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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 by Desert Sounds Performing Arts to the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation in the amount of $9,899 for their Musical Mentors 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 Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation for Proposition 202 funding. If awarded, the grant will provide $9,899 in funding for their Musical Mentors 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 nonprofit organization that makes music education affordable to everyone in Mesa and the surrounding area. The requested funding will support the Musical Mentors program. Musicians who wish to “give back” and inspire students to continue learning, are matched up with recommended students. Along with the musical experience, Desert Sounds’ students receive a valuable opportunity to interact with positive role models.. The goal of this expansion of Musical Mentors is for a minimum of 90% of enrolled students to be Mesa residents. Students across the community will gain meaningful opportunities to engage in music, develop new skills, express their creativity, and build confidence, helping them grow personally and prepare for success in the modern workforce. 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 from Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. 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.