lunch at the Library has been a grant funded program with a partnership between the Murrieta Public Library and the Murrieta Valley Unified School District’s summer meal program that is held at Murrieta Elementary School. The program provides free healthy lunches and activities for children under 18 during summer break. Staff asks that the City Council approve acceptance of a grant from the California State Library to provide pop-up library services at the school and authorize an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Operating Budget.
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve acceptance of the California State Library’s Lunch at the Library Summer 2026 grant, in the amount of $12,362, for the Murrieta Public Library;
Ratify the signed Certification of Compliance form and the Financial Claim form;
Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept the grant funds; and
Amend the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Operating Budget as described in the fiscal impact statement.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On November 21, 2023, the City Council approved the application for the Lunch at the Library Summer 2024 grant (Vote: 5-0).
On February 20, 2024, the City Council authorized the City Manager to accept grant funds from the California State Library for the Lunch at the Library 2024 Summer program (Vote: 5-0).
On March 4, 2025, the City Council authorized the City Manager to accept grant funds from the California State Library for the Lunch at the Library 2025 Summer program (Vote: 5-0).
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
The City Council’s goal of coordinating and delivering responsive, effective community services is associated with this administrative priority.
DISCUSSION
The Murrieta Valley Unified School District (MVUSD) offers a summer meal program that provides free healthy lunches and activities for children under 18 during summer break, ensuring continued access to nutritious food and learning opportunities. For the past two (2) years, the Murrieta Public Library (Library) has applied for and received grant funding through the California State Library (CSL) Lunch at the Library program. This created a strong collaboration where the Library provided pop-up library services at the MVUSD summer meal site at Murrieta Elementary School. Services included enrichment activities, book giveaways to support home libraries, and connections to library resources. In total, hundreds of students receive services during this program.
To build on this success, Library staff applied for the 2026 Lunch at the Library grant to continue pop-up services at the summer meal site. The grant funds will be used to purchase books and programming supplies, as well as to pay for presenters to enhance the program. Recently, the City was notified that grant funding totaling $12,362 will be provided.
PUBLIC NOTICING
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
CEQA AND REGULATORY OVERVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Operating Budget to establish a revenue appropriation in Library Grant Fund Account 3570050-42221 and an expenditure appropriation in Account 3570050-64000 and a corresponding job ledger code for tracking purposes.
ATTACHMENTS
ATT 1 - Grant Award Packet - Summer 2026
ATT 2 - Grant Award Budget Form - Summer 2026