Re:  Updates on Topics from Previous Meetings

• Additional information re: Gang Prevention (Agnes Saenz)
  Agnes said that at this point she has no further information related to this topic.
   
• Impact of Rental Fees Policy for Use of MCPS Facilities on Nonprofits (Agnes Saenz)
  Agnes reported that Community Ministries of Rockville had met with principals at those schools where the Latino Outreach Program currently offers classes.  She said that all of the schools had decided to present the classes as a school program so that for the immediate future no rental fees would be charged.  She will let Commission members know if there is a change.

Re: Review of FY 2008 Proposed Budget for Community Services Division and Caregiver Agencies

Tim said that last year the Commission had been concerned because the percentage increase proposed for the Caregivers (for FY 07) was not commensurate with the rest of the budget.  This year, Tim said, the increase for the Caregivers is 3.95%, which is close to the rate of inflation.  Mary Lou Jacobs said that when the Review Panel’s recommendations were presented to the City Manager, thanks to Tim’s work the previous year, the City Manager saw to it that the percent increase for the Caregivers overall was the same as that for Rockville Economic Development Inc. (REDI) which receives funding from the City elsewhere in the budget.

Agnes asked as to the reason the Primary Care Coalition’s new program was not recommended for funding.  Mary Lou responded that their request was for slightly over $15,000.  The proposal was to expand a prevention education program currently provided on childhood obesity.  The program provides six educational sessions for children and families to teach them the importance of exercise and nutrition.  The review panel concluded that not enough Rockville residents would be served (15 Rockville children).  Typically, a new program receives an amount less than $10,000 and if this program were to receive less funding, they would serve even fewer children. 

Tom asked if the amount budgeted for the CMR Health Program was sufficient.  Agnes said that she was okay with the amount for that program.  She is more concerned about the Rockville Emergency Assistance Program (REAP) and will watch the REAP applications for April and May.  She feels that the amount budgeted for this program gives the impression that the need is not there.  Right now the CMR REAP office is seeing the impact of the winter months on applicants’ utility bills.

Tim asked if Rockville uses the same application as Gaithersburg and Montgomery County.  Mary Lou responded that the two cities have the same application form for the Caregivers.  One year ago, with support from the City Manager, Rockville implemented a process where almost all outside agencies, excluding REDI, have to complete a formal application form.  The Caregivers’ applications include outcome measures forms.  The County uses an RFP process but they give more money. 

Sarah Duffy said she would like to return to the amount budgeted for REAP.  She asked how the City arrived at the amount of the REAP allocation?  Mary Lou responded that the amount budgeted for FY 07 is $70,800.  Of that, $10,000 is from the REAP Fund (donations).  There is a footnote to that effect in the FY 07 budget document. 

David L’Heureux asked if the new water bill design had affected donations.  Mary Lou said there has been an increase in donations but it is because a resident of the city had made two large donations; also Realty Capital Partners had made a sizeable donation. 

Sarah Duffy then inquired as to those Caregivers who had requested increases but did not receive them.  Mary Lou said that a spreadsheet had been prepared for the City Manager, which she would email to Commission members, that included the amount received by each program in the past, the amount of their current request and the number of Rockville residents served.  She said a concerted effort was made to look for equity in funding and to ensure that the level of funding was proportionate.  By way of example Mary Lou referred to Top Banana Home Delivered Groceries.  This is one of the City’s newer programs.  It is located in Prince George’s County and provides a service similar to PeaPod.  The difference is that the driver will unload the food and help put it away.  This provides an opportunity to check on the person and see if he/she has additional needs.  To place an order you do not need a computer.  The program is intended for seniors and persons with disabilities.  The problem with the program is that few Rockville residents are using it. 

Tom said that he had been approached at the last Caregivers’ Meeting to make calls to see if anyone wanted this assistance.  Mary Lou said that it appears that many seniors like to do their own shopping but the program is working with the Senior Center to increase their numbers.  She suggested that possibly a note could be placed in church bulletins to advertise the program.  Stacey Norris and Kim Dawkins both offered to take flyers to housing units.  Mary Lou said she would contact the program about their suggestion.  David suggested the flyer be distributed to civic associations in Rockville as well.

Sarah Duffy then inquired as to the reason the Drug Alcohol Education Seminars (DAES) Program had been dropped by the Community Services Division.  Mary Lou said that Montgomery County’s Screening and Assessment Services for Children and Adolescents (SASCA) made a unilateral decision not to refer to the City any more.  She said that the County has an enforcement unit that issues citations for adolescent alcohol use.  The City was one of several locations that provided educational seminars for the adolescents receiving citations.  Very few of the youth seen by the City’s program were actually from Rockville but it was a revenue source for Community Services.  Mary Lou understands that these youth are now being referred to Suburban Hospital.

Sarah Duffy then asked if Commission members had any other issues regarding the budget.  Tim proposed that the Commission continue its tradition of testifying at the public hearing and acknowledge the 4% increase.  Agnes asked about the $100,000 that had been set aside at the time of the reorganization of Community Services.  Mary Lou said that she had been disappointed to learn that the amount was for one year.  The rationale was that there would be costs related to the reorganization.  However, it had taken longer to hire staff and get new programs started so that Community Services is in the position of trying to spend the amount budgeted for this year.  A supplemental request was submitted for an outreach worker and money has now been included in next year’s budget for a part time position.

Agnes said that the Commission might consider testifying in support of the $100,000 being kept for human services.  Tim said that the issue should first be discussed with the City Manager.  Sarah Duffy proposed that Tim and Agnes join her in meeting with the City Manager and she would reserve a time to speak at the Public Hearing. 

Re:  New Business

Sarah Duffy said that she would like to think about the issues the Commission should consider in the coming year.  She thought it would be helpful to review some documents including the recent staff needs assessment and the needs assessment completed by METIS.  Mary Lou said these documents could be sent out and that this would be a timely discussion in that the Mayor and Council were requesting an annual report again that would be due late summer.

Re:  Plan Agenda for Next Meeting (May 8, 2007)

• Follow-up on testimony at public hearing
• Discussion of needs assessments
• Agnes will try and get an update on the gang issue

Re:  Adjourn

Tim moved that the meeting be adjourned.  Tom seconded the motion.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.  The next meeting of the Human Services Advisory Commission will be held Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. in the Glenview Mansion Dining Room.