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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Parks and Human Services - 02/19/2009City of Kent nt Parks and Human Services Committee Meeting Parks and Human Services Committee Meeting Minutes of February 19, 2009 Minutes of February 19, 2009 Call to Order: Debbie Ranniger called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Call to Order: Debbie Ranniger called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Council Committee Members Present: Debbie Ranniger, Elizabeth Albertson and Jamie Danielson substituted for Tim Clark. Council Committee Members Present: Debbie Ranniger, Elizabeth Albertson and Jamie Danielson substituted for Tim Clark. Item #1: Meeting Minutes Dated January 15, 2009Item #1: Meeting Minutes Dated January 15, 2009 Elizabeth Albertson moved to approve the minutes of January 15, 2009. Jamie Danielson seconded and the motion passed 3-0. Item #2: City of Tukwila Homelessness Coordination Grant Agreement – Accept The City of Tukwila awarded the City of Kent Housing and Human Services Division a grant for $5,000.00 to continue the planning and coordination efforts that address homelessness in South King County. This grant is one contribution of many for this project, including United Way of King County, King County Housing Authority, and the Committee to End Homelessness in King County. Kent’s Resource and Referral Coordinator Jason Johnson was assigned the program in April 2008. The funds will ensure that work continues through June 2009. Jason distributed a copy of the summary recording the recent count of unsheltered homeless in South King County. The summary reflects 60% of realistic numbers and represents a 2% increase throughout King County. Homeless numbers in Kent have risen from 110 in 2008, to 193 in 2009. Jason clarified that these numbers do not reflect temporary housing, shelters, hotel voucher use, or families living temporarily with friends and family. In 2008 alone, over 400 families benefitted from hotel vouchers. A count of homeless in shelters will be performed the second week in March. Jason suggested the following ways to get involved: food and clothing drives, financial contributions, and participation on local homeless committees. For more information on ways to help, go to the City of Kent Web Site and use the link to “South King County Response to Homelessness.” Jamie Danielson moved to recommend Council accept the City of Tukwila Grant for $5,000.00 to continue coordination efforts in ending homelessness in South King County and authorize expenditure of funds in the Housing and Human Services budget. Elizabeth Albertson seconded and the motion passed 3-0. Item #3: 2008 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) Human Services Coordinator Dinah Wilson reported that in 2008, the city awarded $770,000.00 in Community Development Block Grant funds toward activities involving public services, micro-enterprise assistance, rehabilitation, human services, and planning and administration. The 2008 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report is an account of the city’s activities and accomplishments using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that is submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The report is required annually and must be submitted by March 31, of each year. The report includes detailed information on how CDBG funds were used to further the goals and strategies of the Consolidated Plan, as well as other activities executed by the City. Elizabeth Albertson moved to recommend Council approve the 2008 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report and authorize the Mayor to submit the report to HUD. Jamie Danielson seconded and the motion passed 3-0. Item #4: Federal Department of Justice Grant Application for Safe Havens Program - Authorize Jeff Watling announced that in January 2003, the city received a 3-year, $500,000.00 grant from the Federal Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women. The funds established the Safe Havens Visitation and Exchange Center. As part of the original grant award, the city has the opportunity to apply for up to three years of additional funding through a non-competitive process. This application is for funding up to $175,000.00 for use over two years. Jamie Danielson moved to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to sign the grant application to the Federal Department of Justice for $175,000.00 in support of the Safe Havens Visitation and Exchange Center. Elizabeth Albertson seconded and the motion passed 3-0. Item #5: Consolidated Food Services Agreement for the Senior Center - Authorize Senior Center Manager Lea Bishop informed the Committee that Consolidated Food Management has provided meal service for seniors at the Kent Senior Activity Center since 1995. They present a nutritious hot meal with a salad bar, soup and dessert, as well as sandwich and salad options for a very reasonable cost. No other food service has competed with their rate. The center serves an average of 85 people per day. In 2009, the food charge becomes $6.00/meal for a meal that costs the center $5.65. Subsidized meals are provided for low income seniors at a cost of $3.50. This program has experienced an increase in requests since the financial decline in the economy. In order to qualify for the subsidized program, participants go through an application process that includes proof of Social Security payments and/or copies of bank statements. The cost of subsidized lunches is offset by community donations. Elizabeth Albertson moved to recommend Council approve the Consolidated Food Management agreement for lunch service at the Kent Senior Activity Center. Jamie Danielson seconded and the motion passed 3-0. Item #6: Community Development Block Grant Five-Year Plan – Adopt Parks Planner Lydia Moorehead explained that Kent is an entitlement city to Community Development Block