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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-29 HHSCMINUTES OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING Apache Junction Senior Center 1001 N.Idaho Road,Apache Junction,AZ October 29,2002 -7:00 P.M. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: ED BARKER,VICE CHAIRPERSON JOYCE PAYNE KATHRYN STOCK L.J.TREVILLYAN 1.Call to Order/Attendance. STAFF PRESENT: JAN MASON,DEPUTY CITY CLERK ROGER HACKER,GRANTS SPECIALIST MELINDA LARSON,CDBG ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Vice Chairperson Barker called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.Deputy City Clerk Jan Mason called the roll and advised there was a quorum present. 2.Introductions. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker,introduced himself.He then introduced Deputy City Clerk Jan Mason as staff liaison for the Health and Human Services Commission.Community Development Block Grant Administrative Assistant Melinda Larson,introduced herself and added that last year she worked CDBG on the other side whereas this year she is working for the city.She is available to help answer questions and to learn how to process and put together a meeting of this type.She will be assisting Roger Hacker during the meeting.Grants Specialist Roger Hacker then asked if the commission members would be willing to introduce themselves.The commissioners introduced themselves.Vice Chairperson Barker thanked everyone for being at the meeting. 3.Overview of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)program. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said the CDBG program was established in 1974 by the federal government and has been in use in Apache Junction since 1979.It was initially established to assist urban and rural low and moderate -income people in terms of housing,infrastructure improvements,and economic development.The CDBG objectives are to benefit people with low/moderate income,to prevent or eliminate slums HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 29,2002 PAGE 1of 5 and blight and address urgent needs in the community.He presented the federal governments definition of low/moderate income,which is released through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).He said this definition is important because any funding must be justified as being used for a low/moderate income family or neighborhood.The definition of slum/blight would be an area designated by the city council where at least 25% of the buildings in an area are deteriorated. An urgent need is a natural disaster,such as floods,hurricanes,or a human health hazard,like raw sewage,that has to be addressed immediately.Federal guidelines also include abused children,elderly persons,battered spouses,homeless people,adults with severe disabilities,illiterate people.people infected with AIDS,and migrant workers. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker explained the definition of an eligible project.This would include public works and safety.community facilities,housing facilities,architectural barrier removal to comply with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act),public services,housing, economic development,and neighborhood assistance.Public works means water system improvements,road and street improvements,flood drain improvements,and sewer improvements.Community facilities means parks, social service centers,shelter and halfway houses,and accessible buildings.CDBG Administrative Assistant Melinda Larson commented during the last cycle one of the projects chosen was the expansion of the Apache Junction Outreach Food Bank.It was for a 1,700 square foot expansion of warehouse space for food storage.They have not yet started the project,but i t is very close to being started.Grants Specialist Roger Hacker explained that public services include childcare,job training,recreation,education and literacy,counseling for abused,equipment,and operating costs.Housing includes housing rehabilitation for homeowners,down payment assistance,utility connection,and new home construction for target groups.The city has utilized a lot of their previous funding into housing rehabilitation grants like accessibility ramps,emergency repairs like air conditioners.Economic development includes job training and placement, building acquisition and rehabilitation,assistance to neighborhood groups,and credit to small businesses.Neighborhood assistance includes mall and walkway construction,purchase of land,purchase of vacant buildings,and rehabilitation of commercial property in slum/blighted areas. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker then addressed the city's previous use of CDBG funds.Funds during the 1980's funds were used for fire protection HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 29,2002 PAGE 2of 5 facilities and equipment,library construction,a housing plan,a center for people with disabilities,housing rehabilitation and street improvements,housing rehabilitation for the mentally ill.Since 1990 funds have been utilized for housing rehabilitation,sewer hookups, street improvements.ADA and CRS compliance,food bank expansion,and administration. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker went over the process for administering CDBG funds.This includes public hearings,application submittal. Health and Human Services Commission project reviews and report preparation for submittal to City Council,newspaper advertising,press releases,City Council vote on resolution for project(s)and grant application submitted to Central Arizona Association of Governments. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker explained that Apache Junction will be receiving approximately $260,000 every two years. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker reviewed the grievance procedure for the grant program.The applicants could contact him by telephone if they had any questions.Any concerns needed to be submitted in writing and he is required to respond in 3 working days.The city manager and,in our case,the interim city manager,is the person who decides all grievances.They have 3 days to appeal the response.If there is an appeal,the grants specialist,development services director,and city manager would meet with them.Ultimately the city manager decision is final. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker explained that technical assistance is available to anyone interested in developing an idea for consideration. To get involved with technical assistance is to begin with contacting him in writing,he then has 3 days to respond.Technical assistance is available until December 2,2002.They cover basic information and assist them in limiting their request to a 1 -page summary. 4.Identification of housing and community development needs. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said housing rehabilitation projects are funded for low to moderate -income citizens and on a first come,first serve basis until the money runs out.It is the responsibility of the applicant to bring in the necessary documentation to prove they fall into the respective category.He asked the audience to please fill out one slip of paper for each project they are suggesting and they would address some of the suggestions.CDBG Administrative Assistant Melinda HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 29,2002 PAGE 3of 5 Larson read the project suggestions which included job training and literacy programs,a family shelter for homeless and/or domestic violence,affordable and accessible housing,alternative building projects,community garden,resource center,tax services,job and computer assistance center,self sufficiency center,revolving loan funds,combination homeless shelter and factory,and a multi -use facility/basic needs center. There was some discussion on the various suggested projects,namely whether the new city complex could be funded by CDBG,a community garden.and a training facility to train citizens on repair of electronic/household appliances. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker asked those in attendance to vote for the six projects they would like the Health and Human Services Commission to consider.He asked those that had submitted projects that were still being considered to fill out a project description,what the community need is,how it will be addressed,a dollar amount,whether it would be done by a non-profit organization or by the city,and return the project description tonight or by 5:00 p.m.on Friday,November 6.He added that he and CDBG Administrative Assistant Melinda Larson would be available for technical assistance with filling out the forms. 5.Discussion of process to be used. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said that after receiving the applications,he will summarize the information for presentation to the Health and Human Services Commission for their November 12,2002 meeting.The Health and Human Services Commission will review the applications and summaries,address questions,and present their recommendations to staff.Staff will then present the recommendations to the City Council on December 2,2002. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker presented a complaint he had received to the Health and Human Services Commission for direction to staff.A senior citizen had called in complaining that because the meeting was held from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.,she felt it excluded seniors that do not drive after dark.There might be an option to this problem,but the Health and Human Services Commission would have to direct the staff on the issue.They could hold a focus group at the senior center,walking the participants through the process to get a perspective from seniors on CDBG projects.Vice Chairperson Ed Barker said he felt the Health and Human Services Commission had done all that they could to allow the HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 29,2002 PAGE 4of 5 most participation in the process and no matter what they did someone would be omitted.Vice Chairperson Barker suggested that the newspapers run an additional story that invited interested parties to write or e- mail their suggestions to the newspaper or to Roger Hacker.The rest of the commission agreed with Vice Chairperson Barker.Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said he would check into the legalities of doing that and report back to the commission. 6.Comments and questions from Health and Human Services Commission members. Commissioner Trevillyan said she was concerned with the complaint Roger Hacker had received,especially if there are legality issues.She thinks i t is important to hear everyone's opinion on how they want the money spent.As long as i t is a workable option,she would like to see the staff attempt to work i t out. 7.Discussion on and selection of future meeting dates. Vice Chairperson Barker said the next meeting had already been scheduled at a previous meeting for Monday,November 4,2002 at the senior center. 8.Adjournment. Commissioner Trevillyan moved that the meeting be adjourned. Commissioner Payne seconded the motion.The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.The meeting was adjourned at 8:49 p.m. Ed Barker Vice Chairperson Kathleen Connelly City Clerk HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 29,2002 PAGE 5of 5