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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-09-2008 TYOF, ACIUBU WASHINGTON I. CALL TO ORDER The September Human Conference Room three Auburn, WA. HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES September 9, 2008 Services Committee meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. in located on the second floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Committee Members present were: Chair Suzanne Limric, Barbara Derda, Virginia Lloyd, Tony Ladner and Marian Thomas Not in attendance: Gary Masterjohn, Michael Harbin, Michael Cummings and JoAnne Walters Staff present were: Human Services Principal Planner Michael Hursh and Community Services Project Assistant Kirsten Reynolds II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Discussion of minutes: A correction to the minutes should reflect that Member Tony Ladner was not present at the August meeting and needs to be removed from the attendance column. Committee Member Barbara Derda moved to accept the August 12, 2008 minutes; Member Marian Thomas seconded. The August 12, 2008 minutes were approved. III AGENDA A. Jubilee Center- Member Virginia Lloyd gave a report on the Jubilee Center. Several points of discussion included, but were not limited to: a. They have an attorney that comes for client assistance. The attorney deals with a variety of issues including assistance in getting citizenship. b. A Native American dance crew uses the center as their hub. c. Both English and Spanish classes are taught to anyone interested. Member Lloyd also reported about being a member of the Multi Cultural Roundtable Group; she's been working with Duanna Richards, Community Services Manager, to represent the Hispanic community. They have met several times and she has had the benefit of being a part of this group. Michael Hursh spoke briefly about the Latino Friendship Center; initially they received start up money from the City but they haven't gotten funding in three years. There have been struggles to get an agency to run the center; no one has been willing to organize the group. B. Emergency Management Plan (EMP) Michael Hursh talked about the City's current Emergency Management Plan. Emergency housing needs originally fell under the lead department of Parks; now that the Human Services Division has been formed the Human Services Committee will need to take a look at what the plan currently entails and look for possible future improvements to the plan. The Committee briefly discussed the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training; several Members were interested in taking the next course. C. Funding - Michael Hursh reported calling Children's Home Society and Valley Cities regarding the Committee's question regarding program impacts if the agencies were partially funded; what would the major changes be, if any. Mr. Hursh has not heard a response from either agency. The Committee discussed the final funding recommendations which were previously reviewed. All Members agreed to move forward without changes to the final funding recommendation to the Planning and Community Development Committee (PCDC) for their review. Several Committee Members said they would be available to attend the PCDC meeting on September 22"d Member Barbara Derda moved to forward the final funding recommendations to PCDC; Member Marian Thomas seconded. All Members were in agreement, the motion carried. Discussion: the timeline for the final funding recommendations will go from PCDC on September 22, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers to City Council for review. Past timeframes have shown that the human services contracts should be approved by the end of November 2008. D. Upcoming Schedule Michael Hursh will arrange for ACAP's new acting Director Largo Wales to come meet with the Human Services Committee on October 14, 2008 for an annual update and review of the agency. E. ARCH Michael Hursh talked about the need to close the affordable housing gap and the growing need to support local residents. For the last 30+ years it has been documented Auburn residents are in need of affordable housing. Auburn's approach in the past to providing affordable housing has been reactive. ARCH is a Regional Coalition for Housing that promotes Cities to work together more effectively, several facts reviewed by the Committee include, but were not limited to: ? There are major gaps in the current delivery system. ? Increased local government involvement will support efforts of private sector housing developers. ? Funding awards would go through the ARCH Housing Trust Fund process so City contributions could be coordinated by its' members. ? Participating City Councils would adopt an interlocal agreement. After the Planning Commissions recommendations, Council would review and take action on programs, administrative budgets and land use issues. Mayor Pete Lewis and Michael Hursh have been working to form a southern region ARCH that will include: Auburn, Algona, Pacific, Kent and Federal Way. Together all five Cities will have discussions with King and Pierce County about the need to make changes. Together, the Cities will be able to apply to HUD for purchasing facilities; these facilities could be run by the individual City and/or by another Non-Profit agency. This type of set up would operate similar to a Housing Authority. Chair Limric talked about a similar effort that had been done in south King County in the past. Managers from the low income apartments had regular meetings to support each other with issues that popped up. The Committee was please to hear this effort was being pursued. Michael Hursh reported that HUD has a plan to give out $4 billion to Cities for purchasing homes in foreclosure; the homes would have to be maintained and utilized for programs. F. Members Currently there are two open positions to be filled on the Human Services Committee. Michael Hursh was asked to put the word out in the community. The Committee is seeking individuals who will be devoted to serve and represent Auburn's diverse community. IV. OLD BUSINESS No old business. The next meeting is scheduled for October 14, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. V. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m. APPROVED THE 14 day of October, 2008. rvices Project Assistant