Grant (XCDBG) funds. The previous plan was updated for years 2002 – 2006. The newly updated plan will serve as a tool to take advantage of potential economic stimulus funding, if it becomes available through the block grant program. The updated plan establishes which neighborhood parks qualify Parks and Human Services Committee Page 2 Minutes of February 19, 2009 for block grant funds and lists projects within qualifying parks that are currently included in the capital facilities plan. Funding eligibility require residents live in an area where at least 51 percent are in the low to moderate income range. The city has fourteen qualifying parks. Two of the projects are designated economic stimulus projects are: Kiwanis Tot Lot #1, for new play equipment and site furniture and the Senior Activity Center, for new site furniture replacement. The CDBG Five Year Plan will be folded into the City’s Comp Plan. Jamie Danielson moved to recommend Council adopt the Parks 2009-2014 Community Development Block Grant Plan. Elizabeth Albertson seconded and the motion passed 3-0. Item #7: Washington State Dept. of Community, Trade and Economic Development Reimbursable Grant Agreement for Clark Lake park – Accept Parks and Open Space Superintendent Lori Flemm announced that in 2005, staff submitted a grant to the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. The grant award of $492,500.00 will reimburse the purchase of property at Clark Lake Park that could provide funding for a future retreat center. Elizabeth Albertson moved to recommend Council accept the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development Grant of $492,500.00 for Clark Lake Park and reimburse the Land Acquisition Budget. Jamie Danielson seconded and the motion passed 3-0. Item #8: ESCO Services for HVAC Improvements at Riverbend and Centennial Building – Informational Jeff Watling stated that in November 2008, staff presented the Ten Year HVAC Plan to the Committee, reporting that part of the plan was to hire an Energy Services Company (ESCO) to audit a number of buildings. Results of the audit report recommended a mixed services approach to completing the projects. Eight of the ten projects are smaller scale and can be performed by city staff. The remaining larger projects, at Riverbend Golf Complex and Centennial building, would be contracted out to McKinstry at a total cost of $2,638,363.00for all ten projects. The two larger projects entail replacing the air handling equipment in the Centennial Center and replacing the HVAC system at Riverbend with a new ground source heat pump. The pump at Riverbend will pay for itself through energy savings and will eventually free up the necessary power to allow switching to electric golf carts in the future. Finance Director, Bob Nachlinger attended the meeting to explain an option for funding. The project cost could be paid internally using capital funds that are approved for designated projects. The fund would be reimbursed by selling additional bonds at a future date and paying them off over a ten-year period. Bob pointed out that bonds for the HVAC projects could be combined with the Panther Lake Annexation bonds, if it passes in 2010. Bob and Jeff reiterated the long-term cost savings when utilizing energy efficient design through ESCO services. Parks and Human Services Committee Page 3 Minutes of February 19, 2009 Parks and Human Services Committee Page 4 Minutes of February 19, 2009 Debbie Ranniger suggested applying for energy-saving federal funds to pay for the geo thermal and electric golf cart projects at Riverbend. Staff plan to explore Energy Block Grant funds as well. Discussion on funding followed. Council directed staff to research current construction costs and to break them down by individual projects. The existing stability and life span of the HVAC equipment will be examined, and a comparison of costs to complete projects now vs. later will be evaluated. Staff will provide a follow-up report at the next Parks Committee meeting in March. Item #9: Potential Partnership with Federal Way School District for Property at West Hill Park - Informational Jeff Watling explained that the Federal Way School District approached the city to explore the idea of building a new school in conjunction with the new neighborhood park on West Hill. This is a great opportunity to share costs in the purchase of play equipment and maintenance of the ball fields. Staff met with Federal Way School District staff and discussed developing a “Letter of Interest” that will outline how the joint development of the property will benefit both the city and the school district. A feasibility study is necessary. Staff will report progress to Council in March. Item #10: What’s Happening in Parks – Informational • The fee machine at the Lake Meridian Boat Launch is installed and staff is being trained. Fees will begin on March 2. • The Youth Tree Education Program kick off is from March 3 to April 3. Thirty- two elementary schools are participating. • Park and Police staff are working together to sponsor an art mural competition for the West Hill Skate Park. The goal of this joint effort is to encourage ownership of the park and a better respect of the amenities. Submissions are due to Victoria Andrews by April 30. A volunteer event is planned for Saturday, March 21, joining Police and Service Clubs to paint over graffiti in parks and business throughout the city. • Lori Hogan and staff are making improvements to the Park’s web page for better customer service. Park interactive maps and amenities are new features. • Jeff met with Kent Downtown Partnership to announce the city’s decision to cancel the downtown hanging basket program this year due to budget adjustments. Debbie Ranniger suggested including the hanging basket program in the Kent Parks Foundation list of potential donation opportunities. The meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Teri Petrole Committee Council Secretary