HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-03-10 Budget Committee Minutes
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
MARCH 10, 2005- PAGE 1 OF 4
Social Services Grant Presentations
Draft Minutes
March 10, 2005 7pm
Civic Center, Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street
This meeting is a continuation of the meeting from March 9, 2005.
CALL TO ORDER
The Citizen’s Budget Subcommittee meeting for Social Service Grants was called to
order at 7:05 pm on March 10, 2005, in the Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 E.
Main Street Ashland, Oregon.
ROLL CALL
Councilor Hartzell, Silbiger were present. Budget Committee members Bond, Lininger,
Mackris, Olsen, and Thompson were present.
STAFF PRESENT: LEE TUNEBERG, FINANCE DIRECTOR
CINDY HANKS, PROJECT COORDINATOR
BRYN MORRISON, ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY
PUBLIC INPUT
None
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
The Committee agreed to hear the presentation by Trinity Respite which did not present
the night before.
Elizabeth Hallett, Trinity Respite Center- Requested $3,000.Ms. Hallett explained the
program. They providesenior care in the community. They give support to the families
of seniors. She explained that they encourage in home care and the senior staying in
surroundings they are familiar with. Ray Olsen, Budget Committee member asked about
the demographic page. Ms. Hallett explained that they are trying to grow and are now
serving 20 families in the day program in Ashland. Mr. Olsen asked why they did not
apply to Medford. Ms. Hallett responded that they are serving more people from
Ashland than any where else.Mr. Olsen asked if the program is faith based. Ms. Hallett
responded that it is not.
Councilor Cate Hartzell spoke to materials that she distributed. See attached. They
speak to the five elements that define safety net services. She would like to have an
orientation for the Committee for education of the historyof the grant before each year’s
process.
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
MARCH 10, 2005- PAGE 2 OF 4
ALLOCATIONS
The Committee was asked, prior to the discussion of allocations, to complete their
specific proposed allocations and submit to the Finance Department. See attached.
The Committee stated that in the future they would like to see from grantees, what the
funds previously granted were used for. James Bond, Budget Committee member
stated that program auditing is essential and the City should have a procedure for
auditing. Ms. Hartzell recommended that a Committee could do some site visits to do
auditing.
Councilor Russ Silbiger stated that the Committee should look at what organizations are
safety net services and should not fund others that are not. Mr. Olsen suggested
funding Ashland organizations first before others.
Easter Seals-The Committee discussed the organization and that they were not a safety
net service. Hartzell/Lininger m/s $0 for Easter Seals. All ayes.
Community Works-Parent Education- Ms. Hartzell felt that this program would help
intervene and keep children out of other agencies. Mr. Lininger proposed less to provide
more for other safety net services. Mr. Silbiger agreed. The Committee had a majority
consensus of $1,400.
Community Works-Personal Safety- Kathleen Mackris, Budget Committee member
feels that it is a worthwhile organization. Lynn Thompson, Budget Committee member
felt that they did not serve Ashland and they need to come back to the Committee with a
specific plan on how they would serve Ashland. Mr. Silbiger stated that the City gave
them money last year and it wasn’t used for Ashland. The Committee had a majority
consensus of $0.
Help Now! Advocacy Center- Mr. Silbiger was not comfortable with their proposal and
the plan to use the funds. Mr. Olsen felt that they did not know enough about what the
organization did and was not part of the safety net services. Ms. Hartzell felt that they
should give them $1,000 for a seed grant to help them get started and felt that they are
doing some safety net services. Ms. Thompson felt that they are trying to serve people
that may not have anywhere else to turn and worth taking a chance on. Silbiger/Hartzell
m/s $1000 for Help Now! 6 in favor, Lininger apposed.
OnTrack- The Committee had a majority consensus of $2,000.
RV Manor- Mr. Lininger felt that the funds for Senior Volunteers would provide mostly
for mileage reimbursement. The Committee had a majority consensus of $1,300 for
Senior Volunteer. Mr. Lininger stated that it is important to fund because of the federal
requirement that they face. The Committee had a majority consensus of $1,000 for
Foster Grandparent.
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
MARCH 10, 2005- PAGE 3 OF 4
Rogue Valley SMART-Mr. Bond supported heavily because reading is an important
skill. Ms. Thompson agreed but struggled with if it met the safety net services. Ms.
