HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Block Grant Commission - Minutes - 04/12/2012CITY OF FORT COLLINS
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
215 N. Mason St., Fort Collins
April 12, 2012, 6 p.m.
CDBG Commission Members Present:
Anita Basham
Robert Browning
Gordon Coombes
Catherine Costlow
Jamaal Curry
Margaret Anne Long
Kay Rios
Emily Sander
Kristin Stephens
Staff Attending:
Sharon Thomas
Beth Rosen
Heidi Phelps
Jennifer Harvey
Call to Order:
Meeting was called to order by Chair Kay Rios at 6 p.m.
Purpose of Meeting:
To determine the Commission’s funding recommendations to City Council for the Spring
2012 Competitive Process.
Ground Rules:
A motion with a specific amount and a second is required to open discussion on a specific
request. Once the motion is seconded, the member making the motion should state the
reason for the motion, followed by the second. If the second has no additional points to
make, say “ditto.” Discussion is then open to the full Commission, followed by a vote by
show of hands. Once all of the requests are placed on the table, another round of motions
will be required to adjust the final funding amounts to balance with the funds available.
Overall requests totaled $1,745,240, and available funds totaled $1,614,248. Housing/Public
Facilities requests totaled $532,000, with $708,108 available. Public Service requests totaled
$1,004,208, while $697,108 was available.
Heidi Phelps reminded the half-dozen observers that this meeting was the last in an ongoing
process, and the Commission has been considering the requests voted on tonight for some
time, including hearing presentations from the requesting organizations. Recommendations
will be considered by City Council on May 15. No public comment was taken, but Phelps
asked those in attendance to contact staff members present with any questions or concerns
about the recommendations or the process.
The Commission started deliberations with the Administrative and Housing/Public Facilities
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requests, then moved to the Public Service requests. Requests were not considered in
numerical order.
HOME ADMINISTRATION & PROGRAMS CATEGORY
City of Fort Collins: HOME Administration & Programs -- $743,833 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Total HOME funds needing approval for the fall are in the amount of $743,833. Bob
Browning moved to approve HOME funds for administration of the HOME program
[$57,556]. Kristen Stephens seconded.
Sharon Thomas explained that up to ten percent (10%) of available HOME funds can be used
to administer the program. The overall amount for HOME projects must be approved for in
the spring, so that the City can submit its Annual Action Plan to HUD. Allocation to specific
projects will occur in the fall Competitive Process cycle. Approving the HOME
administration dollars in the spring allows those funds to be activated October 1, with the
new program year.
VOTE: Unanimous, in favor. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FULLY FUND AMOUNT REQUESTED.
FIRST ROUND:
Jamaal Curry moved to approve the remaining overall HOME funding [$686,277] to be
specifically allocated to projects in the fall. Kristen Stephens seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous, in favor. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FULLY FUND AMOUNT REQUESTED.
HOUSING/PUBLIC FACILITIES CATEGORY
PF-1 — Disabled Resource Services: Robertson Building Purchase -- $77,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to approve $385,000 for Disabled Resource Services to purchase the
building on Robertson Street. Margaret Long seconded.
Browning: The Commission rarely gets the opportunity to fund a public facilities project, and
it’s good to be able to provide funds without taking from any other project. This
organization does a lot of good for a lot of people, which is why it outgrew its previous
space. Long: Ditto.
Rios: They are putting a lot of money into the building and can use the funds to better serve
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clients for a long time. Curry: The request is for $77,000, which covers 20 percent of the
purchase cost. Browning: The $385,000 buys the whole building.
VOTE: Unanimous, in favor. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $385,000.
HD-1 — Fort Collins Housing Authority (FCHA): Supportive Housing -- $455,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to fund this request with the available balance remaining after
funding PF-1; Kay Rios seconded.
