HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Government Services Committee - Meeting Date: 2/1/2011Government Services Committee
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Regular Meeting Minutes
Council Conference Room
5850 West Glendale Avenue
Glendale, AZ
Councilmember Joyce Clark called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m. Present were
Councilmember Manny Martinez, Councilmember Phil Lieberman and Councilmember
Joyce Clark. Also in attendance were Kristen Krey, Nan Robinson, and guest Erik
Strunk.
1 — Approval of Minutes: Councilmember Martinez made a motion to approve the
minutes from the January 4, 2011 GSC meeting. Councilmember Lieberman seconded
the motion. Motion approved.
2—Resignations: Sharon Heatwole (Ocotillo) from the Citizens Advisory Commission
on Neighborhoods; Arneida Miller (At-Large, Barrel) from the Citizens Advisory
Commission on Neighborhoods; and Brad Hendrix (Ocotillo) from the Planning
Commission.
3—Citizens Advisory Commission on Neighborhoods—Background Information:
Erik Strunk provided a background on the Commission's efforts. He advised that last
summer a survey was conducted of the Commission members to gauge their satisfaction.
Since the grant money is no longer available, he wanted to see what the Commission
members felt their purpose was outside of the grant program. He said the focus needs to
be to connect with neighborhoods, and communicate with neighborhood leaders. A
Work Plan was established (attached).
CM Clark inquired what the "hybrid group" is that was referred to in Erik's memo to the
GSC. Erik responded the "hybrid group" referred to the four different departments that
make up the Community Services Group under Cathy Gorham: Parks and Recreation;
Library; Code Compliance; and Community Partnerships. He said it has to do with how
they communicate among/between departments, how they get neighborhoods to be more
involved, and whether the departments are moving toward a greater integration of
services—i.e. residents can involve all 4 groups in a neighborhood issue.
Erik advised they reviewed the role of the Commission, which they believe is to provide
advisement to the City Council. Erik suggested Councilmembers communicate directly
to the Commission members. If they viewed their previous role as grants administrators,
it is a new time because there is no longer grant money available. Erik said the
Commission members would like more contact with the Councilmembers.
CM Clark stated she did not want to speak with Commissioners as she did not want to
risk prejudicing them.
Kristen Krey stated Board and Commission members have been trained to see their
positions in an advisory role.
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Erik stated the Commission is a non-regulatory board, so interaction with
Councilmembers would be appropriate.
CM Clark inquired what the Commission had accomplished in the last 6 months. Erik
responded they had been working on the "Adopt-a-Neighborhood" program; the
registration of neighborhoods, new policies, and mentoring residents/neighborhoods.
CM Clark inquired whether neighborhood leaders attend the Commission meetings. Erik
responded they do. He added that the Commission was also involved in assisting with
the Volunteer program.
CM Lieberman commented that some of the leaders that have been on the Commission
have been very dynamic, which encouraged the other Commission members.
Erik suggested allowing the current Commission's efforts and activities continue through
the end of this fiscal year, and then Erik and Matt Cohrs can take a look at what their
focus needs to be.
CM Clark stated she was just following up on some concerns from Commission members
that had been passed along to her.
CM Martinez stated this Commission also seems to develop a lot of neighborhood
leaders. He stated one part of this Commission's mission has been to work with churches
and businesses in the community. He said perhaps now is the time to branch out to do
more of this.
CM Clark stated in light of the fact there is no more grant money available, she felt the
Commission needs to identify concrete neighborhood problems/concerns in each district
and then work to resolve them.
CM Martinez suggested perhaps the Commission could help work at some of the results
of all the foreclosures, as this has impacted many neighborhoods. He suggested, for
example, the Tool Shed that is available through the Neighborhood Partnership Office.
CM Clark inquired whether there were any numbers on how many foreclosures are
impacting Glendale. Erik responded it has been averaging 2,000 per month. He asked
whether there were any other issues the Council would like the Commission to look at.
CM Clark stated they could speak with Commission members and find out what they are
unhappy about or dissatisfied with. She suggested the GSC ask all of the
Councilmembers to speak with new Commission members as they are sworn in to be sure
they are aware of and comfortable with their role.
CM Martinez noted the B&C brochure references grants. Kristen stated staff will remove
that reference for now.
Erik stated engagement between elected officials and Commission members is
appropriate, and the connection is critical.
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Kristen advised the group March 2, 2011 is the next Citizen's Advisory Commission on
Neighborhoods meeting.
CM Clark invited the GSC members to attend this next Commission meeting.
Erik stated he will look at the Agenda items for that meeting. He added they may want to
look at the language in the original ordinance. CM Clark stated they could look at the
ordinance language in June/July 2011.
CM Martinez inquired whether the small grant funds were all gone. Erik responded they
were.
CM Clark suggested Erik contact Cox and Qwest to partner with the city and help with
small grant funding. Erik responded he could check into sponsors for the small grants
program, and that in the past that was very successful.
CM Martinez stated each Councilmember receives $15,000 each year, if they all turned it
in to the Neighborhood Partnership Office to fund small grants, it would total $90,000.
CM Lieberman said he would contribute $10,000 of his funds toward this effort. CM
Clark said she would think about it. CM Martinez said he would give all of his $15,000
to provide funding for small grants.
CM Clark suggested Erik work with the City Attorney's Office regarding grant
fundraising. She said to check on an annual event with a silent auction as a possible
fundraiser for neighborhood projects.
CM Clark asked Erik to prepare a memo for the afternoon's Council Workshop that
would explain what the "hybrid group" is, including the four departments, and show
concrete projects this Commission has been working on, as well as what they are
currently working on. She also requested he explain the new role for Councilmembers to
communicate directly with Commission members. Councilmember Martinez suggested
first taking that idea to the full Council.
Erik stated he would provide the memo to Kristen Krey by 1:30 pm.
CM Lieberman suggested considering reducing this Commission to 7 members. CM
Clark said they could review this suggestion at the end of this fiscal year.
CM Martinez inquired whether there were any stimulus funds available for
neighborhoods. Erik responded it was already either spent or committed. CM Martinez
asked if any more stimulus funding was received, whether it could come to the
Commission. Erik responded that it would not, as it is all funneled through CDBG. He
advised in the end it all goes to the neighborhoods.
Erik added that the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 3 (NSP3) would be coming
soon, in the amount of$3,718,377 million. He said it would be coming to fix up homes.
He added this federal money has strings attached and it funnels through CDAC.
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Erik said they acquired 29 single family homes with the first $6 million, all are in the
process of being rehabilitated, and will be ready to be sold to residents.
CM Clark asked Erik to do a report on that and provide it to the Council.
4 — Board and Commission Training for Liaisons: Kristen Krey informed the
members that the January Board and Commission training for liaisons had been
cancelled, and she would be rescheduling it. In addition, Kristen advised that she would
be scheduling Board and Commission training, both Basic and Advanced, for sometime
in the spring, probably April or May.
5—Next GSC Meeting: March 1, 2011.
6—Request for Motion to Adjourn and conduct an Executive Session:
At 10:16 a.m. Councilmember Martinez made a motion to adjourn to conduct the
Executive Session. Councilmember Lieberman seconded the motion to adjourn to
conduct the Executive Session.
Prepared by Nan Robinson
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