Hartzell felt it did not meet the safety net services and suggested that they look for
funding through the Youth Activities Levy. Lininger/ Silbiger m/s $0. 6 in favor, Bond
apposed. The Committee recommended that they look to the Youth Activities Levy for
support.
The Salvation Army- Mr. Silbiger stated that he proposes not to fund due to
discrimination in hiring practices. Mr. Bond agreed. Mr. Lininger stated that he is
sympathetic to that argument, but views request as direct assistance for essential
survival needs. Mr. Olsen asked if a requirement to receive services is that clients are
required to seek faith counseling. Carrie Hanson from the Salvation Army stated that it
is not a requirement. Mr. Lininger asked Ms. Hanson what specifically these funds
would go towards. She responded that they would go towards the family services office.
Thompson/Lininger m/s $1,900 proposal.
SOASTC- Ms. Hartzell sees value in respite care. Mr. Bond agreed. The Committee had
a majority consensus of $1,000.
Southern Oregon Child Study and Treatment Center- Mr. Silbiger stated that he would
like to propose $2,500. Ms. Thompson felt it was a lot of funding for a small number of
people and was concerned on criteria for treatment. Mr. Olsen felt it was too small of an
amount for much needed funds that society should provide. Ms. Hartzell suggested that
they could specify that recipients be qualified to meet criteria for OHP for instance.
Hartzell/Lininger m/s $3,000 proposal. 4 in favor, Thompson, Olsen, Silbiger apposed.
SODA- Ms. Hartzell did not see it as safety net service. Mr. Bond felt that employee
assistance programs are very important. The Committee discussed that they allocated
more funds toward OnTrack than SODA. The Committee would like to see the program
last more throughout the year rather than once per year. The Committee had a majority
consensus of $1,500.
Trinity Respite Center-Ms. Hartzell reemphasized that respite is important. The
Committee had a majority consensus of $1,000.
CASA- The Committee had a majority consensus of $2,500.
Center for Nonprofit Legal Services- Ms. Hartzel proposed they received $5,500 for the
incredible amount of work they do.
Community Health Center- Hartzell/Thompson m/s to fund $30,600.
Dunn House- Mr. Lininger would like to fund full request. Mr. Silbiger felt it was one of
the most important ones on the list. Ms. Thompson stated only 21 are served in
Ashland. She felt that they need to balance city support. The Committee had a majority
consensus of $15,000. 6 approved. Lininger apposed, he would like to fund more.
BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING
MARCH 10, 2005- PAGE 4 OF 4
Help Line-The Committee had a majority consensus of $7,000. 6 approved. Lininger
apposed, he would like to fund more.
SART- The Committee discussed similarities to Community Works Sexual Assault. Ms.
Hartzell approved of SART over Community Works. Mr. Lininger approved of SART’s
dedication to SOU. Ms. Thompson was concerned that SART was new and the
numbers are small, Community Works is more established. The Committee had a
majority consensus of $2,500 for SART and Community Works Sexual Assault. Ms.
Hartzell apposed.
ICCA- Mr. Olsen supports full funding. The Committee had a majority consensus of
$14,000.
Mediation Works- Mr. Lininger would prefer to fund ICCA. Ms. Thompson and Mr.
Silbiger agreed. The Committee had a majority consensus of $2,000.
Options for Southern Oregon- Mr. Lininger did not see the need for the equipment and
how it related to the organization’s mission. Mr. Silbiger and Ms. Thompson agreed. The
Committee had a majority consensus of $2,000.
Planned Parenthood- The Committee had a majority consensus of $2,000. Mr. Lininger
did not support $2,000. Silbiger/Olsen m/s $2,000. 5 approved, Hartzell and Lininger
apposed.
The Committee discussed how to limit the funding to $110,000. Ms. Hartzell
recommended reducing SOCSTC by $500 and $500 from SODA and ask the Budget
Committee to accept the $400 over the $110,000. Lee Tuneberg, Finance Director
suggested taking $400 from Community Health Center. Committee agreed.
Silbiger/Lininger m/s to forward the allocations as decided to the full budget committee
for approval. All ayes.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00pm.
Respectively Submitted,
Bryn Morrison
Administrative Secretary