HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-08-04 HHSCMINUTES OF THE
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
City Clerk Conference Center
300 E. Superstition Blvd., Apache Junction, AZ
August 4, 2006 - 9:00 A.M.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
JOYCE PAYNE, CHAIRPERSON
SUE CLABUESCH, VICE CHAIRPERSON
KIMBERLY BROSSMAN
ROBERT EVANS
RUTHIE WEST
STAFF PRESENT:
KATHLEEN CONNELLY, CITY CLERK
JAN MASON, DEPUTY CITY CLERK
1.Call to Order/Roll Call.
Chairperson Payne called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.
Deputy City Clerk Jan Mason called the roll and advised there
was a quorum present.
2.Status report on applications for city human services
funding.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they have three interviews
scheduled for today:the food bank, Arizona Bridge to
Independent Living, and the Boys and Girls Club.The only one
she has confirmed will be here is the Boys and Girls Club.She
spoke with Mary Lou Rosales with Community Action Human
Resources Agency because one of the things they are funded for
this year and previous years was to provide improvements to
homes to assist people with disabilities.She talked to her
briefly about Arizona Bridge for Independent Living's
application to do the same thing and she was really surprised.
They are not getting a lot of requests for it yet Arizona Bridge
for Independent Living states they are.She left it between
Mary Lou and Arizona Bridge to Independent Living, and Mary Lou
was to call them and try to find out what the issue is.
Chairperson Payne stated she read through their application and
it looked like a lot of it was going for personnel.She made
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 1 OF 58
notes because she thought it would not really work if it was for
personnel.
Commissioner Evans commented it looked like they made $3,000,000
last year.
Chairperson Payne commented she noted that also.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that was pretty good for a
nonprofit.
Chairperson Payne stated that was her other concern; the amount
of income they had and why were they requesting such a. large
amount.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch commented she questions how much it
takes for each house and how much they are asking compared to
that.There is a little discrepancy.The limit is $3,500 and .
the average cost is $1:800 to $3,000.They also have asked for
$36,796 and will possibly do 8 houses.Even if they did 8
houses at $4,000 each,. that would only be $32,000.She believes
they are asking for more than they. really need.She asked what
about if they go into apartments.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they cannot use public funds
to improve rental properties.It is someone else's income
property.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch stated that was her question.She
would think the owner would do some of these repairs or
adjustments themselves.
Commissioner Evans stated he just stopped when he came to the
$3,000,000.He did wonder if there was somebody already in the
community that would like to take this on.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated Community Action Human
Resource Agency does provide that as one of their services.
That is why she ran it past Mary Lou.
Commissioner Evans asked if the deadline had passed for them.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated Community Action Human
Resource Agency in one of their applicants.They will be here
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 2 OF 58
Monday.She also contacted St. George's to make sure that she
had not missed something in the paperwork as she was a little
bit surprised that they did not apply.They stated that not
applying had been a decision on their part; they were cutting
back not just in this area because they also did not apply for
United Way funds.It was an internal decision.She and the
city manager also met •with Christy and Sharon Stinard from
Community Alliance Against Family Abuse.They came to them
asking for funds for assistance and were told they had not
applied as part of the process.Christy told them that they
could not come up with a way to ask for funds and still protect
the identity of their clients.She explained to her again that
it was the same situation with Superstition Mountain Mental
Health and the way she was able to work it out was that she
never saw the client names.She simply saw the addresses to
confirm the residency.Christy stated they had declined to
apply because they were not comfortable with that.On the
positive side, through that meeting with them, the city manager
is considering putting some additional monies in the human
services area in next year's budget under capital costs.It
might not be through this process; it might allow them to
partially fund a safe house or something without being bogged
down with having to identify the client.The facility will be
in the city and they can do it that way.It may still come
through the commission somehow, but it will be in a different
part of the budget.She will take money any way she can get it.
She believes everyone will be here this morning.
Commissioner Evans stated the Boys and Girls Club just got
$500,000 from the legislature.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if that was for the local
branch.There is a branch that is called the East Valley Boys
and Girls Club.She is not sure, when the money goes to Tempe,
how it has been spread out.It would be a good question for
Judy.
Chairperson Payne commented the Boys and Girls Club was funded
for Project Learn last year.In this application, they are
asking for additional personnel.She asked that her memory be
refreshed on how they did Project Learn funding last year.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated there were some
administrative costs in there because they already have the
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 3 OF 58
equipment and facility.There were some hard costs for books
and supplies.There might also have been a trip tied into it.
She stated that is something to ask Judy.
Chairperson Payne commented she did not think they could do
that.
Commissioner West commented all the questions she has are on the
budget.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is a question to ask
Judy, that if the commission prefers to fund only the hard
costs, can they find the personnel costs somewhere else in their
budget.
Chairperson Payne commented when she read it she saw they were
only asking for money for personnel, which is not something they
can help them with.We like Project Learn, ,and we want to
encourage it because it is"so good.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated there are some projects that
all they would have would be .staff costs, because they are the
instructors.Arizona Bridge to Independent Living is different
because there are construction costs.
Chairperson Payne asked if it' would be compliant if they were
just staff costs.
Deputy City Clerk Jan Mason commented she recalled from last
year that if the personnel costs, were •for the instructors, it
could be done.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is correct if they are
related to the program.If funding is for them to add an
additional clerical person, that would be different.She did
not go through the entire proposal.If it is related to the
actual program, that would be acceptable.She believes Arizona
Bridge to Independent Living is looking for funds to pay some of
their clerical people.That is the difference.
Commissioner West commented there appears to be duplicated
effort between Arizona Bridge to Independent Living and
Community Action Human Resource Agency.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 4 OF 58
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is true.Community
Action Human Resource Agency offers to do home repairs for
people with disabilities.Arizona Bridge to Independent Living
is now suggesting they do the same thing at a much higher cost.
It is something they need to ask those representatives and have
them explain it to them.Community Action Human Resource Agency
is local and understands the process.When she spoke to their
director, their director was surprised that Arizona Bridge to
Independent Living came in with that proposal and would call
them to find out what was going on.
Commissioner West commented she would want to make sure all of
the money is divided properly.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she had talked to Roger
Hacker about being here but he had another commitment for this
morning.He will be here Monday morning instead.She told him
to come in about 10:30 a.m.
Commissioner West commented he had forgotten who he was.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated he is the city's grant
specialist.He will bring Melinda Larson with him who is
assigned to the neighborhood.aSsistance program for this next
year.They will be able to brief the commission on that.
Chairperson Payne asked if they wanted to go ahead with any of
the other agenda items as she thought they were going to start
the interviews at 9:15 a.m., •and now she sees they are at 9:30
a.m.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated if they are here, they can
start if they are ready.
Deputy City Clerk Jan Mason left to see if any applicants were
here.
Commissioner Evans asked if the relationship between the senior
center and Mesa Senior Services could be explained.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated Mesa Senior Services is the
service provider.The city does not have its own senior
department.When the senior center first opened in the mid -80's
and it was part of the library, the service provider was the
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 5 OF 58
Pinal-Gila Council for Senior Citizens.She could not remember
the name of the next provider but Sylvia Stephens was involved
with it.It might have been Catholic Societies; it was church-
affiliated.As the program grew, they did not have the ability
to keep up with it.The city went out for proposals for a
service provider.Mesa Senior Services responded and they have
had a contract with them ever since.The city has multiple
contracts with them.There is a lease agreement with them for
the facility.There is an agreement with them for TRIAD
services, a community -based protection program for seniors.The
neighborhood assistance program has been added to that this
year.They have some vans that they are able to use to
transport seniors to the programs and to doctor appointments;
those were through Local Transportation Assistance Funds.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch asked if anyone was able to look
through the audit for the food bank.She has a question on it.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated Donna Woods had been their
auditor for a long time.She is very ill.She was trying to
maintain her obligation to the food bank and have the paperwork
turned in on time.She worked out arrangements with this
particular business where they prepared the audit but she
reviewed it; that is why there is like two layers there.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch commented they made a statement that
there were a lot of things they did not receive in the financial
audit.Not all of the disclosures normally in a financial
statement were included.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly commented she might want to ask
them who made that decision.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch commented she wondered why they did
not include it if this was a new audit.Apparently there was a
question from the other auditor about other disclosures.
Commissioner West commented she found it all difficult to
absorb.
Chairperson Payne commented she had some questions on some CDs
and stuff.She asked if that was money that was donated to them
and they have to leave it in there.There are two large CDs and
a money market.She questioned if they are allowed to use that
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 6 OF 58
money or if it was a donation from someone and they can only use
the interest.It comes to about $112,000.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated sometimes when people give
donations there are conditions attached.
Chairperson Payne stated they hare a money market account for
$61,236.That is a large savings account.She asked what that
is designated for.There are also the two CDs.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it is a good question.It
could also be something that is seasonal or someone donated
money to them and earmarkOjt .for capital costs or building
expenses..
Chairperson Payne commented she has seen some of them •have had
donations where they could only use the income.She could
understand that, but., this did not say that.She added she only
went thoroughly through the first three.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that was all she needed to
do for today.
Chairperson Payne stated she had too many other things to do.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated there is a stack that
includes the articles of incorporation but she did not give that
to them as they are really boring.
Chairperson Payne stated she went over the three that are
scheduled for today and she will look at the others on Sunday so
she could be prepared for them.She asked if there was anyone
out there.
Deputy City Clerk Jan Mason stated there was not.
Chairperson Payne asked if they should go ahead and discuss what
they have if no one shows up by 9:30 a.m.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is what she would do if
they do not show.The letter said for them to contact staff if
they were not able to keep their appointment.She has not heard
from them.She asked if any of them had gone, to visit them.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 7 OF 58
No commission members had visited any of the applicants.
