Title
Social Service Human Relations Board
Minutes of the Special Meeting, January 29, 2015
Body
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
President Biggs called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Present were Vice President Villareal, and members Williams, Hyman, Radding, Blake, and Sorensen.
1-A. WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBER MARK SORENSEN
President Biggs welcomed Mark Sorensen to the Board.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the special meeting of November 20, 2014 were approved as presented.
M/S Radding / Williams Approved 6-0-1 (New Member Sorensen abstained.)
3. AGENDA ITEMS
3.A PRESENTATION BY PRESIDENT BIGGS OF SUMMARY REPORT ON HOMELESS COUNT CONDUCTED IN CITY OF ALAMEDA ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2014.
President Biggs shared that only change that was made to the draft homeless count summary report was the addition to item #1 to request that the Housing Authority set aside five or six units for the long-term homeless identified in the homeless count. The purpose for putting the summary report on tonight's agenda is for the Board to take action on determining what the next steps will be. President Biggs added that he had participated in the Alameda County homeless count, and that its process was totally different than the one that the Board had undertaken in September. The County conducted its count at sites providing services to the homeless, and, other than Midway Shelter, the City of Alameda has no such service delivery sites.
A discussion ensued as to whether the Board should conduct a second count. Given the fact that it had rained the morning of the first count, it was suggested that the data may have been skewed due to some of the homeless not being at their usual locations, and that the second count should be conducted in the summer. It was agreed that the community volunteers participating in the count felt that the experience had been worthwhile, and that they seemed enthusiastic to participate in a second count, if another count was conducted. Concerns were voiced regarding the confidentiality of the data collected at the first count, and the possible unintended negative consequences, if the information were to be made public. President Biggs shared that, only the volunteers participating in the count knew the exact locations of those contacted, and that the data provided to the public in the Board's report would maintain the confidentiality of these individuals.
A motion was made that the SSHRB make a report to the City Council, including information and data collected at the Board's homeless count conducted on September 24th 2014. The report would include the challenges posed by the rain the morning of the count, and that the Board intends to conduct a second count, no later than July 30th, 2015. M/S Hyman / Villareal Unanimous
3-B. DEVELOPMENT OF BOARD'S PROCESS TO EVALUATE, SCORE, AND MAKE FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING FY 15-16 CDBG NON-HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC SERVICES PROPOSALS
President Biggs began the discussion by providing an overview of the CDBG process. The CDBG funds available for public services are limited to 15% of the total annual grant and program income from the prior year, and in recent years have gone to agencies providing safety net services, such as Midway Shelter and the Food Bank. Last year, the amount available for public services was approximately $190,000. Last year's scoring process was a challenge, and SSHRB's recommendation differed from that of CDBG\AHA staff for the first time since the Board had been engaged in the process. This past year there have been a number of discussions with CDBG\AHA staff regarding the process for FY 15\16. Funding for Eden I&R's 2-1-1 program and ECHO's Fair Housing program will be taken off the top of the 15% available for Public Services, and the remaining funds will be available to nonprofits serving Alamedans through the standard competitive RFP process used in the past.
President Biggs and member Radding have provided the Board's input regarding the RFP and scoring criteria, and at this evening's meeting, we will have a discussion as to the process the Board will use to evaluate and score the proposals, and make funding recommendations. CDBG\AHA staff will post the qualifying applications on a website which Board members can access to participate in the scoring process. President Biggs shared that the Board has the choice of having each member participate in scoring the applications and making the recommendations, or appointing a committee to undertake this process. He added that, a high score would not necessarily guarantee that the nonprofit would receive 100% of the funds it requested.
After a discussion, it was agreed that all Board members would participate in scoring and making the funding recommendations. Members would score the applications and submit their scores to staff to be included in the packet for the next Board meeting. At the meeting, the Board members would review the scores and make recommendations as to which applications would receive funding, and the amount each which would receive. It was noted that this process may require more than one meeting. The Board's recommendations would then be forwarded to CDBG\AHA staff.
A Motion was made for all Board members to participate in the process of scoring CDBG Public Service
applications, and that a Special Meeting be scheduled for early March, at which time the Board will review the scores and make funding recommendations.
M/S Blake / Hyman Unanimous
4. BOARD/STAFF COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA
Member Williams asked that an item requesting that the Board / ATAH consider promoting and supporting Berkeley's Bay Area Rainbow Summer Day Camp for transgender and gender expansive youth be placed on a future agenda.
Vice-President Villareal reported that the screening of "Facing Fear" at the Historic Alameda Theatre drew a crowd of more than 300. The screening was followed by a Q&A with the film's director and two subjects.
Henry thanked the Board for providing financial support for this event.
President Biggs announced a series of fundraisers for APC, MOW, and Midway Shelter on February 2 and 3. All proceeds will go to the non-profits.
Member Hyman announced that AEA and IAFF Local 689 are having a crab feed fund raiser on March 21 benefitting APC and AFS.
Staff announced that February is Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Month.
5. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS- NONE
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM. M\S Hyman \ Sorensen UNANIMOUS
Respectfully submitted by:
Jim Franz
Secretary