HomeMy WebLinkAboutWomens Commission - Minutes - 05/15/2000City of Fort Collins
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Commission on the Status of Women
Minutes —May 2000
n//5/00
Present Annemarie Evans Chair Haemi Cha Bobbie Gonzales Tam Frager Lena Sunthankar,
Rita Anastasio Sara Lamia, Lisa Gorham Debbie Tamlm
Liaisons Barbara Spalding Human Rights Office Diane Gregg Crossroads
Excused Absent JoAnn Gina]
Absent
I Call to Order 6 15
H Minutes approved Minutes revision —Tam should be excused from the April meeting
III Review Agenda
IV Announcements
A New Liaison from Lanmer County Kim Walkenhorst Annmane will contact
B Thank you card from FRCC for presentation
C New member Sharon Bnngleson, was introduced to the Commission
V Business Items
A Guest Speaker Linda Fellron The Women s Center Child Care Assistance Center
Annmane asked Linda to speak about what is happening with daycare in the City
Ms Fellron explained the City will not be expanding Transforts routes so increasing
transportation to day care centers from transfort will not be happening soon There may be
some ways to refund development fees Fort Collins received a Head Start Grant with one year
planning time At Fullana an Early HeadStart (0-3) prgm (48 children) will start on July 1st
Although probably could enroll up to 300 children today Enrollment is based on families being
at 100% or less of poverty due to income and most at-nsk children will have priority At-nsk
will be based on an Assets model
The HeadStart program has not started however due to need an Expansion Grant was written to
service 100 children Part of the Grant was to develop an infant/toddle center on a pad at the
FCHS site Expansion Grant was written by PSD, 2 for profits one non-profit and the County
Larry Neil did cost projections Reynolds will build
Ms Fellron suggested that one role for the Commission might be to lend support for getting the
development fees refunded
Another suggestion is that the Commission on the Status of Women could organized a fund
raiser selling bricks for the proposed daycare center Ms Fellron suggested that a conundrum
in daycare is that it cost much more to furnish good day care than parents can pay
It has been projected that it will cost $131 000 to run the center for 6 mos The center will
accept 24 low income children
405 Canti on PO Box 580 Fort Collins CO 80522 0580 (970) 221 6871 FAX (970) 224 6050 TDD (970) 224 6004
City is supporting child care in giving $60 000 for sliding scales
Lisa Gorham suggested that the role of the Commission would be to lobby the Council to use
this project as an example She explained that Greg Byrne said any chance of refunding the
development fees will not be possible unless it is possible to show that the refund will benefit the
children
Ms Fellion spoke about a grant the school district is writing to find ways to work with parents
and daycare providers to work with children who get "bounced around and kicked out of all the
programs' they are in before they are six
Ms Fellion explained about the problems that are encountered by many parents who are the
parents of the children in the programs Example Parents on TANIF who can only find work at
night Daycare atnight?
Lisa Gorham asked about the referral service Linda said there is a meeting in Dnvr tomorrow
night to get community input about how the 4% seed money should be used Money comes
from the child care development fund Health and Human Services
She also asked for help on the Advisory Committee meetings are tvpically every other month on
a Monday night
When asked to give the Commission on the Status of Women two to three areas to work on she
suggested the following
Look at the Early Childhood Council s Workplan to see where you could be useful
Workplan will be due by June 8
Could use help in organizing Week of the Child next year, facilitating the minutes of the
meetings April 1 st-7 h next year
Early Childhood Council applied for a grant to give money to childhood centers who
work with hard to serve families Awarded $75 000 May 25"' there will be a child care
provider appreciation at the Rialto Would like help to get people there get press
coverage, come robe ushers Contact Judy Seybold 663-2288 to help
Deb said she was working to get Barbara Bush here She would like to use her appearance to
help with getting the Childcare Cntr At the FCHS location
Ms Fellion suggested using websrte fightcnme org to get information to support ideas
Lisa asked if there is a Childcare Coop at the Wm s Cntr Ms Fellion said no because of how it
affects the child to have so many different people caring for a child She stressed the
consistency in personnel for quality care for kids
Other actions for daycare issue
• Deb will meet with Greg Byrne tomorrow to ask about the refund of the development fees
• Rita will contact Larry Neil about the FCHS pad site
B Crossroads Update Outreach center will be open first of June 316 West Olive
C Marcel Woods Subcommittee Annmane asked who wanted to volunteer to be
involved? She suggested the subcommittee would need to concentrate on the following Early
advertising (use Marcel Wood mailing list) sending out the mailer getting information to radio
stations and the Coloradoan ) tweaking the application
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May 2000 N&nutes
Volunteers Tam Haemi Deb Lisa Lena will do mailing Tam will contact Barb Spalding to
work on the application
Annmarie asked for suggestions about the Marcel Woods celebration with not being able to use
the CIC room Tam suggested getting the Mayor to do it a night other than a Council night
Deb suggested doing ittwice Do the proclamation on the Council night Then do a separate
reception for the Woods awardees
No decisions were made
D New Board Members Annmane explained board members could be limited We
would have to write a formal letter to be read at Council to have a formal motion to change the
number Deb moved we not downsize Tam seconded Passed
VI Adjourn 8 12 p in
Agenda for June
I Call to Order
IT Minutes approved
III Review Agenda
IV Announcements
V Business Items
Discussion of Felhon presentation
Marcel Wood Subcommittee
Break off into subcommittees
Website committee
Boards and Commissions Day
Discussion of new board members —discussion with Karla Smith
VI Adjourn
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Ma} 2000 Minutes