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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN HSSSC 2021/05/18 2020-2022Committee on Human Services and Social Services 5th Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii May 18, 2021 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Human Services and Social Services ORDER: was called to order at 10:54 a.m. in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Chair. ROLL CALL - Present: Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Chair Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Vice Chair Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung, Member Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Member (via videoconference from Kona) Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member (via videoconference from Kona) Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member (via Zoom) Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, FROM THE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: (There were none.) COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, CATIONS: Communications. Comm. 225: REQUESTS THE FORMATION OF AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE AN ORIENTATION PROCESS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 NONPROFIT GRANT PROGRAM AWARDEES From Council Member Susan L. K. Lee Loy, dated April 16, 2021, providing notice of the intent to establish an ad hoc committee pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 92-2.5(b) and Council Rule No. 7, which would develop a proposed orientation process for nonprofit grant awardees to include (1) requests to collect community data; (2) identifying barriers for nonprofits; and (3) potential refinements to the application and reporting processes. Postponed: May 4, 2021 (Note: There is a motion by Mr. Inaba, seconded by Mr. Richards, to close file on Comm. 225.) HSSSC-5 May 18, 2021 CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Since we have an active motion, I just wanted to share a little bit of back drop. Thank you, to my Committee Members: Ms. Kimball, Ms. Kierkiewicz, and Mr. Richards, who sat on our nonprofit Grant -in -Aid Committee, and through that process we've actually identified what you see as far as future scope of work to do. And I brought this communication forward so that we could continue the work and then actually help our nonprofits get better, and partner them better with other resources so that we can continue finding solutions for these nonprofits. I actually wanted to hand it a little bit over to Ms. Kimball because she did a fantastic job with collecting the data from the application forms that we had; and if she could just expand upon what I've identified in this communication, is the ability to request and collect data. Ms. Kimball? MS. KIMBALL: Thank you so much, Council Member Lee Loy. I definitely want to give credit to my staff, Lopaka O'Connor, Council Aide, who actually did most of the compilation of the data that we could gather from the existing applications. As we will—you know, I fully support forming this ad hoc. I think as we went through the process of evaluating all of these different nonprofits, there was so much need out there and only so much money to give. There was a clear understanding that we needed to collect better information about how service was filling the gaps that we need to fill, and both from a location standpoint, both from a diversity standpoint of those that are receiving service, and the standpoint of the types of services that the nonprofits provide. And in order to make better decisions in the future, really gathering the information that would help us identify whether or not a particular nonprofit was meeting some overriding goals of the change framework. So, looking at opportunities to build capacity within our community. To create networks and partner organizations together that were maybe doing similar work in different areas, being able to really leverage those dollars to the maximum extent. So by creating this ad hoc, one, we can better determine what metrics would be most useful in making it easier for us to make informed decisions, as well as provide that transparency to the public when we do make those decisions. We did experience some nonprofits that had challenges filling out the forms or weren't communicating exactly the responses to the questions that we were looking for, so there's clearly a need for an onboarding process of some kind or more guidance to the nonprofits. I think that we have some questions that we would like to add or rephrase on the application form. Again, to glean some of those answers that will provide the metrics that we want to measure, to make sure that we are really getting the most out of these dollars that we share with the community, and providing the best Page 2 HSSSC-5 May 18, 2021 return on investment, if you will, that we can through these direct services through nonprofits to the community. Thank you, Chair, I yield. I hope that responds as sufficiently to your question? CHR. LEE LOY: Yeah, thank you, Ms. Kimball. And she did a wonderful job of outlining the three initiatives that we've identified: one, is the data collection; right into identifying the barriers; and then the next piece, which is the refinement of the application process. I will open it up to any more of my colleagues to answer. Oh, Mr. Richards, go ahead? MR. RICHARDS: Yeah, thank you, Chair. I think just to highlight and springboard off of what Ms. Kimball was talking about. It was very different processes here, and the idea was to identify synergies and see if we can become more efficient going forward. I agree with the refinement of the application process. But I think we also have to do a better job educating the applicants and helping them fill it out, so they can give us that data that we're looking for. It's also a time to let the applicants know that we're looking for collaboration amongst them to go forward. Again, as the Chair pointed out, we're talking about stretching our dollars further by seeking that synergy and making it more efficient amongst all of them. So, the stake was set in the sand and now we have to refine it; that was the first year. And I really see the big benefits will start showing up next year, once we get this thing refined a little bit and start harvesting that data back, that Ms. Kimball pointed out. Chair, I yield. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Ms. Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKEWICZ: Thank you, Chair. I just want to start by saying that I would, you know, I would appreciate the opportunity to continue serving to elevate this work. I think what we did this year, to just kind of change up the process and engage the community, was incredibly important. I see this work as continuing our ability to set our nonprofits and communities up for success and build up their capacity. There's a lot of room for growth. But I see a lot of potential too, as Council Member Richards was saying, really line up those synergies, get folks on the same page and really amplify these dollars. You know, I appreciate how we are connecting the work of our nonprofits to the change framework because that opens up a whole opportunity of additional funding outside of County government. You know, there's links to various foundations and philanthropical gives. So, would appreciate being able to be part of this work and build up the various community capitals, right? We talk about having smart return on investment. It's more than just the dollars that are being built up in our community. It's how are we maximizing those Page 3 HSSSC-5 May 18, 2021 dollars, and increasing our communities social, and human, and natural, and build capital. So, really excited about what we're going to be able to do here. And just looking down the road, the potential this has to help a lot of existing and new nonprofits really make a difference in community. So, thank you. I yield. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Ms. Kierkiewicz. Yeah, and thank you for that segue. Because in addition to linking them with synergies, reaching out to other organizations like CHNA (Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement) or OHA (Office of Hawaiian Affairs), who would also have an opportunity with some of the demographics that we're serving. Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. MR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Chair. After serving on the committee for two years, you know it was apparent that many organizations within the County and across the State needed the funds. But also, that a lot of them didn't even know that this program exists, and that was hard to hear. Especially some of our smaller organizations, who scrape by on what they can and don't have the best sustainability plan and needed funding and do really good work, but don't even know that this exists, or to apply, or when the deadline is. And so, anything that we can do to help these organizations, much needed, much appreciated by myself and for them, as well. But more so, as I watched that process, there was a lot of overlap, and I understand that many of the organizations do very similar work. But judging who—you know, having four Council Members judge who gets and who doesn't get, is interesting. It's an interesting process. So going forward, if there's a way to try and eliminate some of that overlap, or as you're saying, "amplify the dollars." We upped this program to what, $2.5 million? And sometimes, you know, I've got to question that because there is a lot of money available through other places. And having that coming out of our real property taxes, it's money that can go towards parks and different areas of our County. I mean, we just had a long discussion about roads. There could be uses for those funds within the County itself and not so much the nonprofits, which is an interesting take on it. I know we need to help our community, but we also as a government need to make sure we can provide the services that we need to. So, interested to see the outcome of this ad hoc committee and where you guys take this. Now the last (inaudible) process looked very similar to the ones that I was on. So, interested to see some movement ahead on what and where you plan on taking this. But mahalo for your guys work so far and what you did for this last fiscal year. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Mr. Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. Yeah, and it'swe had a $9 million ask this year. And I think the goal of the ad hoc committee Page 4 HSSSC-5 May 18, 2021 really would be to try and shepherd some of these non -profits into more of a sustainable model, where we can continue to not only amplify their success but also amplify the $2.5 million that we have. Any other Council Members? Ms. David? Mr. Inaba? MS. DAVID: Thank you, Chair. CHR. LEE LOY: Go ahead. MS. DAVID: Thank you, Chair. I just wanted to express my mahalo to the committee because I think you folks had a very difficult session this year, especially being the ask, increased to about $9 million as you said. And making decisions on how to adequately satisfy all requests is a very difficult one. And I just wanted to comment that your further work in doing this ad hoc committee will definitelyI guess, in the long run, make sure that every organization that we fund definitely helps us as a County to provide the necessary services that we as a County body would not be able to provide, but that these organizations are going to be stepping up and helping us serve the communities in various ways that we definitely could use. So, I thank you folks for all your hard work. And I'm vey anxious to see this new ad hoc committee and how you succeed in your focus. We're in unchartered territory, and I thank you folks for treading that course, okay. Mahalo. CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you, Ms. David. Mr. Inaba. MR. INABA: Yeah, I just wanted to echo that, mahalo to the four of you. And fully supportive of you folks continuing and finishing off the work to support these nonprofits. Mahalo. Membership CHR. LEE LOY: Thank you. Hearing no other Council Members Mr. Clerk of Ad Hoc: for this particular ad hoc, you know, I would like to identify Ms. Kimball, Ms. Kierkiewicz, Mr. Richards, and myself to do this work. I do want to note for Ms. David, we'll definitely develop a timeline to bring this information back. However, the refinement of the application form has to happen some time by August or September, because we have to get that to Finance Department, when they push out the application forms for next year. So at some point, we can develop a timeline. But you can expect that this committee would be back before the full body sometime in August or September with its findings and its recommendations. So with that, Mr. Clerk, I believe I need a motion to postpone Communication 225 to the call of the Chair. Page 5 HSSSC-5 May 18, 2021 Vote on Motion Mr. Richards moved to postpone Comm. 225 to the to Postpone: call of the Chair. Seconded by Ms. Kierkiewicz and (Approved) carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Lee Loy — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, RESOLUTIONS: Order of Resolutions. (There were none.) BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. (There were none.) CHR. LEE LOY: With that, we're at the end of the agenda. A motion to adjourn, please? ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 11:10 a.m. Mr. Richards moved to adjourn MENT: the meeting. Seconded by Ms. Kierkiewicz and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Inaba, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Richards, Villegas, and Chair Lee Loy — 9. Noes: None. Absent: None. Excused: None. Page 6 HSSSC-5 Approved: Ms. u L. K. Human SOvices SL/na May 18, 2021 CHR. LEE LOY: And the Committee on Human Services and Social Services is adjourned at 11:10. Thank you everyone. Loy: ,Social Servi Committee (Date) Page 7