Social Services & Community Development Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Social Services & Community Development Committee met on September 18, 2012, at 11:00 AM, with Myers presiding as Chair. During the meeting, the committee took 8 votes and heard 5 public comments while addressing 7 agenda items.

The committee approved three items: the Committee Summary, Partner Agency Process Amendments, and the Senior Assistance Center Task Force. Two items were presented for informational purposes only—the UK Students Social Services Needs Assessment Project and the Summer Youth Employment Update. The Consolidated Plan Update was deferred to a later meeting, and the Section 108 Loan Program was removed from consideration.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on September 18, 2012:

• Henson, Vice Chair
• Ellinger
• Kay
• Ford
• Lawless
• Stinnett
• Crosbie
• McChord
• Lane

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The committee took the following actions during the meeting:

Amendment to Summary 0:00 A motion by CM Henson, seconded by CM Kay, to amend the summary to indicate that CM Henson was absent during the vote regarding the Section 108 Loan Program passed unanimously.

Approval of Amended Summary 0:00 A motion by CM Henson, seconded by CM Kay, to approve the amended summary of the 4.17.12 Social Services & Community Development Committee passed unanimously.

FY 14 Partner Agency Process Revisions 0:00 A motion by CM Ford, seconded by CM Kay, to approve the proposed schedule, application, and scoring revisions for the FY 14 Partner Agency Process passed unanimously.

Partner Agency Funding Cap 0:00 A motion by CM Kay, seconded by CM McChord, to recommend not placing a funding cap on any partner agency passed by roll call vote with 8 ayes and 1 nay. Those voting in favor were CMs Henson, Ellinger, Kay, Ford, Lawless, Stinnett, Crosbie, and McChord. CM Lane voted against the motion.

Removal of Partner Agency Funding Item 0:00 A motion by CM Kay, seconded by CM Henson, to remove the partner agency funding item referred by CM Myers from the committee list passed unanimously.

Removal of Consolidated Plan Update Item 1:08:08 A motion by CM Ford, seconded by CM Henson, to remove the Consolidated Plan update item from the committee agenda passed unanimously.

Removal of Section 108 Loan Program Item 1:10:19 A motion by CM Ford, seconded by CM Henson, to remove the Section 108 loan program item from the committee agenda passed unanimously.

Adjournment 1:12:42 A motion by CM Ford, seconded by CM Henson, to adjourn the meeting passed by voice vote.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included approval of a contract for a needs assessment project. The University of Kentucky College of Social Work and Martin School of Public Policy and Administration received a contract valued at $10,500 to conduct the needs assessment project.

Public Comment

Several council members and community representatives provided input on priorities for the needs assessment and community development funding.

Parenting and Family Services

Councilman Henson 6:25 expressed concern about youth violence and emphasized the importance of including parenting and family support services in the needs assessment. He noted that unsupervised children contribute to youth-related issues.

Economic Development and Financial Literacy

Councilman Ford 8:08 requested that the needs assessment include economic aspects such as poverty, jobs, and financial literacy. He suggested incorporating questions about banking access and financial education into the assessment.

Project Funding and Community Outreach

Jack Birch from the Community Action Council 38:04 addressed concerns about slow spending on projects like furnace replacements and playgrounds. He explained that the pace of spending reflects community-driven needs and complex project management rather than mismanagement, and urged better outreach to explain the process to the public.

Billy Mallory from the William Wells Brown Neighborhood Association 47:18 stated that neighborhood associations are largely unaware of how Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds can be used. He suggested that more education and outreach are needed, particularly regarding small area plans.

Workforce Development

Councilman Ford 1:00:24 proposed exploring the creation of a local workforce investment service area for Fayette County under the Workforce Investment Act. He requested guidance on how to bring this topic before the committee.

Appointments

Maloney was appointed to the Senior Assistance Center Task Force.

Contested Items

The September 18, 2012 meeting included two significant areas of disagreement among council members.

CDBG Funding Utilization and Community Awareness

Council members engaged in a heated discussion regarding the slow spending rate on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects. The debate centered on whether the delayed expenditures indicated mismanagement or reflected the inherent complexity of project implementation. Beyond the spending pace itself, council members raised concerns about insufficient public awareness of how CDBG funds are being used. There was consensus that improved outreach and communication efforts are needed to better explain to the community how these funds are allocated and spent.