Browning: This request is not site-specific, but it’s important to fund it now to allow FCHA to
leverage additional funding from the Colorado Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) through an
application for Tax Credits [Low Income Housing Tax Credits]. Sander: Concerned about how
funding recommendation might affect FCHA’s Tax Credit application. Is there a minimum?
Rios: It’s not the amount requested, but there will be additional money available in the fall.
Long: Funding makes good sense because it allows site selection to be completed. Costlow:
Does FCHA need the money now or later? Does Disabled Resources need the money now or
later? Sharon Thomas: Having “first-in” money from the City will help the FCHA qualify for a
tax credit. Beth Rosen: We need a letter of intent to fund to CHFA by June 1. Heidi Phelps:
There’s only about a 3-month lag between funds becoming available from the Spring and
Fall funding cycles; the bulk of the Spring funding will be distributed after Oct. 1, Fall money
in January. Sander: Concerned about lack of site, but don’t want to kill if we can’t give it all
the funding it needs.
VOTE: 7-2 in favor, with Costlow and Sander opposed. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $321,358.
PUBLIC SERVICE CATEGORY
PS-1 — Alliance for Suicide Prevention: Education & Awareness Programs -- $3,000
requested
FIRST ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to approve the request for $3,000 for the Alliance for Suicide
Prevention. Gordon Coombes seconded. Browning: They can reach a lot of people with a
small amount of money. Coombes: Ditto.
VOTE: Unanimous in favor. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FULLY FUND PS-1 IN AMOUNT REQUESTED.
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PS-2 — B.A.S.E. Camp: Childcare Scholarships -- $59,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Margaret Long moved to fully fund the $59,000 request for B.A.S.E. Camp scholarships.
Jamaal Curry seconded. Long: This is a valuable service for school-age children. Curry: The
funds awarded during the last cycle will be used up this summer, which is their busiest time.
VOTE: Unanimous in favor. Motion passed.
SECOND ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to reduce the funding for B.A.S.E. Camp to $50,000. Kay Rios
seconded. Browning: This amount will allow the organization to offer 120 scholarships
rather than 140.
VOTE: 7-2 in favor, with Curry and Stephens opposed. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-2 IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000.
PS-3 — Boys & Girls Club: After-School/School-Break Child Care/Youth Program -- $22,566
requested
FIRST ROUND:
Jamaal Curry moved to fully fund the $22,566 request from the Boys & Girls Club. Kay Rios
seconded. Curry: This program gives us good bang for the buck. For only $5 per year, kids
get a safe place to be and things to do that help develop the youth of our community. The
amount is not much more than last year’s funding. Rios: Ditto.
VOTE: 8 in favor, with 1 abstention by Coombes. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FULLY FUND PS-3 IN AMOUNT REQUESTED.
PS-4 — CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate): Program Support -- $12,995 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to approve no funding for the CASA request. Margaret Long
seconded. Browning: There's nothing bad to say about this organization, but we have
higher priorities. I know they were hurt by the United Way funding cuts, but we can't
pick up the difference for everyone.
VOTE: 8 in favor, with 1 abstention by Rios. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: NO FUNDING FOR PS-4.
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PS-5 — Catholic Charities: Senior Outreach -- $15,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Margaret Long moved to approve full funding for the $15,000 request from Catholic
Charities for Senior Outreach. Kay Rios seconded. Long: It’s the only program available at no
cost that provides case management. Rios: Ditto.
VOTE: 7-2 in favor, with Costlow and Browning opposed. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FULLY FUND AMOUNT REQUESTED.
PS-6 — Catholic Charities: Shelter & Supportive Services -- $60,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to fund the Catholic Charities request for shelter and supportive
services in the amount of $50,000. Kay Rios seconded. Browning: If we’re looking to buy
things, this will fund the top priority in the application. Rios: Ditto.
VOTE: 7-1 in favor, with Costlow opposed and 1 abstention by Curry. Motion passed.
SECOND ROUND:
Jamaal Curry moved to reduce funding for Catholic Charities’ shelter and supportive services
to $40,000. Kay Rios seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous, in favor. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-6 IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,000.
