Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Family Advisory Board 2018-09-06RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, September 6, 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 6th day of September, 2018. Present: Laurie Dale Marshall John Bryant Karen Randinitis Nancy Almond Jodi Roman Courtney Hill Also Present: Travis Machalek, Assistant Town Administrator Suzanna Simpson, Administration Executive Assistant Absent: Rachel Balduzzi Tyler Schmitt Ron Norris, Town Board Liaison Guests: Charley Dickey Mike Moon Carrie Brown Chair Randinitis called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m. WIND RIVER CHILDCARE FACILITY: Mr. Pewterbaugh was unable to attend the meeting. If the Wind River project moves forward he has indicated a willingness to reschedule a presentation on both the housing and childcare aspects of the project. PUBLIC COMMENT: None TRUSTEE LIAISON REPORT: N/A APPROVAL OF MINUTES: It was moved and seconded (Almond/Roman) to approve the July 26 special meeting and August 2 regular meeting minutes and the motion passed unanimously. REVIEW AND DISCUSS NEEDS ASSESSMENT, ETC: Discussion occurred around the potential need for a follow up needs assessment, who would facilitate the assessment, and whether or not more data collection would be well received by the community. Member Almond added that BBC, the company that produced the first childcare needs assessment did not feel that enough time had passed, or enough change had occurred to warrant a follow up from them. She also added that EVICS is hiring a new employee who will monitor data on waitlists and overall need in the community, at which point EVICS could conduct a simple survey related to that information. Member Hill cautioned against saturating the community with surveys. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Family Advisory Board — September 6, 2018 — Page 2 Member Almond also provided an update on the CCAP program from the State and Larimer County. It is anticipated that the current waitlist will remain in place for two to three years. The waitlist currently has around 200 children on it, which is down from 300 in November, 2017. EVICS has gone over budget on scholarships as of August, 2018 and they require recipients to be on the waitlist. Chair Randinitis mentioned the centralized waitlist and inquired as to whether EVICS will be able to monitor that and collect data perhaps by creating an intake form. After discussion on the details and logistics of this form and the type of data it would contain, it was decided that EVICS and the ECE groups would work together to facilitate this, as it is not an appropriate task for the FAB. STUDY SESSION RECOMMENDATIONS Chair Randinitis and Vice -Chair Marshall presented the 5 agreed upon recommendations to the Town Board at a recent study session. As a result, Trustee Bangs, Trustee Norris, and ATA Machalek have been tasked with developing a recommendation for the formation of a childcare and housing ad -hoc task force. Assistant Town Administrator Machalek explained that the task force would likely focus on and refine the Town's involvement in childcare and housing, and make recommendations to the Town Board. The FAB recommendations would serve as a foundation on the childcare side. The effort will try to determine if there is a nexus between childcare and housing, and if it is more appropriate to approach the two issues with a joint effort or separately. Member Almond proposed making an alteration to one of the recommendations addressing the need for a community investment fund. After working with the ECE it has been determined that it should more accurately reflect this group's efforts to take charge of the investment fund, while asking the Town to contribute to the fund and encourage other entities to do the same. It was moved and seconded (Hill/Roman) to change the recommendation to "the Town shall contribute to a fund for the startup costs of a quality childcare center with a two- year target of $1 million" to replace the language requesting the Town to establish a fund, and the motion passed unanimously. CHILDCARE COLLABORATIVE: An update was provided on the efforts of EVICS and the ECE and their meetings to produce a collaborative effort around childcare efforts in the Estes Valley. SALES TAX: In a recent meeting with Mayor Jirsa, Chair Randinitis, and Vice -Chair Marshall, Mayor Jirsa recommended that the FAB explore the idea of using excess sales tax revenue for childcare funding. Assistant Town Administrator Machalek explained the process of how this type of revenue stream works and the advantages and disadvantages of this type of model. He will send the Town's confirmed 2019 budget priorities to the FAB to determine if they want to ask for a diversion in funds. OTHER BUSINESS: Member Almond inquired about the FAB's role in advocacy and brought forward two amendments that she feels are appropriate for the FAB to support. Assistant Town Administrator Machalek stated that the group can recommend that the Town Board support initiatives that relate to the purpose of the FAB. Member Bryant expressed concern that this would be a slippery slope for the group without more discussion on RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Family Advisory Board — September 6, 2018 — Page 3 what role they want to take as a board on advocacy, as there are many initiatives that could relate to their purpose. Seeing no further business the meeting was adjourned at 5:24 p.m. Next Meeting The next meeting of the Family Advisory Board will take place Thursday, Oct. 4 at 3:30 p.m. in Room 203 at Town Hall.