Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Block Grant Commission - Minutes - 01/11/20181 CDBG - January 11, 2018 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 215 North Mason, Fort Collins January 11, 2018 – 6:00 PM COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Taylor Dunn – Chair (2017 session) Amy Dondale Anita Basham Margaret Long Olga Duvall Sara Maranowicz Serena Robb Stacia Ryder Steve Backsen COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Adam Molzer – Staff Liaison At 6:05 PM the meeting was called to order by (2017) Chair Taylor Dunn. PUBLIC COMMENT: One member of the public (Josh Johnson) was present and introduced himself, but made no particular comment. INTRODUCTIONS & WELCOME NEW COMMISSION MEMBERS: Introductions of all members were conducted. New commission members Olga Duvall and Stacia Ryder were introduced for the 2018 session. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Margaret Long asked that her name be noted as “absent” on the minutes for November 2017. Also, Holly Carroll should be noted as “absent” for November 2017. Serena Robb stated that although she was present in November 2017, she departed the meeting at 7:00 PM. Amy Dondale made a motion to approve the November 2017 minutes as amended, seconded by Anita Basham. The motion passed unanimously. TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE BOARD COMMISSION/ENGAGEMENT Sam Solt (Chair, Economic Advisory Commission) and Ted Settle (Vice Chair, Economic Advisory Commission member) presented the CDBG Commission Members with a document titled 2 CDBG - January 11, 2018 “Proposal to Enhance the Effectiveness of Boards and Commissions.” Sam Solt solicited Commission commentary on the proposal’s goal to improve the overall effectiveness of the five Boards and Commissions that together comprise Fort Collins Sustainability Services. They began a high-level discussion to clarify the proposal’s genesis, environment, issues, propositions and ultimate goals that are open-ended. The proposal suggests reducing overlapping dynamics, enhancing interagency communications, synergy of the aligned goals from each Board and Commission thus, leading to an enhanced, more engaged advisory process with the City Council. The structure of the Board and Commissions interconnection is currently being examined with a focus on the areas that Jacqueline Kozak-Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Fort Collins oversees. The final proposition would eventually be presented to the “Futures Committee” section of the City Council in March or April of 2018. Stacia Ryder and Sam Solt discussed the use of a “Template” that the Women’s Commission utilizes to organize and facilitate agency communications which was helpful in advancing succinct positions to the City Council. After Stacia Ryder explained the usefulness of the tool, Sam Solt and Ted Settle agreed that the Template would be helpful to this effort. Sam Solt pointed out that the Super Issues Meetings were troublesome due to a weak format and lack of substantive interaction thereby becoming ineffective overall. This, he said, exemplified the need for a review of the current processes. Taylor Dunn offered that the purposes of our Commission are more definite due to a specific task and particularized end result being the recommendations to the City Council. This narrow focus facilitates a more concrete format in the CDBG Commission’s activities. Margaret Long suggested that perhaps the Commission could eventually consider amplifying its purpose and even consider engaging as high as the County level as a potential outcome through this proposal process. Anita Basham emphasized that leadership from City Council is essential to execute these ideas, especially due to the time commitment involved. Sam Solt replied that the Mayor was “on board” and Ted Settle offered that over a year’s work has been expended on the issues and encouraging full commitment of the City Council. Sam Solt and Ted Settle concluded their presentation by thanking the Commission for their time and iterating that they hope the Commission considers becoming a part of this endeavor. Also, that it’s an especially significant time period with the current growth of the City of Fort Collins. Subsequently, they exited the meeting at 6:47 PM. Steve Becksen stated that the Commission should consider the proposal more fully for efficiency purposes and Anita Basham agreed that Board and Commission agendas could overlap and that the proposal is worthy of attention. General discussion that this Commission might have a different perspective (perhaps due to our specific focus and access to particular data) versus the goals and perspectives of other City Commissions and Boards. Thereafter, discussion ensued regarding the particular purposes, activities and goals of the Economic Advisory Commission. Consensus among the Commission members that the schedule is more flexible during and after April 2018 for any activities with regard to the proposal and that timing and logistics issues need to be thoroughly considered with the proposal schedule as well. Adam Molzer mentioned that the Affordable Housing Board made a decision to assess the proposal further before considering selection of a Board liaison to assist in achieving the proposal’s goals aforementioned. 