PS-7 — Center for Family Outreach: Low-income Youth Scholarships -- $7,020 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Jamaal Curry moved to fully fund the $7,020 request from Center for Family Outreach. Bob
Browning seconded. Curry: There are relatively few programs that reach out to youth who
are struggling and keep them on track so that they are not utilizing other services on the
other end of the line. Bob: Ditto. Rios: They have an 84 percent success rate, and it’s not
very much money.
VOTE: 5 in favor, 3 opposed, 1 abstention by Coombes. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FULLY FUND PS-7 IN AMOUNT REQUESTED.
PS-8 — ChildSafe Colorado: Child Abuse Treatment Program -- $20,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to fully fund the $20,000 request from ChildSafe. Gordon Coombes
seconded. Browning: It’s a good bargain – they serve 613 clients, and do a lot of good in the
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community. Coombes: Offers help to deal with abuse that can develop into greater issues
like homelessness and mental health issues. If we invest in this now, we can eliminate stress
on other programs that deal with the greater issues. Long: This is a very good program, but
not in favor of full funding. They receive strong support from other sources.
VOTE: 3 in favor, 5 opposed, 1 abstention. Motion failed.
SECOND ROUND:
Gordon Coombes moved to partially fund the request from ChildSafe in the amount of
$10,000. Jamaal Curry seconded.
VOTE: 4 in favor, 5 opposed. Motion failed.
THIRD ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to fully fund the $20,000 request from ChildSafe. Gordon Coombes
seconded. Browning: We shouldn’t penalize programs fro having other sources of funding.
Coombes: If we did, there are lots of other programs we’d have to cut.
VOTE: 4 in favor, 5 opposed. Motion failed.
FOURTH ROUND:
Kay Rios moved to fund ChildSafe in the amount of $15,000. Bob Browning seconded.
VOTE: 4 in favor, 5 opposed. Motion failed.
FIFTH ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to fund the request from ChildSafe in the amount of $12,000. Gordon
Coombes seconded.
VOTE: 5 in favor, 4 opposed. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-8 IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,000.
PS-9 — Colorado Health Network – Northern Colorado AIDS Project (NCAP): Client
Services/Homelessness Prevention -- $25,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Catherine Costlow moved to fully fund the $25,000 request for Colorado Health Network -
NCAP. Jamaal Curry seconded. Costlow: Only source of funding for this vulnerable
population, which needs this kind of support. Curry: Ditto.
VOTE: 8-1 in favor, with Browning opposed. Motion passed.
SECOND ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to reduce funding to NCAP to $15,000. Margaret Long seconded.
Browning: The organization is undergoing a statewide reorganization that may make other
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funds available.
VOTE: Unanimous in favor. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-9 IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000.
PS-10 — Crossroads Safehouse: Advocacy Program -- $99,216 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Kay Rios moved to fund the request from Crossroads Safehouse in the amount of $50,000.
Kristen Stephens seconded. Rios: This is a great program but it’s a big increase over last
year’s funding, and it’s not clear how more money would get us more services. Stephens:
The $50,000 just about covers the top three priorities in the request. It’s important to keep
the momentum going to provide housing for a vulnerable population.
VOTE: 8-1 in favor, with Costlow opposed. Motion passed.
SECOND ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to reduce the funding to Crossroads Safehouse to $29,853. Emily
Sander seconded. Browning: This amount will allow the organization to fund the top two
priorities in its request.
VOTE: 8-1 in favor, with Stephens opposed. Motion passed.
THIRD ROUND:
Kristen Stephens: After the two reductions, Crossroads took the biggest hit, receiving less
than a third of the requested amount while other programs took a 10 percent to 20 percent
reduction. She felt the cuts should be made equally. Rios: Agreed. The $29,853 would fund
the top two priorities in the request. Browning: Another $24,119 would be needed to fund
the organization’s next priority. Rios: Where would the Commission like to take funds from
to increase funding to Crossroads?
