For City Council Meeting October 14, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Tanya Williams, City Manager
FROM: Barbara A. McGee, City Clerk
Title
Request City Council to adopt Resolution No. 8414 to accept Community Benefit Grant funding in the amount of $15,000 for the Healthy Rialto Nutrition Program 2025.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the Resolution Accepting Funding in the Amount of $15,000 from the Kaiser Foundation Hospitals Community Benefit Grant for the Healthy Rialto Nutrition Program 2025.
BACKGROUND
Healthy Rialto offers healthy programs and services to residents of Rialto. The programs are designed to enrich and empower the lives of the people in our community. Healthy Rialto is dedicated to providing innovative and proactive solutions to everyone who has the desire to get fit and stay healthy. The Certified Farmer’s Market has been available to the community for 11 years, where EBT, WIC and Senior FMNP (Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program) are accepted by most vendors.
Healthy Rialto is also a partner in Market Match, a program by the Ecology Center, a non-profit organization that received a Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive grant from the USDA. Market Match, California’s healthy food incentive program, is offered to those who use their Calfresh EBT at the Farmer’s Market with a $15 max benefit match to increase their purchase of fruits and vegetables, a healthier choice.
In order to accomplish some of the goals and programs of continuing to create and maintain a healthier community, Kaiser Permanente provided an opportunity to apply for a community grant in July 2025. The Kaiser Foundation Hospitals have been very supportive of Healthy Rialto programs through the years.
This year, the Kaiser Foundation Hospitals awarded a grant to the City of Rialto - Healthy Rialto in the amount of $15,000 to continue maintaining a healthy community through its Nutrition Program 2025.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The Nutrition Program 2025 will bring in 150 new monthly farmers' market SNAP match participants over a 12-month period; Veggie Bucks of $25 per participant. We will be working with senior programs in Colton, Fontana, Highland, Rialto and San Bernardino to bring in our new SNAP match participants
Grant funds will be used for an estimate of 175 Rialto Unified School District elementary school field trip participants over a 12-month period: Veggie Bucks of $10 per participant. Age-appropriate nutrition educational materials for the students will be created to take the lessons home.
Grant funds will be used for an estimate of 300 special needs program student field trip participants over a 12-month period: Veggie Bucks of $15 per participant. Age-appropriate nutrition educational materials will be created for the students to take home.
Grant funds will be used by an estimate of 300 low-income participants over a 12-month period: $25 per participant.
Outreach materials and Social Media posts will be made in English and Spanish, to reach as many people as possible. Veggie Bucks will only be valid on fruits, vegetables, organic juices, eggs, honey and kefir probiotic yogurts.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The request is not a Project as defined by Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Pursuant to Section 15378 (b)(5) a project does not include organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
This action is consistent with Guiding Principle 3A in the General Plan:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and supports this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
Staff recommends City Council adopt a resolution for the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget to appropriate $15,000 in Account No. 22233165-52021 for the Healthy Rialto Nutrition Program 2025.
ATTACHMENTS
• Resolution
• Kaiser Agreement