CC Minutes - 10/21/98 Work Session

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Mayor Torrey announced a 10 a.m. press conference and brief celebration tomorrow for the airport's new Category 2 Instrument Landing System, which allows much more aircraft traffic in inclement weather. J. Work Session Canceled Mayor Torrey said that, without objection, the October 28 council work session would be canceled and all the items on that agenda had been moved to other dates. There was no objection. II. WORK SESSION: BUDGET PROCESS FOR SOCIAL SERVICE FUNDING Richie Weinman, Planning and Development Department, gave the staff report and explained how the intergovernmental Human Services Commission (HSC) is funded: United Way, State and federal funding, private and foundation funding, and the HSC (local government funding). He described the City's role on the commission, noting that three of the seven members represented the City because it made the largest financial contribution. Mr. Weinman said that the system worked so well that the HSC had received numerous accolades including a US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) "Blue Ribbon Practice Award" last year for its collaborative nature in identifying and meeting community service needs. He reviewed the system's two-year planning and funding cycles, noting that most funding was spent on basic needs although everyone recognized the value and need for prevention programs. Mr. Weinman said the next round of projects would be funded in July 1999, following a March 1999 application deadline. Local jurisdictions, he continued, in 1995 agreed to contribute one percent of their general fund but the City of Springfield has yet to meet that guideline. In addition to this contribution, he said both cities contributed community block grant funds, with up to 15 percent going toward social services. Mr. Weinman said that the policy question for the council and Budget Committee is should the one percent contribution concept be continued? He indicated that an issue had been raised with regard to projects that had been funded through the City's contingency request process and then competed in the HSC process successfully. Since the HSC process is on a two-year cycle, he noted, the City might fund a project in the initial year and the project is unable to get HSC funding for the next year. Addressing a question from Ms. Swanson Gribskov, Lane County's Steve Manela said the HSC budget was $6.7 million. In response to a question from Mr. Meisner, Mr. Weinman said the City has not contemplated contracting with United Way to administer the work of the HSC as other communities have done. Addressing a follow-up question, Mr. Weinman said the City has never discussed allocating money to the HSC for contingency requests. Mr. Johnson added that it would be possible to do so if approved by the council. Ms. Swanson Gribskov said she hoped the HSC, at some point, would consider taking on the contingency request system. At least, she suggested, the HSC might consider review and comment of the City's contingency fund requests. She encouraged further HSC discussion with United Way because it has parallel processes and good community and private sector involvement. Ms. Swanson Gribskov noted that the director groups for both organizations had members in common. MINUTES-Eugene City Council October 21, 1998 Page 3 11:30 a.m.