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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN HSSSC 2018/04/24 2016-2018Committee on Human Services and Social Services 11th Session West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalele Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii April 24, 2018 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Human Services and Social Services ORDER: was called to order at 9:33 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Ms. Maile David, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Maile Medeiros David, Chair Ms. Susan L. K. Lee Loy, Vice Chair (via videoconference from Hilo) Mr. Aaron S. Y. Chung, Member Ms. Karen Eoff, Member Mr. Dru Mamo Kanuha, Member Ms. Eileen O'Hara, Member (via videoconference from Hilo) Ms. Valerie T. Poindexter, Member Mr. Herbert M. "Tim" Richards, III, Member Ms. Jennifer Ruggles, 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: The following individuals registered to speak and came forward when called by the Chair: John Saplan: (representing Na Wai Chamber Choir) Lilinoe Kauahikaua: (representing Na Wai Chamber Choir) Jasmine LeFerer: (representing Hui Malama Ola Na `oiwi) Ann Goody: (representing Three Ring Ranch) Comm. 745.3, comment. Comm. 745.3, comment. Comm. 745.3, support. Comm. 745, support. HSSSC-11 COMMUNI- CATIONS: Tina Clothier: (representing Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii) Comm. 745, support. Patti Cook: Comm. 745, support. (representing Ho`okako`o for Waimea Middle and Elementary Schools) Mike Kaleikini: Comm. 745.3, support. (representing the American Red Cross) David Fuertes: Comm. 745, support. (representing Kalua Pa`amua) Nadine Ebert: Comm. 745, support. (representing `O K5'u Kakou) Babette Morrow: Comm. 745, support. (representing `O K5'u Kakou) Marty Moran: Comm. 745.3, support. (representing the American Red Cross) Louise Winn: Comm. 745.3, support. (representing Society for Kona's Education and Art) Sharon Yong: (representing Special Olympics West Hawaii) Gretchen Lee: (representing the American Red Cross) Caleb Milliken: (representing Family Support Hawaii) Comm. 745, support. Comm. 745, support. Comm. 745.3, support. April 24, 2018 The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business, Communications. Page 2 HSSSC-11 April 24, 2018 CHR. DAVID: Mr. Clerk, could you please read in Communication Nos. 745 and 745.3? 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. Postponed: February 20, 2018 (Note: There is a motion by Mr. Richards, seconded by Ms. Poindexter, to close file on Comm. 745.) ; and Comm. 745.1: From Finance Director Deanna Sako, dated February 9, 2018, transmitting applications from eligible nonprofit organizations for the Council's review and appropriation of funds for the Fiscal Year 2018-19 nonprofit grant program. ; and Comm. 745.3: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GRANT APPROPRIATIONS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS From Human Services and Social Services Committee (HSSSC) Chair Maile David, dated April 4, 2018, transmitting the HSSSC Ad Hoc Committee's recommendations for grant funding to nonprofit organizations for inclusion in the County of Hawaii Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019. A total of 180 eligible applications were received, with requests totaling $5,638,434. The recommendations have been developed through a review of all applications with each applicant. CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. And at this time, if it's okay with Council Members, I'd like to just give a brief summary of this entire process from when it started, if it's okay with everyone? Alright. Recommendations were made after review of all the eligible applications that was provided by the Department of Finance. So at close of the deadline, there were 182 applications received and all but two were determined ineligible. Then on February 9th, the department forwarded all of those applications, the eligible ones, to the Council Members for review and appropriation of funds. Page 3 HSSSC-11 April 24, 2018 At a February 20th, 2018, Human Services and Social Services meeting, we formed an ad hoc committee for the purpose of reviewing these applications and determining award recommendations. On March 15 and 16, the ad hoc committee conducted 100 interviews in Hilo, at Council Chambers; and on the 20th and 2l't of March, the ad hoc committee conducted 80 applicant interviews which took place here at the West Hawaii Civic Center. On March 27, 2018, the ad hoc committee met to discuss and determine recommendation awards and designated specific performance measures, expenditures, and directives to the awardees. So although the amounts requested exceeded recommended actual award amounts, all applicants expressed their understanding and conveyed their determination to continue to provide services to meet the needs of our various communities. Finally, I'd like to explain why, in the ad hoc's recommendation, it consists