HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-12-2009
ACI T Y OF HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
N MINUTES
WASHINGTON May 12, 2009
L CALL TO ORDER
The May meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. in Conference Room Three located on the
second floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA.
Committee Members present: Chair Suzanne Limric, Marian Thomas, Virginia Lloyd, Tony Ladner,
Michael Harbin, Gary Masterjohn and Bette Van Gasken
Not in attendance: JoAnne Walters and Barbara Derda
Staff present: Human Services Principal Planner Michael Hursh, Community Services
Project Assistant Kirsten Reynolds and Mayor Pete Lewis
Guests present: Shelley Puariea, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of KC
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Discussion of April 14th minutes:
o Clarification was made regarding Bette Van Gasken's role at Green River Community
College. Ms. Van Gasken helps college students get grants.
o The question about moving the emergency generator switch to the Senior Center
was never answered. UPDATE: It would cost $30,000-40,000 to move the
switch from the planed Community Center to the Senior Center.
Committee Member Ladner moved to accept the April 14, 2009 minutes as revised; Member
Thomas seconded the motion.
The April 14, 2009 minutes were approved.
III AGENDA
A. Boys & Girls Club of King County Presentation
Special guest Shelley Puariea of the Boys & Girls Club spoke about the work their agency
has accomplished in Auburn. The agency just turned 102 years old; originally starting as
an after school sports program, they still have sports activities but the focus has been
shifted towards education.
Their Auburn site is housed at Firwood Circle, an old home converted in to a multi-
functional facility. Currently their goals are to give discipline, guidance and keep kids in
school. Firwood Circle partners with the Auburn School District to offer a free lunch
program. Teachers are encouraged to call staff at Firwood Circle to discuss specific
school subject help for kids. They have a"power hour" session when kids are required
to focus on their homework for one hour.
FirWood Circle opens at 6:30 a.m. and has 30-40 kids a day; they have had up to 255
members in a year. They are hosting a"career launch" for the kids where they learn about
different positions in a specific profession; this program is used to open up a wide variety of
options for future careers. The clients served at FirWood are primarily Ukrainian, Hispanic
and Somali youth.
The Boys & Girls Club agency has been able to build their first Teen Center in Federal
Way. Auburn teens utilize the facility to learn how to get internships. They also have a late
night program on Friday nights for teens. Mayor Pete Lewis talked about the City wanting
to partner with the Boys & Girls Club.
Chair Limric commented she would like to see more outreach being done, there is huge
need for this agencies support services here in Auburn. Boys & Girls Clubs are hard to
support but are very worth while and the HS Committee would like to ensure they continue
to receive funding but continue to serve more kids. Partnering with the COA will allow
better assessable by being centrally located.
Member Lloyd commented she'd like to see the Boys & Girls Club branch out by doing
more outreach in the schools. The Committee had discussion about operating a shuttle for
picking up youth at the Middle and High Schools to get them to after school programs.
Once parents are aware of programs they are more apt to get involved and volunteer in the
programs. The shuttle would be operated by the Parks and Recreation Department.
B. Finances for the Human Services Committee
Additional funding will be coming available to the Human Services Committee. The
additional funds will come from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to the City
of Auburn for a one time only stimulus package opportunity; funding of $108,000 in addition
to the $406,000 Auburn has already been awarded.
The additional CDBG stimulus funding will need to have a public process done by June 5tn
and include a seven day public comment period. One option to use this funding being
reviewed is to build a"boundless" play ground at the new Community Center. A
"boundless" play ground is one where all children with, or with out handicaps can play; this
would be a good use for the funds and for the neighborhood.
C. Community Center
Mayor Lewis gave an update on the planned Community Center. Auburn City Council has
moved forward with funding the $8.3 million Community Center Building. Council will need
to agree on the process for awarding the bid; once agreed, bids will come in for review
within 45 days. The City of Auburn has already put in $1.9 million. Other possible partners
could include the Boys & Girls Club, King County, etc.
D. Public Health Immunizations
Public Health announced they would no longer be offering immunizations in Auburn;
services were dropped at the beginning of the year, 2009. Public Health is still offering free
immunizations in Federal Way, Renton and Seattle. Several Committee Members
expressed concerns that resident of Auburn need this service and may not be able to get
to the other locations to receive the immunizations; this is of high concern to the Members.
E. South King County Mobile Medical Project Update
Mayor Lewis and Michael Hursh met several times with King County regarding their mobile
medical van. The County created this medical van for the south county area which comes
to the Auburn area twice a month. Public Health is also giving dental exams out of the van.
The South King County Mobile Medical Project focuses around nine different school
districts, including Auburn. Their population focus is prioritized by single adults who are
chronically homeless. Staff help address common barriers to accessing services such as
mental illness, chemical dependency and distrust of agencies that can offer help. Scope of
services included medical triage and acute (non-emergent) care, assessment of chronic
conditions and assistance in navigating the way to services like housing and other health
and social services.
F. Human Services Committee Manual
The HS draft manual was discussed; the Committee would like to have a hardcopy manuai
with dividers to store monthly meeting information. Mr. Hursh said he would have
something put together along with an introduction packet for new committee members.
IV. NEXT MEETING
On the schedule for upcoming meetings: Health Care and Substance Abuse, followed by
Domestic Violence then Poverty Reduction.
The next meeting is scheduled for June 9, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.
V. ADJOURNMENT .
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm
APPROVED THE t'Oday of 2009.
Su nne imric, C ir Kirst n R ynolds o uni y Services Project Assistant