Commissioner Evans commented he had read where city staff was
working on the bird flu operation and he would like a briefing
on that some time.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they have some booklets and
it is on their website.The county gave us a box of a big
pamphlet on the bird flu and the city has ordered 11,000 to
12,000 more to keep on hand.Management here is taking it
seriously.They do not want to panic anyone, but they want to
be prepared.
Commissioner Evans stated there are big table top exercises on
what happens when they would have to theoretically quarantine an
entire community.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated one of the things she has
been ordered to research is what to do about the city council
meetings as they would not be able to hold public meetings.She
is looking at whether the council can call in telephonically and
participate.She is making sure there is no prohibition in
state law or in the city code.
Commissioner Evans stated it is an interesting and complex
issue.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she will let them all know
if something comes up, an exercise or something to participate
in, or something at a council meeting.If they go to the city
website, in the right hand column, they can click on Asian Flu.
Commissioner West stated there is no real prediction on when it
is going to happen.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated there is not.
Commissioner West commented there is no prediction on if it will
happen.
Chairperson Payne commented it appears that Mr. Snethen is not
going to come.The commission will have to consider their
questions that went unanswered when they make their
recommendations for funding.Maybe they do not need as much as
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 8 OF 58
they were requesting and they might be able to assist another
area with more.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated administratively, she has
had no problems with them this year.They are always on time
and always accurate.They not only give her a list of the city
residents they provide service to, they also provide her with a
complete list which shows the tremendous amount of area that
they cover.They probably spend five times what the city is
able to assist them with monthly.They get money from other
sources; if not in the form of cash, then in form of food
donations.
Commissioner Evans asked if they had an $80,000 level of funding
last year.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it is less than last year.
There was $100,000 last'year.Based upon the manager's
recommendation, the council took some of that money and put it
into the neighborhood assistance program that Roger will talk to
them about Monday.It is still in the human services category,
just not in this component of it.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch asked if the food bank just serves
Apache Junction residents.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated John has said in the past
that they do not turn anybody away.If someone comes to them
with a need they will not send them out empty-handed.
Commissioner West asked if everyone lived in Pinal County.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated there are some Maricopa
County residents, but it is primarily Pinal County.
Commissioner Brossman commented she had that down, too.There
are 1,062 boxes unaccounted for if they just count Apache
Junction residents.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated there are very few from
Maricopa.They are the county islands on the other side of
Meridian.They get a lot from the outlying area, such as Gold
Canyon and Queen Valley.She has never seen anything from Queen
Creek or Florence.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 9 OF 58
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch commented they do not have a question
on their staying in Apache Junction.•
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated the money that they allocate
to them only goes for Apache Junction residents.But they do
serve other than city residents.
Chairperson Payne stated they'serve the others with other funds
that they get.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is correct.
Chairperson Payne stated they serve Apache Junction residents
from the funds that we give them.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated when she looks at the
quarterly reports, it shows that they serve more Apache Junction
residents than they are funded for.. They are always in a
deficit as far as that goes.
Chairperson Payne stated when they considered their volunteer
hours and contributions, they said they would have been paid at
the rate of $16.54 per hour.She thought that was a rather high
hourly wage.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they might be including
benefits, such as worker's compensation, social security and
health insurance.
Chairperson Payne stated if they had paid all their volunteers
that wage it would have been $288,000.She was wondering how
they got that high of a wage as it is not a realistic number.
She could see it if it included all the benefits.
Deputy City Clerk Jan Mason stated they might have been looking
at supervisory positions and averaged them.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is a good point.
Chairperson Payne commented that could be and it is a good
point.They are actually only requesting $15,000 for the
purchase of food for the 11,000 people that were here.The
other $5,000 was for the electric bill which we have done in the
past.They had to buy the big freezers so they could furnish
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 10 OF 58
milk and other things like that.The big freezers are their
added expense.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they were getting
commodities like cheese and perishables a couple of years ago.
She does not know if they are still getting those.
Chairperson Payne stated the only questions she had for John
regarded the money market account and if those were designated
funds or if they were to be used to earn interest until they
needed it.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they need to find out if the
funds were conditional.She has checked to make sure these
agencies still work hand -in -hand to make sure no one is going
from one place to another place to another place and so on.
They do check with each other on that.
Commissioner West commented she has a nephew that is fostering a
child and they are given cheese and rice among other things, and
she asked them why they were accepting this as they are very
wealthy people.They stated it was part of the program.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they used to give us a
sample of what is included in one of the food boxes.It would
include certain boxed items and fruit.
Chairperson Payne stated the financial assistance they received
in 2005 enabled them to purchase more nutritional foods like
fruit, vegetables, meat, milk, cereal, rice, margarine and
whatever else for a healthier meal.They were also able to give
families a turkey or ham for their holiday meal.
Commissioner Brossman stated there is a paper in the back that
lists what is included in the boxes for various family sizes and
how much it cost.
Chairperson Payne asked if there were any other questions on the
food bank.There were none and the commission moved on to
Arizona Bridge for Independent Living.She commented she had
hoped that they would have been here.She had some questions
for them.The request is for $36,000 yet they want to do 8
homes for $4,000 each.That would only be $32,000.They want
$13,358 of the $36,000 for personnel, salary and fringe
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 11 OF 58
benefits, with the other part .being for contractual services for
telephone, insurance and travel mileage for $1,198.They wanted
$40 for office supplies.There is $22,200 for other labor and
materials, which she assumes is for the houses.
City Clerk KathleenConpelly stated that would be a very good
question to ask.
Chairperson Payne asked if: they should only be funding the
$22,200 for the repair of the houses.That would only be $2,775
per house, not $4,000.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch stated she questioned the $4,000 per
house also...
Commissioner Evans stated he is not interested in funding them.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch statedthey have so many other
resources listed.
Chairperson Payne stated their financial statement shows
$8,000,000 in total assets.
Commissioner Evans stated they made over $3,000,000 net last
year.•
Chairperson Payne commented their investment earnings were
$95,000 last year.She questioned why they ate asking for money
from the city when they have $95,000 in investment earnings.
Commissioner West commented it is a very large firm.
Chairperson Payne commented that was true.
Commissioner Evans stated the $37,000 they would get from Apache
Junction would just disappear.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she was uncertain on whether
the personnel costs were to add somebody to do this or the
person was already there and they were just going to shift the
monies.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch commented one would think that if
they have already been doing this that they would have the
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 12 OF 58
personnel to do it, especially if they have been doing it for
any length of time.They should already be in place.
Commissioner Evans asked if they could increase funding for an
applicant or ask them for advice on their proposal.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly commented they have never had that
question come up before, though they had increased it one year.
Chairperson Payne stated they increased the funding for the food
bank when they had the extra money because they thought they
deserved it.They had only asked for $15,000.They decreased
the amount to another applicant and increased the amount to the
food bank to pay electrical costs.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated the ordinance requires that
they submit a request by a certain time.The commission has the
ability to ask if they could do something else instead.They
have made changes over the years to Community Action Human
Resource Agency; their funding used to be higher and then it was
scaled back.
Chairperson Payne commented they are only asking for $8,000 this
year.
Commissioner Evans asked if they feel that the need exists, he
would prefer to support local organizations as they are more in
touch with the community.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch commented she questions a lot of the
expenses on this, such as what is the cost of direct benefits to
donors, and that was $30,000.
Commissioner Evans commented it may be for fundraising dinners
and such.As far as he is concerned, many of these big
organizations spend way too much money on those things.
Commissioner West asked if he saw how many applicants were
available when he was reading it.She has a number of questions
but could not find a quantity on how many they were going to
provide.
Chairperson Payne commented a lot of what they want to do is the
same as what Community Action Human Resource Agency is already
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 13 OF 58
doing.Community Action Human Resource Agency has worked well
and has helped people.They are not asking for as much this
year.She asked if they used all of their funds last year.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated when she talked to Mary Lou
earlier in the week she said there was some money remaining.
Chairperson Payne commented she wondered because it is so
restricted.They cannot do rentals or mobile homes if they are
on a lot.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they could talk to them
about expanding their services if there is another area that is
falling short that could still be permitted.It must be owner-
occupied and meet all the other requirements.
Commissioner Evans stated he would not mind using some funds for
some outreach activities.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch commented she might have a question-
for Roger regarding the neighborhood assistance plan.She asked
if that is something that works with Community .Action Human
Resource Agency, or if it goes farther than that.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated her underS'tanding of the
neighborhood assistance program is that it will go hand in hand
with the city's property maintenance standards.If one is a
senior citizen or has low income or is disabled, and there is a
code violation on one's property, people involved in the
.neighborhood program would come to help resolve the issues.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch asked if they would be paid.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it is volunteer labor.
Chairperson Payne asked if they had hooked people up to the city
sewers at one time.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is a question for
Community Action Human Resource Agency.She knows that they
tried to do that in some instances but she is not sure what
happened with that.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 14 OF 58
Chairperson Payne asked if that is something that was done
through the neighborhood program.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it was not; that program was
started this year.She stated another good question for Roger
would be what funds are available out there for sewer hook-up.
Chairperson Payne stated when she first moved out here she lived
in the old neighborhood point on Belmar.She hooked up to the
sewer because her septic tank had to be re -pumped after being
there only a month..When they came out, they found it had
disintegrated.She had to pay for the cost to hook up to the
sewer; that is not a low cost.
City Clerk Kathleen Copnelly stated it has gone up
significantly.
Chairperson Payne stated'she was wondering about some of these
older areas that have septic systems.When they finally dug
hers out to fill it in, they found that the walls were
evaporating.She wondered if they have something that would
help them.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch stated especially in those older
neighborhoods.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that would be a good
question for both Community Action Human Resource Agency and
Roger; finding out where the gaps are in the assistance program.