of Exhibit A and Exhibit A-1, attached to Communication 745.3. As the Committee on Human Services, this Committee, will be asked to approve and accept recommendations of the ad hoc committee. The ad hoc members chose to take a proactive and optimistic approach with respect to fiscal year 2018-2019, keeping in mind that historically award recommendations have been based on a $1.5 million allocation. So the ad hoc committee proposed one recommendation, embracing different outcomes. The proposal in Exhibit A is based upon the preliminary budget appropriation of $1 million; and the second proposal, Exhibit A-1 is based on the historical budget appropriation of $1.5 million. So whatever the budget turns out to be, we have two versions of one recommendation. So, mahalo for allowing me to provide this brief summary. Before I go into discussion, I really want to thank everyone for this opportunity to serve as Chair, and also, more so to thank Vice -Chair, Sue Lee Loy; ad hoc committee members, Karen Eoff and Mr. Richards. So, Council Members, discussion? Ms. Lee Loy. MS. LEE LOY: I will take a moment to just reflect on all of the applications that we went through. It really was a tough decision this year, specifically too, because we were dealing with a lot less money and just more need. I do want to thank the rest of the members of the ad-hoc committee for, really, kind of identifying the bigger needs of this entire community and trying to find some synergies between the various programs that really do help the simplest of things, with transportation for our seniors or feeding our kids. Page 4 HSSSC-11 April 24, 2018 This year was a lot tougher than last year, and I just hope that going forward there might be an opportunity for us to kind of wring out another $500,000 so that we can actually help more of these nonprofits. Again, Council Member Richards, Council Member David, and Council Member Eoff, it was an extreme pleasure to spend seven days with you. Thank you very much. CHR. DAVID: Aloha and mahalo, Ms. Lee Loy. Ms. Eof£ MS. EOFF: Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, it was very difficult this year. But I just wanted to say thank you to all of the nonprofits that applied, because every one of them provide a service to the community that without them, would not take care of. We funded anything from education, youth programs, elderly programs. Anyways, there's a wide range of services that are being provided by these nonprofits. I would just like to thank them, not only for taking part in the process, but for what they do to make sure that they can continue their operations. And as far as these recommendations, like Ms. Lee Loy said, it was hard. We had over, I think it was $5 million requested, and first we had to deal with only $1 million in allocation. Although we tried to make it fair, the best we could, you know, of course we wish we could have given more all the way around. But I think as was stated by a testifier earlier, anything we can do helps. I feel good about that part. So I just wanted to thank the ad-hoc committee members, too, for all of their work, all of our work, collectively. It was a great experience to learn more about the nonprofits, being able to question them and then provide this recommendation to the rest of the Council. So, thank you. Thank you, Ms. David, for chairing. CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Ms. Eof£ Mr. Richards, go ahead. MR. RICHARDS: Thank you, Chair. First of all, I do want to thank the other members of the ad hoc committee: Maile, Karen, and Sue. Long days and lots of testimony, and you had everything. The whole gamut of the emotions as you go across, from happy to just pull at your heart. Some of the things that our County deals with. A big thank you to all the nonprofits that came before us. Because they're touching on some things that our County needs to deal with, is dealing with. But there's some little nuances that only a community would know. I see a great value in this grant-in-aid program; that we help fill some of those niches that otherwise may go unnoticed. Page 5 HSSSC-11 April 24, 2018 Also, another thing I do want to touch on. I know I'm speaking for the group as a whole, that our staff helps to support us and get cranking through all the paperwork. Without them, we wouldn't get through it because there is a huge amount of paperwork, and read a lot, listened a lot. And then processing through all the paperwork, is huge. So again, thanks to the staff, all of our staff, for getting that done. Probably, echoing what Karen has said here, touching on some of the big needs in our County; the education aspect, the after-school, help feeding some of these kids, taking care of our kupuna-aged, transportation, these are big, same area concerns that sort of rang through a lot of our recommendations. What we're looking for is a way to amplify the effect of those dollars and seeking that synergy. So by giving some here, it helps boost them a little bit further and put them over