Bob Browning moved to reduce funding to ELTC (Request PS-12) by $10,000 and allocate
those funds to Crossroads Safehouse (Request PS-10). Kristen Stephens seconded.
Stephens: This will increase funding to Crossroads to $39,853, which is more in line with last
year’s funding level.
VOTE: 7 in favor, 2 opposed. Motion passed.
FOURTH ROUND:
Gordon Coombes moved to reduce funding to the Family Center [La Familia] (Request PS-
14) to $35,000 and reallocate $10,000 to Crossroads Safehouse (Request PS-10). Bob
Browning seconded.
VOTE: 8-1 in favor, with Sander opposed. Motion passed.
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RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-10 IN THE AMOUNT OF $39,853.
PS-11 — Disabled Resource Services: Access to Independence (ATI) Program -- $33,065
requested
FIRST ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to fund the Disabled Resource Services ATI request in the amount of
$23,370. Anita Basham seconded. Browning: This amount will fund the top two priorities in
the application. Basham: Ditto.
VOTE: Unanimous in favor. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-11 IN THE AMOUNT OF $23,370.
PS-12 — Education and Life Training Center (ELTC): Employment Skills Training -- $24,500
requested
FIRST ROUND:
Catherine Costlow moved to approve partial funding for the ELTC request in the amount of
$20,000. Kristen Stephens seconded. Costlow: It’s the only program in front of us that
addresses employment skills for adults, to get their GED, increasing skills to obtain jobs and
working with employers. This amount is about what they got last year. Browning: This brings
up the question of living wages. They have a very poor record of tracking success. Stephens:
The population they serve is very hard to track, especially if they are moving forward in their
jobs. No one should be penalized for not making a living wage with a GED.
VOTE: 5 in favor, 4 opposed. Motion passed.
SECOND ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to reduce funding to ELTC (Request PS-12) by $10,000 and allocate
those funds to Crossroads Safehouse (Request PS-10). Kristen Stephens seconded.
VOTE: 2 in favor, 7 opposed. Motion failed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-12 IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000.
PS-13 — Elderhaus: Mindset Therapy Center Activity Program --$23,592 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Catherine Costlow moved to approve full funding for the $23,592 request from Elderhaus.
Emily Sander seconded. Costlow: They serve a population that is at risk and growing, and
this program helps stem other problems that can develop for family caregivers. Sander:
Ditto. Basham: Quite a few of those served are not elderly but are disabled.
VOTE: Unanimous, in favor. Motion passed.
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SECOND ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to reduce the funding for Elderhaus to $10,800, satisfying the top
priority in the application. Kristen Stephens seconded.
VOTE: 5-3 in favor, with 1 abstention by Curry. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-13 IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,800.
PS-14 — Family Center: Childcare Scholarships — $45,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Kristen Stephens moved to fully fund the $45,000 request for childcare scholarships from
Family Center (La Familia). Jamaal Curry seconded. Stephens: This provides infant childcare,
which is desperately needed, and no one can do it cheaper. Rios: They also provide parent
education. Browning: The cost per child is significantly higher than other programs, and the
number of people served is lower. Curry: Infant care requires at higher type of certification
than care for toddlers or older children. Basham: They serve 28 children. Heidi Phelps
clarified that the organization had chosen the strategy of serving fewer families with more
focused services than other programs.
VOTE: 5 in favor, 4 opposed. Motion passed.
SECOND ROUND:
Gordon Coombes moved to reduce funding to the Family Center (La Familia) — Request PS-
14 — to $35,000 and reallocate $10,000 to Crossroads Safehouse – Request PS-10. Bob
Browning seconded.
VOTE: 8-1 in favor, with Sanders opposed. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-14 IN THE AMOUNT OF $35,000.