Commissioner West asked how often the applicants do not show up.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she does not recall the food
bank ever missing an interview.She was a little concerned when
she sent the letter out because she knew that John was out of
state.She was hoping someone else over there would open the
letter, considering it is mostly volunteers over there.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch stated she doubted they opened it.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she does not have a good
explanation for Arizona Bridge to Independent Living.They are
a corporation.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 15 OF 58
Chairperson Payne stated without talking to someone here she is
not inclined to give them any funding because it looks like it
is funding for something that we already have.It seems like
they have funds from a lot of other areas and they seem to want
most of it to go for personnel.They do not really explain what
their labor costs are.She asked if that would just be for the
houses that would be built.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they indicate in their
letter that they get calls for this kind of service.Without
someone being here to say that these are city residents, they
will never have the answer to that.They may get a call from
someone in Maricopa County that has an Apache Junction mailing
address.
Commissioner Evans commented they could always ask Community
Action Human Resource Agency to move up and meet some of the
needs, but he is not sure that they can, as the $80,000 goes
awfully quick.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they have twice the amount
in requests than they have in funds.
Commissioner Evans stated he does not mind canceling out Arizona
Bridge to Independent living's $37,000.
Commissioner Brossman commented their first paragraph states
that they provide other services in other valley communities.
She asked if that means that would be outside of Apache
Junction.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they have asked for funding
before but they have skipped years before they put in another
application.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch commented they are saying that the
need is not currently being met by any other organization.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it is specific in Community
Action Human Resource Agency's contract that if they get a
request, the funding is there to provide that assistance.
Commissioner Evans commented this indicates how out of touch
they are.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 16 OF 58 ,“
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she was surprised to read
that.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch stated someone is ignoring the fact
that Community Action Human Resource Agency is doing it here.
Commissioner Evans commented he bet they were getting a lot of
publicity; they look like they are very good at that.
Commissioner West asked what committee actually distributes this
money.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it is this committee.This
committee makes its recommendation and it goes to the city
council.
Commissioner West asked what committee makes the final decision.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated the city council makes the
ultimate, final decision.
Vice Chairperson'Clabuesch stated they take this commission's
recommendation into consideration and make the final decision.
Chairperson Payne stated she dOes not recall their ever not
doing what the commission has recommended.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they have always supported
the commission's recommendation:They are actually relieved
that they do not have to go through this process.
Commissioner West commented they recommend how much they are
giving to each one.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch stated that is correct, and then it
gets approved by the council.
Chairperson Payne stated they have even thanked the commission
for doing this in the past as it is too much stuff for them to
go through and make a timely decision.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated the Boys and Girls Club will
be here.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 17 OF 58
Chairperson Payne called for a five minute break before they
began the interviews.
Chairperson Payne reconvened the meeting.
Ms. Judy Borey, Executive Director for the Boys and Girls Club
of the East Valley - Apache Junction Branch, was present for the
interview.She passed out handouts of their updated brochure.
She stated between the hours of 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. children are
at the highest risk for drug use, gang involvement and violence.
Their club opens its doors between those times for the Apache
Junction children to provide a safe environment for them to
grow.They will try to improve the lives of all the children
that walk through their doors.Sometimes they have court
referrals, and they put those kids to work doing different
projects that need to be done around the club.They hope to
turn those children around and get them involved in their
programs.Most of them are the older teens, being 14 years of
age and up.They submitted a request for $37,500 this year as
part of their club budget for 2006-07 to be used to provide
programs and supervision at the Apache Junction club.The
program provides a much needed service for Apache Junction
families as
school.It
more; it is
$15 per day
flexible if
there for a
an affordable safe place for the children after
is a $20 membership.The fee during the summer is
$60 a week from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.It works out to
or they can do $8 .for a half -day.They try to be
they cannot do $60 a week or if they only need to be
couple of days a week.They also do financial aid
scholarships and decrease the fee from $60 for the first child
to $45 for the second.The club supports itself through
fundraising and grants.They do a lot of fundraising.Pinal
County United Way changed their logic model this year so they
lost the $8,000 funding that they had been getting from them.
The club no longer meets their criteria.Pinal County United
Way has gone a different direction from the other United Ways by
taking the youth out of their logic model.The club receives
direct funding from the Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley.
They also do the direct support of the branches such as
training, marketing, accounting, human resource development and
technology support of all of their computers.They had 10,435
visits to the club from Apache Junction in 2005-2006.The total
served, including Gold Canyon and Mesa, was 12,025.In the
months of December, April and May the club experienced high
attendance days of 70 plus youth.They struggled due to having
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 18 OF 58
small rooms and a small building.She advised them on how to
read the attendance information she provided.They try to keep
the statistics as close as they possibly can in order to qualify
for financial aid, the lunch program from school, and getting
school supplies for when they go back to school from Mervyn's.
They try to help the single moms and struggling families that
way.The overall after school program this year is again
Project Learn.They are trying to do the commitment to
learning, including the power hour where they dedicate an hour
of time to doing homework.Last year they tried to force feed
it; they shut the whole place down for an hour and everyone did
homework.They struggled all year long trying to get that done.
Some kids would get their homework in the classroom whereas the
kids with special needs did it at the club.Those who had
gotten their homework done at school had nothing to do and
started creating problems while the others were trying to study.
They will have more dedicated space for those who are trying to
get their homework done.. They also earn prizes and incentives
for doing their homework.The learning activities include
engineering, science, technology, club tech, skill tech, design
tech, photo tech and visual arts.They try to teach them the
constructive use of time.They want to make sure they are
building something into their life that they can use later on,
whether it is sports, art, dance, photography, science or
anything else.They improve their life skills by participating
in regular national development programs.These programs have
been piloted at different clubs and are approved for others to
now use.They include SmartMoves, SmartGirls, and Passport to
Manhood.Today they are doing pizzas for SmartMoves.For the
boys, they try to give them something at each session for an
incentive.The girls like arts and crafts and doing different
projects during their programs.They get snacks also.They
have to have the food there first for the boys.They ended up
with 18 boys this year.They think that is quite an
accomplishment as a lot of them would rather be out there
playing football.The Torch Club is a group of 8- to 12 -year-
olds that do a service project in the club which could be
cleaning out a closet or a dorm room or doing small projects in
the club.Keystone will be doing projects serving the community
such as working with senior citizens, veterans, or doing city
clean up.They have adopted .a few seniors and they do the
cleaning and yard work for their homes.Leaders in Training
involved 7 or 8 kids this summer that ran the program areas such
as the computer lab and arts and craft.It gives them a taste
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 19 OF 58
of having a leadership role.They got a taste of the other kids
not listening to them, also.They also hire some high school
students for the summer for additional staff.They try to hire
a kid from within who has been a good student so that they go
through the steps of becoming a staff person.The school
district and the club are collaborating to provide a unified
approach to developmental learning that will enable the youth to
achieve academic success.If club members are failing in
Spanish, they will lean more towards the Spanish culture.They
will do the same thing with Afro-Americans.They have two
clubhouses out on the Gila River reservation and their
clubhouses are different from theirs.They have 100% funding
from the Gila River Indian Reservation.They are trying to
develop responsible citizens that will take their place in the
community and in government.The staff wants to have a part in
helping them achieve academic success, avoid negative behavior,
develop their social skills, set goals that launch careers, and
have them take pride in the community.They are in it for the
long haul.They get to see these kids from about 6 -years -old to
when they graduate from high school.If they can keep them
coming back into the club and they have good experiences, then
they are doing their jobs.She thanked them for the continued
support.
Commissioner West asked what percentage is directed at
vocational education.
Ms. Judy Borey asked if she meant special needs.
Commissioner West stated that could be mechanic, computer
expert, or a painter.She asked if they give them aptitude
tests to see where their strengths lie.
Ms. Judy Borey stated they do.not,
Commissioner West stated Bill Gates says that America has an
ignorant society.
Ms. Judy Borey stated they do provide a scholarship for all
clubhouses.They can apply for the scholarship but they have to
be really working on the grades to get them.
Commissioner West asked if there would be anyone to mentor them.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 20 OF 58
Ms. Judy Borey stated not unless they get a volunteer.She did
the bike program before at other clubhouses where they would get
the bikes from the police department.They used to get
volunteers to come in and show the boys how to put the bikes
together.
Commissioner West commented she could contact Boeing Company;
they will volunteer services to teach, including things like
teaching what wind tunnels are and so forth.They are a large
corporation, but they are very good at volunteering to educate
our children.
Ms. Judy Borey stated the school drops them off at 1:50 p.m. for
the special needs kids and then 15 minutes apart after that.
They are not actually open at 2:30 p.m., but they open the doors
for them.The buses then drop the rest of the kids off about 15
minutes apart all the way to 5:30 p.m. because of activities at
school.They work hard on their schedule to incorporate all the
programs they need to get done.They are mandated to get those
programs done.
Commissioner West commented she wanted to make sure they were
not just babysitting.
Ms. Judy Borey stated they are not.The Boys Clubs of the past
were geared more to sports; in 1991 when it became the Boys and
Girls Club there was a shift started to include other programs
such as cultural programs, arts, dance, education and
technology.The thrust now is technology because every job is
going to require some sort of ability to handle computers and
digital equipment.She has been struggling to catch up because
these kids are so fast.Six -year -olds are doing PowerPoint.
They are just phenomenal.They have a service center that
monitors the computers to make sure the kids stay on the
websites they should be on.
Commissioner West stated they are searching the internet.
Ms. Judy Borey stated they have a form they can sign and they
can have time on the internet, but they monitor the internet,
also.They are not allowed to use the chat rooms and no violent
games.They sometimes complain they can do it at home and they
are told they cannot do it here.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 21 OF 58
Commissioner Evans asked how much the loss is to their program
with getting no money from Pinal County United Way.
Ms. Judy Borey stated the $8,000 covered their Power Hour
program.It included the incentives for that.Anything donated
was put up on the shelf.They will have to find that $8,000
elsewhere through smaller grants.They also have to watch how
much reporting they have to do for those smaller grants compared
to the larger ones.They have to look where they put their
efforts.The JC Penney grant of $500 will cover the Smart Girls
program.Different prevention programs such as the Smart Girls
and Smart Moves run year round.
