Council Special Social Services and Community Development Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Social Services & Community Development Committee met on September 24, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Government Center, 200 East Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky, with Ford presiding. The committee addressed five agenda items during the session, including approval of the previous meeting's summary, updates on grants programs and HUD initiatives, and a multi-cultural affairs briefing. One agenda item on Workforce Investment & Development was withdrawn from consideration. The committee took eight votes and heard five public comments during the meeting. One informational item regarding matters referred to the committee was also presented.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on September 24, 2013:

• Ford
• Akers
• Ellinger
• Kay
• Lawless
• Stinnett
• Scutchfield
• Myers
• Beard
• Lane

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

The committee took action on eight motions during the meeting, with seven passing unanimously and one withdrawn.

Approved Motions:

• Motion to approve the August 27, 2013 committee summary, moved by Ellinger and seconded by Beard, passed unanimously 1:00

• Motion to add points to the FY 15 Social Services Partner Agency funding process for programs addressing needs identified in the Needs Assessment, moved by Myers and seconded by Akers, passed unanimously 1:31

• Motion to adopt the schedule for the Partner Agency funding process, moved by Myers and seconded by Scutchfield, passed unanimously 1:31

• Motion to add one week to the schedule for review and corrections in the Partner Agency funding process, moved by Myers and seconded by Akers, passed unanimously 1:31

• Motion to add program outcome points to the FY 15 Social Services Partner Agency funding process, moved by Myers and seconded by Beard, passed unanimously 1:31

• Motion to amend the Financial Statement to require reporting of salary and positions for direct program staff only, moved by Myers and seconded by Ellinger, passed unanimously 1:31

• Motion to add a question to the application regarding how a program would be impacted if it received less than the requested funding, moved by Myers and seconded by Ellinger, passed unanimously 1:31

Withdrawn Motion:

• Motion to recommend to the council that Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government pursue a designation as a local workforce investment service area, moved by Ford and seconded by Lawless, was withdrawn 50:10

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed three significant financial allocations:

Section 108 Loan Guarantee for 21C Hotel Project A $6,000,000 Section 108 loan guarantee was approved for the 21C Hotel Developer. This financing mechanism supports the hotel development project.

Emergency Solutions Grant Funding Approximately $3.1 million in Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding was allocated to subrecipients for homeless services programs. These grants support emergency assistance and housing solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness.

HOME Investment Partnerships Program Funding Approximately $3.2 million in HOME Investment Partnerships Program funding was distributed to subrecipients for affordable housing programs. This funding supports the development and preservation of affordable housing opportunities.

Public Comment

Five speakers addressed the board during the public comment period, raising concerns about language services, workforce training costs, and the need for more detailed planning before major decisions.

Language Services and Recruitment

Lawless 27:54 suggested recruiting multilingual professionals from high-cost cities such as New York and San Francisco to address language gaps in Lexington's social services, education, and healthcare sectors.

English Language Training Costs

Lane 35:15 inquired about the cost of advanced English language training programs. Lane noted that BCTC offers free classes up to the intermediate level, but advanced classes range from $2,000 to $6,000 per semester.

Data Requirements for Decision-Making

Scutchfield 59:28 expressed support for the workforce investment area proposal but requested additional information before voting. Scutchfield stated that the poverty map alone was insufficient for making an informed decision.

Action Plan Over Intent

Myers 1:01:05 called for concrete action rather than a resolution of intent. Myers suggested bringing back the Workforce Investment Board and stakeholders to develop a specific action plan.

Workforce Development Coordination

Beard 1:04:58 highlighted the need to consolidate multiple overlapping workforce development groups into fewer, more effective entities. Beard emphasized that the current structure risked inefficiency and duplication of efforts.

Appointments

Malcolm Rashford was appointed to the Community Action Council.

Contested Items

Workforce Investment Area Designation

A proposal to pursue a local workforce investment service area designation generated significant debate among meeting participants. The disagreement centered on multiple concerns regarding the readiness and necessity of the initiative.

Key points of contention included:

• Data Sufficiency: Participants questioned whether adequate data had been gathered to support the designation proposal, with concerns raised about the completeness of information available for decision-making.

• Stakeholder Coordination: There was debate over the need for broader coordination with stakeholders before moving forward, suggesting that additional consultation and input were necessary.

• Urgency of Unemployment Issues: While some emphasized the pressing need to address high unemployment in areas such as the East End, others appeared to prioritize obtaining more information before proceeding.

The proposal resulted in a split vote, indicating that participants were divided on whether to advance the initiative at that time.

Outcome: The motion was withdrawn following the expression of these concerns. Rather than proceeding to a final vote, proponents chose to step back, acknowledging the insufficient information and need for additional groundwork before reintroducing the proposal.

Approval of August 27, 2013 Committee Summary

The committee voted to approve the summary from the August 27, 2013 meeting by unanimous voice vote 1:00.

Key Speakers - Ellinger - Beard

Content Approved

The approved summary included updates on two primary matters:

• Social Services Needs Assessment
• FY 15 Partner Agency funding process

Outcome

The committee approved the August 27, 2013 Committee Summary without objection.

Division of Grants & Special Programs Update & HUD Programs Status

2:08

Irene Gooding presented an update on the Division of Grants & Special Programs, covering HUD funding status and related initiatives.

Topics Covered:

• Projected HUD funding cuts and their implications
• The 2014 Consolidated Plan
• Section 108 loan guarantee for the 21C Hotel
• The division's compliance monitoring responsibilities
• Management of subrecipients

Presenter:

• Irene Gooding

Outcome:

This was an informational presentation with no action items or decisions required.

Multi-Cultural Affairs Update

Isabel Taylor presented an update on multicultural affairs, focusing on demographic changes and service needs in Fayette County 16:41.

Key Findings

Taylor highlighted significant growth in the immigrant population, reporting a 294% increase over a five-year period in Fayette County.

Infrastructure Gaps Identified

The presentation identified several service gaps affecting the immigrant community:

• Language services
• Job training programs
• Mental health support

Recommendations

Taylor advocated for two primary initiatives to address these gaps:

• Establishment of a dedicated multicultural office
• Development of workforce development programs

Outcome

This agenda item was presented as informational, with no formal action or decision recorded.

Workforce Investment & Development

Council Member Ford proposed a resolution of intent to pursue a local workforce investment service area designation. 47:22

The discussion revealed differing perspectives on how to proceed with the initiative. Council Members Myers and Beard emphasized the need for a concrete action plan to move forward with workforce investment efforts. However, other speakers, including Scutchfield and Lane, raised concerns about the current state of planning and available information.

After deliberation, it became clear that additional data and stakeholder input were necessary before the council could responsibly advance the proposal. The discussion highlighted gaps in the information available to support the decision-making process and the importance of consulting with relevant stakeholders before committing to a specific course of action.

Council Member Ford ultimately withdrew the motion, acknowledging that further preparation and community engagement were needed. The outcome reflects the council's commitment to basing workforce investment decisions on thorough analysis and broad stakeholder support rather than proceeding without adequate groundwork.

Items Referred to Committee

1:08:19

The committee acknowledged the referral of items for future consideration during this agenda item. Ford served as the key speaker for this discussion.

A significant introduction was made during this portion of the meeting: Malcolm Rashford, the new executive director of the Community Action Council, was introduced to the committee. Following his introduction, Mr. Rashford was invited to present at the next scheduled meeting.

The outcome of this agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken. The referral of items and the introduction of the new executive director were noted for the committee's awareness and for planning of future meeting agendas.