PS-15 — Food Bank for Larimer County: Kids Café Program -- $27,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Anita Basham moved to fully fund the $27,000 request from the Food Bank of Larimer
County for its Kids Café Program. Jamaal Curry seconded. Basham: It’s important when you
look at the number of people using the program, and there is a human element: If the staff
sees the mother not eating because she can’t afford food, they will bring something out
from the kitchen for her. Curry: The demand has increased 250 percent since 2005.
VOTE: Unanimous, in favor. Motion passed.
SECOND ROUND:
Emily Sander moved to reduce funding the Food Bank for Larimer County to $21,000.
Margaret Long seconded. Sander: This will take the funding amount back to last year’s level.
Jamaal Curry offered a friendly amendment to make the funding amount $21,407. Sander
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and Long accepted the amendment.
VOTE: 7-2 in favor, with Basham and Stephens opposed. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-15 IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,407.
PS-16 — Homelessness Prevention Initiative: Rental Assistance -- $50,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Jamaal Curry moved to fully fund the $50,000 request from HPI. Emily Sander seconded.
Curry: This program keeps people off the street and in their own homes. There is little
overlap between HPI and N2N – fewer than 15 percent of clients are served by both
programs. It eases the burden on both families and the City. Long: It strengthens the
program’s flexibility when it collaborates with N2N – there are no bureaucratic rigidities to
prevent them from helping people. Rios: The administrative costs are very low.
VOTE: 8-1 in favor, with Costlow opposed. Motion passed.
SECOND ROUND:
Gordon Coombes moved to reduce funding to HPI to $45,000. Margaret Long seconded.
Coombes: This will take the funding level back to last year’s amount.
VOTE: Unanimous, in favor. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-16 IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,000.
PS-17 — Larimer Center for Mental Health (LCMH): Community Dual Disorders Treatment
(CDDT) Program -- $37,884 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Emily Sander moved to fully fund the LCMH request for $37,884 for the dual disorders
treatment program. Anita Basham seconded. Sander: This is a very difficult population to
serve; the program can help them stay in their homes. Basham: The request is for a half-
time staff person. It’s hard to find the skills to work with this population.
VOTE: 3 in favor, 4 opposed, 2 abstentions by Curry and Rios. Motion failed.
SECOND ROUND:
Kay Rios moved to fund the LCMH request for dual disorders treatment in the amount of
$28,380, satisfying the top priority in the applicant’s proposal. Kristen Stephens seconded.
VOTE: 5 in favor, 2 opposed, 2 abstentions. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-17 IN THE AMOUNT OF $28,380.
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PS-18 — Larimer Center for Mental Health (LCMH): Emergency Mental Health Services --
$24,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Anita Basham moved to fully fund the $24,000 request from LCMH for emergency services.
Margaret Long seconded. Basham: These are services that are terribly underfunded in our
community – serving the homeless and youth in crisis. Long: If they are not on Medicaid,
this the first point to serve this population.
VOTE: 2 in favor (Basham and Long), 7 opposed. Motion failed.
SECOND ROUND:
Margaret Long moved to fund the LCMH request for emergency services in the amount of
$18,000. Kay Rios seconded. Long: I’m impressed by the work done by the Sister Alice
Murphy Center, which is an important piece of the request.
VOTE: 4 in favor, 4 opposed, 1 abstention by Curry. Motion failed.
THIRD ROUND:
Gordon Coombes moved to fund the request from LMCH for emergency services in the
amount of $10,000. Kristen Stephens seconded.
VOTE: 8 in favor, 1 opposed. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-18 IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000.
PS-19 — Matthews House: Transition Program -- $31,500 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Anita Basham moved to approve full funding of the $31,500 request from the Matthews
House for its Transition Program. Kristen Stephens seconded. Basham: They are moving into
a new space to serve more clients – the need has grown. Stephens: They serve kids who are
too old for foster care, many of whom can wind up homeless.
VOTE: 7-2 in favor, with Browning and Costlow opposed. Motion passed.
