| MINUTES: April 1, 2002
San Ramon Community Center
12501 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon, CA
Item 1.0 – Call to Order.
The meeting was called to order at 6:25 p.m. Item 2.0 – Roll Call.
Commissioners in attendance:
Maria Theresa Viramontes-Campbell, Dr. Michael Zwerdling, Greg Rolen for Cindy Wheeler, Violet Smith, Dr. Paula Moten-Tolson, Supervisor John Gioia, Mary Foran for Dr. William Walker, Tony Colón, John Cullen Alternates in attendance:
Ronda Garcia, Danna Fabella Item 3.0 – Consent Items. Item 3.1- Approve minutes for March 9, 2003 meeting.
Alternate Foran requested the following corrections to the minutes: Item 3.0 Public Comment, page 3, will be corrected to read: Giggette Gimmery, child care provider, stated that the professional development pilot program motivates her and helps her to go back to school. Item 9.0 Public Comment, page 7, will be corrected to read: Liz Callahan, Contractors Alliance, stated that the reduction seemed arbitrary.
Item 3.2 - Review, Discuss and Acknowledge Financial Reports for February.
The Commission acknowledged receipt of the financial reports. Item 3.3 - Executive Committee Report.
The Executive Committee did not meet during the month of March. The Commission voted to approve Item 3.0 – Consent Items with the minutes amended as indicated. Item 4.0 - Executive Director’s Report.
Brenda Blasingame gave the following report: - Commission members need to complete the Form 700 and return it to Shawn Garcia by April 2, 2002.
- The Family Friendly Community Grants applications have been released. Readers are needed to review the applications and staff would like to invite two Commissioners to read that have not previously read applications. This will be the process for community grant review panels
Commissioner Gioia and Alternate Rolen volunteered to read the applications.
- Several staff and Commissioners attended the San Diego Statewide California Children and Families Commission conference, including the master plan workshop. The state is beginning to focus its’ work and clearly wants to be known as the school readiness group in California.
- During the California Children and Families Association meeting at the San Diego conference, the Association passed the advocacy platform. Once the plan is made available it will be distributed to Commissioners.
Commissioner Moten-Tolson stated that there is a lot of respect for the work Brenda Blasingame is doing and for the work that the staff is doing. Brenda is really making a difference, not only in Contra Costa but at the state level, too. Commissioner Colón stated that during the conference there was a lot of discussion of Bay Area Commissioners meeting to consider best practices and to create a regional approach rather than a county specific approach. Chairman Cullen stated that he would like to have a meeting with other Bay Area Commissioners and staff members to compare and share information. Commissioner Viramontes-Campbell stated that she attended the master plan discussion and feels that the Commission needs to pay close attention to how the state will fund universal preschool and the state’s commitment to having kindergarten be a full day. Brenda Blasingame stated that the state is calling this initiative “Preschool through University” and will be discussed at the next California Children and Families Association meeting. - Next steps from the March retreat:
- Language for the sustainability plan will be refined
- The Finance and Investment Committee will meet to develop an investment plan
- Budget revisions will need to be completed by the end of the fiscal year, which will be reviewed by the Finance and Investment Committee.
- A revised proposed budget for Fiscal Year 01 / 02 will be brought to the Commission at the May meeting.
- Staff will develop a process map and timeline for the Early Childhood Education Strategy, which will be brought to the Commission.
Public Comment.
