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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Family Advisory Board 2018-10-04RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, October 4, 2018 Minutes of a special meeting of the Family Advisory Board of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in Room 203 of the Estes Park Town Hall on the 4th day of October 4, 2018. Present: Laurie Dale Marshall John Bryant Karen Randinitis Nancy Almond Jodi Roman Courtney Hill Michael Moon Carrie Brown Rachel Balduzzi Sue Strom Also Present: Travis Machalek, Assistant Town Administrator Suzanna Simpson, Administration Executive Assistant Absent: Tyler Schmitt Ron Norris, Town Board Liaison Guests: Rosemary Truman — New Early Childhood Navigator Christy Delorum — Mountaintop Preschool Chair Randinitis called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS PUBLIC COMMENT: Executive Assistant Simpson encouraged the group to attend the Town's Philanthropy Committee Chili Cook -off on Oct. 25, which will benefit Estes Park Nonprofit Resource Center. Chair Randinitis announced two upcoming programs — The United Way Poverty Simulation Nov. 14 and Communities that Care Mental Health First Aid Oct. 17. Trustee Bangs provided an update on listening sessions conducted by EVICS. As a result of the sessions, a few items came forward that Trustee Bangs thought were important to the Family Advisory Board -- business licenses, actual care needed, waitlist and intake forms and identifiers for these to avoid duplication. Trustee Bangs also announced the EVICS Art Gala Nov. 9 — they are still looking for sponsors and auction items. TRUSTEE LIAISON REPORT: Trustee Bangs filled in as liaison for Trustee Norris and announced that the Town Board had approved the Wind River development plan — 94 workforce housing units and a special review for a childcare facility with 35 spots. The developer Paul Pewterbaugh will be at the Family Advisory Board's November meeting. Chair Randinitis asked the board to direct any questions for the developer to Assistant Town Administrator Machalek in advance so that he can come to the meeting prepared. APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER MINUTES: RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Family Advisory Board — October 4, 2018 — Page 2 It was moved and seconded (Almond/Hill) to approve the September 6 meeting minutes and the motion passed unanimously. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES Chair Randinitis passed around a sign-up sheet for two Family Advisory Board members to attend the Pumpkins and Pilsners event Saturday, Oct. 13. She would like to do an exercise to determine what the word "family" means to the attendees. She would also like to find a way for the attendees to take the Comprehensive Plan survey that has been distributed to the community. Executive Assistant Simpson will work with the Town's IT Division to obtain iPads or laptops for this activity. Chair Randinitis and Member Roman created a resource sheet with information on the Family Advisory Board. Member Hill will revise the document to a half page for easy distribution. There was discussion on available positions on the board. The application is currently closed as there are 10 members, but the Family Advisory Board could ask the Town Board to advertise for more members (the FAB bylaws state that the Board can have up to 15 members). Member Hill stated that she would like to see more ethnic and racial diversity on the board. Vice Chair Marshall led an exercise with the board to determine how each member would define the word family. The objective is to demonstrate that the term is conceptualized broadly by most members. Member Hill expressed concern at trying to move forward with a broad definition since it is not helpful to the board or true to the original intent of the board's mission. Chair Randinitis agreed that the term needed to be refined for the purposes of the board. Member Almond felt that the exercise helped the board to understand that individuals define family in their own way. Assistant Town Administrator Machalek stated that a family structure was implied in the Family Advisory Board's priorities (childcare), and in that context family appears to be defined as referring to a household with at least one child. The priorities of the board were geared toward families with at least one child because the community struggles to keep them. Member Moon inquired about how aging families fit into the discussion. Vice Chair Marshall feels that the board will end up serving many different family structures. Member Bryant feels that the activity is a way to engage with the community and that the board can take pieces from that discussion to develop the board's definition of family. Member Hill felt that the activity should focus on issues that affect families. Chair Randinitis would like to generate a sign-up sheet for back to school night, drop offs, etc. for engaging with the parents. Vice Chair Marshall asked if materials could go into the Friday Folders for parents — Member Bryant stated that the Friday Folders would be an ideal location for materials from the Family Advisory Board geared toward families. Discussion continued of how to reach other segments of the community that may not have children. PRIORITIES Chair Randinitis wanted the board to begin thinking about priorities for 2019 — currently only childcare has been identified as a priority for the board. AD HOC TASK FORCE The Town Board requested that Trustee Bangs, Trustee Norris, and Assistant Town Administrator Machalek bring forward a draft resolution to form a Workforce Housing and Childcare Ad Hoc Taskforce. This is scheduled for discussion at the Oct. 23 study RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Family Advisory Board — October 4, 2018 — Page 3 session. Childcare needs, housing assessments and the Family Advisory Board efforts will be proposed as the foundation for this effort. OTHER BUSINESS: Member Almond announced that EVICS is pursuing the family resource center designation from the state of Colorado. The organization will be moving to a new space to better serve families. There is currently only one other Family Resource Center in Larimer County (La Familia in Fort Collins). This designation will open up more opportunities for funding. On another topic, there are some changes being presented related to the childcare tax credit and how the deductions for donors who utilize this credit are applied. The change to the current system is up for comment. Discussion on legislative issues — specifically ballot issues 1A and amendment 73. 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, Nov. 1 at 3:00 p.m. in the Town Board Room at Town Hall.