Commissioner Evans asked if they use a logic model of their own
or a needs assessment.
Ms. Judy Borey stated Project Learn has a logic model that they
follow.They have to document all their paperwork for that
project.They have to document the attendance and what
subjects, such as math or spelling, they are doing.They also
follow up with a report card.They get 50 bonus points if they
bring in their report card.Some kids never bring theirs in;
those probably go right into the trash where no one sees it.
Those are the kids they have to identify and get them to turn
into a learner and reader.They do it with games, especially
math games.
Commissioner Evans asked if they turn kids away.
Ms. Judy Borey stated they do not.
Commissioner Evans stated he is a great fan of the Boys and
Girls Club.He thinks it is one of the great American grass
roots organizations.It sUPports building character and keeping
the wind in their sails.That particular time of day is a very
risky time of day.He asked if she had .an estimate on their
growth from 2004 to .2005.
Ms. Judy Borey commented she believes they added about 9,000
visits last year.That means every time they come through that
door.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly commented it is a relatively small
facility.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 22 OF 58
Ms. Judy Borey stated they are only supposed to have 50 kids at
one time in the facility.
Commissioner Evans asked what their total visits were.
Ms. Judy Borey stated they had 10,135 in the last cycle.She
believed 9,000 plus were Apache Junction kids.They are looking
at a total of 12,000 kids.
Commissioner Evans asked if they had increased by 8,000 last
year.
Ms. Judy Borey stated no.She believed it was around 8,000 in
2004-05.
Commissioner Evans commented that they had a 10% increase.
Deputy City Clerk Jan Mason Stated the minutes show 9,792 last
year for a total.
Commissioner West asked how many staff they have.
Ms. Judy Borey stated they have about but they are always
looking for volunteers to help out.
Commissioner West asked how many volunteers they normally have.
Ms. Judy Borey stated they get about ten, but they kind of come
and go.They were fortunate to get some of the kids from
Central Arizona College.Irina came over and brought her
classroom and they tutored the kids in various disciplines.
They will try to do the same thing this fall.It is a good
experience for those kids who think they want to be teachers or
think they want to work with kids.They get into this arena and
may find out they cannot do it.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it could also go the other
way around wherein they might not know before doing this that
they have that inclination.
Commissioner Evans asked if she knew how the $500,000 being
distributed by the Department of Motor Vehicles was going to
affect her club.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 23 OF 58
Ms. Judy Borey stated it will come through Pinal County.
Commissioner Evans commented it is a state allocation.
Ms. Judy Borey stated she is not sure if they did it through an
alliance.
Commissioner Evans stated the Boys and Girls Club has not
received the money yet but he was wondering if she had been
alerted as to what it may mean.
Ms. Judy Borey stated she has been told there is something in
the works but they never know what it is until it is all over
with.She does know that they formed a state alliance with all
the clubs in the state and there is supposed to be a grant from
the Department of Public Safety for a prevention program.They
would bring in officers that would spend time in the building.
Commissioner Evans stated it may be targeted at Smart Moves.
Ms. Judy Borey stated it may be at both prevention programs,
Smart Moves, Smart Girls and Smart Kids.
Commissioner Evans stated he had heard it is $500,000.
Ms. Judy Borey stated she is pretty sure all the clubs are
following it.
Commissioner West asked what the criteria is for the resumes. for
the paid workers in Apache Junction.
Ms. Judy Borey stated they would like them to be experienced in
the field.She, herself, had been one of the founding board
members for a branch in Nogales and then became its branch
executive.She was only supposed to be there for six months and
ended up being there for 9 years or 10 years.She got hooked.
It depends on the circumstances and the pool of labor that is in
the area as to who they hire.Jim Boyer, their youth
development director, has 15 years of experience in education
and has a college degree.She is going back to Central Arizona
College and getting a degree in Business.They try to get
people in the education field as they will be educating.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 24 OF 58
Commissioner West asked what the ballpark figure is for a
salary.
Ms. Judy Borey stated it is dependent on the club.It could be
anywhere from $25,000 up to $45,000 or $50,000 for the
metropolitan Phoenix clubs.
Chairperson Payne commented on her request for staffing.She
asked if it is for a particular program.The previous time they
had done Project Learn and funds were designated for supplies
and for someone to do the program.
Ms. Judy Borey stated it would be for the same.
Chairperson Payne asked what it would be used for.
Ms. Judy Borey stated it would be used to enhance the program so
that they can put more time and effort into it.They can then
split their groups if they get too large.They can use the
patio outside the building in the wintertime.They are locked
indoors during the summer.
Chairperson Payne asked how she would report that on the funds.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it is based upon the
attendance.She does not ask them to break down who goes there
and attends what.She just looks at the residency aspect of it.
There would be different ages that have different programs.
Ms. Judy Borey stated.they are now encoding the Kid Tracks
program so that they can keep track of what activities they are
participating in.If they see a child doing sports only and not
doing anything in the learning area,. they will then see what
they can do to get the child yell7rOunded.They look at each
individual one.Some of them have real needs.They have a
young man right now that was terribly abused; he comes from
California and his aunt is raising him here.His needs are
really different than.another.-kid that is an A student.They
try to put that A student with this young man and get him to
focus on writing a paragraph.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if they have any kind of
cooperative agreement with anyone for someone who might need
outside counseling.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 25 OF 58
Ms. Judy Borey stated they have had some counselors come in and
did some attention deficit disorder training with them as she
needs staff to understand what is going on with a kid.There is
something that is causing the bad behavior, whether it be
something at home or school that follows him.They have
referred kids to Superstition Mountain Mental Health and they
have been a part of foster kids coming in that are going there.
They have had a counselor come in and sit in another room with
the child and work out some issues with them.They are working
with them.It sometimes takes all of them to figure out what is
the best thing for the child.
Commissioner Evans asked if she is simpatico responsive.
Ms. Judy Borey stated she is.That training was done in here
with her staff and they opened it up to all the families.
Someone from the city also sent out an email advising everyone
of the original training going on in Casa Grande that they were
unable to attend.Community Alliance Against Child Abuse also
sent out a notice to let people know.
Chairperson Payne commented the funding is not for the person
who does their administrative work.It is to fund the staffing
for the individual project that they are doing.
Ms. Judy Borey stated that is correct.She stated she believed
their budget this year is $254,000.
Chairperson Payne asked if they have funds to expand the club or
to build on to it, or would they have to look for a new
location.
Ms. Judy Borey stated they would probably have to find a new
location.They are working on a feasibility study to find out
where their gaps are.They may find that they are not marketing
themselves enough in a certain area.They may find they have
done too much in one area and are light in another.They
cannot rely too heavily on the grants because they come and they
go.It was a real surprise for them because United Way
typically always funds youth programs in some fashion.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch asked how the criteria are different
for the United Way this year since they did not get funded.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 26 OF 58
Ms. Judy Borey stated they fit under literacy in the old logic
model and they are going toward adult literacy now.It is odd
because if you do not take care of the problem as kids, you will
have them as adults.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch asked if that was the only topic that
they cover for United Way to give funding to them, or is that
what they asked for.
Ms. Judy Borey stated they have been Project Learn.They told
them they could put the money towards prevention and do the
Passport to Manhood.That was before they knew they were going
to have other money coming in.They are always looking for
individual organizations, such as Boeing, that would like to
come in and do a certain program, such as the art program which
costs $3,000.They are trying to break out those costs so that
they can also be marketed to the public and businesses.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch asked if what they asked for was not
on there.
Ms. Judy Borey stated it was not in their logic model this year.
Chairperson Payne commented she could see why they would want
the adults to learn because if'the parents cannot read how.would
they be able to help their children.She understands that.
Ms. Judy Borey stated the parents are already in the work force.
Chairperson Payne stated they do go hand and hand, even though
they are losing money on it.
There was general discussion about their trip to a Gold Canyon
stables for the children to learn about horses.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she had discussed with Judy
earlier about how the funding had shifted this year.They also
discussed the neighborhood assistance program and she mentioned
the Keystone program where the team volunteers might be able to
work hand -in -hand with the neighborhood assistance program.
Everybody benefits that way.She passed the information on to
Roger and he was thrilled.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 27 OF 58
Ms. Judy Borey stated they have 10 kids and they love it.They
have cleaned up clubs and they clean outside and inside.If
anyone has any chores they want done, come see her.
Commissioner Evans asked if he could have a breakdown on the
growth of the total visits by the Apache Junction population.
Ms. Judy Borey asked if he would like it broken down by year.
Commissioner Evans asked if they ran on a calendar year or a
fiscal year.
Ms. Judy Borey stated she could do it on a fiscal year.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated the funding is from July to
June.
Commissioner Evans commented they could -use the fiscal year and
make it for 2005 and 2006.
Ms. Judy Borey stated that is what their reports are.What she
does is go back through her—quarterly reportito make sure her
numbers are correct.
Commissioner Evans commented if it is too difficultto do she
should not do it.
Ms. Judy Borey stated she would give him a call.
Chairperson Payne suggested she call Kathy.It would be
interesting for all of them to know.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they are meeting again on
Monday morning to do the rest of the interviews so she can give
it to them then.
Ms. Judy Borey asked if any unincorporated areas had been added
in the last couple of years.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated none that would apply.It
has only been vacant land or with senior residents.
Ms. Judy Borey commented the map would stay the same.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 28 OF 58
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she will see a slight change
but due to them being vacant or seniors she would not see any
growth from those areas yet.
Ms. Judy Borey stated she had heard about everything growing on
the south side of US 60.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that will happen we hope.
Ms. Judy Borey stated that will affect them, and with them being
in a small building it will not take that long.They have a
large shade area in the back that they have split up into two
classroom areas.They have lights under it now so that they can
use it in the evenings and during the winter months.The teens
like it for teen nights on Friday nights commencing in the fall.
