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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Block Grant Commission - Minutes - 07/14/20161 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 215 N Mason Street, Fort Collins July 14, 2016, 6:00PM COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Holly Carroll – Chair Margaret Long –Vice- Chair Anita Basham Deb Westcott Taylor Dunn Amy Dondale Annette Zacharias COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Steve Backsen STAFF PRESENT: Sharon Thomas – Staff Liaison Tina Hopkins-Dukes – Minute Taker The meeting was called to order by Chair, Holly Carroll, at 6:08 pm. PUBLIC COMMENT: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Annette Zacharias motioned to approve the April minutes and Anita Basham seconded the motion. Deb Westcott abstained. Motion passed 6-0-1 Margaret Long motioned to approve the June minutes and Anita Basham seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. BFO/ COMPETITIVE PROCESS: Sharon Thomas reviewed the discussion from the June meeting regarding United Way funding cuts and the 990 discussion. Thomas informed the Board that next year they would not receive the entire 990 due to the immensity in size. Amy Dondale requested keeping sections 7 & 10 from the 990. Annette Zacharias mentioned that the Balance Sheet is more accurate and current than the 990. Anita Basham reminded the Board about the discussion to improve the funding sources and uses sheet and to require applicants to submit our forms and not their own forms. The Board agreed to request Section 7, which is the Compensation of Officers and Employees and a current Balance Sheet. Holly Carroll mentioned mandatory technical training. Thomas explained that in the past it was required to attend a technical training. However, acting upon suggestions of outside Consultants, training became voluntary. Carroll suggested making technical assistance 2 mandatory for new agencies and optional for returning applicants. Annette Zacharias does not want to make technical assistance mandatory for all. Zacharias feels that the organization should take the initiative to ask for assistance rendering the organization accountable for the quality of their application. Carroll proposed using the term “highly recommend” rather than “mandatory” and the Board agreed. In terms of general training, Thomas suggested waiting until Spring 2017 to decide. Thomas mentioned that she is no longer managing the Affordable Housing portion of the Competitive Process; Beth Rosen will handle this area. Thomas stated that the Fall process has begun. Approximately $1.6 million dollars is available for Affordable Housing applicants. Thomas mentioned that Housing Authority has changed the name of Cunningham Corners to Villages on Shields. This is in keeping with the other names of their properties. Currently there are three applications; two from Housing Authority and one from DMA Plaza. Anita Basham mentioned how valuable it was to have the Affordable Housing Board available for clarification. Holly Carroll asked about the BFO Offer and whether the Human Service Program (HSP) would be receiving the additional funding we requested. Sharon Thomas said that was still unclear. The City Finance Department was uncertain of the amount of funding available to the BFO Outcome area; however, HSP is likely to receive some increase. Holly Carroll asked about the money that is to be allocated to the homeless in the BFO process. Sharon Thomas stated that the City has an offer for approximately $275,000 to fund some homelessness initiatives. Homelessness is at the forefront for Council members. Thomas reviewed the BFO timeline and created a breakdown for the BFO team of how the funding is being allocated currently. Carroll asked Thomas to share that information with the Board. Annette Zacharias agreed to draft a letter to Council. Margaret Long recommended asking applicants to provide their award letter from United Way since that would clearly identify the amount of funding the agency is receiving currently from United Way. Long stated that United Way’s available funds have decreased by approximately 40% of what was available last year. Annette Zacharias explained what it means to be a United Way employee at the Murphy Center. Zacharias said that the BFO offer to fund the United Way employee is being misinterpreted. Although the staff person is employed through United Way, the employee is actually a Homeless Gear employee. United Way handles the payroll process but bills the funder, which is Homeless Gear. STAFF REPORTS: Thomas reminded everyone about the “Love of Volunteers” event coming up in August and handed out thank you cards from one of the nonprofit grantees. Thomas mentioned that SAVA is looking for a new Executive Director and discussed some concerns with HPI. She received a thank you card for the grant payment and an email blaming others for problems within their 3 organization. Thomas also mentioned the grantee training scheduled for September and that it will be mandatory. OTHER: Holly Carroll asked to add the Strategic Plan to the agenda for August. ADJOURNMENT: Holly Carroll motioned to adjourn at 7:57 pm.