Scope of the Needs Assessment

A split vote occurred over the appropriate scope of the needs assessment. Some council members advocated for a broader assessment that would include economic development and financial literacy as components. Other members cautioned against expanding the scope, citing concerns about scope creep that could complicate the assessment process or dilute its focus. The disagreement reflected differing views on whether the assessment should remain narrowly focused or encompass a wider range of community needs and development areas.

Committee Summary

The committee discussed and approved an amended summary of the August 14, 2012 meeting. 0:00

Key Speakers - Henson - Kay

Discussion and Action The committee reviewed the meeting summary from August 14, 2012 and approved an amendment to clarify CM Henson's absence during the Section 108 Loan Program vote. This clarification was incorporated into the official record.

Outcome The amended summary was approved.

Partner Agency Process Amendments

Commissioner Mills presented revisions to the FY 14 partner agency application process during this agenda item. The presentation covered three main areas of modification: funding caps, scoring changes, and timeline updates for the application cycle.

The committee reviewed the proposed amendments to the partner agency process, which included adjustments to how applications would be evaluated and funded in the upcoming fiscal year. Mills outlined the specific changes to the scoring methodology and explained the rationale for implementing new funding cap structures.

The proposed schedule and application changes were discussed by the committee members. Following the presentation and discussion, the committee voted to approve the proposed amendments to the partner agency application process, including the revised timeline and application requirements for FY 14.

UK Students Social Services Needs Assessment Project

Commissioner Mills presented an overview of the UK Students Social Services Needs Assessment Project 0:00. The project is designed to evaluate social services needs among UK graduate students through a comprehensive review process.

Project Scope and Methodology

The needs assessment will involve multiple components: - Review of existing data - Surveys of the student population - Identification of service gaps in current offerings

Areas of Focus

The committee discussed the project's scope, which includes examination of services related to: - Parenting support - Financial literacy

Committee Input

The committee agreed to provide input into the project's development and direction. Loeffler participated in the discussion alongside Commissioner Mills.

Outcome

This agenda item was presented for informational purposes, allowing the committee to understand the project's objectives and planned approach to assessing graduate student needs for social services.

Summer Youth Employment Update

Mattie Morton presented an update on the summer youth employment program. The program successfully placed 153 youth across 80 work sites during the summer period.

Council members engaged in discussion about program expansion and improvement. A key topic was increasing the number of available slots from the current 153 placements to 225 positions. Additionally, council members discussed strategies for improving outreach efforts and enhancing work site recruitment to support this expansion.

This agenda item was presented for informational purposes, with no formal action taken.

Consolidated Plan Update

Director Gooding presented updates on the 2013 Consolidated Plan during this agenda item 9:45. The presentation covered several key areas including public hearings, funding balances, and challenges related to project implementation.

The discussion addressed outreach efforts and the importance of community engagement in the planning process. Committee members raised concerns about accountability measures and the need for improved communication with the community regarding the Consolidated Plan's initiatives and progress.

Funding balances and their allocation were reviewed as part of the update, with particular attention given to obstacles encountered during project implementation. The presentation highlighted areas where the planning process could be strengthened to better serve community needs.

Outcome: The item was deferred, indicating that further discussion or additional information will be needed before final action is taken on the Consolidated Plan Update.

Section 108 Loan Program

The committee discussed the Section 108 Loan Program during this meeting, with the discussion occurring approximately 1 hour and 9 minutes into the session 1:09:44.

Key Participants

Councilman Ford and Gooding were the primary speakers on this agenda item.

Discussion

Councilman Ford sought clarification on the application process for the Section 108 Loan Program during the discussion.

Outcome

The Section 108 Loan Program item was removed from the agenda.

Senior Assistance Center Task Force

1:08:38

The Vice Mayor appointed a task force to evaluate potential sites for a new Senior Assistance Center. A consultant has been hired to assess five initial sites and will report back to the task force in approximately eight weeks.

The item was approved.