There really is no extra space.She asked again what years they
wanted to know the number of Apache Junction kids.
Commissioner Evans stated it would be for the most comparable
years.Preferably it would be FY 2005-2006.
Ms. Judy Borey stated they are currently in 2006.
Chairperson Payne commented it would be for 2004-2005.
Commissioner Evans stated he would like the one that ended in
June of this year.
Ms. Judy Borey stated she will do 2003-2004, 2004-2005, and
2005-2006.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she could even go back
another year if she wanted to.She has noticed while doing the
quarterly reports that they are pulling in kids from all over
the community.Initially, it was primarily from the area around
them; now they are from all over.
Ms. Judy Borey stated they have been working on it.They will
be putting out fliers all over the neighborhood this fall.They
know there are a lot of kids nearby that they are not seeing.
They get off the bus and walk on by and are later seen hanging
out at the street corner.Possibly their parents think they are
too expensive.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 29 OF 58
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she has some new neighbors
and she has told them that they are right down the street.
Ms. Judy Borey stated they are a drop -in center and not a day
care center.Parents do not want their children leaving the
facility so they do not tell them that they can, as there would
be kids that would just come in and then take off.The teens
that live in the neighborhood can come and go and go home to get
something to eat if they live in the neighborhood.They will
then come back and do their homework.They keep them tight
otherwise and have the parents sign them out.They have copies
of restraining orders on file if there are any so that someone
else cannot pick up that child.
The interviews were completed for this day.
Chairperson Payne commented consideration and action will be for
Monday.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is correct.
Chairperson Payne commented the discussion on presenting to the
council and the discussion with Roger will be on Monday.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is correct.
Chairperson Payne asked if they would be doing everything else
on Monday.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is up to them.She did
the agenda in a way so that they could mix and match.
Chairperson Payne commented that Items 4, 5 and 6 will be on
Monday.
Commissioner Evans commented he just took 20% off of everybody's
funding last year, took out Arizona Bridge to Independent
Living, took 20% of this year's request from the Salvation Army,
and it turned out to be $80,000.It is not necessarily a
rationale for making a decision.
Chairperson Payne commented that is a good start; it is good
thinking.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 30 OF 58
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated her one question for the
Salvation Army, which is based out of Phoenix, will be if they
will have someone local to administer the program out here.
Chairperson Payne stated she has looked at it but not read it.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they will be filling in a
gap.They will address some of the same services that St.
George had addressed.
Chairperson Payne stated they may want to designate certain
programs like they did to St. George.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is correct.
Chairperson Payne stated they designated it be for rental
assistance, utilities and medication.They could do that.
Commissioner Evans commented it helps for accountability.
Chairperson Payne stated it could not be used for food because
they had the Food Bank and for other things.She commented she
thinks they should elect the chairperson and vice chairperson
today.
The consensus was to do it Monday.
8.Approval of minutes of August 10, 2005 and September 7-8,
2005.
Chairperson Payne commented she believed they had to have been
present to approve them.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated the city attorney advised
they only have to be a current board member to approve them.
Chairperson Payne called for a motion on the minutes.
Vice Chairperson Clabuesch MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF
August 10, 2005 and September 7-8, 2005.
Commissioner Evans SECONDED THE MOTION.
VOTE:Unanimous.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 31 OF 58
The motion carried.
Chairperson Payne adjourned the portion of the meeting for
August 4, 2006 at 10:55 a.m., to be reconvened at 9:00 a.m. on
August 7, 2006.
Monday, August 7, 2006, 9:00 a.m.
1.Call to Order/Roll Call.
Chairperson Payne reconvened the meeting at 9:20 a.m. on August
.7, 2006.Roll call was taken and commission members present
were Chairperson Payne and Commissioner West.Absent were Vice
Chairperson Clabuesch and Commissioners Brossman and Evans.
Deputy City Clerk Jan Mason advised they did not have quorum
present.
Chairperson Payne commented they would not do any consideration
today but they would continue to hold the interviews.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they could still meet with
Roger and Melinda.They will not be able to vote on the
chairperson or vice chairperson at this meeting.
3.Interview of applicants for city human services funding for
FY 2006-07 (continued -from Friday, August 4, 2006).
The first interview this 'day was with Community Action Human
Resource Agency, represented by Ms. Lucy Payan.Last year she
was the program assistant, this year she is the program
coordinator.She stated they appreciate the money that they
receive from Apache Junction.This city is the only
municipality that offers money for residents.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is interesting as other
cities have contacted her about the program but they have never
done anything.
Ms. Lucy Payan stated she wished they would as it really makes a
difference.Last year they received $10,000 and they did not
expend all of it; they are returning a little over $3,000
because they received the money late in October and they had
already assisted 5 clients to a total of $4,500 between the
start of the fiscal year and mid -October.They were able to
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 32 OF 58
assist 10 clients once they received the money.They expended a
little less than $7,000.
Commissioner West asked how much they had spent on the clients.
Ms. Lucy Payan stated a little over $7,000.
Commissioner West asked if that is per client.
Ms. Lucy Payan stated it is not.The maximum is $900.She has
already assisted 3 clients in this fiscal year within the city
limits to a total of $2,700.The residency forms were verified
through Final County as well as Salt River Project records.
They have requested $8,000 this year; they plan to assist at
least 9 families.Many of the funds they have they leverage
together to get more bang for the buck.With the money received
from the city they have been able to replace heaters, water
lines, gas lines, electrical with approval, American
Disabilities Act situations, and repair and replace air
conditioning units and coolers.This summer has been a killer
and they have had horror stories coming from all over the county
with some specifically in Apache Junction.Several people here
have had heat stroke.It was wonderful to be able to assist
them with Apache Junction money.They have assisted 3
individuals in this area with American Disabilities Act
situations involving door widening and ramps.She has used
other funding than Apache Junction's because the contractors she
has are not licensed in the city.It has been a little tough
for her to find contractors who are willing to work for a
nonprofit.They are running ads in the newspapers, in and out
of the county, to see what work they can get through them.It
has not been hard, but it is not easy.It is a builder's market
and they are making big money in the private sector as averse to
the nonprofit sector.All the work done with the Apache
Junction funding has been performed by Apache Junction
contractors.She enjoys working with the clients in Apache
Junction.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if they are getting a lot
more requests for American Disabilities Act assistance.
Ms. Lucy Payan stated they do not get a lot.Most of those come
through the senior center or the victim's advocate.Some of
them have come through city staff.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 33 OF 58
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that was probably Roger or
Mikki or somebody.
Ms. Lucy Payan stated they were replacing a mobile home and they
referred the clients to them for anything else.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated the reason why she was
asking is that Arizona Bridge to Independent Living filed an
application this year and one of the things they were looking
for was funding to provide assistance with rental properties and
regular housing.It surprised her that they said they were
getting all of these requests and yet, when she spoke with Mary
Lou, she said there have not been many requests.-
Ms. Lucy Payan stated they do get them from the senior center,
but they do not come in hand over fist.When they do have a
situation where they cannot tap into a funding source and they
are over 60 years old, they tap into Pinal-Gila County for
Senior Citizens.It makes it a little easier.If possible,
they combine the funding sources if they require a little more
work to be done.If there is someone who needs grab bars or a
ramp, they are able to put those in quickly.They just 'need the
application for them to come in.
Chairperson Payne commented they have already assisted 3 people
for a total amount of $2,700 this year, even though the funding
has not been granted yet.She asked if they could be funded
once the funding has been granted since they had applied for it.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they can do that if they are
able to.
Chairperson Payne commented they could have applied the $3,000
they returned last year to the part prior to where they received
the funding.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated if the way they work things
internally would have allowed that.She believes there was some
other issue that prevented that last year.
Ms. Lucy Payan stated there was an issue in the first quarter
that prevented that; she believes they used an ineligible
contractor.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 34 OF 58
Chairperson Payne commented she just wondered because she
thought if it was available they could sometimes make it
retroactive.She asked if they had contracts with Southwest Gas
and Arizona Public Service and if they were for paying the
utilities for people.
Ms. Lucy Payan stated that is part of their weatherization
program.They receive money from the Arizona Department of
Housing and they are able to commit at least $10,000 per home
using their money.It is a big funding source.They have
another funding source from the Arizona Department of Commerce
and Arizona Department of Energy for additional weatherization
money.They are able to go into the home to make any type of
repairs that are conducive to energy efficiency.With the
Arizona Public Service money, they are able to go into the homes
of Arizona Public Service customers and repair the ducts.If it
is an older heating and air conditioner unit they are able to
bring that to the mandated thirteenth year and bring everything
up to code to make the home energy efficient.They make sure
that the cold air stays in and the hot air stays out or vice
versa.They also receive Southwest Gas money and they can do
the same thing if there is a gas line that has to be replaced.
They also give them 5 water heaters a year.They are able to do
those replacements.If there*is an inefficient appliance in the
home they are able to go in and replace that, too, to save the
client energy.
Chairperson Payne commented if someone lives in a mobile home
rented in a park they would use those funds to help them because
they did not own the land where they are located.
Ms. Lucy Payan stated that is correct.For the Arizona
Department of Housing, the client does have to own the land.It
has to have a notice of •affixture.With other funding sources,
that is not necessary,
Chairperson Payne commented they will be able to help other
people and leave the funding from the city for the city
residents.
Ms. Lucy Payan stated she does leverage the money and uses the
city money and the Southwest Gas money as long as they are
Southwest Gas customers.They complete some type of energy
efficiency in the home and try to help them save some money.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 35 OF 58
She believes the utilities went up 11% this year.For those on
a fixed income, they really see an extra $25 going out the door
which they can ill afford.If they can replace a 15 -year -old
refrigerator that is running constantly, they will do so with an
energy efficient model.They will do the same thing with a
water heater.
