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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999 05-24 HHSCMINUTES OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING City Conference Center 1001 N. Idaho Road, Apache Junction, AZ May 24, 1999- 1:30 P.M. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: CAROL CRANMER, CHAIRPERSON ED BARKER CARMEN HUERTA RUTH WATERS COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: JENNIE BENNETT, VICE CHAIRPERSON 1.Call to Order/Attendance. STAFF PRESENT: KATHLEEN CONNELLY, CITY CLERK OTHERS PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBER URICH, COUNCIL LIAISON Chairperson Cranmer called the meeting to order at 1:47 p.m.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly called the roll and advised there was a quorum present.Vice Chairperson Bennett was absent. 2.Status report on applications for city human services funding. Chairperson Cranmer requested to come back to this item and to proceed with Item #3. 3.Discussion on request from Community Action Human Resources Agency to allow presentation on funding request at May 24 meeting. Community Action Human Resources Agency was represented by Executive Director Mary Lou Rosales, Fiscal Program Manager Mary FayeIla, and Community Services Manager Ann Gine.Mary Lou Rosales apologized for not being here May 12.She was out of town attending a conference in San Antonio.It was a mandatory conference. She was at another conference a week earlier, and she had been on vacation between the two conferences.The commission letter came while she was at the first conference.She takes full blame;they have changed their procedure to allow someone else to go through the mail when she is gone.Chairperson Cranmer stated HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING MAY 24, 1999 PAGE 1 OF 9 the commission was glad they were there now.Mary Lou Rosales thanked the commission for allowing them to speak. 4.Possible interview of remaining applicant for city human services funding for FY 1999-2000. Mary Lou Rosales stated they had added a case manager proposal this year.They still have the home repairs that the commission has funded for nine years.Mary Lou Rosales stated they are asking for $12,000 for home repairs for utility -related appliances and systems and the installation of devices to assist those individuals with disabilities.The average repair cost $421 in FY 1997-98; they are hoping to keep it under $600 this year but they are asking for $900 per repair because they cannot find a contractor to replace a unit for under $600.They do partner the funds received from the city with other funds; this year the state legislature increased their funding to $900 per repair.The average repair last year was $428.50.Over the years the average repair has run $347.They also perform weatherization on the home, and, if the family has had a problem and needs to have a utility bill paid, they will pay that bill.Commissioner Huerta complimented her on the wonderful job her agency has been doing over the years. Ann Gine proceeded with the case manager proposal.The request is for $10,000 and it will be for direct services.While they have been able to stabilize a crisis, they have not been able to do anything for the long term.They intend to partner with Project Help with the latter being a resource for the family.It will be restricted to families with minor children in the Apache Junction schools.The contract with the family will be for a six-month minimum, during which time they will try to help them budget and discover how to improve their education or job skills to get a better job.She stated they need funding that offers them some flexibility so they can assist those families during their periods of shortfall.They are asking the city for those funds that will have the flexibility to help a family through the term of their contract.The assistance would be from time to time and would not be a constant source.It may help finance a car repair or a prescription.They must have at least one school age child, and they prefer to work with those families that have been in the social service system for quite a while.There has to be at least one adult in the household who is employable so they can try to improve their status.They will be using a basic needs survey for selection to assess the families.This will allow them to give clear cut feedback to the funding agencies.They believe this is really needed.Chairperson Cranmer asked if the funding would be for the direct services or for the salary of the case manager.Ann Gine stated it would be for direct services; the case manager is already paid for.They are going to be working intensely on the program and hope to have it in force by July. Commissioner Huerta commented it sounded like it was going to be a great program. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING MAY 24, 1999 PAGE 2 OF 9 Chairperson Cranmer asked that if they would be asking for more funding in the future if the demonstration program works well.Ann Gine stated they would come back to the city next year for more funding if it is successful.They also intend to use it throughout other cities and towns as well.Commissioner Barker asked if they would have another source for funding next year if this is funded by the city this year.Mary Lou Rosales stated they are working on new funding sources.Commissioner Huerta asked if they would be using the case managers throughout the county or just in Apache Junction.Mary Lou Rosales stated they would be using them throughout the county.Commissioner Huerta asked if any other cities or towns were allocating money for the program.Mary Lou Rosales stated they asked the town of Florence and Casa Grande; they are recommending full funding to them.Chairperson Cranmer stated it would be nice if each town would fund the program for its own area.Ann Gine stated the money invested stays in the town.The Florence program is the same as what will be here, the Casa Grande program will involve single forms.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked what might be involved in the funding besides things like vehicle repairs.Ann Gine stated they can use it for rent and utilities once their other benefits are used up.Each family will be asked how much they are willing to put in to try to create their own solution.