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NEIGHBORHOOD & AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY BOARD MEETING -
CITY OF CLEARWATER
January 18, 2000
Present: Rev. William Graham Chair
Mayme W. Hodges Board Member
Howard Gro'th Board Member
Stephen Jefferies Board Member
Milly Joplin Board Member
William Turner, Sr. Board Member
Peggy M. Cutkomp Board Member - arrived 10:15 a.m.
Absent: Warren Hunt Board Member
Joyce L. Smith Board Member
Also Present: Nina Bandoni Assistant Housing Director
Michael Holmes Housing'Manager
Brenda Moses Board Reporter
The Chair called the meeting, to order at 10:00 a.m. at the Martin Luther
King Center.
To provide continuity for research,' items are in agenda order although not
necessarily discussed in that order.
ITEM 2-- Introduction of NAilAB Board Members
ITEM 3 -Approval of October 19, November 10 and November 16, 1999, Meeting
Minutes
Member Groth moved to approve the minutes 'of October 19, 1999,
November 10, 1999, and November 16, 1999, as submitted in written summation
to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM 4 - Citizens to be Heard
Jerry Spilatro, Executive Director of CSF (Community Service Foundation),
said the open house and ribbon cutting for the Foundation Village neighborhood
family center and the south Clearwater patrol station was successful.,
Approximately 70 people attended.
ITEM 5---Agency Presentations
Pinellas WORKS
Donald Rutledge, Youth Services Coordinator for Pinellas County Lockheed
Martin Pinellas WORKS, said Career Options is no longer involved in job training.
Lockheed Martin iMS is the current provider for job training education assessment,
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.. placement, and services for Pinellas County. One-stop centers in St. Petersburg,.
r , Pinellas Park, and Clearwater provide services by several agencies.
Pinellas WORKS, a collaboration of agencies, will provide different services
for Pinellas County citizens. Mr. Rutledge said this year he will manage. youth and
young adult programs for ages 14 and up. He said the St. Petersburg Summer
Program differs from the Federal program, which is mandated to provide year round
youth and young adult programs. Last year, 809 of applicants in the job-training
program were placed in work programs. This year, funding is minimal but goals are
unchanged. The City has reduced some dollars from this year's youth program.
The program seeks funds from grants and business owner assistance.
Pinellas- Opportunity Council
Joan Lanier of Pinellas Opportunity Council reviewed the program, which
provides heavy household cleaning and lawn maintenance services for senior
citizens who cannot perform these tasks nor afford help. While calls from
Protective Services require an agency response within 72 hours, all other clients are
served according to priority. Clearwater residents receive faster responses due to
the City's contribution. Demand exceeds available services due to limited funding
and the nature of work. Volunteers are difficult to attract. The majority of clients
are referred by other agencies. The program has requested assistance from local
businesses. Ms. Lanier said her staff of 14 speaks with clients, conducts site visits,
supervises new staff, ensures quality services is being provided, handled complaints
?t and required paperwork, schedules workloads, and performs preventative
maintenance on vehicles. She said the majority of clients are referrals from other .
agencies, however some clients personally call for assistance. Attempts are being
made to obtain assistance from local businesses.
ITEM 6 City of Clearwater Social Services Grant Program Presentation
City of Clearwater Human Relations Department
Staff Assistant Kathy Baird distributed a handout summarizing the
expenditures and goals of various agencies requesting funding for FY (fiscal year)
2000 and reviewed the program's background. Traditionally, the City's General
Fund has provided $65,000 to the Social Services Grant Program, a local program
not tied to Federal or State dollars. In 1993, the Commission made the program
competitive and available to all agencies serving Clearwater. Applications are sent
to agencies throughout the County and approximately 30 are returned. Program
advocates have requested increased funding. It appears most agencies funded by
the program provide childcare. Staff has streamlined the program and simplified the
application process by requiring one application for all social services grants.
Agency feedback is being gathered. Funded agencies are required to submit a
report on the effectiveness of their program and expended funds.
An agency representative discouraged use of the St. Petersburg and Pinellas
County Social Action format, as their applications are more labor intensive. Another
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agency representative requested the City review the community's changing needs
as large organizations always seem to be awarded funds. It was felt that NAHAB
(Neighborhood & Housing Advisory Board) should understand the community's
needs and welcome feedback. Ms. Baird said agencies receiving NAHAB approved
funds are not discouraged from applying to the Social Services Grant Program. The
program's original purpose was to serve smaller grassroots organizations.
ITEM 7 -- Subroci lent Rankin ' S stem Discussion
Housing Manager Michael Holmes said NAHAB recently agreed upon a new
ranking system to determine agency funding. Five questions will constitute 70% of
the overall score. It was noted each question needs to be assigned a value.
Discussion ensued. It was remarked that some questions are more important. It is
important that each agency has the capacity and ability to use approved funding.
Unused funds are returned to the City.
Member Joplin moved to accept the five questions and assign a 14% weight
to each question. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Concern was expressed that .70% of the total score will be based on five
questions. It was remarked that applications will be summarized.
ITEM 8 - FY 1999-00 Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisor Board
Meeting Schedule
It was reported that the September, October, and November 2000 meetings
will be at 10:00 a.m. It was requested that Girls, Inc., Boys and Girls Club, and
CSF be invited to speak on April 18, 2000. Partners in Self-Sufficiency and Family
Resources had requested an1nvitation to the meeting. Staff will coordinate
speakers.
Concern was expressed that subgrantee reports should include progress
reports and yearly accomplishments, and not report on an agency's organization or
basic information. Ms. Bandon! said staff has created a report format with that
information. Staff suggested NAHAB members submit concerns prior to the next
meeting. It was requested that staff reports be dated. Only social service category
agencies must submit monthly reports. She said one agency has utilized the
housing pool. Other agencies are expending funds from the prior year, Staff is
developing pool policies and procedures. A workshop is planned.
ITEM 9 - Neighborhood and Affordable Housing Advisor Board Term Limit
Discussion
Ms. Bandoni reviewed term limits. The Legal Department is reviewing
Member Groth's status, as he does not currently provide low-income housing.
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ITEM 10 - Old Business
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It was remarked that the City will not permit for-profit businesses to
compete with not-for-profit businesses this year. It was felt the NAHAB should
discuss this issue further.
Ms. Bandon! expressed concern that only three NAHAB members had
completed the surveys. All subrecipients had returned the surveys. She said she
has established many contacts throughout the industry, which can be valuable to
NAHAB. '
ITEM 11 - New Business
Mr. Holmes recommended the NAHAB establish rules regarding presentations
by the public, agencies, and the NAHAB. It was felt that agencies should not
engage in discussions at NAHAB meetings: It was stated anyone wishing to speak
must first obtain permission from the Chair. Others felt that NAHAB should listen
to everyone who takes the time to attend meetings as NAHAB serves all citizens.
ITEM 12 - Announcements/Board Comments
Beth Giliam of the Mustard Seed said she also represents the Pinellas County
Coalition for the Homeless. She announced Pinellas County's Community
Development Department is holding a.public forum on January 20, 2000 at the
Supervisor of Elections Service Center. The forum will address community needs
for housing, homelessness, and services. The County will use forum information to
develop a five-year consolidated plan. She anticipated the City's Housing Office
also will use some information for the City's five-year plan.
ITEM 13 - Next Meeting Date Is February 15, 2000
ITEM 14 - Adiourn
The meeting adjourned at 11:38 a.m,
z Java,-
Chair, Neighborho d & Affordable
Housing Advisory Board
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