the top, as far as making programs really work. So, thoroughly enjoyed it. Grueling at times but thoroughly enjoyed it. And again, Chair, thank you so much. I yield. CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Richards. Anyone else? In Hilo, anyone else wishing to speak? Mr. Kanuha. MR. KANUHA: Thank you. Just wanted to mahalo the committee for doing the hard work and really digging deep into how to get these monies to the entire community. I know it takes a lot of work. I haven't been on the committee, so I don't know the extent of the work that you guys go through, and you guys come up and tell us the process, everything that you go through and meeting with everybody. I give you guys kudos, so mahalo for really digging deep into what the community needs. But I also wanted to thank all the nonprofits. Everybody coming here and testifying, and doing, you know, the stuff that the County or government really can't do. You guys do a lot of the necessary things throughout this entire County to help our communities, and we mahalo you for that. We wish we could give you a ton of money and a lot more than what is currently provided. We really wish we had that. But we all, even in government, we're trying to do more with less. And I know a lot of the nonprofits—you know, my family has a nonprofit as well, there is a lot of times where we don't get the funding needed to provide for our services that are needed. But we just wanted to mahalo you guys for really digging deep and doing the necessary things that our County and our community really need. Again, mahalo for continuing with this process. Mahalo for being patient with us. Just mahalo for taking care of our community. Thank you. Page 6 HSSSC-11 April 24, 2018 CHR. DAVID: Thank you, Mr. Kanuha. Anyone else wishing to discuss? All right, then I guess I'm last. I will not repeat everything that was said by my ad hoc committee members and Mr. Kanuha. Except to say, really, my mahalo to all of the organizations, because what they have to work with is far less than what they are normally given from state or federal fundings. We tried our best to help them out, in the best way we could, so they could continue their services. Before I close, I just would like to express my thanks to Director Sako, Ted Schrey, and the entire staff the Finance Department because they have a daunting task after we're done. They manage all of these grant applications, so I really want to thank them and their staff And also, to say thank you to not only all of our staff of the ad-hoc committee but a special thank you to Dawn who actually spent hours doing spreadsheets and doing all of our recommendations and coming up with an average. Thank you, Dawn, so much, and everybody else's staff Also, I would like to thank Mayor Kim for funding the nonprofit organizations for this year also. On that note, Mr. Clerk, on the motion to accept the recommendations, I'd like to take— MR. HENRICKS: We don't have a motion yet, to approve the recommendations and close all related communications. CHR. DAVID: Thank you so much. Vote on Comm. 745.3: Mr. Richards moved to close file on Comm. 745.3 and Filed accept the recommendations of the ad hoc committee for inclusion in Bill 110, the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019. Seconded by Ms. Eoff. Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Kanuha, Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles, and Chair David – 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Chung – 1. Excused: None. CHR. DAVID And I believe we have nine "ayes." Mr. Clerk? MR. HENRICKS: That is correct. Now, you still have the motion on the floor that would just to kind of close out the process and dissolve that out Committee, the main motion or 745. CHR. DAVID: Okay, and so we're going to vote on that main motion right now? Page 7 HSSSC-1 I April 24, 2018 MR. HENRICKS. Yes, you can do that now, or if there's any further discussion CHR. DAVID- Okay, if there's any further discussion, otherwise we're going to vote on closing file on Comm. 745 and all related. Seeing none, all those in favor please say "aye:' Vote on Comm. 745: The motion to close file on Comm. 745 and all related Filed communications was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Eoff, Kanuha, Lee Lov, O'Hara, Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles, and Chair David — 8. Noes: None. Absent Committee Member Chung — 1 Excused: None. CHR. DAVID And I believe, Mr. Clerk, that concludes the meeting. Please, may I have a motion to adjourn? ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, at 10:16 a.m., Ms. Lee Loy moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Mr. Richards and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, Eoff, Kanuha, Lee Loy, O'Hara, Poindexter, Richards, Ruggles, and Chair David — 9 Noes: None. Absent: None. Fxcused. None. CHR. DAVID: We are adjourned. Mahalo, everybody Approved. 7{ Z0/e Ms. Maile David, Cha(D (Date) Human Services and Social Services Committee MD/na Page 8