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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 06.23.2008 CC-WThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Regular Session on the above date with Mayor George Garver presiding. Council Present: Council Absent: Mayor George Garver, Gabe Sansing, Pat All Councl present Berryman, Dale Ross, Patty Eason, Pat Berryman, Ben Oliver, Keith Brainard, Bill Sattler Staff Present: Shirley Rinn, Deputy City Secretary, Trish Carls, City Attorney, Micki Rundell, Chief Financial Officer, Elizabeth Cook, Planning Director, Terri Calhoun, Paralegal, David Munk, Development Engineer A Social Service and Children's & Youth Program Funding Applicant Presentations to Council, and possible action to appoint a Council Subcommittee to determine recommendations regarding funding allocations for FY 2008-09 -- Paul E. Brandenburg, City Manager Meeting was called to order at 4:05pm Linda Ledbetter of the Assistance League of Georgetown Area said that Assistance League is a non-profit, all volunteer philanthropic organization dedicated to helping those in need in our community. She added that their signature philanthropic project is "Operation School Bell" that provides appropriate clothing and literacy programs for school children. 2007-08 clothed 900 students in Georgetown. She said their request to the City is for $20,000 to partially fund this project. Joy Dillman, Director of EGI- PRIDE Early Childhood Intervention (Bluebonnet Trails Community MHMR Center), thanked the Council for its prior support. She gave an example of a successful intervention Bluebonnet provided this past year. Edna Johnson of Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS), a public entity governed by nine rural counties they serve. She indicated that CARTS is requesting $9,000 to support public transit bus in Georgetown. She discussed propane fueled buses and local service in Georgetown. She also indicated that CARTS has seen an increase of senior citizens utilizing the curb to curb service provided by CARTS. She also told the Council that CARTS been receiving a lot of inquiries for commuter service. Rita Scott of Faith in Action Caregivers thanked the Council for its continued support to provide services to seniors in Georgetown. She said that Interfaith is a volunteer organization that provides free transportation and other support services to senior citizens over 65 years old. They provide services to 243 seniors with 191 volunteers. She said that Interfaith is the only agency in Georgetown that focuses on individualized transportation needs of their clients. She indicated that Interfaith has provided a value of $146,000 to the Georgetown community. She also said that they anticipate a 20% increase in clients in the coming year. Angela Atwood, of Family Eldercare, Inc. provides guardianship services for adults in Williamson County. They are requesting $10,000, which is 1 % of their budget to assist with their program. Their programs provide services to prevent abuse and neglect of incapacitated adults. Steven Benold of The Caring Place (Georgetown Community Service Center) talked about the price of food, electricity, fuel increasing in Georgetown and that the Caring Place provides assistance for those in need in the community. He indicated that the Caring Place is requesting $50,000 and that in return, the Caring Place gave City Council Meeting Minutes/June 23, 2008 Page 1 of 4 Pages the back to the City of Geort,. own $65,000 in utility payments. Gene Davenport of The Georgetown Project - talked to the Council about the homeless children in the community and the desire of the Georgetown Project to find solutions to bring the number of homeless children to zero. They are requesting funding to work with School District to address the needs of homeless children and assist those families who are in danger of becoming homeless. The Georgetown Project is requesting financial support to help underwrite the Task Force to seek solutions to the homeless problem in Georgetown. Brent Jenkins of Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County requested funding to continue its mission in Williamson County. He indicated that Habitat is not asking for an increase in funding. Habitat provides affordable housing in Georgetown, as well as other communities in Williamson County. He talked about the progress of Old Mill Village. He also gave an overview of the sweat equity required by each family. It was clarified by the Council that Habitat was not requesting an increase in funding. Gloria Cueva, of Literacy Council of Williamson County said they are the only agency in the County that provides adult literacy tutoring as well as tutoring for high school dropouts. The implications of not helping these adults increase their literacy skills is significant and greatly impacts the workforce, healthcare costs, and other social services costs. She said they are making a huge difference in the community. They have around 100 volunteers to serve countywide around 1,200 people (around 200 in Georgetown). They are requesting $4,500. She also thanked the Council for its support. Jack Hunnicut, of Lone Star Circle of Care said this the first year the Community Clinic opened its doors, they had 8,000 patient visits and this year they will have over 94,000 patient encounters. He indicated that the Operations of the clinic supported 70% of the budget and 30% comes from grants. He told the Council that the 90% of patients that are seen at the clinic are employed, but whose employers do not provide health care benefits. By providing the services they do, they keep patients working. He asked that the Council continue to support the clinic. Pat Schnieder of Stonehaven Senior Center, she told the Council that the center was built in 1968, and is convenient to the Stonehaven Apartments for seniors over 50 years old to come and have their social, recreational, educational, and creative needs met. She gave an overview of the programs offered to the seniors. She said that also service other residents throughout Williamson County. She indicated that 29% of their funding comes from the City of Georgetown. Becky Harris of Williamson County Crisis Center dba Hope Alliance told the Council that the Hope Alliance supports victims of family violence and sexual assault. She said that the Shelter served close to 500 women and children this year and anticipate adding 50 to that number next year. She told the Council they are the only shelter in Williamson County and gave an overview of the services provided to the victims they serve. They are requesting $45,000. It was clarified that they have requested funding from other cities in Williamson County as well. She also told the Council that their capacity at their facility has a 35 person capacity and that they do have to turn away families, but do refer them to other safe havens. Andrew Shell of Williamson- Burnet County Opportunities gave an overview of the request by W BCO from the City. Paula Goodson gave an overview of the meals on wheels program. She said that WBCO would like a new stove for the facility, the cost of which is included in the request. Janice Cowman-Arteaga - Veterans of Foreign Wars - She told the Council that the VFW building was built in 1960s through donations and labor of members. She told the Council that the VFW 8587 has currently has over 600 members and that the VFW touches over 8,000 veterans. She told the Council that their building is in dire need of repair and that it is not handicap accessible. She gave an overview of some of the programs the post provides to the community and veterans and how renovating the facility can help in providing more services. It was clarified that the VFW has requested $250,000. Daniel Anstee of the Clements Boys & Girls Club- Georgetown Stonehaven Unit appreciates the support of the City. Mr. Anstee gave the Council an overview of the programs that are offered by the Boys and Girls Club, as well as the demographics of the membership. The Boys and Club currently has 312 members, 135 of which registered in last 3 weeks. The Boys and Girls club works with Southwestern, the Fine Arts Department from GISD, Master Gardner Program, and the Williamson County Historical Museum. He indicated that they are looking to open 2nd site in the community within the next two years. Paulette Taylor of Georgetown Cultural Citizen Memorial Association thanked the Council for its support of the Willie Hall Center. She said that the Center is a safe haven and is adjacent to Carver Elementary. She gave an overview of the services provided to the children in the community. She said that they currently they serve 20 children, but that the numbers vary depending on the number of volunteers they have. She said that they are also under the umbrella of Partners in Education. She told that Council that the children can walk to the Willie Hall Center after they get out of school and that any child is welcome free of charge. She also said that the tutoring they provide parallels what the school district provides. City Council Meeting Minutes/June 23, 2008 Page 2 of 4 Pages Doug Smith of the Georgetv... "Palace Theatre gave the Council an overview . f the productions provided by the Theater. He told the Council the theater offers programs for children, the largest of which is its summer program. Currently they have 360 children enrolled in summer program. They have 3 age groups they provide programs to. He indicated that 10% are on full or partial scholarships. This year they gave out $8,000 in scholarships. $5,000 came from the City and the other $3,000 from other sources. The Palace Theater would like to expand its program next year. Rick Vasquez of Getsemani Community Center thanked the Council for its support. He gave the Council an overview of the history of the Getsemani Community Center. He told the Council the mission of the Community Center. He told the Council that the center caters to Hispanic children and that 65% of children in their neighborhood are on free and reduced lunch and 50% are academically at risk. He gave the Council an overview of the programs offered by the Center during the school year and during the summer. He said that the Center touches approximately 137 children's and families. He also indicated that they tutor about 15 students during the school year and that 40-50 kids are enrolled in summer program. Gene Davenport of the Georgetown Project told the Council that a lot of the agencies who have requested assistance today all collaborate with one another. He is requesting continued support of its summer and after school ASAP Program for teens and the Kid City Program for children who are impoverished. He said that over the last 10 years the number of children who live in poverty has increased and that the number of children in the last ten years who qualify for free and reduced lunch has increased from 25% to 36%. The Georgetown Project collaborates with the school to provide meals for the programs. Tutoring is not a defined piece of the program. Mr. Davenport also gave an overview of the history of the ASAP program which was created in collaboration with the School District. Currently, the School District manages the program and the Georgetown Project supports the program. The program is held in all three middle schools. Chris Dyer of the Williamson County Historical Museum told the Council that the Museum was established in 1997 and provides history based programs to 1600 kids. Their goal is to reach every child in Williamson County. The museum would like to provide free, hands-on educational programming based on the history of the county to an audience that would not normally have the opportunity or ability to visit the Museum. He indicated that the other sources are providing in-kind staff hours to support the program. He did indicate that the Museum has raised 1/3 of the amount necessary to initiate the program but an additional $10,000 was needed to get it started. Dawn Jennings Exceptional Georgetown Alliance is a parent of a child with Autism. She gave the Council an overview of the financial an emotional resources necessary to raise a child with disabilities. She said that this agency would like to raise funding to allow children with disabilities to ability to attend programming that in most cases they would not have access to. She said that there are currently 21 children in GISD that are in need of these services. There was additional discussion regarding the need for these programs for these children and the situation that the families are in. The Chisholm Trail Elks gave the Council an overview of the Prosthetic Grant Program to serve disabled children in our community. It was indicated that last year they served 4 children. It was also clarified that all of the funding would be used for prosthetics. It was also clarified that the funding received would be sent to the State office, and that 2/3rds of the funding comes back to the local lodge from the State office. Laura Antoine of Georgetown Partners in Education recited PIE's mission statement and told the Council that the request for funding this year is for their Helping Hands Tutoring program. She said that PIE works with the Chamber of Commerce, GISD, Chamber, Southwestern, Sun City and the community. She indicated that it is the only free tutoring service in Georgetown and that it is aligned with GISD. She told the council that the students are identified by the principals at each campus K-8 who are at below grade level. The children that they have served have been 55% Hispanic, 7% African American, and 37% Anglo. It was clarified that the Helping Hand Tutoring community site has a lead tutor at each site. Motion by Sansing second by Sattler to appoint Ben Oliver as chair, Pat Berryman, Dale Ross to serve on the Council Subcommittee to determine recommendations regarding funding allocations for Social Service and Children's and Youth Program Funding. *Approved 7-0. (*as corrected by Sattler at the July 8, 2008 Council Meeting) Recess to Executive Session at 6:OOpm after a 5 minute break. Reconvened into Regular Session at 7:27p.m. Motion Oliver, second by Sansing to Adjourn at 7:27 p.m. City Council Meeting Minutes/June 23, 2008 Page 3 of 4 Pages .,,E Mayo Tne meeting was adjourned at 07.27 PA City Council Meeting Minutes/June 23, 2008 Page 4 of 4 Pages Affact•