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if something like rent would be paid directly to the owner.Ann Gine stated all the monies they expend are paid through a vendor.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if the city would be allowed to have the names of the individuals.Mary Lou Rosales stated they would be able to have the names; it would be written in on their confidential release. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she would need to have the information in advance if this is funded as the school district boundaries are different from the city boundaries; they need to make sure the families are within the city boundaries.Ann Gine stated the families would not know the source of the funding. Mary Lou Rosales asked if there was a way that the utility -related funding could start in July as they are unable to do any work in July and August if they cannot get the funding until September.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she would have to check with the city attorney; the council usually gives approval in June but does not do the contracts until final budget which is in August. 5.Consideration and action on recommendations for human services funding for FY 1999-2000. Chairperson Cranmer commented that the Little League would not receive any funding. She asked for recommendations for Apache Junction Reach Out Food Bank, which was asking for $17,500.She reminded the commission that they would not be funding St. George's and Central Arizona Shelter Services.She would like to give the money that would have gone to them to similar services, such as the Food Bank and HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING MAY 24, 1999 PAGE 3 OF 9 the Salvation Army.These people do need to be served.Commissioner Barker stated Community Action Human Resources Agency is offering programs.Chairperson Cranmer added that money is going to a small, select group of people who they will help tremendously. Commissioner Barker asked how much money they had been given.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they have $78,000.Commissioner Barker suggested trying to push for $80,000. Chairperson Cranmer commented Commissioner Barker had missed the Salvation Army presentation, and it now sounds like they are trying.Commissioner Huerta agreed; they appear to be better than the other ones that were there.However, they still do not have an audit from the past year.Commissioner Barker commented that they then technically do not qualify.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they cannot give the city one if it has not been done; the question is whether they should have done one. Commissioner Barker stated they have to give the most current audit;numerous commissioners advised that the one provided is the most current.Chairperson Cranmer stated they also had a breakdown on some of their expenses for this year. She would like propose some money for them.Commissioner Barker asked if the commission was willing to give them a chance.The other commission members stated they would.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly urged them to be very specific as to what they want the money to be spent for.Chairperson Cranmer stated they are asking for $8,000,but she does not think they should be given that much. Commissioner Barker stated he was willing to stay out of this discussion since he was not here for the interview.Commissioner Huerta stated she was willing to give them the $8,000, since there should be money left over with St. George not getting any. Commissioner Barker suggested they tentatively put them down for $8,000. Commissioner Huerta stated they need to provide the audit by July or August - by the first report that they send in.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly advised the quarter ends in September; they would need to have it to her by October 10 th.The commission agreed to that stipulation. Chairperson Cranmer suggested giving any money not funded due to breach of contract to the Food Bank.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that would have to be in the contract language.Chairperson Cranmer commented she wanted the contract to stipulate that.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated the first quarter would be funded since there is no audit requirement, the final three quarters would remain if they did not provide the audit.Commissioner Huerta commented they should spend the full amount that they are allotted for the first quarter.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is what they have failed to do in the past.Chairperson Cranmer commented if the remaining funds go to the food bank, that leaves no other agency out there to assist HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING MAY 24,1999 PAGE 4 OF 9 with the rent, utilities or anything else that the Salvation Army, or St. George's, does. She is sick of these agencies that will not document properly that really do help people.Commissioner Huerta commented they have done without the city funds before and it was hard, now the city will have to go back to that if necessary until these two agencies get their act together.Chairperson Cranmer stated St. George's knows what they are supposed to do and they intend on applying again next year. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly commented they will have to supply the audit for this year and the year before or they will be ineligible. Chairperson Cranmer asked if the commission agreed to $8,000 for the Salvation Army for this year.Commissioner Huerta agreed. Chairperson Cranmer asked if they could give the food bank $2,000 more since they are not giving anything to St. George's; they were asking for $17,500.Commissioner Huerta commented they were given $15,000 last year. Commissioner Barker asked for the chairperson's recommendation for the Boys and Girls Club.She had no recommendation at this time though she thought $30,000 was too much.She had tentatively decided on $15,000, which she still thought was high. Commissioner Huerta added she had written down the same amount for them. Chairperson Cranmer stated they gave a good presentation and appear to have gotten themselves together; they have a van and facilities to do things now. Commissioner Barker requested they return to the food bank.Chairperson Cranmer suggested $17,500 or $17,000 to the food bank; they are careful and they know what they are supposed to do.Commissioner Barker stated if they are not funding St. George's, then he believes the food bank needs at least $17,500,possibly more. Chairperson Cranmer tentatively marked them for $17,500. Chairperson Cranmer asked if they wanted to give Community Action Human Resources Agency the full amount for the case manager or have them find the funds somewhere else.Commissioner Huerta recommended giving them the full amount for the case manager for this year to see how it goes, and then maybe next year they can get additional funding elsewhere.They are asking for $22,000 total; $10,000 for the case management and $12,000 for the home repair. Commissioner Barker remarked they should keep in mind that the town is growing and there should be new agencies asking for start up funds in the near future.He added that some people are trying to open a shelter and they may be open for next year. Chairperson Cranmer added up the tentative funding thus far and had a total of $62,500.Commissioner Huerta stated they had to do Superstition Mountain Mental HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING MAY 24, 1999 PAGE 5 OF 9 Health yet.Chairperson Cranmer added they had to discuss the Senior Center, too. She decided to leave the meeting at this time due to the fact that Superstition Mountain Mental Health would have to be discussed at the same time as the Senior Center and she had a conflict of interest regarding Superstition Mountain Mental Health Center. Commissioner Barker stated the Senior Center was given $12,000 last year and they are asking for $22,000.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she believed there was an error on the sheet; they are asking for $20,000.Commissioner Huerta stated Superstition Mountain Mental Health is asking for $18,000.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they are getting money from other sources.Commissioner Huerta suggested reducing the money given to the food bank, then suggested reducing the Boys and Girls Club down to $12,000.Commissioner Barker suggested reducing the Food Bank down to $12,000.Commissioner Huerta stated they should get $15,000 and Commissioner Barker agreed.Commissioner Barker suggested giving the Senior Center $12,000 and Superstition Mountain Mental Health $11,000,which would continue the slow drop in the latter's funding since 1995. Commissioner Huerta asked Commissioner Barker what his totals were.Commissioner Barker stated he had $15,000 for the Food Bank; $12,000 for the Boys and Girls Club; $22,000 for Community Action Human Resources Agency, with the understanding that this would probably be the only time the commission would fund the case manager position; $12,000 for the Senior Center; $8,000 for the Salvation Army; and $11,000 for Superstition Mountain Mental Health Center for a total of $80,000.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if they were comfortable with funding the Salvation Army for everything they asked for.Commissioner Huerta commented they will need the money since St. George's was not funded this year.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if the money would revert if they failed to follow through at any point in the contract, not just the first quarter.Commissioner Huerta stated that was correct, but specifically regarding the audit.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if they were not in compliance at any point,would the funding then revert to the Food Bank. Commissioner Huerta stated that was correct. There was general discussion on the funding going up from $12,000 - $14,000 to higher levels for the Food Bank in recent years and why it was raised.Councilmember Urich suggested they bring Chairperson Cranmer back in for these discussions. Commissioner Barker asked if everyone was okay with the $11,000 in funding for Superstition Mountain Mental Health.He asked if they were obligated to run the Information and Referral Network.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they are obligated by contract.If the contract did not require them to do so, she did not know HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING MAY 24, 1999 PAGE 6 OF 9 if they would do it.Commissioner Barker asked if they received any other city funding other than the commission's funding.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they do not. Commissioner Barker asked if everyone was satisfied with the funding.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it would be $3,000 for the network and $8,000 for emergency services.Commissioner Huerta agreed. Commissioner Waters asked why Central Arizona Shelter Services asks for $12,000 every year yet they have never been funded.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they refuse to give information on whether the people being assisted are city residents or not.Commissioner Waters commented she recalled that now. Commissioner Huerta stated she wished they could give Superstition Mountain Mental Health more but they need to give the extra funding to Community Action Human Resources Agency to help get that program started, though it may be a one time funding.Commissioner Barker reminded them they had told the mental health center that they were going to start cutting their funding in 1992,and they have almost every year since.Commissioner Huerta was concerned that if the mental health center does not get the money, then things will fall back on the police department.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they used to have the police department pick up patients for them.Commissioner Waters stated they are supposed to get a large chunk from federal grants.Commissioner Barker asked what the city funds are doing.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated if they have a crisis phone call, they would ask the police department to send a uniformed officer to the location and transport the individual, whether to the mental hospital or the state hospital.Commissioner Barker asked under what authority they did this.