Sherry Rufini, Welcome Home Baby, thanked Mary Foran, Danna Fabella, and Pat Stroh for putting together a great Home Visiting Strategy and stated that if the Commission approves the strategy, Welcome Home Baby will be one of the recipients of the grant. She also thanked the funders’ coalition. Name Unknown, Child Care Provider, requested the Commission to address the stipend program. Chairman Cullen stated that the Commission will be publishing a process map to outline the Commission’s plan for the Early Childhood Education Strategy. Kathy Aquinas, Welcome Home Baby, thanked the Commission for its support of the Welcome Home Baby program. Item 5.0 - Committee and Program Updates. Item 5.1 – Program and Evaluation Committee.
a) Home Visiting Strategy
Chairman John Cullen made the following statement:
As the Director of the Employment and Human Services Department and since the Employment and Human Services Department is the proposed recipient of this contract, I will not be participating in the discussion or the vote on this agenda item. Alternate Mary Foran made the following statement:
As the Assistant Director of the Health Services Department and since the Health Services Department is the proposed recipient of this contract, I will not be participating in the discussion or the vote on this agenda item. Alternate Danna Fabella made the following statement:
As the Director of the Children and Family Services division of the Employment and Human Services Department and since the Employment and Human Services Department is the proposed recipient of this contract, I will not be participating in the discussion or the vote on this agenda item. Commissioner Colón made the following statement:
As the Director of the Community Services Department and since the Community Services Department is the proposed recipient of this contract, I will not be participating in the discussion or the vote on this agenda item. Commission John Gioia made the following statement:
I am a member of the Board of Supervisors and am not employed by any of the aforementioned departments and am able to vote on this agenda item. Sean Casey reviewed the staff report with the Commission. He stated that the home visiting collaborative and the home visiting funders’ coalition have been working with staff on this strategy. Each department head from Employment and Human Services Department, Community Services Department, and Health Services Department has submitted a letter of commitment to work with the Commission in the implementation of the strategy as stated in the meet to reach mutual agreement (MRMA). Commission Gioia asked about the possibility of leveraging funds and what amount could be leveraged.
Sean Casey stated that the amount of funds leveraged would depend upon what portion of the population is eligible for those funds. It must be eligible providers and it must be eligible services. Commissioner Viramontes-Campbell stated that the Commission would be funding this strategy as a sole source. She further stated that she is concerned about whether the Commission can negotiate that all leveraged funds are kept within the home visiting program. Brenda Blasingame stated that the intent is that any leveraged dollars be put back into the home visiting system and it is up to the funders’ coalition to decide how to use those funds. Commissioner Viramontes-Campbell informed the Commission that the Program and Evaluation Committee realized that very few agencies provide these services and agreed that Commission funds would be best utilized with these groups. She then thanked everyone for their hard work on this strategy. Consider the following recommendations:
1. To approve the stated target geographic areas, principles for building a system for home visiting, and services to be funded in the total amount of $1,750,000 for FY 01 / 02 and FY 02 / 03. Commission Smith requested the motion be amended to state “in the total amount of $1.750,000 for FY 01 / 02 and FY 02 / 03 combined. “ A motion was made and seconded to approve the stated target geographic areas, principles for building a system for home visiting, and services to be funded in the total amount of $1,750,000 for FY 01 / 02 and FY 02 / 03 combined. Ayes:
Commissioner Zwerdling
Commissioner Viramontes-Campbell
Commissioner Gioia
Alternate Rolen for Commissioner Wheeler
Commissioner Smith. Nays:
None Abstentions:
Chairman Cullen
Commissioner Colon
Alternate Foran
Alternate Fabella The Commission voted to approve the stated motion. To approve funding for two additional years, beginning with FY 03 / 04 in the base amount of $1,200,000. A motion was made and seconded to approve funding for two additional years, beginning with FY 03 / 04 in the base amount of $1,200,000. Ayes:
Commissioner Zwerdling
Commissioner Viramontes-Campbell
Commissioner Gioia
Alternate Rolen for Commissioner Wheeler
Commissioner Smith Nays:
None Abstentions:
Chairman Cullen
Commissioner Colon
Alternate Foran
Alternate Fabella The Commission voted to approve the stated motion.
