Council Report

City of Mesa — City Council (2026-04-20)

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City Council Report 
 
Date:   
April 20, 2026 
To:  
 
City Council 
Through:  
Miranda DeWitt, Government Relations Director 
From:  
Sharon Skinner, Grants Coordinator 
Subject:  
Resolution of support for the submittal of a grant application Desert 
Sounds Performing Arts to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in the amount of 
$16,783.00 for their Mariachi Sones del Desierto program and approving 
the City Manager to accept and administer subsequent awarded funds as 
a pass-thru grant. 
 
Purpose and Recommendation 
 
This request is seeking a City Council resolution of support for Desert Sounds 
Performing Arts application to Pascua Yaqui Tribe for Proposition 202 funding. If 
awarded, the grant will provide $16,783.00 in funding for their Mariachi Sones del 
Desierto program. A Council Resolution supports this effort to secure a grant and 
commits the city to receive it on behalf of the non-profit and pass it through in its entirety 
to them if awarded.  As these programs serve the needs of City of Mesa residents, staff 
recommendation is for Council to adopt this resolution. 
 
Background 
 
Desert Sounds Performing Arts is a local nonprofit agency whose purpose is to support 
kids around the valley learning music today and gaining life skills for tomorrow.  
 
The Mariachi Sones del Desierto targets children ages 5-18 who want to perform and 
play traditional mariachi in the community. 
 
If awarded the agency expects approximately 90% of participants to be served through 
this multi-tiered year-round program will be Mesa residents. 
 
Discussion 
 
A resolution of support for this grant request will complete the necessary documentation 
for the organization to file their application by the funder’s deadline and be considered 
for funding. Mesa’s participation in Proposition 202 Indian Gaming Grants has returned 
over $1 billion to Arizona communities since its passage in 2002 from four surrounding 
tribal governments.

Alternatives 
 
The only alternative to adopting this resolution would be to not adopt. Such an action 
would deny Mesa sponsorship for this request and require the organization to seek an 
alternate local government for access to this funding source.  
 
Fiscal Impact 
 
The fiscal impact on the City of Mesa, should this grant be awarded, will be negligible 
except overhead expenses in accounting to accept and reissue the grant check. The 
City does not administer the grant and signs an MOU or IGA with each tribe to limit our 
liability to only the pass-through transaction.