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is why the police department stopped doing it.Commissioner Barker asked if they were doing that in the last fiscal year.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it had stopped in the last fiscal year; they were doing it quite a bit the year before that.Commissioner Barker stated he now has no trouble dropping their level of funding.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated the police department was also their answering service. Commissioner Barker commented he is sure they could use more money just like everyone else, but they are a lot better off now than they were 15 years ago. Chairperson Cranmer rejoined the committee at this point and asked what had been decided.Commissioner Huerta stated they had decided on $12,000 for the Boys and Girls Club,$15,000 for the Food Bank,$22,000 for Community Action Human Resources Agency with the stipulation that it could be a one time funding, $8,000 for the Salvation Army, $11,000 for Superstition Mountain Mental Health and $12,000 for the Senior Center.Councilmember Urich asked if they would be making certain stipulations in the contract.The commission stated they would. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING MAY 24, 1999 PAGE 7 OF 9 Commissioner Huerta moved that Superstition Mountain Mental Health be approved for $11,000 in funding.Commissioner Barker seconded and stipulated that $3,000 be used for the Information and Referral Network and $8,000 for emergency services. The vote was unanimous with one abstention from Chairperson Cranmer. Commissioner Barker moved to fund the Apache Junction Reach Out Food Bank in the amount of $15,000 for food for city residents only.Commissioner Huerta seconded the motion.The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Barker moved to fund the Apache Junction Boys and Girls Club for $12,000 for the next fiscal year.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they had asked for it to be for the additional person; they were not asked what would happen if they got less.Commissioner Huerta stated they would have to find the additional money someplace else.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if this was to assist with that particular program.Commissioner Huerta stated it was.Commissioner Waters seconded the motion.The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Huerta moved that Community Action Human Resources Agency be approved for $22,000, with $12,000 for the repairs and $10,000 for the financial assistance by the case manager, with their being told that this could be a one-time funding for the case manager.Commissioner Barker asked that it be phrased that the commission is looking at it as a one-time recommendation.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if that was one time for that level of funding or one time at all. Commissioner Barker stated they are looking at it as a one time funding, but it may not necessarily be so; they would like them to fund the rest of the money elsewhere next year.Chairperson Cranmer stated they could then go back to just funding the repairs. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly requested that they put something in there pre -clearing the families, as she would hate to get halfway through with a family and find out they live out of the city.Commissioner Barker so moved.Commissioner Waters seconded the motion.The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Waters moved to fund the Mesa Senior Center for $12,000 for the same program.Commissioner Huerta seconded the motion.The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Huerta moved that the Salvation Army be funded for $8,000 with the stipulation that they have their audit by October 10, that they comply with sending the city clerk the reports on time, and that they make sure that they spend all of their allotted monies each quarter, and that at any time if they do not comply with the regulations that their money will be withdrawn and the money will go to the Food Bank.Commissioner Waters seconded the motion.The vote was unanimous. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING MAY 24, 1999 PAGE 8 OF 9 Chairperson Cranmer stated St. George's will have to try again next year. 6.Discussion on schedule for presenting recommendations for human services funding for FY 1999-2000. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she would be sending the recommendations to the city council on the June 15 meeting.It will be discussed at the work session on June 14 and be on the agenda for the next night to accept or adjust the recommendations and determine when the contracts will come back before the council.She will put it on the consent agenda for June 15 so unless there are changes it will be approved as part of that.Commissioner Huerta asked if they were going to go over them individually.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated the motion will say what has been said here; they will read the motion.They will pull the item off the consent agenda if they have any changes or want to discuss something.Chairperson Cranmer asked if anyone should be at the work session.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated someone should be there in case they have any questions.She will set it up so that they can give their presentation on Monday night, June 14.That way it could be approved on Tuesday, June 15.However, the city manager could change it and make the direction separate.Commissioner Huerta asked about the wording of the stipulations.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that would be part of the motion. 7.Discussion on future meetings. Chairperson Cranmer asked if there was any need for any future meetings before next year.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated there would have to be a meeting if there was a problem with one of the contracts.She would have to call everybody for a meeting if that occurred. 8.Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 2:42 p.m. Carol Cranmer Chairperson Kathleen Connelly City Clerk HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING MAY 24, 1999 PAGE 9 OF 9