Members of the Comité de Derechos Civiles de Migración y Discapacidad met May 16 and heard staff explain that limited funding and federal uncertainty require prioritizing projects that can be executed quickly, with a plan to reopen the application process in September.

The committee convened with a quorum and staff said the meeting would not accept general public comment except on the first agenda item. Presenters described a two-year prioritization process and said many previously funded projects lacked the viability to proceed; to avoid funds being recaptured, staff recommended concentrating resources on projects already prepared to spend.

The presentation identified an upcoming timeline: staff intends to open a new application round in September and to provide technical-assistance support for community-based organizations preparing applications. Staff said they have worked with council offices, including assistance provided in District 13, and offered to arrange application-support presentations for groups that want help.

Council members asked questions about the budget and department capacity. Staff noted ongoing federal-level uncertainty and repeated that demand exceeds resources each year; they described the prioritization as a way to ensure funds are spent on projects that meet readiness criteria. Staff said the recommendation this year is to allocate available funds to projects on a prioritized list and to reopen the competitive process in September.

At the close of the discussion, a committee member recommended continuing the item so the City Law Department (CLA) and the mayor's office could review the proposal and provide further guidance; the transcript records the recommendation but does not record a formal motion or vote.

Staff also offered to provide technical-assistance sessions for nonprofit applicants and said they have coordinated with council offices to support organizations preparing applications. No formal funding decisions or specific dollar amounts were recorded in the transcript.

The committee discussion covered process and prioritization rather than adopting new policy; members said they wanted to be candid with applicants about what funds the city can reasonably spend given administrative and federal constraints. The item will return for further review after legal and executive-branch input, per the recommendation recorded in the meeting.