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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010.10.18 HHSC MinutesMINUTES OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION City Clerk Conference Center 300 E. Superstition Blvd., Apache Junction, AZ October 18, 2010 - 4:00 P.M. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:STAFF PRESENT: JODENE WEETER, CHAIRPERSON KATHLEEN CONNELLY, CITY CLERK ANDREW WHITENECK, VICE CHAIRPERSON JAN MASON, DEPUTY CITY CLERK SUE CLABUESCH RANDY MULLEN CHRISTA RIZZI COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. 1.Call to Order/Attendance. Chairperson Weeter called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Deputy City Clerk Jan Mason called the roll and advised there was a quorum present. 3.Status report on applications for city human services funding. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly commented they might want to explain to Sue why only the two agencies are being interviewed. Chairperson Weeter stated last year they talked to all of them. Randy had questions for Community Alliance Against Family Abuse and what they are doing, and we have had problems for the last 3 years with mental health getting things done.She was being hard-nosed and said if they cannot get it together they should not be asking us for money.We are trying to see where we are. When we are done interviewing today, we will make up our minds about what we are going to do with the money. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she received a few updates today.She spoke with Bill Dow, the president of the board of directors for the food bank, who is now working full time.It HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 1 OF 25 is difficult for him to do the volunteer stuff at the food bank and work a normal job.He has been telling the board for quite some time that he cannot do both and he will have to step down. He has been board president for 6 years.No one has come forward to take on those responsibilities.She spoke with his wife this morning and there is a possibility that the food bank might be closing.It would be very bad, but if they do not have someone who is capable of administering it, it jeopardizes our budget. Commissioner Rizzi stated he has done an excellent job. Chairperson Weeter agreed. Commissioner Clabuesch stated he will be a hard act to follow. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it will have to be someone who has computer skills and organizational skills. Chairperson Weeter stated or someone who has a computer person behind them that can do it. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they can talk about this more after the interviews.Brenda Nichols, who has been with Community Alliance Against Family Abuse, has resigned.She is not sure if she left yet or who will be here for the interview. Commissioner Clabuesch stated she was new. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she is taking a job with another agency. Chairperson Weeter stated one of the things that she has learned is that if you do a good job, another agency will come along and grab you.After she got her first job as a case worker, she never asked for another job.They were coming and getting her and she was going up the ladder. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she wanted them to have that in mind as they were doing their interviews.After they are done with them, they can talk about how to do the funding. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 2 OF 25 Commissioner Clabuesch commented the food bank, if it closes, that is it.With Brenda leaving, she wondered what they would do. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that is a question for them and they are your first interview.That is a question of how they are going to carry on.Hopefully they have someone else who can step in. Commissioner Rizzi commented they lost Constance as well.She went over to the police department. Chairperson Weeter stated they have had some good people over there. 4.Interview of selected applicants for city human services funding for FY 2010-11. The first applicant was Community Alliance Against Family Abuse represented by Ed Contreras, director of finance, and Brenda Nichols, the associate director.City Clerk Kathleen Connelly requested everyone introduce themselves. Chairperson Weeter asked what they are going to do with Brenda gone. Mr. Ed Contreras stated life goes on.There is never a lack of need in the community.They will have to keep plugging away. They have hired good people so we will move somebody up to an acting position and then into her job.They will go through a trial period to see if it can be made permanent.They have some good people right now who will get some experience. Commissioner Rizzi asked him to tell the new commissioners what services they provide. Mr. Ed Contreras passed out a brochure of what they do.He stated they have gotten their name out more in the community this past year.The response has been overwhelming over the last 2 years.Last year they had more adults and children staying at the domestic violence shelter than they had for the previous 10 years.They had more units in several other areas than they had in the past. