HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Family Advisory Board 2019-01-03Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, January 3, 2019
Minutes of a regular meeting of the Family Advisory Board of the Town of Estes Park,
Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Room 203 of the Estes Park Town Hall,
on the 3rd day of January, 2019.
Present: Laurie Dale Marshall
Nancy Almond
Jodi Roman
Michael Moon
Carrie Brown
Rachel Balduzzi
Karen Randinitis
Also Present: Ron Norris, Town Board Liaison
Suzanna Simpson, Administration Executive Assistant
Andrea Escorcia, Youth in Action
Absent: John Bryant
Courtney Hill
Tyler Schmitt
Sue Strom
Guests: Carlie Bangs, EVICS
Clare Brusard, United Way of Larimer County
Katherine Chu, Larimer County
Rosemary Truman, EVICS
Chair Randinitis called the meeting to order at 3:36 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
Vice Chair Marshall introduced Youth in Action member Andrea Escorcia.
NEW BOARD CHAIR
It was moved and seconded (Almond/Moon) that Laurie Dale Marshall become chair of
the Family Advisory Board, acknowledging that Chair Randinitis’ resignation from the
board will become effective when she takes her new position, and the motion passes
unanimously.
Family Advisory Board – January 3, 2019 – Page 2
It was moved and seconded (Randinitis/Marshall) that Rachel Balduzzi become vice
chair and the motion passes unanimously.
TRUSTEE LIAISON REPORT:
Trustee Norris encouraged interested members of the Family Advisory Board to submit
an application for the 2019 Citizens Information Academy. He commended the board for
their progress over the last year and thanked Trustee Bangs for filling in for him when
needed. He stated that he will continue working with the board on childcare and
housing, and the newly formed task force is looking forward to working with the board
as well.
Discussion of Town’s newly implemented childcare assistance benefit. Executive
Assistant Simpson will send details to the board. Member Almond questioned if there
would be any data collection on how the funds are used and if EVICS should send any
Town employees seeking assistance from them back to the Town.
APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER MINUTES:
Member Brown provided an update on the Graves apartment property listing – a group
was interested but did not move forward. It is currently listed at $5.2 million.
It was moved and seconded (Roman/Almond) to approve the November meeting
minutes with corrections and the motion passed unanimously.
EVICS UPDATE
Carlie provided an update on the progress of a childcare waitlist. Rosemary will work
closely with families, gathering data on families coming into the Family Resource Center
and following up on their progress as they move through the system. The waitlist will be
generated by a proprietary system that will collect and organize the data. Carlie asked
the board if there are other stakeholders that should be brought into the discussion to
ensure a more comprehensive waitlist? Discussion on what the needs of the board
might be in relation to a waitlist, as well as the mechanics behind setting up and
entering the data. Trustee Norris suggested keeping this discussion in front of the Town
Board each month; he encouraged Member Almond to come to the next Town Board
meeting and give an update on the Family Resource Center and childcare waitlist.
Member Brown shared some of the details of the process that the Estes Park Housing
Authority uses to manage their waitlist.
Family Advisory Board – January 3, 2019 – Page 3
Executive Assistant Simpson will find out what data was collected in the survey
conducted for Town employees prior to creating the childcare assistance benefit. The
board is looking specifically for income and spending on childcare. Members Roman
and Moon will work with EVICS on establishing the data points and will set up a Google
document for easy collaboration. Chair Marshall asked Member Almond to report
monthly on the progress to the Family Advisory Board. Discussion continued on the
need for data collection and the end goal, which the board primarily agreed was to
demonstrate the need and bring before the Town as part of the strategic plan, as well as
including on the monthly dashboard. Much of the data that exists now is anecdotal and
there is a need to collect factual data. Trustee Norris encouraged Member Escorcia to
bring forward any pertinent issues from fellow students and their families, and she
offered to also bring forward as much information as possible from the Hispanic
community.
Member Almond stated that the community response to the Family Resource Center
has been positive and donors have come forward to help offset costs. EVICS received a
grant from United Way of Larimer County for the project and they plan to work more
closely with parent support groups. The membership into the Family Resource Center
Association will be complete in February.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Estes Valley Recreation and Park District is offering an after-school program called E-
Pass at the Estes Valley Community Center. Vice Chair Balduzzi added that the Rocky
Mountain Conservancy is working with them on a six-week program. E-Pass will have
more theme-based and adventure activities, including non-traditional sports.
Member Moon stated that the Estes Early Childhood Education group has filed their
Form 1023, moving toward their nonprofit designation.
Member Randinitis asked if the Town planned to open up applications for the board as
many renewals are coming up in April. Executive Assistant Simpson will follow up on
the process.
Executive Assistant Simpson will send a copy of the bylaws to Members Brown, Moon,
and Escorcia.
Member Randinitis asked if there was a handout from the Pewterbaugh presentation.
Executive Assistant Simpson will check with Assistant Town Administrator Machalek.
Family Advisory Board – January 3, 2019 – Page 4
Member Moon stated that he is meeting with him soon and will provide an update on the
Wind River Childcare Facility following the meeting.
Seeing no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:59 p.m.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Family Advisory Board will take place Thursday, Feb. 7 at 3:30
p.m. in room 203 at Town Hall.
Suzanna Simpson, Recording Secretary