b)Update on Family Resource & Learning Centers
Brenda Blasingame reviewed the staff report with the Commission. She stated that the roles and responsibilities chart be approved as a guideline and not a hard and fast outline of roles and responsibilities. Staff and the Commission originally discussed actual numbers in terms of sites and the recommendation is for general geographic vicinities. It is also being recommended that funding be a combined amount for this year and next year, and if the funds are not fully expended, they be rolled over. The geographic recommendations are: - West County would receive $906,000 for the first year and after the first year $490,000
- Monument Corridor would receive $518,000 for the first year and after the first year $250,000
- Near East County would receive $906,000 for the first year and after the first year $490,000
- Far East County would receive $259,000 for the first year and after the first year $140,000
After considerable dialogue the Commission voted on the following recommendations: Consider the following recommendations: - To approve and accept the roles and responsibilities document as a guideline.
A motion was made and seconded to approve and accept the roles and responsibilities document as a guideline.
The Commission requested staff to simplify and shorten the guideline.
The Commission voted to approve the stated motion.
- To approve and accept the geographic areas for establishment of Family Resource & Learning Centers.
Commission Gioia noted that there is an error and San Pablo should be referred to as San Pablo.
A motion was made and seconded to approve and accept the geographic areas for establishment of Family Resource & Learning Centers.
Commissioner Smith requested that the specific geographic recommendations from the staff report be included in the motion. The Commission agreed that the motion is inclusive of the specific language in the staff recommendation.
The Commission voted to approve the stated motion.
- To approve and accept the regional funding allocations for Family Resource & Learning Centers.
A motion was made and seconded to approve and accept the regional funding allocations for Family Resource & Learning Centers, minus a 5% hold on the gross amount to be allocated later based on criteria approved by the Commission.
Ayes:
Chairman Cullen
Commissioner Gioia
Alternate Rolen for Commissioner Wheeler
Commissioner Zwerdling
Commissioner Moten-Tolson
Commissioner Smith
Nays:
Commissioner Viramontes-Campbell
Alternate Foran for Commissioner Walker
Commissioner Colón
Abstentions:
None
The Commission voted and approved the stated motion.
- To approve and accept the recommendation to reserve, in the short-term sustainability account, funds for the development of the Family Resource & Learning Centers Strategy in the total amount of $2,800,000, with no more than $210,000 to be used for planning efforts countywide, and the remainder to be used for startup and implementation of the Family Resource & Learning Centers Strategy for FY 02 / 03.
A motion was made and seconded to approve and accept the recommendation to reserve, in the short-term sustainability account, funds for the development of the Family Resource & Learning Centers Strategy in the total amount of $2,800,000, with no more than $210,000 to be used for planning efforts countywide, and the remainder to be used for startup and implementation of the Family Resource & Learning Centers Strategy for FY 02 / 03.
The Commission voted to approve the stated motion. c) Update on Grantee activities No grantees were able to attend the meeting. Chairman Cullen requested that two grantees give presentations during the May meeting. Item 5.2 - Public Affairs Committee.
Tracy Irwin reviewed the staff report with the Commission. She then asked Commissioners for their story ideas or other messages to pursue in the next few months. Alternate Foran stated that she would like Tobacco to be included. Item 5.3 - Civic Engagement Committee.
Mari González gave the following report: - Regional conversations are taking place.
- Three community members have joined the Civic Engagement Committee.
- The Civic Engagement Project has approved the grant submitted for $100,000
She then informed the Commission that the East County regional group will be holding two events, one in Antioch on April 6 and on in Brentwood on April 13. There is not yet an active group in South County and staff will be hiring a part-time coordinator for that area. Alternate Foran complemented the staff on the work that has been done to make civic engagement work. Item 5.4 - Commission Events Calendar.
The Commission received the most recent events calendar. Shawn Garcia informed the Commission that the May 6, 2002 Commission meeting incorrectly states the location as San Ramon. The May meeting will take place at 2530 Arnold Drive, the Bay Room, Martinez. Item 6.0 – Communications.
The Commission acknowledged receipt of communications. Item 7.0 – Adjourn.
The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m. |