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PRHSPSC MINS 01-14-2019City of Federal Way City Council PARKS RECREATION HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE Monday January 14, 2019 5:00 p.m. SUMMARY Committee Members in Attendance: Chair Johnson, Committee member Moore, and Committee member Koppang. Council Members in Attendance: Lydia Assefa-Dawson, Deputy Mayor Honda, Hoang Tran, and Dini Duclos Staff Members in Attendance: Eric Rhoades, Assistant City Attorney, John Hutton, Parks Director, Steve Ikerd, Parks Deputy Director, Jeff Watson, Human Services Manager, Sara Bridgeford, CDBG/HS Coordinator, and Mary Jaenicke, Administrative Assistant Il. Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 5:00pm Commission Comment: None Public Comment: Betty Taylor: Ms. Taylor spoke in favor of keeping the $100,000 funding in Federal Way. BUSINESS ITEMS Discussion on Use of $100,000 State Funds for Emergency Family Shelters Staff Watson spoke about the allocation of $100,000 from the State Legislature for emergency shelter for families with children. Initially there was a contract proposed with Mary's Place to provide shelter with comprehensive services. Mary's Place has withdrawn their application and will no longer be a candidate for the use of the funds. Staff is making three alternative recommendations; they are as follows: 1) Motelihotel vouchers with limited services. There would be up to $1500 per family to help remove barriers for housing. Staff is recommending between $20,000 to $35,000 for those services. 2) Use the funds for pre -development costs for a shelter in Federal Way. Staff is recommending $40,000 to $60,000. 3) Hire staff for a community coordinated response collaborative. This was recommended to the Mayor in the report from the Homelessness Task Force. It's also included in the City's Legislative agenda for 2019. Funds would be made available for a city staff person. The position would begin to develop a community coordinated response collaborative group around homelessness and coordinating services more efficiently and effectively. Staff is recommending $30,000 to $40,000 for that use. Depending on how Council decided to use the money, there would need to be a competitive process. Staff Bridgeford reviewed the timeline for allocating those funds. Staff Watson stated that the Mayor does concur with the recommendations that staff has made. Council had a long discussion and asked staff clarifying questions. Committee member Moore was in favor of hiring a staff person, and asked staff Watson if they could hire someone and have them trained prior to the deadline of June. Staff Watson answered that they would look at bringing someone in on a temporary basis. There would need to be additional funding provided for the additional staff for at least a couple of years. Committee member Koppang is not in favor of additional staffing because of the short window of time that they have to spend the funding. He wants to make sure that the funds are used as effectively as possible. There is the possibility that a portion funds could be used for pre -development prior to the deadline. Council member Assefa-Dawson asked if that instead of hiring a staff person could they hire an intern to do the work. Staff Watson answered that they need someone with experience. Council member Duclos asked if there would be a staff person or an outside agency that would meet with the families to see what kind of services they need. Staff Watson answered that with the hotel/motel vouchers it would be an outside agency. Council member Tran stated that he can support two of the K:\PRHSPS Committee\2019\01-14-2019 Mins.doc PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE Tuesday, January 14, 2019 Summary Page 2 recommendations, but he does not support hiring a staff person. He stated that there are many other agencies that deal with this issue, and it is a duplicate of services. Staff Watson answered that the staff person would not be working on the contract; they will be working with other agencies and providers that serve Federal Way. Council member Tran added that they may be able help more families if they don't use the funding for a staff person. Council member Duclos stated that the supportive services being provided by the agencies would be a better use of the money than providing a staff person. Deputy Mayor Honda stated that she attended Representative Reeves meeting and many of the people that were at that meeting wanted part of the funding to go towards a staff person. She is concerned that if we don't show that the city is serious about hiring someone then there's a possibility that the city will not get the funding that they've asked for to fund this position the following year. Committee member Moore asked if there was any way to move the process along faster so they don't have to wait until mid-March to use the voucher program to help families. Assistant City Attorney Rhoades answered that the contracting processes were approved by Council and these are the guidelines that staff are required to follow. Committee member Koppang stated that he looks at the staffing position as a long term strategic move and the implementation of the $100,000 as a short term practical approach to the homelessness issue. Committee member Koppang asked if the funds could be used for rental assistance. Staff Watson stated that he would have to ask the Department of Commerce. Council member Duclos stated that she is concerned about hiring a staff position. A long discussion was held on how to quicken the timeline. Committee member Koppang moved to recommend a 60%/40% split; 60% for services and 40% for pre -development costs. Committee member Moore seconded. A discussion was held on what would qualify for pre -development costs and the timeline. Motion passed. NEXT REGULAR MEETING February 12, 2019 ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 6:28p.m.