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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN HSSSC 2018/02/20 2016-2018Committee on Human Services and Social Services Stn Session West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway. Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii February 20, 2018 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Human Services and Social Services ORDER: was called to order at 2:23 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Chair Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Vice Chair (came in later) Ms. Karen Eoff, Member Mr. Dru Mamo Kanuha, Member Ms. Eileen O'Hara, Member Ms. Valerie T. Poindexter, Member Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member (came in later) Ms. Jennifer Ruggles, Member (came in later) Absent & Excused: Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung, Member STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of FROM THE business, 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. CHR. DAVID: Mr. Clerk, could you please read Communication 745? Comm. 745: FISCAL YEAR 2018-2019 NONPROFIT GRANT REVIEW PROCESS AND FORMATION OF AN AD HOC COMMITTEE From Human Services and Social Services Committee (HSSSC) Chair Maile Medeiros David, dated February 6, 2018, describing the nonprofit grant review process and requesting formation of an ad hoc committee. The ad hoc committee would conduct application reviews with the applicants for the county's annual nonprofit grant awards and then report its findings to the HSSSC. HSSSC-8 February 20, 2018 Motion to Close File: Mr. Richards moved to close file on Comm. 745. Seconded by Ms. Poindexter. CHR. DAVID: Council Members, would you like me to relinquish the chair? No. Okay thank you, Clerk. This isbefore my brief summary, Communication 745.2 which I think you folks have in your little pinkie folder, that note changes to the Kona interview dates that is now going to be held on two days instead of one. It would be held on March 20 and 21st and as opposed to March 19. So that's the Communication 745.2. So let me summarize this process. Section 2-139 of the Hawaii County Code allocates at least $1 million annually for the Hawaii County nonprofit grant program. Historically, our former mayor and current Mayor as well allocated an additionally $500,000 for this program. And I want to thank them for that. At this point, we don't know what we're going to get. We know, we're getting $1 million but whether we get anything other than that, we're not sure of, right now. So, the nonprofit organizations had up until 4:30 on January 31st to submit their applications to the Department of Finance. This year we had 182 applications and two of those applications were disqualified. So, this year we have 180 requests for funding compared to 145 received last year. That's an increase of about 37 requests. So big mahalo to Ted Schrey and the Department of Finance staff for receiving, processing and fielding questions during this initial County nonprofit grant process. And so Council Members, if you haven't already received it, copies of all the applications will be provided to each of you. And thank you, machine room, for getting that stuff together. So today's meeting is to form an ad hoc committee per Council Rule 7. The scope of this ad hoc committee is to review the 180 applications, interview the organizations, perform site visits as appropriate and then determine and present their recommendations for award amounts to the Human Services, Social Services Committee on April 10. So because there is a high increase in the number of applications, unless there's any objections from my colleagues and due to our very limited time constraints attached to this nonprofit grant process. I would like to suggest that this body consider my recommendation that the ad hoc committee be comprised of myself as chair, Council Member Eoff, Council Member Lee Loy and Council Member Richards, if they are willing to serve again. The reason for recommending this, and we can discuss this further, is that those who served last year, we have such a short time frame and I think it would be worthwhile to have at least a full ad hoc committee that's well versed in the process and the time frame. And so I'm actually open to comments from the other Council Members, if they would wish Page 2 HSSSC-8 February 20, 2018 to serve on this ad hoc committee, or any comments. Council Members? Ms. O'Hara was first, Mr. Richards. Go ahead, Ms. O'Hara. MS. O'HARA: Okay, thank you Chair. And I think your rationale is very reasonable. With any service on committee or commission it takes a while to learn the ropes and to understand the whole process. And we were starting with a lot of new members last year, so I'm glad that Mr. Richards and Ms. Lee Loy stepped up to the plate and I know Ms. Eoff and yourself are familiar with the process and I trust that your decisions are going to be good. We're going to be under an even tighter constraint this year. We may have a reduced budget for that, as well as increased number of applicants. So very challenging process, I'm happy that you're willing to take it on. Assuming you all are willing to take it on again. So I'm all for that. Thank you. CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. O'Hara. I appreciate that. Ms. Lee Loy. Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Richards and then Ms. Lee Loy. Go ahead, Mr. Richards. MS. LEE LOY: Thank you, Chair. CHR. DAVID: Okay, go ahead. MS. LEE LOY: Yes, it would be quite an honor, you know, we started the year with good information, helps us make good decisions, but now we know better so we can do better. And we're going to have to get creative if that budget gets cut and I'm also interested in hearing back from the recipients of our grant awards, their measurables and if they achieved those goals and tasks that they provided to us while we were going through the process. So, I am actually really excited about doing this and recognizing that we are under the gun. I'm in, I'm committed, and I'm actually humbled to do this work all over again. CHR. DAVID: Thank you. I really appreciate it. Mr. Richards, go ahead. MR. RICHARDS: Oh, thank you, Chair. And the reason I raised my hand is yes, I'm in. And I look forward to doing it again, echoing something that Council Lee Loy just said. I'm curious to hear the feedback from the previous. So I think that—and I think your logic is fine. Last year I got assigned because I missed a meeting, so I wound up on the committee. This year, I'm actually, definitely, I'm in. So thank you very much. I do consider it a privilege. CHR. O'HARA: Alright. Thank you, Mr. Richards. Anyone else? Ms. Eoff, go ahead. MS. EOFF: Thank you, Madam Chair. And I really appreciated the opportunity to work with Ms. Lee Loy and Mr. Richards and yourself. I think and because our staff has some historical experience at this point, that we can do Page 3 HSSSC-8 February 20, 2018 this job the, you know, cleanest most expeditious way. But I'm also willing to hear if there's anyone else who's just dying to sit on the ad hoc that, you know, I wouldn't want to, you know, not offer that to. CHR. DAVID: Thank you. Yes, that's why I put it out there, so. I don't see anyone raising their hands or—no? Okay. Mr. Chung, you have any comments, or you don't wish to—okay, I take that as a no. Okay, seeing that there is no further discussion on who's serving, then I'm very happy to have you folks serve on the ad hoc committee again. And I look forward to doing a lot of good work and making some really tough decisions this year. Okay. So before I call for the motion to postpone, I just want to clarify that at the meeting, at the April 10th meeting, that is when this committee will present the recommendations to the committee of the whole. So the deliberation and vote on the recommendations will be postponed again till the April 24th meeting because our Council will require that deliberation and decision making occur at a meeting subsequent to the recommendations. May I please have a motion to postpone, closing file on Communication 745 until the April 10, 2018 meeting of the Committee on Human Services. Vote on Motion Ms. Eoff moved to postpone Comm. 745 to April 10, 2018. to Postpone: Seconded by Ms. Poindexter and carried by the following (Approved) voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Kanuha, Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles, and Chair David — 8. Noes: None. Absent: None Committee Member Chung —1. Excused: None. CHR. DAVID: And before I close. Today's meeting isoh, I'm sorry. Today we are going to form—the ad hoc will hold our first meeting if time permits, either after committees and before public hearing or we'll see. Maybe after public hearing, but if time permits. So I just wanted you to know that. Yeah. We'll do something today. Okay, I think we're done. ORDER OF The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, order RESOLUTIONS: of Resolutions. (There were none.) Page 4 HSSSC-8 February 20, 2018 BILLS FOR The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, ORDINANCES: Bills for Ordinances. (There were none.) ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 2:33 p.m., Ms. Poindexter moved to MENT: adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Ms. Lee Loy and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Kanuha, Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles, and Chair David — 8. Noes: None. Absent: None Committee Member Chung — 1. Excused: None. CHR. DAVID: This committee is adjourned. Thank you. Approved: Ms; Maile Medeiros David, Chair Human Services and Social Services Committee MD/vc qLlb W - (Date) Page 5