May 7, 2001
The hearing was open for public comment.
Item 1.0 Call to Order.
The meeting was called to order at 6:06 p.m.
Commissionersin Attendance:
Maria Theresa
Alternatesin Attendance:
RondaGarca, Barbara Langsdale, Dr. Paula Moten-Tolson, Pat Stroh, DannaFabella
Item 3.0 Consent Items.
Item 3.1- Approveminutes for April 2, 2001 meeting.
The Commission voted to approve the minutes for theApril 2, 2001 meeting.
Item 3.2 - AcknowledgeMonthly Financial Reports.
Brenda Blasingame reviewed the monthly financial reports with theCommission.
She stated that Barbara Hill is in the process of completing theentering of items from the current fiscal year into the QuickBooks system andreports will probably be ready to be presented to the Commission at the Junemeeting.
Item 3.3 - ExecutiveCommittee Report.
Commissioner Tabor stated that the Committee reviewed the workplan,which will be presented to the full Commission at the retreat.
Commissioner Tabor stated that the Commission will be working with theStates communications staff to revise and further develop our communicationsand media plan.
Commissioner Tabor stated that Brenda Blasingame is continuing todevelop the handbook and a final draft should be ready to go to the Commissionfor the June meeting.
Commissioner Tabor informed the Commission that the Executive Committeediscussed performance review for the executive director and staff.
Included in the packet is a sheet of Commission Committees.
Commissioner Cullen stated that the Commissioners will be interested inviewing the annual workplan, it is shaping up to be a nice document, detailingspecifically the work that Brenda Blasingame and staff are doing.
A motion was made and seconded toapprove Item 3.0 - Consent Items.
Item 4.0 Committee and ProgramUpdates.
Item 4.1 -Program Implementation and Evaluation Committee.
a) Report back on Family Literacy Roundtable and Discussion of theFamily Literacy Strategy
Commissioner Tabor updated theCommission on the Family Literacy Roundtable that was held.
Lisa R. Johnson presented theinterim strategy Ready, Set, Read Mini-grants.There was further discussion regarding the family literacy strategy.
CommissionTabor asked if the Commission was comfortable with the
b) Discussion of plan for Tobacco Cessation Strategy
Lisa R. Johnson informed theCommission that a consultant has been hired to talk with people in the county abouttobacco so they can help us shape the framework for the mini-summit that willbe held June 5, 2001.
c) Update on Grantmaking Activities
Lisa R. Johnson informed theCommission that 29 proposals were received, totaling $ 1.9 million dollars, forthe Parent Education and Family Support RFP.There is a list of readers for this proposal and the review meeting willbe held in May. Recommendations forfunding will presented to the Commission at the June meeting.
d) Update on Evaluation Team
Sean Casey informed the Commissionthat the evaluation team has been at the Commissions office every otherweek. The evaluation team has giventraining to our contract staff on the Internet based software that we will beusing in connection with the evaluation.Next month the evaluation team will be submitting their plan to us.
Item 4.2 -Discussion of School Readiness.
Commission Taborreferred the Commission to the School Readiness Binders included in theirpackets.
The Commissionthen held a general discussion regarding School Readiness.
Public Comment:
Alternate Garcia asked KathyLinquist, of the Local Planning Council; how many applications have beenreceived.
Kathy Linquist, Local Planning Council, stated that 1000applications have been received. Thedeadline for submitting applications was Friday, May 4, 2001.
Commissioner Smith asked Kathy how many applications arefrom home day cares.
Kathy Linquist stated that approximately 30% of theapplications received are from home day cares.
Commissioner Cullen then asked Kathy Linquist if theCommission would receive some information regarding the applicants.
Kathy Linquist stated that May 31, 2001 is the deadline tosubmit the information to the Commission.
Commissioner Cullen then stated that the Commission wouldthen be able to build that in for our planning for next year.
Commissioner Coln then asked Kathy Linquist about FederalLegislation that will be introduced.
Kathy Linquist stated that it is $ 5 billion dollars for a4-year program for a CARES model.
Ruth; Contractors Alliance.Given that there were $1.9 million requested in applications, would theCommission consider giving more than $ 300,000 for the Parent Education andFamily Support RFP. Commissioner Taborstated that the Commission has not yet evaluated it.
Ruth Major, West Ed Infant Toddler.
Item 4.3 -Discussion of Commission Retreat Agenda.
Commissioner Tabor stated that the Retreat has been scheduled for June9, 2001 and will be held at the Concord Hilton. A discussion was held about what issues the Commissioners wouldlike to consider discussing at the retreat.
Commissioner Coln stated that heis curious about getting more information about universal health careinitiatives for children. Therecurrently is one in Santa Clara and San Francisco counties.
Commissioner Tabor stated that itwould perhaps be an opportunity to have the evaluation team there to talk aboutthe plan.
Commissioner Smith stated that shewould like to discuss the big picture again.
Commissioner Tabor said she wouldlike a status report on the Implementation Plan, to look at our process,program, and operating budget for the next year.
Commissioner Viramontes-Campbellstated that she thinks we need to look at strategies and look at multi-yearfunding. We cant do everything.
There was a lengthy discussionabout our values and how we use our dollars, in disproportionate needcommunities or countywide; for investment or to make changes; targeting ourhelp to certain communities of highest verses high need/risk; andapplying best practices and research on what works in what communities.Commissioners agreed this is an important and valuable conversation to have atthe retreat.
Alternate Langsdale requested thatCommissioners not attending the retreat receive copies of planning materials sothere is an opportunity to give input into the process.
Commissioner Viramontes-Campbellrequested having a one-page description that lists strategies that we havecommitted to in certain areas, and those that are countywide.
Commissioner Zwerdling stated thatit would be helpful that we get some geographical information about thestipends, too.
Brenda Blasingame stated that staff had a retreat about a month ago andthe number one of the thing that came out was to have a discussion at theretreat about commission / staff relationship and to do maintenance on therelationship. Alternate Stroh addedthat that is part of our business that we need to pay careful attention toalso.
Item 5.0 New Business.
Item 5.1 -Executive Directors Report.
See report attached to these minutes.
Commissioner Tabor made thefollowing announcements:
Commissioner Coln stated that the Commissionpreviously discussed holding meetings in other areas of the county.
Item 6.0 Communications.
The Commission acknowledgedcommunications received.
Item 7.0 Adjourn.
The meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
At the end of April a retreat was held and 52 counties werepresent. Participants looked atoutlining how we are going to move forward in terms of our relations with statecommission. The top issues discussedincluded the following:
Brenda will be participating on aWorkgroup that will be focusing on school readiness. The Executive Committee of the Association and the StateCommission staff are having detailed discussions and working in collaborationto continue the development of this initiative.
Brenda Blasingame attended thelast State Commission meeting where the new parent box was discussed.
We are still working on expanding our space next door there are someissues with the air conditioning that have to be settled.
The new Commission Banners arrivedand two are on display tonight for the Commission to see.
Looking at the numbers from statein terms of revenues received for the first sixth months of this year, itappears that based on the first six months revenues projections have a $880,000shortfall occurring this year. Eventhough we are saying that tobacco use is dropping we think that people arebuying cigarettes over the Internet or out of state. Brenda spoke with Orange County Prop 10, because they had decidedto look at funding and long-term sustainability and lowered their dollar amountthey believe they can fund every year and sustain. They did a business plan and detailed 10-year financialprojection. Brenda will be working withtheir staff to assist us in doing the same.
The state may hire a consultant tolook at prop 99 and look at lessons learned from that.