CITY OF OREM

CITY COUNCIL / CDBG ADVISORY COMMISSION WORK SESSION

56 North State Street, Orem, Utah

March 20, 2012

6:00 P.M. STUDY SESSION

CONDUCTING Mayor Jim Evans

ELECTED OFFICIALS Councilmembers Hans Andersen, Margaret Black, Karen McCandless, Mark Seastrand, and Mary Street

CDBG ADVISORY Lyle Hillier, Marilyn Laypath, and Victor Walsh

COMMISSION MEMBERS

APPOINTED STAFF Bruce Chesnut, City Manager; Jamie Davidson, Assistant City Manager; Charlene Mackay, Community and Neighborhood Services Coordinator; Donna Weaver, City Recorder; and Rachelle Conner, Deputy City Recorder

EXCUSED Councilmember Brent Sumner

INVOCATION Mayor Evans

Mayor Evans expressed the Council’s appreciation to the commission members for all of the work and consideration they have put into reviewing the applications.

Charlene Mackay, Community and Neighborhood Services Coordinator, added her thanks to the commission members for taking the time to volunteer to serve on the commission. She recognized commission members—Memorie Durfee, Art Flinton, Lyle Hillier, Marilyn Laypath, Ann Peterson, Dayna Smith, and Victor Walsh.

Mayor Evans asked whether any of the organizations that took a cut this year felt that they would not be able to continue providing their services with the cut in funding. Ms. Mackay indicated

Mr. Hillier presented the commission’s recommendations as follows:

ORGANIZATION / Funded
2010-2011 / Requested
2011-2012 / Recommendations
2011-2012 /
CDBG: PUBLIC SERVICE
Ability First / No Request / $10,000.00 / $0.00
Big Brothers Big Sisters / $1,250.00 / $2,000.00 / $750.00
Center for Women & Children in Crisis / $6,000.00 / $10,000.00 / $10,000.00
Community Action Services / $15,000.00 / $17,725.00 / $11,455.00
Community Health Connect / $2,250.00 / $3,500.00 / $3,500.00
Family Support & Treatment Center / $7,500.00 / $10,000.00 / $10,000.00
Friends of the Coalition / $8,500.00 / $7,500.00 / $7,500.00
Friends of the Utah County Children’s Justice Center / $7,000.00 / $35,000.00 / $10,000.00
House of Hope / $3,500.00 / $6,000.00 / $5,500.00
Kids on the Move / $8,500.00 / $17,436.00 / $8,700.00
Literary Resources / $3,100.00 / $3,500.00 / $3,000.00
Mountainlands Community Health Center / $8,000.00 / $10,000.00 / $5,000.00
Parent Education Resource Center (PERC) / $2,500.00 / $3,000.00 / $2,000.00
Project Read / $2,500.00 / $7,500.00 / $3,000.00
Recreation Habilitation Services (RAH) / $7,000.00 / $24,350.00 / $7,000.00
Utah County Crisis Line / $1,000.00 / $5,000.00 / $1,500.00
TOTAL / $88,905.00
ORGANIZATION / Funded
2010-2011 / Amount Requested
2011-2012 / Recommendations
2011-2012
CDBG: OTHER
CDBG Administration / $115,000.00 / $115,000.00 / $115,000.00
Code Enforcement / $120,000.00 / $120,000.00 / $120,000.00
Curb, Gutter, and Sidewalk / $43,500.00 / $35,000.00 / $40,000.00
Habitat for Humanity / $29,000.00 / $5,000.00 / $5,000.00
Housing Rehabilitation Program / $58,000.00 / $100,000.00 / $98,998.00
RAH / No Request / $29,370.00 / $29,370.00
Section 108 Loan Repayment / $110,000.00 / $105,000.00 / $105,000.00
Total / $513,368.00

Mr. Seastrand asked if there were some sort of categories the commission looked at during the process. Mr. Hillier said one of the first questions they ask is whether the funds will only be used for Orem residents, and the answer is always yes. They also looked for duplication of efforts, and they had to weigh the need of the request.

Mrs. Black stated the minutes for the Literary Resources presentation referred to the commission’s concern that the organization’s phone bill was really high last year. It was only $600,which did not seem very high to her.

Mr. Hillier indicated he found phone company that only charges $50 per year.

Mrs. Black then said Literary Resources struggles for funding each year and even going down $100 will impact them. She noted they used to have a match and wondered what happened to that. Ms. Mackay explained that she is not sure whether they still get that match because the donor has passed away. There might still be a family trust that donates some funding.

Mayor Evans asked what type of support or mentoring the City does for these groups. Ms. Mackay indicated a few years ago this commission expressed concern that many of these organizations solely relied on this funding rather than doing fund raising, so they have encouraged them to get out and do fundraising. Ms. Mackay added that PERC has done a great job this year in taking the lead to become a 501c3 organization.

Mrs. Street said every year when they do this she worries that they have silos of information all across the valley. The organizations go to each city to request funding, and there are some social issues that span across the entire county. She asked if there is an countywide organization that would do countywide assistance.

Mayor Evans said the United Way does that. They recently did an assessment to look at the needs countywide. They do not do a lot of fundraising but they do a lot of collaboration.

Mrs. Street expressed an interest in having the United Way come to speak with the City Council about the services they provide. She said she is concerned there are missed opportunities to collaborate and share information.

Mayor Evans said he has been on the United Way board for fourteen years. It might be helpful to have them come to a work session to make the Council aware of the issues that they are or will be dealing with in the future.

Ms. Mackay stated that there is a group called Mountainland Continuum of Care. It is housing based, but it also spills out into many other areas. They are a very active group that is coordinated by the United Way and meet at their offices.

Mayor Evans said they need to look at an upcoming work session to have Bill Hulterstrom come and speak with the City Council.

Mrs. Street indicated there may be gaps in service because they do not know what they are missing.

Ms. Mackay said the local churches do a good job filling the gaps. If someone needs $25 for gas or $10 for laundry, there is not an organization that really does that. The churches assist people with those types of needs.

Ms. Mackay then noted that Habitat for Humanity has asked for $5,000 for their tool library program this year. They are still working on development in Orem, and they will ask for a larger amount in the future. Recreation and Habilitation (RAH) has asked for funding to replace their roof. If they secure other funding for their roof before this money comes through, they would like to use this money to help fix their parking lot. The commission has used money to help with facilities in the past, so this is not something new.

Mrs. Black thanked the commission for their work. She said she read through everything, and she appreciates all of the work they did with their recommendations.

Mayor Evans indicated he would like to see the City do the CARE grant funding like this in the future.

Ms. Mackay stated this is a great commission to work with, and she appreciates all of their efforts.

Mr. Chesnut expressed appreciation to Ms. Mackay, Kristie Snyder, and the commission for everything they have done and for the time they have put in while making these recommendations.

Mr. Hillier said they look more favorably on organizations that do not ask for an exorbitant amount.

Ms. Mackay commented that she sees the other side of those requests. The organizations that ask for a higher amount realize they will not be fully funded; however, they are really just trying to make it clear what their true need is.

The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.

Donna R. Weaver, City Recorder

Approved: April 10, 2012

City Council/CDBG Work Session Minutes – March 20, 2012 (p.3)