SECOND ROUND:
Kay Rios moved to reduce funding to Matthews House to $27,000. Margaret Long seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous, in favor. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-19 IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,000.
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PS-20 — Neighbor to Neighbor: Housing Counseling -- $69,205 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Jamaal Curry moved to fund the request from Neighbor to Neighbor for housing counseling
in the amount of $40,175. Kay Rios seconded. Browning: This amount will fund the top two
priorities in the application. Long: Very supportive of the program. Rent assistance can’t be
successful without the case management expertise to steer clients in the right direction.
VOTE: 8-1 in favor, with Costlow opposed. Motion passed.
SECOND ROUND:
Kay Rios moved to reduce funding to the Neighbor to Neighbor counseling program to
$29,760. Kristen Stephens seconded. Rios: This amount will cover the cost of one counselor
at 40 hours per week for 48 weeks, rather than 52 weeks.
VOTE: 8-1 in favor, with Long opposed. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-20 IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,760.
PS-21 — Neighbor to Neighbor: Rent Assistance -- $30,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to fully fund the $30,000 request from Neighbor to Neighbor for rent
assistance. Jamaal Curry seconded. Browning: This buys people the opportunity to stay in
their own homes. Curry: Ditto.
VOTE: Unanimous, in favor. Motion passed.
SECOND ROUND:
Catherine Costlow moved to reduce funding for Neighbor to Neighbor rent assistance to
$25,000. Gordon Coombes seconded. Costlow: This will take the funding amount back to
last year’s level.
VOTE: Unanimous, in favor. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-21 IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000.
PS-22 — Project Self-Sufficiency: Services for Single Parent Families -- $33,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Anita Basham moved to fully fund the $33,000 request from Project Self-Sufficiency.
Margaret Long seconded. Basham: I’ve seen the results of PS-S working with single mothers
and their children, allowing them to get an education. I’d like to fund them to some extent.
Kay Rios offered a friendly amendment to fund the request in the amount of $25,000.
Jamaal Curry seconded and both Basham and Long accepted.
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VOTE: Amended motion approved 8-1, with Browning opposed. Motion passed.
SECOND ROUND:
Margaret Long moved to reduce funding to Project Self-Sufficiency to $22,000. Kristen
Stephens seconded. Long: This will take the funding amount back to last year’s level.
VOTE: Unanimous, in favor. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-22 IN THE AMOUNT OF $22,000.
PS-23 — Rehabilitation Visiting Nurse Association (RVNA): Home Health Care Scholarships
-- $40,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Anita Basham moved to fully fund the $40,000 request from the RVNA. Bob Browning
seconded. Basham: They provide preventive care on a sliding scale, helping keep people out
of nursing homes. Browning: It’s important to keep people in their own homes and get care
they need. Long: It provides access to care for people under the age of 60. It’s a struggle to
find funding for this population.
VOTE: Unanimous, in favor. Motion passed.
SECOND ROUND:
Emily Sander moved to reduce funding to RVNA to $35,000. Gordon Coombes seconded.
Sander: This will take the funding back to last year’s level. Basham: They are serving a
population in very difficult circumstances – those under 60 without access to Medicare who
have no insurance – on a sliding scale. Long: While she is very supportive of the program,
there is another source of funding, the Larimer County Office on Aging.
Basham offered a friendly amendment to fund in the amount $37,500. Sander and Coombes
did not accept it. Bob Browning offered a friendly amendment to reduce funding to
$33,450. Sander and Coombes accepted it. Browning: That amount covers 70 percent of the
amount needed for home personal care. Basham: Personal care is different from skilled
nursing care, and she wasn’t sure that’s where RVNA would make up the funding shortfall.
VOTE: 8-1 in favor, with Basham opposed. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-23 IN THE AMOUNT OF $33,450.
