HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Human Services Commission - 05/18/2017Kent Human Services Commission Meeting May 18, 2017
Minutes Kent, Washington
Approved
Date: April 20, 2017
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Place: Centennial, Mountain View Conference Room #401
Attending: Andy Rosas, Chair
Mike Heinisch, Co-Chair
Bill Hallerman, Commissioner
Zenovia Harris, Commissioner
Merina Hanson, Human Services Manager
Dinah Wilson, CDBG Coordinator
Lori Guilfoyle, Coordinator
Christine Cain, Coordinator
Absent: Gina Bellisario, Commissioner
Amelia Drake, Student
Shatha Abbas, Commissioner
Wade Schwartz, Commissioner
Dennis Higgins, Council Member
Agenda:
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 2:35 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Five Commissioners absent.
3. Changes to the Agenda
No Changes.
4. Approval of Minutes, dated February 16, 2017
There were not enough attending Commissioners to reach a quorum so the pending
minutes from February 16, 2017 and April 20, 2017 were not approved.
5. Presentation - DAWN (Kellie Rogers)
DAWN has undergone a rebranding, naming their new office location the Center for
Peaceful Communities. The new location is located at 221 West Gowe Street in
downtown Kent. Open to the public, the new space hosts groups for knitting, art
therapy, survivor-driven hiking and new moms. In addition DAWN is advocating the
implementation of Green Dot Dawn; training for everyone in the community to
Kent Human Services Commission Meeting May 18, 2017
Minutes Kent, Washington
Approved
understand, recognize, and learn more about what to do when witnessing
interpersonal violence.
Staff additions include 2 fulltime legal advocates, an immigrant survivor advocate
and a mental health advocate.
6. Open Doors for Multicultural Families (Dinah Wilson)
Staff recommends that a contract be awarded to Open Doors for Multicultural
Families. Open Doors provide equivalent rental and utility assistance services to
previous contractor and has a history of good record keeping and reporting. The
award of $18,000 will require amendments to the 2017 Annual Action Plan.
7. Community Youth Safety Forum (Lori Guilfoyle)
Stemming from the significant increase in gang related gun violence within our
community, a forum convened by Kendrick Glover, of GEM, Tye Whitfield, a
volunteer at the Kent Community Center and member of the Kent Parks
Commission, Brian Stewart, Kent Commons Youth & Teen Coordinator and a
representative from Kent Police occurred on April 26th at the teen center.
Information was provided on what is happening in the community and a highlight of
3 youth that has been involved in the criminal justice system and the interventions
that supported their current positive lifestyles. Data provided at the forum: since
January 1, 2017, there were 14 related homicides in King County. Several involved
AK-47’s. Of the 14, 5 occurred in Unincorporated King County, 3 in Kent, 3 in
Federal Way, 2 in Renton and 1 in South Seattle. There were 40 nonlethal shootings
in the county. Twelve were in South King County, 10 in Unincorporated King
County, 6 in Kent, 5 Federal Way, 5 in Renton, 1 in Tukwila and 1 in Des Moines.
There were 87 shootings where no one was hit but there was an incidence of
property damage. Reports of gun fire to 911 where police were not able to report
any damage total 130. A majority of all shootings are gang related. Specifically, in
our community, Latino vs. Latino, black vs. Latino and Latino vs. Black violence.
There is a recognized urgent need to respond as gang/gun related violence
numbers are reaching all-time highs.
8. Youth Initiative Coordinator - Update (Lori Guilfoyle)
The Youth Initiative Coordinator position closed with 76 qualified applicants. The
first round of interviews took place last week with a diverse pool of 7 candidates. All
of the candidate’s in the final group live and have work experience in South King
County. The second round of interviews is scheduled for this week and a final
decision will be made by next week. Anticipated start date is June 1, 2017.
9. YMCA - Update (Nathan Phillips)
YMCA will colocate at Morrill Meadows Park. The facility will be 50k sq. feet with a
pool built to address the needs and desires of Kent residents. The estimated budget
is $26.2 million dollars. As requested by the community, as much of the meadow
and trees as possible, will be preserved. Local fundraising was kicked off by the
Morford family with a pledge (the largest private pledge on record in the City of
Kent) of 1 million dollars and a business pledge by Mexico Lindo in the amount of
$100,000. Approximately 17 million dollars has been raised so far. Fundraising is on
Kent Human Services Commission Meeting May 18, 2017
Minutes Kent, Washington
Approved
track and expected to be at 90% by the end of 2017. Ground breaking is scheduled
for early summer 2018 with the facility opening 2019. Minority-owned architect firm
Miller Hayashi has been hired to do the design and Abbot Construction to do the
building. Once open and operational, programing will be modeled after SeaTac
location to better serve the Kent community. Kent volunteers gathered info on what
the community wants from the YMCA. There will be a focus on filling gaps and
building on great foundations already existent in Kent.
10. Updates (Staff)
• Point in Count numbers are expected to come out in the next two weeks. It is
not known if there will be Kent-specific numbers.
• Veterans Human Services Levy to be announced Monday May 22, 2017.
Expected to be at least doubled.
Adjournment
At 3:52 p.m. Andy Rosas declared the meeting adjourned.
Christine Cain
Recording Secretary
May 18, 2017