Minutes - Council - 02/11/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Case g2: Allocation of 1997 Community Development Block Grant Funds Zoning Administrator Frolik noted a request for CDBG funds that Council had not yet reviewed from Child Care Resource and Referral. She stated that staff is recommending allocation of one year's funding in 1997, and reserving two years funding for 1998. Staff's recommendation is to channel these funds to agencies that help persons fill the gap between self-sufficiency and welfare. CEAP, Opportunity Services and Child Care Resource & Referral meet that goal. In the area of social services, Alexandra House is providing benefit to the most number of Ramsey residents. Staff is also recommending funding ADA retrofits to sidewalks. The recommended amounts are as follows: $2,500 to Alexandra House, $2,500 to CEAP, $5,000 to Opportunity Services, $7,600 to Child Care Resource & Referral and $13,520 for sidewalk retrofits. Councilmember Haas Steffen thought that all of what Council heard, with the exception of two request, were very worthy causes. More and more pressure is put on the local governments. Cities belong in infrastructure, not in social services. She commented on how these agencies cannot continue to depend on the cities for money. She added that she can concur with staff's recommendation. Motion by Councilmember Haas Steffen and seconded by Councilmember Beahen to adopt Resolution g97-02-044 allocating the 1997 Community Development Block Grant Funds as recommended by staff. Further discussion: Councilmember Zimmerman asked why Jina's Place was not recommended for funding, especially since it is located in Ramsey. Councilmember Haas Steffen stated that it is a worthy cause, however, someone in the organization would be required to have a Ph.D. and a Masters in social work. Neither of these things were mentioned. There will be a lot of hurdles to go over and the City has nothing to do with that licensing. Councilmember Beyer expressed a problem with $13,000 for sidewalk retrofits. We can put that in the 1998 budget and give this money to a service that can benefit from it. She was hoping it could be disbursed in another way. Councilmember Haas Steffen stated that the question is whether you want to use these dollars for what they are allowed to be used for in the City of Ramsey or to pay for these things out of the tax dollars. We may not have the opportunity to do this again. Mayor Gamec asked if it's possible to designate to the four agencies and leave the $13,000 unallocated until we have further discussion. Councilmember Beyer pointed out that staff did not say how they came up with this recommendation. Councilmember Haas Steffen suggested that staff looked at the recently passed welfare reform at the federal level. Affordable child care facilities will be critical to the success of the welfare reform. Most of the organizations on the list are generally providing a temporary help to keep people from sliding onto welfare. Amendment by Councilmember Haas Steffen and seconded by Councilmember Beahen to amend the resolution to read that the $13,520 will be unallocated. Amendment carded. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Haas Steffen, Beahen, Beyer and Zimmerman. Voting No: None. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Haas Steffen, Beahen, Beyer and Zimmerman. Voting No: None. Motion by Councilmember Haas Steffen and seconded by Councilmember Beahen to bring back, to the Finance Committee, discussion of allocating the $13,520. Motion carded. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Haas Steffen, Beahen, Beyer and Zimmerman. Voting No: None. City Council/February 11, 1997 Page 5 of 14