Chairperson Payne commented she did not know if that was to pay
for the utilities or to pay for the repair on their house.
Ms. Lucy Payan stated they do that.Their community services
portion assists with the utilities, rent and mortgage.
Residents from Pinal County are eligible to apply for that.She
encourages a lot of seniors to do so as she is aware of their
income levels and what they are able to spend on utilities.She
advises them to replace the air conditioning system to save them
a little bit of money but they are also able to give them a
stipend on top of that.She already has all their information
on file so she just asks them to sign the application and she
can transfer it over to community services where they take over.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if they do sewer hook-ups.
Ms. Lucy Payan stated they do.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if the $900 per client is
something that they have set and if they ever need to go beyond
that.
Ms. Lucy Payan stated at times they have to go beyond that.
There have been clients that could only qualify for Apache
Junction money.There have been times where they could have
needed an additional $200 or $300.She skirted around that by
begging the United Way for money.She asked if there is a
waiver they could apply for.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated the city has never set it at
$900.That was done by Community Action Human Resource Agency.
She would have no problem if they were to go over, even spending
$1,200 on one in particular, especially since they are returning
money to the city.She would rather have the money out in the
community.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 36 OF 58 -•
Ms. Lucy Payan stated she appreciated that.She asked if she
needed to call her on that.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she does not, unless she is
spending all of the money on one client.
Chairperson Payne thanked her for coming in and concluded the
interview.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if they still wanted to meet
with Roger today.
Chairperson Payne said no.Rob wanted to do that but he is not
here.She does not think it will be necessary; they can do it
at a new meeting.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she thought Rob had some
very good information that Roger and Melinda could have used on
governor's office grants.
Commissioner West commented they will be having another meeting.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated unless Kim shows up soon,
they do not have a quorum so they cannot vote.
Chairperson Payne stated she would still be in town for awhile.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they have time.It is only
the 7th .and they have until the 18th.
Chairperson Payne stated she would be a resident until then.
Commissioner West commented she would like to know what the
total number of staff is for East Valley Senior Services as
their budget is $124,900,000.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated if that includes the
different senior centers and their administrative offices, they
have a lot of people that work for them.
Chairperson Payne commented their budgets are really high.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is for the whole
organization.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 37 OF 58
Chairperson Payne stated it would have been nice if the Apache
Junction part had been broken out so that they would know how
much was for Apache Junction.It is overwhelming because they
have revenues of over $2,000,000.
Commissioner West commented she would like to know the
percentage of what is Apache Junction versus Mesa.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they may be able to tell
them that.They have a lot of programs and facilities.She
thought in the past that they had broken it down.She commented
it is the first chart after the letter.
Chairperson Payne stated they keep Apache Junction separate.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly commented she would think they
would want to so that they can see what location is responsible
for it if the costs increase.As they had just moved into this
site last year, they were very curious as to how the program
would transition.
Commissioner West commented $205,881 is what their salary is for
Apache Junction.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly.stated it looks like it; they may
want to ask them.
Commissioner West commented she wants to ask them how many
people are working there.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she believes that includes
the kitchen staff.
Deputy City Clerk Jan Mason advised she had contacted Roger
Hacker and he had stated they could not come to the meeting
today but to reschedule him in the future if they wanted to talk
to him as he has a lot of information.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she would do so;
Commissioner Evans should also attend as he could also share
some that he knows is out there.
Chairperson Payne commented she had heard that the American
Legion was not going to donate as much money to the Boys and
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 38 OF 58
Girls Club this year as they had in the past.They were going
to look at other Organizations.She does not know if it will
make a difference or not.
The next interviewee was East Valley Senior Services,
represented by Daniel Taylor and Terry Kaufman.Mr. Dan Taylor
stated they are now East Valley Senior Services, officially
changing the organizational name.He gave them the newest
brochure.
Commissioner West asked him if there is a dividing line for the
East Valley.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated there is not at this point.
Commissioner West asked where he determines the East Valley
starts.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated they just made the name change and it
depends on where the service is needed.Apache Junction was one
of the reasons they made the name change.They have been
providing services out here for a number of years and as the
services continue to expand they decided they needed a more
descriptive name.They recently received another grant to
provide for alternative transportation similar to what is
provided in Apache Junction, Mesa, Chandler and Gilbert.If a
service needs to be provided, now, becalise of their name, they
can take a look at it and see if it makes sense for them to do
it.It opens the door a little more and does not affect the
services that they already offer.It changes how people might
think of them for the services they provide.They made the
official change on July 1, 2006.If there is a need, they will
respond to it based on the need.A few months ago the
Scottsdale and Tempe senior centers asked them to provide their
food.They worked out a program to deliver their food only.
Commissioner West asked if it were a merger.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated it is not.It is their organization being
more descriptive of what they are.
Chairperson Payne commented she thinks the name fits better.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 39 OF 58
Mr. Dan Taylor stated they have had a very positive response
from the community so far.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it did cause confusion
around here.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated they would go to other places to present
their programs and see if they were interested and they would be
asked what Mesa is doing there.People thought they were part
of city government and they are not.
Commissioner West asked if it puts an impact on their budget.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated it does not.They did not change anything
other than the name.They did not add any additional services.
• Commissioner West asked if they were still servicing these other
areas.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated they were.It just made it more
descriptive.There was no real impact other than having to
print new brochures.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated when he came in last year .
they had just made the transition into the new facility.She
believes they are interested to learn what has happened.
Ms. Terry Kaufman handed out calendars from the months of June
2005, June 2006 and August -2006.She added, they provide
transportation to the senior center for seniors where they can
have lunch.After lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays they provide
grocery shopping for them at various locations.On Monday,
Wednesday and Friday afternoon they, provide medical
transportation to -as far west as Higley Road and as far east as
Gold Canyon.They have added a lot of new classes and exercise
programs to their program since moving to the center.They are
able to offer an alternate menu on Mondays, Thursdays and
Fridays now.They are trying to get the baby boomers and others
that feel meat, potatoes and vegetables are a heavy meal.They
are making salads and meat without gravies and sauces.They do
a reservation system so they can sign up for a week or two at a
time or they can make individual date reservations.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 40 OF 58
Mr. Dan Taylor stated that is something new because of a
software update in Apache Junction.They used to be able to
make reservations for one day ahead of time before.People
would forget to call.Now they can make them ahead of time.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it must make it easier for
them to plan meals, too.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated the meals served at the senior center have
seen a huge jump.They have jumped 32% in the last fiscal year
from the one they just finished.That kind of membership jump
just does not happen.It has been a neat thing to see with all
the things going on.Some of it is the higher level of programs
they are offering, the higher level of visibility that the
building offers, and more room.They have had a number of days
where they have about hit maximum in the room.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated they had 175 people in there the day
before Thanksgiving.The day before New Year's they had 184
people.
Chairperson Payne asked if they are coming for the programs or
classes and staying for lunch or taking something after lunch
because they are there.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated some of them are.They have had the
opportunity to start social bingo; some have stated if there
were not such a long gap between that and lunch they would stay
for the bingo.They are trying to work that out.They are also
talking to parks and recreation about offering some afternoon
exercise programs.Currently all of them are in the morning.
They would like to have a short half hour period in the
afternoon.They have access to the equipment on a limited
basis.They did a survey in January and people indicated they
would like to do some in the afternoon.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated they have made an effort to enhance the
meals.Now that they have a kitchen, they partially prepare the
meals on site.The biggest area they had problems with before
was vegetables.They do not hold well for a long time.Now
they prepare all the vegetables on site.They now have one
individual who oversees all three kitchens.They have an
executive chef and the menus reflect that.They are making it
so a larger range of people might want to come for lunch.The
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 41 OF 58
facility is gorgeous and attracts many; they walk into it and
immediately feel good.They get them right as they come in, get
them to the proper area and introduce them to the people.With
all the new people comes the need for new volunteers.They are
working hard to recruit new volunteers.
Chairperson Payne asked how much of an increase they get from
the winter visitors or is there lower participation from May to
August.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated she has been comparing last year's
numbers to this year's and the numbers have increased for the
month of May.Last year they had an average of 45 people a day
and this year it is 60.She believes the numbers have increased
because they have more parking, the menu change and the program
changes.•
Commissioner West asked if she knew the percentage of Apache
Junction people that use the transportation.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated the numbers vary in the wintertime but
in the summer she would say that 20% of themusing the
transportation come to the senior center.They have good days
and bad days as people are out on vacation.Friday they had 56
people for lunch and 13 of them came in on the bus.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated that is just the bus.They offer the Ride
Choice program where people can come in and get reimbursed for
mileage after having -a volunteer 'drive them in.
Commissioner West commented the person driving gets reimbursed.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated they get reimbursed at 40 cents a mile.
That has proven to be very successful.There are times when the
van is full and they tell them about the other program that they
can get them on that providesfor mileage reimbursement or the
Coupon for Cabs.Cabs are not abundant out here, but there are
getting to be more and more.They are trying to increase the
number of options for them, especially for those people who
cannot drive anymore.
Chairperson Payne asked if they do it for personal trips or is
it mainly for grocery shopping and medical appointments.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 42 OF 58
Mr. Dan Taylor stated if it is on the van, it is very scheduled.
If it is on the Ride Choice program, it can be anywhere the
individual wants to go.
Chairperson Payne stated it is not limited in that if they
wanted to go to the beauty shop they could get someone paid for
doing that.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated if they can get someone to take them to
the beauty shop they would get reimbursed.
Chairperson Payne commented they can get reimbursed for
anything.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated that is correct; they just have to be a
resident of Apache Junction.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated when they take them to Bashas' on
Thursdays, there is a beauty shop in that little mall and some
of them do go there.
Commissioner West asked if the bus stays there for any length of
time.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated they take them there, drop them off and
come back at a scheduled time.
Commissioner West asked how often the bus goes there.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated it goes there every Thursday.
