HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019.12.19 HHSC Minutes City of Apache Junction, Arizona Meeting location
City Council Chambers
Meeting Minutes 300 E Superstition Blvd
o� Apache Junction,AZ
r Health and Human Services 8519
Commission www.ajcjty.net
P: (480)982.8002
Thursday, December 19,2019 4:30 PM City Council Chambers
A. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Mary Erickson called the meeting to order at 4:37 PM.
Present: Commissioner Shar Daniels and Syri Gerstner
Absent: Commissioner Judy Borey and Dr. Jennifer Miernicki (excused)
Staff Present:
City Clerk Jennifer Pena
Program and Resource Manager Heather Patel
Senior Administrative Assistant Barbara Kelly
B. AGENDA ITEMS
1. 19-611 Approval of the October 17, 2019 minutes.
City Clerk Pena stated there was no meeting held in October due to a lack of quorum, and the
September 19, 2019 minutes will be brought back at their next meeting for approval,
2. 19-612 Update an the revision of the Health and Human Services Commission duties
In response to Chairman Erickson's inquiry, Ms. Pena stated she and the city attomey reviewed
the city code related to the duties of the commission and after much discussion did not see any
necessary revisions to their duties as outlined within the city code. However, there may be
areas within Chapter 2, Article 2-14-1 and Article 2-14-2 of the city code related to the funding
requests submitted by Non-Profits.
She stated since the commission will transition to the Development Services department and
Heather Patel will be the Board's liaison, Ms. Patel will be the contact person for that review.
Chapter 2 of the city code Vol I. was adopted by Ordinance 659 adopted November 3, 1995.
The commission may wish to review the individual contracts as well. Ms. Pena stated this
meeting marks the transition period and introduced Ms. Heather Patel. Ms. Patel handles
grants, CDBG funding and applications and deal more with the non-profits than the city clerk's
office. Ms. Pena stated Ms. Patel is a much better asset for this commission.
Ms. Pena stated any changes the commission wishes to recommend related to the city code,
is reviewed by her and the city attorney, as well as any review to the contracts need to be
reviewed by the city attorney. After that, suggested changes can be presented to the city
council.
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3. 19-613 Committee outreach activities planning.
A. Human Service Funded Agency site visits.
B. City sponsored event participation.
C. Potential Community Health and Human Services Survey.
Chairperson Erickson stated at their last meeting some of the commissioners volunteered to
meet with city departments and outside agencies. Some of the items the commission
discussed at their last meeting were to visit the agencies that were funded in the past. She
stated the commission did not have time to compile a standard list of questions they wanted to
ask these organizations, or time to schedule meetings with them.
Chairperson Erickson would like to schedule meetings for the commission members to visit the
local non-profits. She will work through Ms. Patel so as to not violate Open Meeting Law,
Chairperson Erickson stated she did attend the Wellness event held at the Multi-generational
center last month. It was very well attended.
She would like to partner with some of the non-profits in the community to formulate a survey
they could use at city events and ask community members what services or needs they feel the
community could benefit from.
4. 19-616 Health and Human Services Commission Funding Application Process
Update by Heather Patel.
Chairman Erickson asked Heather Patel to provide an update on the application process. Ms.
Patel reviewed the schedule drafted by Ms. Pena which had been presented to the commission
several months prior.
Ms. Patel stated there is no"application" the application is actually a check list created by
Ordinance 659. The documents do not outline what the non-profit's project for the funding
actually consists of. She hopes to bring changes to the application process next year as
applications are due within the next few months.
She also mentioned information about the application process is now on the city website. She
also thought having the commission set areas of where they would like to focus would be
beneficial to the direction of the commission. This can change year to year based on where
they would like to focus, it is not set in stone.
Ms. Pena stated while the deadline to file funding applications is January 31 st, staff is looking
into the possibility of modifying the contract by amending the City Code Vol. I, Chapter 2, Article
2-14-1 and Article 2-14-2. These changes might allow other smaller non-profits to apply for the
funding. This will now be under Ms. Patel's direction.
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Health and Human Services Meeting Minutes December 19, 2019
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5. 19-614 Information and Reports
The Chair at this time may announce information regarding activities involving
Health and Human Services matters, such as, but not limited to attendance of
Commission Members at community meetings or events, seminars or
conferences, or upcoming events or conferences. No further discussion on
the matters as they are not agendized.
Chairperson Erickson stated this is a new section for the agenda. It is a time for the
commissioners to report on matters they either attended, or are upcoming in the community.
Ms. Erickson showed the newspaper clipping for the Citizen Leadership Institute that will start in
January. She attended years ago and found it to contain a wealth of information on how the city
runs and the various departments.
She spoke on the State of the City address which will be held on February 12, 2020 at the
Apache Junction Performing Arts Center. This begins at 7:00 P.M.
Ms. Patel spoke to the February 8, 2020 Project Connect event. This event brings together
community resources that serve the At-Risk population. These organizations will be onsight to
provide either assistance or provide information. This year instead of having one location there
will be three. This event is on a Saturday and will run most of the day. There will be lunch
served at The Genesis Project from 12:00-2:00 PM, then from 2:00 -6:00 PM the various
agencies will be set up at the community resource center, the multi-generational center and the
food bank. From 4:00-6:00 PM there will food and entertainment at the gazebo.
January 22nd through the 26th there is the Count in Time event This is when the homeless
population is counted. This is a requirement of the Federal government. Apache Junction
counts those who do not have shelter.
Commissioner Gerstner inquired if the city reaches out to the schools to help with families that
are not housed, but the kids are still in school. Families will hide for fear their children will be
taken away.
Ms. Patel stated yes, the schools are involved to help count the homeless. She also mentioned
Empowerment Systems will provide a link on their webpage seeking volunteers to help with this
count. There is required training on January 19th on how to conduct the survey.
6. 19-615 Selection of Meeting Dates, Times, Location and Purpose.
Chairman Erickson stated the commission had established the 3rd Thursday of the month for
their meetings.
Ms. Pena stated the commission is able to change their meeting schedule, it is not set by city
code.
Ms. Erickson stated they will have a discussion in January on setting their meeting date and
time. The January 16th meeting will be held at 5:00 P.M.
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Health and Human Services Meeting Minutes December 19,2019
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C. ADJOURNMENT
Adjournment:
Meeting adjourned at 5:03 p.m.
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