PS-24 — Respite Care: Childcare Scholarship -- $32,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Anita Basham moved to fully fund the $32,000 request from Respite Care. Kristen Stephens
seconded. Basham: This will fund scholarships and their new facility. Stephens: They are
serving a population not otherwise served. 24/7 services allow parents to go to work and
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school. Curry: They specialize in tube feeding, which requires special skills. He agreed with
the funding.
VOTE: 8-1 in favor, with Long opposed. Motion passed.
SECOND ROUND:
Catherine Costlow moved to reduce funding for Respite Care scholarships to $30,000.
Kristen Stephens seconded. Costlow: This takes the funding back to 2011 level.
VOTE: Unanimous, in favor. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-24 IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000.
PS-25 — Turning Point: Crisis Intervention Program -- $25,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Catherine Costlow moved to approve reduced funding for Turning Point in the amount of
$17,500. Kay Rios seconded. Costlow: This is about 60 percent of what they asked for. They
are addressing both teens and family outreach. When they are referred to Turning Point by
Health and Human Services, they stay about 4 months, and the organization works closely
with the schools for supervision. Curry: They receive no funding from Health and Human
Services.
VOTE: 8-1 in favor, with Sander opposed. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-25 IN THE AMOUNT OF $17,500.
PS-26 — (UDCC) Teaching Tree: Childcare Scholarships -- $60,000 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Emily Sander moved to fully fund the $60,000 scholarship request from Teaching Tree.
Jamaal Curry seconded. Sander: This will serve 60 families with incomes under 50 percent
AMI.
VOTE: Unanimous, in favor. Motion passed.
SECOND ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to reduce funding to Teaching Tree to $50,000. Gordon Coombes
seconded. Browning: This amount will allow the organization to offer 50 scholarships
instead of 60, but everyone has to share the pain.
VOTE: 7-2 in favor, with Curry and Long opposed. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-26 IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000.
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PS-27 — Volunteers of America: Nutrition Services -- $39,200 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Emily Sander moved to partially fund the request from VOA in the amount of $29,200. Bob
Browning seconded. Sander: This amount covers 9,900 nutritious home-delivered meals.
Browning: There is a greater presumed benefit to the delivered meals, since the communal
meals are open to the public and you don’t have to show proof of need to eat. Curry:
Disagree. Over the next three years, VOA will lose funding from United Way, which means
losing 6,700 meals a year. Communal meals also provide a social benefit to a population
that can use the companionship.
VOTE: 7-2 in favor, with Curry and Rios opposed. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-27 IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,200.
PS-28 — Women’s Resource Center: Dental Connections -- $55,465 requested
FIRST ROUND:
Kay Rios moved to fully fund the $55,465 request for Dental Connections. Margaret Long
seconded. Rios: The amount is just over what they received last year. Long: This is a great
use of volunteer dentists, and it serves both men and women. Dental care can make a
significant impact on low-income residents. I have a concern with the level of funding. We
should be more realistic with what we have available.
VOTE: 2 in favor (Rios and Long), 7 opposed. Motion failed.
SECOND ROUND:
Bob Browning moved to fund Dental Connections in the amount of $34,802. Jamaal Curry
seconded. Browning: This amount will fund the top two priorities in the application, a dental
specialist and lab fees.
VOTE: 8-1 in favor, with Emily Sander opposed. Motion passed.
RECOMMENDATION: FUND PS-28 IN THE AMOUNT OF $34,802.
FINAL VOTE ON FUNDING MATRIX
Bob Browning moved that the Commission accept the total funding matrix as balanced.
Gordon Coombes seconded. Rios: There were some decisions made by the Commission that
she was not comfortable with, because all the programs are worthy of support, but with the
dollars available, they can’t fund everything.
VOTE: Matrix accepted unanimously. Motion passed.
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Heidi Phelps said staff will put the Commission’s recommendations into a package for
consideration by City Council on May 15. She thanked the Commissioners for their hard
work and acknowledged the difficulty of their decisions.
Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.