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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-11-12 HHSCMINUTES OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING City Conference Room 1001 N.Idaho Road,Apache Junction,AZ November 12,2002 -4:00 P.M. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: ED BARKER,VICE CHAIRPERSON JOYCE PAYNE KATHRYN STOCK L.J.TREVILLYAN 1.Call to Order/Attendance. STAFF PRESENT: KATHY CONNELLY,CITY CLERK JAN MASON,DEPUTY CITY CLERK ROGER HACKER,GRANTS SPECIALIST MELINDA LARSON,CDBG ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Vice Chairperson Barker called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.Deputy City Clerk Jan Mason called the roll and advised there was a quorum present. 2.Review and discussion on project applications submitted for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)funding. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said the commissioners have two packets dated November 7 and 12,2002.He had summarized the projects by various categories.There are also 3 additional project descriptions. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker answered some additional questions from the commissioners regarding Americans with Disabilities (ADA)projects, economic development projects,and funding the multi -generational center. 3.Discussion of criteria to be utilized for evaluation of CDBG project applications. Vice Chairperson Barker asked Grants Specialist Roger Hacker to review the criteria used to evaluate CDBG project applications.Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said the project must follow the federal CDBG guidelines.He suggested they look at whether it will benefit low and moderate -income people,designated groups such as abused spouses, migrant workers,homeless and seniors.Internally the proposed project HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 12,2002 PAGE 1of 5 should be a priority in the city's planning documents.The commission should also evaluate whether the project is currently funded by the city,a past recipient.or can be funded by other means.These are just a few of the criteria they need to look at when evaluating the projects. 4.Discussion,evaluation and selection of CDBG project applications to be recommended to city council for CDBG funding. Vice Chairperson Barker began by announcing the projects that received the most votes including,Senior Center improvements,neighborhood revitalization.YMCA,job training,home improvements,free transportation,and a day resource center.There was quite a bit of discussion on the concentrated neighborhood revitalization of the Old Town,Acacia and Windsong areas.Commissioner Trevillyan asked what type of work is needed in these areas.Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said concentrated housing rehabilitation.Commissioner Trevillyan asked if all the residents of the area wanted that.Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said the Old Town area does want the rehabilitation.The Acacia and Windsong area was suggested by the staff person that works with the neighborhood association. Vice Chairperson Barker addressed the Senior Center improvements.The Senior Center is included in the city's multi -generational center capital facilities project.Funding this project could assist with additional amenities the city has not planned. Commissioner Trevillyan asked if the commission were only looking at two projects.Vice Chairperson Barker said they could be looking at three projects or maybe just one. Vice Chairperson Barker suggested rather than looking at the projects they are interested in they should begin by eliminating those they are not interested in.The commission reviewed the list by categories. discussed and eliminated those they did not want to discuss further. The commission then asked staff to elaborate on some of the suggested projects. Vice Chairperson Barker said the commission had scaled choices down to Senior Center improvements,exterior home improvement and front yard cleanup,and handicapped ramps for pre-existing (prior to ADA) businesses.Commissioner Trevillyan asked how the city would choose which homes would receive exterior home improvement and front yard cleanup.Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said he believed they would HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 12,2002 PAGE 2of 5 pick an area that fit the criteria and then check to make sure the homeowner fell into the low to moderate -income level and the guidelines the city has for housing rehabilitation.Commissioner Trevillyan said she is concerned that the housing rehabilitation funding will not be fair to everyone in the city.She feels i t should be on a first come first serve basis.Commissioner Payne said often the owners of the property do not fit the criteria although the renters do:the funding is for owner occupied dwellings and that is why they do not qualify.She said i t should be done on a house -to -house basis.Commissioner Trevillyan asked who does the actual work on the homes.City Clerk Kathy Connelly said licensed and bonded contractors have to be hired on a bid basis.Community Development Block Grant Administrative Assistant Melinda Larson said what Commissioner Trevillyan has described is similar to the housing rehabilitation program the city now offers. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said the current city program is focused more on the interior of the homes where the program being suggested is for exterior work.Vice Chairperson Barker asked whether they could spend the money if it was allocated to them.Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said they would have no problem spending the money on housing rehabilitation.Vice Chairperson Barker asked the name of the current program.Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said i t is the city sponsored housing and rehabilitation program.Vice Chairperson Barker asked i f residents apply and then eligibility is determined.CDBG Administrative Assistant Melinda Larson said yes.Commissioner Trevillyan asked i f there was a set amount that could be spent on each applicant.Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said there are two funding sources currently funding the program.HOME is one and CDBG is the other.Vice Chairperson Barker asked i f it would violate any criteria if the commission recommended funding for the exterior rehabilitation program. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said it would not.Commissioner Trevillyan asked when the CDBG funding for interior work would run out. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said there are currently three sub programs under the housing rehabilitation program:emergency:major repair:and home accessibility.The only component that has any funding left is home accessibility.Commissioner Trevillyan asked what the cap was for interior work.Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said he believed accessibility projects is $2,500,emergency repair is $5,000,and major repair is $25,000. Vice Chairperson Barker asked if any commissioners were interested in handicapped accessibility ramps for pre-existing businesses.The consensus was negative.He asked if they were still interested in Senior Center improvements and programs and the multi -generational HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 12,2002 PAGE 3of 5 center.The commission was still interested in that project.Vice Chairperson Barker asked Grants Specialist Roger Hacker if he knew in what areas the Senior Center was looking for financial assistance. Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said the kitchen,desks,tables,chairs, fitness area,and administrative area. Commissioner Trevillyan made a motion to split the funds straight down the middle minus administration costs between the Senior Center/multi- generational center and the housing rehabilitation exterior repairs. Commissioner Stock seconded the motion.The vote was unanimous and the motion carried. 5.Direction to staff regarding preparation of report to city council on commission recommendation for CDBG funding. Vice Chairperson Barker requested that staff prepare a report reflecting the commission's recommendation.Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said staff would like to prepare the report in draft form and present it to the commission before presenting it to council.The commissioners agreed with this decision.Grants Specialist Roger Hacker said they should have the draft ready by the end of the week and he will circulate it to the commissioners for review. 6.Approval of minutes of May 20,2002;May 23,2002;and October 8, 2002. Commissioner Trevillyan moved that the minutes of May 20,2002;May 23, 2002;and October 8,2002,be approved as presented.Commissioner Payne seconded the motion.The vote was unanimous.The motion carried. 7.Discussion on and selection of future meeting dates. Commissioner Barker stated there was no reason to discuss any future meetings.Grants Specialist Roger Hacker suggested that commission members might want to attend the city council meeting on December 2 and 3,2002 in case the councilmembers have any questions. 8.Adjournment. Commissioner Payne moved that the meeting be adjourned.Commissioner Trevillyan seconded the motion.The vote was unanimous and the motion carried.The meeting was adjourned at 5:39 p.m. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 12,2002 PAGE 4of 5 Ed Barker Kathleen Connelly Vice Chairperson City Clerk HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 12,2002 PAGE 5of 5