Commissioner West commented she meant how many times does it go
there in a day.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated it only goes over there once a day to
take people there.
Chairperson Payne commented she was not sure if it was limited
to grocery shopping, medical or that they could just use it for
whatever they want.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated with Ride Choice it is totally up to the
individual.That is what makes that program so nice.The
control is in the part of the participant.It is different from
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 43 OF 58
most transportation programs where one tends to be dependent on
schedules.Ride Choice participants just need to have someone
to take them and they can go anywhere at any time; there is a
limit on how many miles they can use per month.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated they can use 300 miles per month or 400
miles per month if it is a couple.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly commented the miles can go fast if
you have an appointment at the Mayo Clinic.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated another one is the Veterans Hospital.It
is the biggest challenge as that is a long way.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated the other option for going that way is
the Coupon for Cabs.They can save them for a month or two and
then be able to use them.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated it all boils down to options, and these
are fairly cost effective.That is why they have been so
successful.His organization has grown with the senior center
and they had to ask for an increase from last year, primarily
for the amount of people coming into the senior center.They
have had tremendous increase.They have asked for an increase
from all of the funding sources; some gave them a small
increase, some did not.They think this year they will have
even more because people now know they are there.They will be
recruiting more volunteers, as stated earlier, to help serve the
meals, work at the front desk, and help teach classes.It makes
a difference if they are fully staffed with volunteers as it
allows Terry and her staff to do a lot of the program planning
and keep up with reports and things that need to be done to make
it all work.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked what the attorney general
satellite office is.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated they send out representatives in regard
to elder fraud.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated they have a satellite office in all .3 of
their senior centers.It is something that was set up a few
years ago; his organization felt very strongly about it so they
had them set up at all their centers.People get taken
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 44 OF 58
advantage of too easily and they hope to catch those things
before it happens instead of after.People are trusting but you
have to be knowledgeable in this area.It gives them the
opportunity to sit down one on one and deal with it.If it did
happen, then they can get the word out so it will not happen to
anyone else and catch them before it actually happens.The
attorney general's office has done some really good things with
them.
Chairperson Payne asked if the city has a transportation
reimbursement fund or if it is just through the senior center.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated the Coupons for Cabs and
Ride Choice are funded through the city.The latter is funded
through a separate transportation fund.It was originally
titled Enabling Transportation and then it was renamed Ride
Choice.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated the transportation they are asking for
through the human services funding has to do with the van
transportation.There is a division in funding streams; all
three have different types of funding.
Chairperson Payne asked if the funding for the van is for gas,
maintenance and things like that.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated that is correct.It is a part of the
overall cost.It costs a lot to maintain them and have the
drivers.One of the funders .has not increased the funding in
the last few years.They have been able to maintain the level
through the funds from the city program and LTAF II.The
maintenance costs of these vehicles are high because they are
starting and stopping a hundred times .a day with the air
conditioning going.The brakes and tires go at a faster rate
than in a personal car.If they are starting to show some wear,
they get them replaced.The brakes do not last long on a heavy
vehicle.
Chairperson Payne asked if the vans are handicapped vans with
wheelchair accessibility.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated one of them is.They have it that way
because the one that is not holds more people.If someone can
get in, they use the regular van.For those who cannot, they
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 45 OF 58
have the handicapped van.Their goal is to make a request for
another vehicle in early 2007.They have to do a 25% match to
get a vehicle through the state program, which is still quite a
bit of money.He believes they will have to raise $9,000 for
that.
Chairperson Payne asked if they do that through separate
fundraising.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated they will.-They are active in the
fundraising area.For them to be successful, it is a series of
funding streams.If they have all the funding streams working
and they have a separate project like the van, that is how they
are able to manage it.So far they have been able to meet the
needs, but it continues to grow.Home -delivered meals is up to
85 a day.
Chairperson Payne asked if they only deliver once a day.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated that is correct.They are also starting
to get calls from Gold Canyon and he is not sure how they are
going to do this.That community is growing out there; they are
asking area agencies to provide funding.It will take a lot of
time so they will probably have to set up a separate route to do
that.They weigh all the costs before they jump into something
like that.The monies that are requested from the city all go
to city residents.
Commissioner West commented that they do not consider Gold
Canyon as Apache Junction yet that is what her address is.
Until they become incorporated she considers herself in Apache
Junction.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it is just a mailing
address.She is not within the city limits.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated that is correct, and that is the way they
handle it.He added they are in conversations with 2 or 3
churches out there to see what they can offer in volunteer
support.It is something they will have to look at doing.
Apache Junction is a fast-growing community along with the
surrounding area.
Commissioner West asked how many personnel they have.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 46 OF 58
Mr. Dan Taylor stated the primary personnel in Apache Junction
are the center manager, program coordinator, program assistant,
outreach specialist, two people in the kitchen, one for
maintenance, a receptionist and three drivers for a total of
eleven.
Commissioner West commented there are only eleven people getting
the total salary or $205,881.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated that is not all.They have other staff
that are supporting from an administrative side.There is a
small percentage for the accountant and others.There is also a
small percentage for the Red Mountain Senior Center as they
still send out a small amount of food, including some for the
driver who brings the food from that center.There are eleven
primary and another ten to twelve that get about 3-5% of the
salary budget.
Commissioner West commented that he might want to give them the
total management of everyone which is $2,309,802.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated that is for 80 employees.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if that was at all their
sites.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated that is correct.
Commissioner West asked if they could break it down as to who is
getting what amount.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated they could.They are looking at 4
different areas.They have congregate, outreach, home -delivered
and transportation.They have 22 different funds altogether,
and they have them broken down by each one so that they can
insure that the monies received go only for the designated
purpose.They do a full time study on every person.Some
people, like Terry, have part of their time in congregate meals,
part in home -delivered meals, and part in transportation in
Apache Junction.Someone in Mesa might have the same thing in
Mesa.His time might be across the board in many different
areas.
Commissioner West asked what his title is.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 47 OF 58
Mr. Dan Taylor stated he is the executive director.
Commissioner West asked for what.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated for the East Valley Senior Services.
Commissioner West asked if he meant for the whole thing.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated that is correct.He will have little bits
and pieces of him scattered across everything.The full time
study gives them the numbers they come up with in personnel.
The study translates that percentage into dollars.They get
very specific and he would be happy to show them the percentage
but they would see more than the eleven people; it would include
any number of people who even touch the program.Accountability
is important for every funding that they have.All of them
require a different kind of report that shows how the money was
spent.
Commissioner West commented his salary changes from year to
year.
Mr. Dan Taylor commented it could; it depends on the year.Last
year they had a tough year financially so no one got any salary
increase.People were upset with that but he felt it was the
most prudent course.This year he vent to the board and asked
for a merit increase; they have never given cost of living
increases.They are in the process of doing evaluations and
offer them a modest merit increase as long as they have been
doing a positive job.The board of directors would approve an
increase for him and staff is decided among staff.
Commissioner West asked how long he had been in the position.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated he had been there 16 years.
Commissioner West asked if he started out at a different level.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated he did, and before this organization he
worked in Indianapolis where he had worked for 16 years at
another senior center.This has been his career.The
spontaneity at the senior center is what makes this wonderful
work.For some people it can be wonderful, for others it can be
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 48 OF 58
challenging.They tend .to get people who can flow with the day
as they never know what to. expect.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she has noticed they. have
people who can walk in on their own and others that can barely
walk through the door.She is glad to see that because it means
those people are not at home vegetating.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated they have one lady who barely makes it
the van and when she gets to the center they bring her a
wheelchair.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated that is their real challenge.-They have
people in their 90's that come every day, and then they have
people in their 60's.They have to meet the needs of all of
them.
Commissioner West asked what makes a person eligible to come to
the senior center.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated anyone can come in and participate in a
program that is 50 -years -old and over.They can only get a
subsidized lunch if they are 60 and over.They can come and pay
the full price for lunch if they are 50.The subsidized lunch
is $2.50.Outside of that there is no criteria.
Commissioner West asked if someone 20 -years -old can go in there
and have lunch.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated they could if they were with someone.
Chairperson Payne stated they would have to pay the full price.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated if a son or daughter is visiting from
another part of the country they would want them to come.They
are then charged $3.75.
Commissioner West asked what the average age is.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated the average age today is 75, because they
have so many on the upper end now.A lot of people come in that
are in their 60's, but the average is higher.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 49 OF 58
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated the last time she figured it out it was
at 76.7 years of age.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated it tends to be a little older in the
summer and a little younger in the winter.The permanent
residents utilize it all year round.They used to have
permanent residents that would not come to the senior center in
the winter because it was too crowded.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated parking was also a problem.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated parking was a big problem.
Chairperson Payne asked if year round residents get preference,
such as if there is only so many spaces for lunch.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated they do not have to worry about that
now.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated they now have plenty of room.The only
time they would have to turn someone down now is if they had not
made a reservation and they just walked off the street and they
did not have enough food made to serve that person; it would
have to be too late for them to make any more.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated they can get around that at times
because there are people that cancel out at the last minute.If
someone walks in and states they forgot to sign up, she will
give them her lunch.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated they try to balance it out with the
waiting list, and if people cancel they can put them on.If
not, the Staff knows that they are not high on the list for the
meals; they will serve everyone else first.If there is food
left, they will get served'.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if people let them know if
they are going to be gone for a week or two.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated most of the regulars do.When they
have not come and have not called, they have called the police
department to do a welfare check on them.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 50 OF 58
Chairperson Payne stated she was concerned if they know somebody
always comes in and then they do not see them for a week or two
that they send someone to check up on them.
Ms. Terry Kaufman stated if it is a regular that comes every
day, then definitely, especially if they normally go to the door
to pick them up.They will try to get hold of their contact
person, and if they cannot, they call the police department.