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 3 OF 25 Commissioner Rizzi asked if that was locally. Mr. Ed Contreras stated here locally and throughout Pinal County.Their service area is actually northern Pinal County. However, one thing you find when working with domestic violence shelters is that you will get referrals from other areas because they are trying to get away from the abuser.More often than you think, the abuser knows a number of people in the community quite well.They try to get out of reach.They actually get people from Maricopa, other areas of the state, and referrals from out of state.They have also done the same, sending people from here to other states or counties when the risk is too high. He would like to think that the community would be a safe place, but sometimes the reach is pretty significant. Commissioner Clabuesch asked what they use the money for that the city gives them. Mr. Ed Contreras stated they use the city money solely for Apache Junction residents.They have to submit information that shows they are Apache Junction residents.They actually help more than they get money for.They checked on the numbers before they came today.For this year, through September, they are ahead of last year by so much that they will break their numbers for last year.The need has continued to grow.When the economy is depressed, the income becomes a critical factor. It is not surprising there are more domestic violence issues that arise.They have questions and concerns revolving around money and bills. Ms. Brenda Nichols stated year to date they have provided 4,203 bed nights.They involved 99 children and 63 women.A mom and three kids would be four bed nights. Mr. Ed Contreras stated their revenue has faced the same problems that most agencies have in the last several years. Their state funding was cut again this year by another 5%.They have already cut their budget by another 5% as they believe it will probably be cut again.Hopefully they will let them know before the end of the year..The first year that happened they did not advise them until the last 3 months of the budget year. They were cutting them retroactive to the first of the year. That was a 10% cut.They cut staff from 10 full time staff and one part time person to 7 full time staff and one part time HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 4 OF 25 person.What is surprising to him, and he has worked there for a little over 3 years, is that the staff continues to work hard. About a year or so ago they started providing more food and supplies to individuals in the community.They now have a relationship with a lady that buys as a mystery shopper at a corporation and she brings her purchases to them every 3 weeks. They let the people in the community know there is food available and they come over and pick it up. Ms. Brenda Nichols stated it is worth $700 and it is gone the next day. Commissioner Rizzi asked how often she does that. Ms. Brenda Nichols stated it is every 3 weeks. Mr. Ed Contreras stated they get donated items and donations from Target and other places and they also give those to individuals.The shelter takes everything.They have volunteers that come in and use their guidelines.They go through everything and sort it into 3 bins.The last bin is the one they have to take to thrift stores and so forth.Any clothing they cannot use they take to a thrift store.The thrift store has an arrangement with them that when someone is leaving the shelter, they are given a voucher where they can get clothing. Ms. Brenda Nichols stated they will also give them furniture or whatever they need. Commissioner Rizzi stated they have really nice stuff.They have helped a lot of people.They are great. Mr. Ed Contreras stated the partnership they have with them is they get something and we get something. Ms. Brenda Nichols stated they also have a complementary storage unit that we keep furniture inside.When women leave the shelter, we can help provide a home for them. Commissioner Clabuesch asked if they work with anyone that will help them do a resume, learn how to dress and to go for an interview. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 5 OF 25 Ms. Brenda Nichols stated they have some women that will meet them at the library on Mondays and Wednesdays, but they also come to their office and provide advice.The Soroptimists do a style show and the women get to pick out 3 outfits for work. The Soroptimists came to their shelter and totally revamped a bedroom and turned it into a walk-in closet.It is organized by type of clothing and size.The women can come and go shopping there. Mr. Ed Contreras stated in the last year -and -a -half they have started doing classes at their facility on improving their finances.They learn how to bank, save and budget. Commissioner Clabuesch commented she was noticing the prevention and outreach.She asked what outreach program they use and what areas they go into. Mr. Ed Contreras stated most of their outreach is done outside. Those are for clients.The prevention outreach is in the community.They go to a number of schools and do presentations on domestic violence and other aspects. Ms. Brenda Nichols commented that included cyberstalking and teen dating violence.They educated 2,100 students last year in the schools.They had 187 presentations, including the schools, the Lions' Club and senior parks. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck asked how often they have to turn people away from their services. Mr. Ed Contreras stated they have never turned anyone away per se.If they cannot help them with their facilities or services, then they refer them to another shelter or agency that can assist them.They make sure they find the right agency for them to go to. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck asked how often they hit maximum capacity where they would have to refer them. Ms. Brenda Nichols commented the question would be when they are not at maximum capacity. Mr. Ed Contreras stated for the number of staff we are actually over capacity right now.We should have 3 more full time HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 6 OF 25 individuals to provide services.The shelter is very hard to hit maximum because they have 16 beds in 4 different rooms. They have 4 beds per room.It depends on the combination that comes to seek refuge in the shelter.Sometimes they may have a lady with five children and they have to use a rollaway or crib in one bedroom.Other times they have such ages that they have to use 2 rooms.The ages make it difficult to add another person into the same room.They mix and match.They have to have the right mix to have all 16 beds in use.They will often have 12 individuals or up to 14; it is rare for them to have all 16 beds in use at the same time. Ms. Brenda Nichols stated they also have a grant from Pinal County United Way where they can provide hotel nights.If the police department calls in the middle of the night with someone that needs to be put up, they can put them in a hotel.The next day they will find something else. Mr. Ed Contreras stated those are emergency funds that come from FEMA.They have to apply for it every year.They have been asking for more and more in the last few years because of the increase.They help us because it is very difficult when you get a call at 3 a.m. to have someone come over and do an intake for residency.Anybody that goes into the shelter is required to have an intake.We have to do an assessment for risk.If they do not do a risk assessment, they could put the wrong people together in the shelter and it makes for more problems. Chairperson Weeter commented they do not need any legal problems. Mr. Ed Contreras stated they do not need any legal problems and sometimes they cannot provide all the services.They are experiencing more and more cutbacks in mental health.Some people that have mental health issues cannot be serviced and they cannot expose those people to the mainstream clients.It pulls at their heart strings, but the services to the patients are a lot more critical. Ms. Brenda Nichols stated they also have an entitlement program. They have a licensed counselor who has been providing entitlement to the women for 9 years.She meets every Tuesday night.She will also meet one on one.They do not call it HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 7 OF 25 counseling, they call it entitlement.She had people that have come back five years later for a tune up. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked how long they had been training the police department sessions. Ms. Brenda Nichols stated they had 6 different classes of about 15 police officers per class.They talked about domestic violence and how they can better assist victims. Chairperson Weeter asked if they taught them not to blame the victim. Ms. Brenda Nichols stated that was one part of it. Commissioner Clabuesch asked if they need volunteers. Ms. Brenda Nichols stated they have a bank of about 25 volunteers that do all sorts of different programming. Commissioner Clabuesch commented they are covered pretty good with volunteers. Ms. Brenda Nichols stated they can always use more. Mr. Ed Contreras stated one of the things about the volunteers is that now that they have less staff they need to have someone to spend more time with the victims.It is one area where if they had more staff members, they could have more volunteers. The overall goal is to get somewhere close to 80 to 100 volunteers. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated Chairperson Weeter had a question about the rate on their notes. Chairperson Weeter stated they have a note where the interest rate is higher than today's rates.She asked if they have applied to have that note taken down in cost. Mr. Ed Contreras stated he believes the loan in here is the interest rate that is on a credit card.It is only used when they use the credit card.They have to use the credit line a couple of times a year because of the change in funding at the state level.The money does not always come in on time and they HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 8 OF 25 have had to use it in order to make payroll at times.The bank gives them a pretty competitive rate.They have not switched from that bank. Chairperson Weeter commented she did not think any of them were reading it that way.She thanked him for the information. Mr. Ed Contreras stated it only happens for a brief time.When he pulls the money out one time, as soon as the money comes in it is paid.They only run a few hundred dollars of interest for the year. Commissioner Rizzi commented it is obviously good planning to keep that paid off and not rely on it.They also said they had planned for another 5% reduction.Great planning as one never knows what the state is going to do.At least they are looking into the future at the worst case scenario. Mr. Ed Contreras stated he has prepared the budget for them for the last 4 years.It is a labor of love.Some years he has had to revise the budget; last year he revised it 10 times.They plan for things and if those things happen then he does not have to revise it. • They plan for certain grants and a certain level of funding.Six of those grants were from the state last year. They would start out with one number and then they would get a notice of a revised number.They would have to trim something down or change the work load.People had to wear different hats or they pitch in for whatever reason. Chairperson Weeter commented it is hard work telling the employees what they have to do. Mr. Ed Contreras stated it is.He wishes they could keep it in one piece for the whole year.Last year the change in staff was pretty dramatic.They would have to move around quickly and hire someone.They have not had a lack of applicants over the last couple of years.They have had to whittle it down to the best employee they can get for the money they can spend. Chairperson Weeter wished Ms. Nichols good luck.She thanked them for all that they do. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 9 OF 25 Mr. Ed Contreras stated Ms. Nichols would not be lost.She is going to work for the state.They recently lost another one to the city. Chairperson Weeter asked if they are getting a bunch of donations. Mr. Ed Contreras stated the donations have dropped off considerably.They rely on the community heavily to support their action.Some the grants require a 20% match.They have done more fundraising and different events.They rely heavily on community and at large.They send out mailers and will soon be asking for more volunteers for the holiday season.They do well and try to help as much as they can.We do not get as much cash as we did two years ago. Ms. Brenda Nichols stated they needed more backpacks for back to school bags.She made this comment to a volunteer.The next day they had 19 backpacks full of supplies. Commissioner Clabuesch stated you never know. Mr. Ed Contreras stated people will do whatever it takes. Chairperson Weeter commented if they know what they need, people will come forth. Mr. Ed Contreras stated they have a campaign to keep their name out there and keep awareness up.The lady they lost to the city was a great advocate.She got them mentioned more often than they had ever had previously.She also started them off on getting a website. Chairperson Weeter stated they have done some really good work in the last year. Mr. Ed Contreras stated they have to keep on doing what they have been doing and look for other avenues that they can do. There are people that have never heard of them that finally hear about them and they want to help. Commissioner Rizzi commented the boys and girls club have established specific annual fundraisers.The people know to start looking for those tickets. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 10 OF 25 Ms. Brenda Nichols stated that is like their race.They had 37 runners the first year and 152 last year. Commissioner Rizzi stated if they can keep it going, people start looking for those events. Mr. Ed Contreras stated that is what they are trying to do. They are trying to establish their big event.Last year they had a performer come in and this year they will have a disco fever night.It is just creating an awareness of the services they provide. The interview ended.The final interview was with Superstition Mountain Mental Health Center, represented by Margie Walter. Everyone introduced themselves. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they had one question in particular due to the documentation.They asked for an increase in funding when there has not been an increase in services. Ms. Margie Walter stated on July 1 they received some unexpected money through the contract for subsidized housing.That took a load off that part of it.That funding is only for clients that are on AHCCCS.It is state money for a non-AHCCCS-related service.It is subsidized housing.Even though it is not Medicaid dollars specifically for that, it has to go to clients that are on AHCCCS.They do not have funding for those that are not on AHCCCS.It does relieve them of an awful lot, so it was very welcome funding.She was not able to get anything specific from the housing manager as to what the needs still are.They work with a lot of clients that are not on Medicaid.She was set back when she started running numbers preparing this.They are obligated to psych clients; they are not allowed to turn clients away because of inability to pay.They have to offer them the discounted fee schedule.Most of them are supposed to pay 25% of the fee for service.They write the rest off or find other funding for it.In the past when they have asked for these new categories, the city has told them they can divide it out however they want.She is throwing the organization at their mercy again this year to shift the funding to some of these copayments they are not able to collect on.They do let them know.If they find someone in need of the services, follow through on the program, and maybe cannot make even their 25%, they do tell them the city funding will assist them. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 11 OF 25 Commissioner Rizzi commented it looks like they have many areas that they service.She asked if they receive funding from those other areas. Ms. Margie Walter asked if she meant local city -type funding. Commissioner Rizzi asked if there are other areas at Superstition Mountain Mental Health.It looks like you are expanding in several areas.She asked if there are applications in with other cities for funding. Ms. Margie Walter stated there are not.They have not even looked into that.It is something that they need to do.This money stays right here.She is not sure that Kearny, Oracle or Superior have that type of funding. Commissioner Mullen asked how many people have they increased since last year in providing service. Ms. Margie Walter stated they fund nearly a thousand clients every year for the last 3 to 4 years.That includes Pinal County and Yuma. Commissioner Mullen asked if there had been an increase in people treated this year in Apache Junction compared to last year. Ms. Margie Walter stated she would feel uncomfortable making a guess on that.She would rather give some specific numbers for that. Commissioner Rizzi asked if the $6,000 was for all the locations. Ms. Margie Walter stated that is just Apache Junction.The request was for $4,000 the year before.They were not funded the year before.They got $15,000 the year before that but they had asked for $18,000. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if they were still getting state funding. Ms. Margie Walter stated they got a phone call last Thursday that they are probably going to have $500,000 cut.They are HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 12 OF 25 hoping that Magellan picks up the ball.There is a big zip code issue still going on.The AHCCCS health has some of the Apache Junction zip codes in Maricopa County.The money was going to Maricopa County but the clients were being cared for by Pinal- Gila.Finally, they said they are not going to be doing this anymore and they need to be getting them that money.Instead of doing that, almost half of their Apache Junction clients are being served by Maricopa County as of July 1.They took 1,800 clients over to Magellan. Commissioner Rizzi stated she said that was through RMHA. Ms. Margie Walter stated that is Regional Mental Health Authority.It all goes back to AHCCCS saying that the health plans covered particular zip codes.They do not care about county lines, they care about zip codes.It also includes their Queen Creek clients.They lost 5 zip codes from Pinal County to Maricopa County.It has been a big strain on them, and it has not been easy for the clients. Commissioner Rizzi stated it affects their funding. Ms. Margie Walter stated it affects the funding. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked where these people now have to go. Ms. Margie Walter stated it is still the same; they just get paid by somebody else.The rates are different.They do not recognize the rural size of the rates they had gotten from the previous funding.The rates are much lower.Even if the funding is there, it is harder to earn it. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated there is a proposition on the ballot that has to deal with shifting funds for child care and development.She asked if they think that will affect them. Ms. Margie Walter stated she is not familiar with it.She asked if it is Department of Economic Security funding or some other. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it is child care development and some of the tobacco tax funding.It would move it from where it is being spent now to the general fund. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 13 OF 25 Ms. Margie Walter stated the tobacco tax funding would definitely affect them. Commissioner Clabuesch asked if she would elaborate a little on the problems they had been having with the recordkeeping and reporting. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated the person who had been doing that is no longer there.She did not want to get into all of that.Margie has assured her that it will be taken care of. Her concern was that between the ballot and proposition that were out there that their funding had gone down. Ms. Margie Walter stated next year she might be going back asking for crisis dollars again because that is one of the areas that we can add.They are hard on the contract renewals, but they will not know that until July. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked if they work with Community Alliance Against Family Abuse. Ms. Margie Walter stated they do. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she got kind of that hint when Mr. Contreras made some comments. Ms. Margie Walter stated they actually come up under Mountain Health and Wellness funding, kind of like the parent getting the funding. Commissioner Rizzi asked if she is the lady that always asks for the volunteers. Ms. Margie Walter stated they are on the website for the Volunteer Center if she would like to go in and check them out and volunteer for them.They are taking applications.They have finally worked out some things that they can do.They are always concerned with the confidentiality issue and the HIPPA rights.They have gotten involved with that. Chairperson Weeter commented she used to supervise all the interns that came to the Veterans Administration for mental health.It was kind of fun.She is right; they do get some really good young people that are full of energy. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 14 OF 25 Ms. Margie Walter stated they have three working full time right now and two more have started this week.It can make you sure it is someone you want to make an offer to.They have been very lucky with the volunteers they have had. There were no more questions and the interview was completed. Commissioner Clabuesch stated the interview changed her thinking.She was considering not giving them anything but has found it is very important.She has always thought mental health was at the bottom of everything. Chairperson Weeter stated she thought it was interesting that they were the ones that started out feeding the funding to Community Alliance Against Family Abuse.She thinks they have had no ups as far as this group is concerned.They are still at $80,000 and we have a huge amount they are asking for.They are going to have to be careful about what they are going to put out there. Commissioner Clabuesh agreed that it should be looked at very carefully.They need to break it down to where it will be worth it for all of their time and energy and to see if they can make a difference somewhere for them. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated Margie told her when she left that they had hired a certified public accountant to insure that they stay on top of things.That is a relief to her.She believes they just had a regular staff person trying to work her way through a lot of paperwork. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck stated he will feel more comfortable about giving them some money. 5.Consideration and action on recommendations for human services funding for FY 2010-11. Chairperson Weeter stated last year the vice chair had a lot of ideas.She asked if he had any this year. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck stated his is basically completely the same as Commissioner Rizzi with a little change. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 15 OF 25 Commissioner Rizzi commented she thinks it would be a lot more difficult to have volunteers for Superstition Mountain Mental Health than it would be for the Boys and Girls Club.She loves the Boys and Girls Club, but they do have their act together quite a bit with fundraising.The kids tend to pull on peoples' heartstrings.She would look at that.She would look at what the Boys and Girls Club is asking for and consider the fact that Superstition will probably have more difficulty in getting volunteers. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly commented one of the issues that has come up is licensing, which her department handles.A couple of times in the past year we found out after the fact that the Boys and Girls Club was having a fundraiser.We had to scramble to go through our internal review process for parking and all the other things.We had the same thing occur recently with what the firefighters are doing, which is another fundraiser.She is correct, they are doing very well. Commissioner Rizzi commented they have no difficulty in raising volunteers.They are out there and have been for so long.A lot of people are not aware of Community Alliance Against Family Abuse.With the economy, obviously people are stressing and needing more services through Community Alliance Against Family Abuse and mental health. Commissioner Clabuesch stated it will probably get worse before it gets better in those areas. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she is glad Community Alliance Against Family Abuse and Superstition Mountain Mental Health work together. Chairperson Weeter and Commissioners Rizzi and Clabuesch agreed, adding they did not know that. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it is important. Commissioner Mullen asked what happens with the food bank funding if the food bank closes. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated two things could happen. Last year this group gave some money to Community Action Human Resources Agency, which then decided not to take the money.It HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 16 OF 25 was already in the contract that should any agency default or not accept funds, it would be automatically split between the other agencies.It happened late and it was difficult for some of the agencies to spend it in time.It was only $1,600 but there was a rush to spend it.At the time she went through that, the city manager asked her to tell the commission not to divide the money up.The city attorney stated she could not do that as it was already in the contract.As the council had approved the contract, it has to go to those agencies.However, the city manager is asking that this year's contracts have a provision in there that would say if an agency defaults that he have the discretion to put the money back into the general fund because as some of you may have heard today, as soon as the legislature opens up in January, they are going to be looking at everybody's money. Commissioner Clabuesch stated it will go back into the general fund instead of going to others. Commissioner Rizzi asked if they would be coming back in to re- disburse it. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated probably not.He asked that she put something in the contract stating it would automatically go to the general fund at his discretion.That is a lot of money, for the food bank, to re -disburse anyway.If they do not come back with an answer until January or February, it would be fairly tight. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck commented he thinks they will pull it together.It is just too critical a service and there are so many people that go there they could probably pick up the problem. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it is an internal issue. Mr. Dow's wife stated he has been board president for 6 years and has been telling them for quite some time that he has to step aside.Nobody has stepped forward to take on the responsibility. Chairperson Weeter stated it is because he is so good and they are hoping he will change his mind. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 17 OF 25 City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated he is very good, but he has a real job now. Chairperson Weeter stated she knew that, but they are hoping he will still do it.She asked if that was correct. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they may not have been taking him seriously.She has lived through strictly volunteers doing the bookwork at the food bank, and that is a disaster. They are involved with all kinds of federal, state, county and local funds and it becomes a disaster. Chairperson Weeter stated they need someone that knows what they are doing. Commissioner Clabuesch stated they need someone capable in a lot of areas.That would be the job description for the director or whatever he is called. Chairperson Weeter asked if he had been a certified public accountant at one time. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she does not know if he was. He is only their second board chair.John Snethen was it for years and years, but he had some health issues so Bill stepped up. Commissioner Rizzi stated he is incredible with the paperwork. He was meticulous with the paperwork and everything was accurate.It was where it needed to be when it needed to be. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck had written down his recommendations on the grease board.He stated the one column was what they had asked for and the other was for what he was thinking of for a recommendation.The critical services like the food bank, which is very critical, he would go full funding on.He would hate to see Community Alliance Against Family Abuse deprived and somebody hurt because of it.Superstition Mountain Mental Health provides a very useful service that helps a lot of people, but he would not go 100% because he wants them to have some incentive to get their act together. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated they have a total of $20,000 requested. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 18 OF 25 Commissioner Mullen stated his concern about the mental health facility is that $3,000 goes for psychiatric services and $17,000 for clients' needs.That could be car repair, gasoline and such and that is his concern from the last time. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck stated they can earmark where it is to go. Commissioner Mullen commented if they could earmark it for just mental health needs, that would be great. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck stated they could earmark it for that.He asked if anyone would disagree with that statement. There was general discussion by the commission. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly asked what he meant by mental health services. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck stated services that provide medical services. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated mental health counseling. There was general discussion on what was considered psychiatric services. Chairperson Weeter stated some of those cocktails of different medications to keep one leveled out can be extremely expensive. If they are doing that, that is fine.If they are not, she has a problem with it. Commissioner Rizzi stated she thought last year the $3,000 was for people in this situation with the medication running out and their having a problem with not getting it. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated those are prescriptions. Commissioner Clabuesch stated she thinks they should be able to have the funding for that. Commissioner Rizzi stated she thinks the medications are extremely important.Sometimes people get pulled off of ACCCHS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 19 OF 25 or whatever their medical is, and they yank them off of their anti -depressants. Chairperson Weeter stated that could be dangerous for the community and the person themselves. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck commented he thinks they should be giving them the money for the medications. Chairperson Weeter stated it would be for psychiatric services. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck added and medication. Chairperson Weeter stated counseling and that kind of stuff.No car repair; they will have to find other places for them to get that. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck stated another one he did not go full funding on is the Boys and Girls Club which has a very strong financial base.They have millions and people love to give to them. Commissioners Rizzi and Clabuesch agreed. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck stated not too many people like to give to the food bank as much.People are starving and they can see the priority he has for things like that.The senior center was almost fully funded previously.He would have gone higher but he still feels that money should go here and there.They can feel free to change things. Commissioner Clabuesch stated they get a lot of funding.The senior center does, too. Commissioner Rizzi stated she might want to trim a little there, too. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck stated the senior center does get good funding. Chairperson Weeter asked if they trimmed down that money, where would they then put it. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 20 OF 25 Vice Chairperson Whiteneck stated Community Alliance Against Family Abuse is fully funded.Others are also fully funded.He is reluctant to give the Boys and Girls Club any more funding. He does not want to fully fund mental health.He wants them to have some incentive. Commissioner Clabuesch stated she would go maybe $15,000 on mental health and take 2 more out of the other. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck asked if everyone was good with that, as he is okay with it.He took $2,000 out of East Valley Adult Resources and gave it to mental health. Commissioner Rizzi commented they said they could earmark and set aside the dollar amount. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she would not get into saying only spend $15,500 on psychiatric and the balance on the other. Chairperson Weeter stated she would like it to say that they expect it to be only on mental health, not on repairs of vehicles and that kind of thing. Commissioner Mullen agreed.If someone needs a car repaired, a house painted or something like that, they need to go to a different agency. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated those are almost a different kind of social service.She believed they wanted psychiatric services and client -related medication. There was general discussion on what the commission members would do personally if they needed vehicle repair work. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck MOVED THAT WE ACCEPT THE FUNDING DISTRIBUTION AS PRESENTED THERE. Commissioner Rizzi SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous.(By voice at one time.) The motion carried. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 21 OF 25 City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated it will be Food Bank $14,400, Boys and Girls Club $13,600, Community Alliance Against Family Abuse $12,000, East Valley Adult Resources $24,000, and Superstition Mountain Mental Health $16,000 with the funding to be used for psychiatric services and client -related medications. That is $80,000.She asked for there to be a roll call vote to verify their decision. VOTE:Unanimous.(Roll call vote.) The motion carried. 6.Discussion on schedule for presenting recommendations to the city council. Commissioner Clabuesch asked when this would go before the council. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she was hoping to get it on the next set of meetings but that will not happen.It will be on the November 16 meeting. Commissioner Clabuesch stated she would like to go before the mayor and council and tell them how much good she thinks this funding does. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated she can wait until that meeting night and speak to them then or she can do it at Call to the Public at the end of the council meeting.She believed it would be better if she did it during the actual agenda item. Once she gets the memo ready to go to the city council she will send it out to all of them to let them know what they are looking at. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck commented he wanted to make a motion that should the food bank default that we redistribute any funds they allow. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly commented the city manager asked that the contracts this year be worded so that if someone does default or somebody declines the funding it go back into the general fund at this discretion. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 22 OF 25 Vice Chairperson Whiteneck stated this is if he determines that they do not really need it in the general fund. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated that will never happen. When it goes into the general fund, it will not go into employees' pockets.It will being paid for.She can put if someone did not use their general fund this year, that that funding for next year. next year.They should just be retained at $80,000. go to other services that are not in the memo that if it does happen, funding and it goes back into the it does not mean that they lose They will still retain $80,000 for move that the funding for next year Vice Chairperson Whiteneck MOVED THAT WE RETAIN THE $80,000 WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE DEFAULTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. Commissioner Rizzi SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. Chairperson Weeter stated this is kind of protecting this.In the 3 years she has been on the commission, there has been no raise. Commissioner Claubesch stated when she addresses the council she would like to tell them how much she appreciated and how much this does for the community.She is sure they know that, but they need to be reminded once and a while.They can come and support her if they wish. Chairperson Weeter commented they do a report that night. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly commented they will have the information as soon as she gets her memo done. There was general discussion on who will be attending the work session. 2.Approval of minutes of October 19, 2009. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 23 OF 25 Vice Chairperson Whiteneck stated they need to correct the minutes as they have Chairperson Weeter listed as vice chairperson. Deputy City Clerk Jan Mason stated at the time of those minutes she was the vice chairperson. City Clerk Kathleen Connelly stated this is Sue's last meeting. They will have a new person for the next set of meetings.She requested a motion for the minutes. Commissioner Clabuesch MOVED THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 19, 2009. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck SECONDED THE MOTION. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. 7.Election of chairperson and vice chairperson. Vice Chairperson Whiteneck nominated Jodene Weeter again as she has been doing a wonderful job. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. Commissioner Clabuesch nominated Christa Rizzi for vice chairperson. VOTE:Unanimous. The motion carried. 8.Selection of future meeting dates. There are no future meeting dates pending. 9.Adjournment. Chairperson Weeter adjourned the meeting at 5:25 p.m. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 24 OF 25 i Z /2 .25r' City Clerk Jane Weeter Kathleen Connelly g--f-) Chairperson City Clerk HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION MEETING OCTOBER 18, 2010 PAGE 25 OF 25