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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 10-14-1998 SpecialADOPTED MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 14,1998 A special meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Mayor Tierney at 7:00 PM in the Public Safety Training Room, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., on October 14, 1998. This special meeting was called by the City Council to meet with officials from human services agencies serving Plymouth. COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Tierney; Councilmembers Black, Bildsoe, and Johnson. ABSENT: Councilmembers Wold, Preus, and Spigner. Councilmember Bildsoe was absent between 7:55 PM and 8:10 PM. STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Assistant Manager Lueckert, Housing Supervisor Ed Goldsmith, and Deputy City Clerk Hoffman. Others: Scott Harstad and Henry Willegalle. YMCA/Detached Worker Program Chad Lanners, Community Programs Manager, explained the $5,000 request for the 1999 Plymouth allotment. He said the programs at the Northwest YMCA served 143 youths in Plymouth in 1998. He said the figure does not include children from the Point Northwest program, which the Y recently took over. CONECT Collaborative Kris Korsmo, Coordinator for the project, said it is requesting $15,000 from the City of Plymouth for 1999, an increase from last year's City contribution of $7,725. She said the project serves 425 units at present, and would like to double that figure in the coming year. She said the project helped coordinate special neighborhood activities at Lakeview Commons during the National Night Out, for which they received an award. Teens Alone Lydia Kihm, Executive Director, said that Teens Alone is requesting a $2,000 contribution from the City of Plymouth. This is the same amount the program received in 1998, the fifth year of participation by Plymouth. She said the program has been called upon by Plymouth Police, and has been used as carrier for youths to The Bridge for Runaway Youth service. She said the program also handles after -crisis care through formation of support groups. She said the program would like to rent apartment units in the Teens Alone name, as a closer alternative to The Bridge. Senior Community Services Ben Withhart, Executive Director, said the program is asking for $12,500 for 1999, an increase from $12,200 in 1998. He said occupational therapy and physical therapy services can be provided upon request. He said the program has 52 contracted services regionally. He said their Adopted Minutes Special Council Meeting October 14, 1998 Page 2 services often amount to communities helping other communities. He said the program does not offer emergency services. He said there are plans to serve congregate dining in the proposed activity center. Councilmember Bildsoe left the meeting at 7:55 PM. West Suburban Mediation Center Sue Nelson, Executive Director, said the Center is requesting from Plymouth $4,000 for 1999, the same amount as it received in 1998. She said 10 cases were closed in 1997, the most recent figures available. She said within those cases, 27 Plymouth residents were involved. She said Plymouth representatives on the board are sometimes called upon to actively participate in the center's work. She said she works with part of the training program, but also depends upon outside trainers. Councilmember Bildsoe returned to the meeting at 8:10 PM. Employment Action Center Beth Hassel and Vetnita Anderson said the center is asking for $5,000 from the City of Plymouth, an increase from the $3,000 in 1998. Ms. Hassel said the center has its own computer database with 3,000 companies for placement. She said the placement process usually involves at least one counseling session, and often results in referring a person to other services. She said the closest office site is in St. Louis Park, although the Center can be reached through Interfaith Outreach, through PRISM, and through CONECT. TRAILS program is a St. Louis Park and Plymouth -based operation. Community Action for Suburban Hennepin Sharon Johnson, explained that the program offers classes for pre -qualifying for first-time homeowners; education in mortgage applications; counseling for housing rehabilitation projects, and foreclosure prevention. She said about 600 Plymouth residents are reached each year. Supervisor Goldsmith said on the November 4 regular Council meeting agenda, staff is recommending that $10,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds be allocated to the CASH program. Ms. Johnson said the program does not duplicate Section 8 services, but offers counseling for renters and landlords to work out housing disputes. Home Free Nita Quinn, Development Director of Home Free, said the project is requesting $32,945 for 1999, the same amount contributed by the City in 1998. Women's Outreach Program Terry Bateman, Director of the women's outreach program at Vision of Glory, said the program is asking for $4,000 from the City of Plymouth for 1999. Councilmember Johnson said that even though no funding from the City is being recommended, this program links with other programs, Adopted Minutes Special Council Meeting October 14, 1998 Page 3 by holding the hand of participants at times when other programs do not cover with guidance or assistance. She said she advocated a study of future support of such programs. Communities in Collaboration Barbara Carlson said the organization is requesting $2,710 in support from the City in 1999. She said in the past the organization has received a state grant, which will be discontinued. Jim Brandl, fiscal agent for the group through Wayzata School District 284, said there is a community -wide effort to gain financial support for the project. He said corporate grants are also being sought. He said the school district itself does not provide funding for the group, but provides in-kind contributions and acts as a fiscal agent. Interfaith Outreach LaDonna Hoy, Executive Director, came before the Council with a request for $20,000 for the program. Family Hope Services Fred Peterson, Executive Director of Family Hope Services, presented the organization's request for $3,000. PRISM Liz Johnson, Executive Director, outlined the organization's request for $7,000 for 1999. Assistant Manager Lueckert stated that she had placed a higher level of funding for PRISM in the previous year's budget, because PRISM represents the eastern portion of the city, and went through a period of organizational disarray in 1998. Councilmember Johnson said she would advocate an increase in the amount contributed by the City, to balance the amount contributed to Interfaith Outreach, and programs based in the western part of the city. Councilmembers reviewed the funding proposed for the human services agencies. Councilmember Bildsoe requested a discussion about funding for the Plymouth Civic League. Manager Johnson said the group will not receive funding without a review by the City Council. Councilmember Johnson said she supported an increase in contributions for PRISM. She said she also believes funding for the Women's Outreach Program could be justified since the Home Free Shelters program is also a Christian -based program. Councilmember Black said the Women's Outreach Program is sponsored by a single congregation, rather than a multi -denominational group. Councilmember Bildsoe stated that if City financial support is opened up to all human service groups, the work done through the money would be diluted. Councilmember Johnson recommended changing the practice of not supporting a single congregational group such as the Women's Outreach Program, and then rotate City funding Adopted Minutes Special Council Meeting October 14, 1998 Page 4 groups. She said at present City policy dictates that the City should not become an automatic multi-year funding source for groups. She said there is a need to support a group like the Women's Outreach Program. She said if any group comes into existence to fill a gap in services, they should be supported. Mayor Tierney recommended efforts to persuade the Women's Outreach Program to involve other churches, in order to spread the base of the organization. Councilmembers discussed the idea of a review of the City's human service organization funding policy, to study who provides more effectively services in Plymouth. The meeting was adjourned at 10:44 PM.