HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Block Grant Commission - Minutes - 02/09/20171
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
222 Laporte Ave, Fort Collins
February 9, 2017, 6:00PM
COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT:
Holly Carroll – Chair
Margaret Long – Vice-Chair
Anita Basham
Sara Maranowicz
Amy Dondale
Annette Zacharias
Steve Backsen
Taylor Dunn
Serena Robb
COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT:
Deb Westcott - Resigned
STAFF PRESENT:
Sharon Thomas – Staff Liaison
Tina Hopkins-Dukes – Minute Taker
Beth Rosen
At 6:03 pm the meeting was called to order by Chair, Holly Carroll.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
Holly Carrol nominated Taylor Dunn for Chair. Steve Backsen seconded. Passed unanimously
Margaret Long nominated Holly Carroll for Vice Chair seconded by Amy Dondale. Passed
unanimously
PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
INTRODUCTION OF NEW COMMISSION MEMBERS:
Serena Robb – Appointed at Tuesday, February 7 Council meeting. Robb has lived in Fort Collins
for 25 years and worked with nonprofits for ten years. She currently splits her time between
the public library and Realities for Children.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Margaret Long made a motion to approve the January minutes, Amy Dondale seconded the
motion. Passed unanimously
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DISCUSS AND APPROVE LETTER TO COUNCIL:
A letter was written by the Commission to Council to show appreciation for the additional
$100,000 in Human Service Program dollars added to the Competitive Process. Edits were made
and Taylor Dunn asked for a motion to approve the letter. Annette Zacharias made the motion
seconded by Margaret Long. Passed unanimously
UNITED WAY COMMUNITY IMPACT FUNDS DISCUSSION – MARGARET LONG
Margaret Long explained United Way of Larimer County’s funding changes for certain types of
organizations. Discretionary funds are down and 2/3 of undesignated funds are going to the
collaborative groups with the other 1/3 ($150,000) going to basic needs funding. The discussion
about how to best use this very small amount of funds has been ongoing for several months
and the decision has now been made to use the $150,000 for basic needs but to give it to the
supportive services that feed into the collaborative groups. The agencies that do not fit will no
longer receive funding which includes those that serve seniors and individuals with disabilities.
This is something to take into consideration when listening to presentations during our funding
process. Those that will not receive funding have been notified, however, their financials will
not reflect this change since they will be reporting funds for 2016.
Annette Zacharias mentioned that this is a huge change from the past decade and that donors
want to see measureable outcomes, the need is still there but the funds are not. The Daniels
Fund is not funding outside the Denver area any longer either.
Sara Maranowicz said that funders still fundamentally care about basic needs but the
philosophy regarding how to best approach those big challenges are changing. Poverty rates
are going up and the number of nonprofits is growing so current processes are not working.
Finding ways to utilize other resources to combat these problems is the new focus. Looking at
policy changes and community focused change is what is driving data and outcomes and
looking at data points that can be measured by the services in the community rather than the
individual program.
Steve Backsen talked about looking at how creative organizations are at finding others to
partner with to help meet the needs of the community, such as utilizing CSU students.
PUBLIC FACILITY APPLLICATION DISCUSSION:
Sharon Thomas informed the Commission that someone contacted the City to apply for Public
Facility funding. She stated that based on the Affordable Housing Strategic Plan and the
Consolidated Plan, Public Facility is not a priority for City funding. Since there isn’t a separate
application form for Public Facility, this application will be submitted as a Public Service
application and additional requests for information might be made.
REVIEW OF SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIC PLAN:
Previous Chair, Holly Carroll, asked the Commission members to review the strategic plan
before presentations. One of the questions on the Public Service application asks if the
applicant aligns with Social Sustainability’s strategic plan and how. Sharon Thomas explained
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that there are four theme areas and each area has specific goals. The applicant needs to say
what area and goal they align with and how. They do not have to align with all areas and goals
but they need to explain how or why they align with at least one area and goal.
REVIEW OF COMPETITIVE PROCESS GUIDANCE TOOLS:
Sharon Thomas discussed the different guidance tools for the Competitive Process. Thomas
mentioned that the application itself is a tool as well as the presentations, asking questions and
when it comes to housing, the Affordable Housing Strategic Plan, the Consolidated Plan and the
priorities of the Affordable Housing Board. They will present their priority rakings on the final
night of presentations and Beth Rosen will provide a guidance chart and staff comments.
Thomas also provided copies of the Affordable Housing Strategic Plan Executive Summary with
the five priorities outlined.
Thomas said she would provide staff comments, the strategic plan, and a brief history of prior
funding for Public Service organizations including United Way funding. Taylor Dunn asked for
three years funding history of CDBG funds and for staff comments on housing to be on one
document. Beth Rosen assured Dunn that she would provide that document which will also
show how the request aligns with the strategic plan, goals, and history of funding.
STAFF REPORTS:
SAVA is doing background checks and preparing to make an offer for the Executive Director
position.
OTHER:
Holly Carroll, Margaret Long, Steve Backsen, Serena Robb, and Sara Maranowicz attended the
Board and Commission Super Meeting. They discussed possibly having Jeff Mihelich come to a
CDBG Commission meeting to speak about the “sit-lie” issue which addresses the use of public
spaces including benches and parks.
ADJOURNMENT:
Meeting was adjourned at 7:38 pm