3 CDBG - January 11, 2018 No specific resolution was made at this time. UPDATED MATERIALS FOR 2018 Adam Molzer distributed 1) Current Contact Information, 2) Attendance Summary 2017, 3) A Calendar of Important Competitive Process Dates and Deadlines, and 4) Human Service Programs and Housing Program snapshot report. Adam Molzer mentioned that a report is being generated regarding Diversity, Inclusion and Equity within Boards and Commissions, which will be finalized and published in the near future. COMPETITIVE PROCESS STATUS Adam Molzer discussed the Competitive Process Status Updates. He noted the following: • Website Changes and Documents added • Streamlined website navigation • Competitive Process Basics • Application Guide which navigates the entire applications process • A new “Eligibility Quiz” explaining eligibility in a helpful format • Applications Questions in one document • Public Facility Application Checklist & Guidelines • Contract examples for Grantee docs updated • How to make a Five Minute Presentation article links • Legal Public Notice The pre-application window has been opened as of last Wednesday (January 3, 2018). We anticipate a similar number of total applications as prior years. Adam Molzer will continue to offer optional technical assistance on the applications process. The applications will be available mid-February 2018 for the Commission review before the presentations. Commission members will get online access and passwords will be sent electronically. Adam will provide guidance regarding the focus and fit of the grants to the Commission, with an emphasis towards the established social sustainability and affordable housing goals. Schedule deadlines, dates and focus for each meeting date was discussed and strategy was clarified. Discussion that the March 7, 2018 meeting was scheduled to facilitate assembly of additional inquiry points by the Commission members in an effort to streamline the Presentations process. Adam noted that he made very few applications alterations other than modest format and language changes. Commission members committed to the schedule with any suggestions to be made in the future if timelines are too taut. Adam Molzer mentioned that funding for this year and last year is comparable. Discussion ensued on the difficult process to allocate funds and whether the process that the City of 4 CDBG - January 11, 2018 Loveland utilizes can be incorporated in the future. No specific resolution was made at the present time. Adam Molzer stated that eliminating videotape but keeping audiotape of the presentations is being explored. Commission members advocated for keeping videotape because the record was valuable, especially when considering repeat applications. Adam Molzer committed to exploring alternative video options. Adam Molzer reported that the presentation guidelines are now more standardized along with changes to allotted time per presentation. Human Services Applications have become 6-minute presentations with a 9-minute Question & Answer period for a total of 15 minutes. Housing will consist of a 7-minute presentation with a 15-minute Question & Answer period for a total of 22 minutes. STAFF REPORTS Adam reported the following updates: 1. Pat Parker, Executive Director retires from Crossroads Safe House in the Spring. 2. Neighbor to Neighbor’s Steve Kuehneman is transitioning to Care Housing as Executive Director. 3. Marcy Yoder, VP resigned from United Way. 4. Erin Zimmerman is moving to the City of Fort Collins from United Way. 5. Missey Toomey, Grant Administrator retires from Elderhaus Adult Day Programs. 6. Laura Larson resigned from SAVA in November. 7. Mary Beth Swanson is no longer at Voices Carry Child Advocacy Center and has been replaced by Robert Fallbeck. OTHER Taylor Dunn (Chair 2017) mentioned that the Commission needed to consider a vote for Chair and Vice-Chair for 2018. He will send an email regarding nominations for each position. Taylor Dunn mentioned that the chair and Vice-Chair position could be rotated. Taylor Dunn made a motion that the vote would take place at the February 8, 2018 meeting, seconded by Amy Dondale. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 8:05 PM.