They do the same thing with those that have home -delivered
meals.They have some people that come and go and are pretty
ambulatory.If they do not come in or have not been seen, they
will have someone call them and make sure they are okay.If
they go to the hospital they will send them a card.
Commissioner West asked if they had ever discussed applying a
usage fee to seniors that are not full time residents.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated they have not.They receive federal money
so they have to service anyone who walks in, regardless of where
they live.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they have to be a U.S.
citizen and meet the age requirement.
Mr. Dan Taylor stated that is correct.Funding that they
receive from certain sources is often designated to certain
things, certain people and for certain reasons.They can do
that.Even if someone drove in from Scottsdale and wanted to
have lunch, they would serve them.They are required to do that
because of the federal money out there for that purpose.
However, this does not happen very often.He estimated that 98%
are all in Apache Junction, even though some people are closer
to the Apache Junction Senior Center than they are to the
Mountain Senior Center but they live in Mesa, such as on the
other side of Meridian.They do get some people from there.
Ms. Terry Kaufman commented they do have a membership list and
on the front it shows that they do have some membership
activities.If they want to go upstairs and use the equipment,
they pay up to $12 per year, and it is part of their membership.°
Mr. Dan Taylor stated they pay that whether they are here part
time or full time.It is another way they raise some additional
funds that make a difference.There were a lot of new members
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 51 OF 58
that came in with the new building.That $12 made the
difference in their ability to serve people on a daily basis.
The interview was completed and the next interviewee was the
Salvation Army.They were represented by Mary Kay Puza, the
grant compliance coordinator for the Phoenix area, and she
stated she was representing Brian and Gwendolyn Jones, the
officers who oversee the Apache Junction service center.They
are on vacation and will be back next week.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated the Salvation Army is happy to be in
Apache Junction.They provide emergency services, rent,
clothing and food.•They are part of the United Way of Pinal
County Self Sufficiency Network.They collaborate with the food
bank, Community Action Human Resource Agency, and the East
Valley Senior Services.If they need help with transportation,
they assist them with their bus which was donated to them.They
take patients and disabled veterans to hospitals and medical
appointments, and they also take them shopping when they have
the availability.Medical appointments are a priority.
Commissioner West asked if they had that broken down to
percentages of use by residents of Apache Junction.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated most of the clients come from Apache
Junction.They average 8 patients a day; they are done by
appointment.They are currently running Monday through Thursday
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m...They try to keep a waiting list in case
someone cancels or changes an appointment.
Commissioner West asked if there is a pick up point or how it is
handled.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated they are picked up at their homes.
Chairperson Payne asked where-the Salvation Army office is
located.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated it is at 605 E. Broadway in Apache
Junction.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it is on Broadway just west
of Royal Palm.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 52 OF 58
Commissioner West asked if they have an office there.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated it is a service center.
Commissioner West asked if they have personnel working there.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated they have a case manager working there
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Commissioner. West commented it is not open every day.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated it is not.It was at one time when it
was a corps.They had to close the corps for financial reasons.
They then opened a service center.The Salvation Army provides
in most all communities.If the funding does not support a
corps, they put in a service center or a service extension.A
service center is paid employees; other communities like San
Manuel and Superior have service extensions where volunteers are
the liaisons and they provide the emergency services and are
directly funded by the Salvation Army.
Chairperson Payne asked how many Apache Junction residents were
helped last year by the Salvation Army.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated the case manager is on vacation.She
was told they had helped between 15 and 20 clients per week
based on the time of the case manager.Someone who needs rent
and utilities takes longer than someone who needs clothing or
help with a prescription.or emergency transportation to get to a
job or a medical appointment.
Chairperson Payne asked what their criteria are for helping
people.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated they try to stick to each individual
area.If they cannot help, they refer them to the nearest area.
They require photo identification and proof of address.They
also require documentation as to the crisis.They try to go
through scenarios with them to enable them to make it on their
own the next month.If they help them now and they cannot
succeed the next month, it is not a good use of money.Utility
payments they will help them with for one month a year up to
$300; rental assistance they will pay up to one month's rent if
the money is available.They try to get them self-sufficient
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 53 OF 58
that way.They would then refer them Community Action Human
Resource Agency for the next month if it is a medical emergency
where it is likely they will not be on their feet.They try to
make sure they are not evicted because then there is additional
expense getting them off the street and into a place.They try
to broaden it and get referrals.
Chairperson Payne asked if they came in saying their electricity
was going to be cut off the Salvation Army would want to see
that notice.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated that is correct.
Chairperson Payne asked if there is a certain place they have to
go to for the propane and gas voucher and if they require
documentation for that, such as needing gas to get to a job.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated they will check with their boss to see
if it is a work -related situation and they check the appointment
for a medical situation.They normally bring in all the papers.
One of the challenges they face is the people wait until the
last minute.They are ready to go on the street or their
utilities are shut off.It is difficult at that time to get
them into an appointment.They can generally do it within a
week, but if they have to refer them it could be another week.
They try to get the word out that if they need help they need to
come in right away and get the process started.The
verification takes a number of days and some landlords will not
work with the voucher system they use.They do not give the
client cash, they give them a voucher.When they do, the
landlord has to agree to give them another 30 days before they
would put them out on the street.Not everyone will participate
in that; they are challenged to find money without the money
restrictions.However, the restrictions are not always a bad
thing because they ensure the money is being used legitimately
and for the right reasons.
Chairperson Payne commented all of the board members are from
Mesa.She asked if they have anyone from Apache Junction making
decisions in the area out here or is it a service center only.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated it is a service center only.There had
been board members from Apache Junction in the past and the new
officers are looking at that.The Joneses just came on board
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 54 OF 58
this past June; prior to that it was a major from Mesa.They
are trying to get members from Apache Junction on the board to
make some of these decisions.
Chairperson Payne asked if she was aware of the city boundaries
and that the funds could only be used for Apache Junction
residents.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated she was.The service center typically
only does Apache Junction, but it is not to say they will not do
others.Her job, as the compliance coordinator, is to come in
the minute a grant is funded, read the grant, talk to the people
in the area, set up the statistical reporting forms, and then
monitors the reports to make sure they are adhering to the grant
qualifications and making the reports in a timely fashion.Her
job started about a year ago and they have found that it is a
necessity with the grant funding in order to stay up on things
and make the reports on how the money is being used.Apache
Junction sometimes does outreach into other areas, such as the
flash flooding in 2004.They had a disaster team come out
through the officers, because at that time there was a corps.
They did clean up, case management and individual assistance for
the people in Queen Creek and the Queen Valley area.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly commented it looks like their last
audited budget ended on September 30, 2004.She asked if there
is a more recent audited budget.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated there is.She gave her a copy.She
asked if she needed the letter that goes with it.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she does.She asked what
support to Western Territory Headquarters is.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated each corps is required to send money to
the territory headquarters.The Salvation Army is local,
divisional and territory.If they can afford to, it is like a
tithe that they pay in.Not every area can afford to pay in, so
those do not.They are asked to support the overall territory.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly commented she sees where it also
involves Clovis, Bullhead City, Laughlin and others.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 55 OF 58
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated they are part of the southwest division
and that encompasses all of Arizona, New Mexico, El Paso County,
Texas, and Clark County, Nevada.They have people in El Paso
now with the flooding and they are trying to clean up.
Commissioner West commented they were probably involved with
Hurricane Katrina.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated they were, and still have a recovery
operation going-on now.It will probably take another year for
that recovery to be completed.
Commissioner West commented there are still people here from New
Orleans.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated there are.They are hoping another
year.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if the money that is sent to
headquarters goes into something like a general fund.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated it does.Everyone is entitled to money
from the general fund.In the case of El Paso, when all the
resources are used up for the flooding, they call the divisional
commander who will allocate more funding and resources.If his
availability of cash is used, then it goes to the territorial
level and then they will assist.
Commissioner West asked if she knew when the Salvation Army
started.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated is started in 1893.They still have
people that come in and remember what it was like in the wars
when they served the troops coffee and doughnuts.
Commissioner West commented in Chicago it was a place for the
bums to go and get warm.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated they still have shelters for men and
women.
Commissioner West asked if they had a shelter here.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 56 OF 58
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated they have one in Phoenix.They have a
family shelter on Van Buren.They also have a domestic violence
shelter.
Commissioner West commented they do not have a shelter for the
desert rats out here.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated they do not.They are one of the few
agencies that will house undocumented people.They do it in the
domestic violence shelter, but not in the family shelter.The
latter is a working shelter.It is a 4 -month program where they
come in and they help them with daycare and to get jobs.They
have a computer lab and they help get them a residence.They
are required, after they get a job, to save 60% of their income.
At the end of the 4 months they would have some money for down
payments on a new apartment or to go to transitional housing.
They are also involved in drug and alcohol rehab.
Commissioner West asked if the percentage has gone down for drug
rehab.
Ms. Mary Kay Puza stated it has not.They are always full at
the rehab center.
The interview was concluded with no more questions and the board
moved on to the next item.
Commissioner West commented they will have to have a meeting to
determine who should come up with what.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they do because they need a
quorum for that.They 'need to have a least three of them
voting.
Commissioner West asked if they would be having arguments about
the funding.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she doubted it as the
commission has always been able to come up with a consensus.
9.Discussion on future meetings.
There was general discussion on what dates the members present
would be available.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 57 OF 58
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they would contact the other
commission members to determine the best day for the meeting.
Chairperson Payne stated it should not be too long of a meeting
as they have completed the interviews.They will just need to
discuss the funding.
City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she will see if she can
schedule Roger Hacker for that meeting, also.
Chairperson Payne commented they will also have to do the
election of the chairperson.
10.Adjournment.
Chairperson Payne adjourned the meeting at 10:45 a.m.
Joye Payne
Chairperson
Kathleen Connelly
City Clerk
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2006
PAGE 58 OF 58