Scottsdale Housing Agency Governing Board and Human Services Advisory Commission - July 24, 2025

All right. Uh, welcome to the Scottsdale
Housing Agency Governing Board. Uh, I'd
like to start with a roll call.
Chair Lurie
here.
Vice Chair Jung here. Commissioner
Jameson
here. Commissioner Shear
here.
Commissioner Culie
here.
Commissioner Hill
here.
Commissioner Row
here.
Chair Lur, you have a quorum.
All right. Thank you. Uh, this is a time
reserved for public comment. Citizens
may address the members of the
Scottsdale Housing Agency Governing
Board during public comment. It's
reserved for citizen comments regarding
non-aggendaized items. Arizona state law
prohibits the governing board from
discussing or taking action on the any
item. Citizens may complete one request
to speak card per meeting. Public
testimony is limited to three minutes
per speaker. And we have a guest here.
Beverly Spires has completed a card. And
I wonder if you'd come up to the podium
and speak with us.
follow. Follow Mary. She'll direct you.
She may have difficulty hearing you.
So, I'll just stand next to her if I
need to explain anything.
Okay. I'm Beverly Spyus and I'm a part
of the TBR program. Um, I'm not as aware
of the different parts of the program as
I should be. I have sought out to get
more information and that's one of the
reasons I'm here today. Um, I thank you
Mary for helping me. uh she's answered
most of my questions, but I just um want
to take this opportunity since my
questions have been answered to say what
a wonderful program I think this is. Um
I don't think any of us where we get to
be 80 years old
are going to thinking that we're going
to be in need of of uh help. And I was
not seeking help when Jennifer um the
social worker came and said there's a
program that I think would really
benefit you. Actually, I was looking for
more work. And uh so that's how I became
involved with the program. I I hope this
is something that's going to be able to
continue for other people. But I do have
to say that I've been very fortunate
with this program because um I was
renting a condo and the owner of that
condo lives in Minnesota and she said um
I was happy very happy with renting from
her and she has become a part of this
program. So, we're trying to figure out
now where we all are going to land.
And um she's willing to do whatever she
can if she can still continue on with
with the program. And um I think she
would really love to keep me as a red
fern. I would love to be with uh in that
facil that area where I'm living because
it is a it's a safe area and it's um
she's a wonderful landlord land lady.
So, I think that's just about it, but I
just basically want to say that I think
it's a very good program. I hope it can
continue on and uh there are some
glitches.
This probably isn't the time to address
that, but but there are glitches that at
some time I would love to be able to
talk about, but we'll
Oh, okay. One thing, as I said, um when
I was talking to Jennifer, one of the
things I was looking for more work, uh
dollars needed to be stretched a little
further. And um with this program, uh I
was allowed to earn $400 a month. And
that was the one reason that I hesitated
with the program because for me
personally, my my um obligations,
it was going to be very hard for me to
get by with that. I I think that needs
to somehow or another be tweaked because
um
it's pretty darn hard to find a job for
$400 a month. In fact, it's impossible.
Um, I even went I'm educated. I even
went to Dollar Tree and uh they couldn't
guarantee me a $400. Nobody wants to
mess with $400, you know. And so that
that's one of the things that I think
maybe and then I also think that there
needs to be we need to know more about
the program when we come into the
program because I just found out that
I'm not a part of I thought HUD
housing house housing choice voucher.
That's it. Yes. And and I'm not that's
not what this is at all. So, I do think
that for me I and I've called and asked
a lot of questions, but I just haven't
got all the information. Maybe I needed
to print out. Maybe that's probably what
I needed. But anyway, yes, that's so
that's that's basically it. I I
appreciate the program. I appreciate all
you folks are doing and thank you and
keep up the good work. Beverly, thank
you for coming and addressing us and and
sharing your comments. Um, for those on
the commission, I I and and Mary,
correct me if I'm mistaken, I believe
that that acronym TBR is tenantbased
rental assistance,
and we are slated to get an update from
the city about it at our August 14th
commission meeting.
So, thank you very much, Beverly. Oh,
certainly. Can I stay for the rest?
So, moving forward. Um, approval of
minutes. Our last housing agency
governing board was on May 8th. Uh,
minutes are attached. Um, I wonder if I
could get a motion to approve the
minutes.
Motion to approve.
Okay. Second.
Second
and a roll call vote.
Chair Lurie,
yes.
Vice Chair Jung,
yes.
Commissioner Jameson,
yes.
Commissioner Sheer,
yes.
Commissioner Kulie,
yes.
Commissioner Hill,
yes.
Commissioner Row,
yes.
Uh and then moving forward, the next
agenda item is something that's going to
be addressed by Mary Wetski talking
about federal regulations intent to
terminate housing choice voucher
vouchers, excuse me.
Good evening, Chair Lori, members of the
commission. Um before we get started
tonight, I would did want to take the
opportunity to introduce our housing
supervisor to the new commissioners who
are on board. Um, we have with us
tonight Christina Culie. You will see
her at every single housing governing
board meeting. Um, and she has been with
the city of Scottsdale housing and
community service or assistance office
for the last 13 years. Um, the last four
as a supervisor of the voucher and
family self-sufficiency programs. Before
coming to the city of Scottsdale,
Christina had 10 years of experience
overseeing federal McKini Vento grants
for Tempe Elementary School District and
three years as a site director for
Maricopa County Head Start. In addition
to being the housing supervisor,
Christina has served as a board
secretary for the Arizona Chapter of
Housing and Redevelopment Officials for
the past four years. And in August, she
will assume her new role as a senior
vice president of the organization. And
we are excited to have her working for
us.
And I could give a little background on
myself so you guys know who I am. Um,
I'm Mary Wikovsky. I am currently
serving in the role as housing and
community assistance manager for
tonight's meeting for housing governing
board. And then as we go into the
housing human services commission, I
will be serving as the human interim
human services director. I have been
with the city of Scottsdale for the last
four years, but I have been a social
worker um in a governmental setting for
over 30 years, working um with
corrections, coalitionled projects, um
therapy with autistic children, and uh
most importantly, federal grants for
over 15 years. Um I am a licensed
therapist by the board of behavioral
health and I couldn't imagine being
anything but a social worker. So with
that, we will go into the intent to
terminate.
So, we did receive a few questions or
concerns um recently regarding our
processes and response um for our
housing choice voucher participants when
they receive a notice of intent to
terminate. So, tonight I thought we
would discuss what chapter 12 looks like
in our housing and administrative plan.
First and foremost, you will hear me
probably speak on federal regulations
non-stop anytime I come before you. Um,
so tonight's no difference. The
Scottsdale Housing Agency is governed by
several federal regulations which are
listed up on the board. 24 CFR part 982
is the federal regulations specifically
under HUD for the housing choice voucher
program. to CFR part five talks about um
financials and then we also um any
changes to federal regulations are
provided to our housing agency through
HUD through something called a PIH
notice um which stands for public public
and Indian housing.
So when must the city of Scottsdale
Housing Agency file an intent to
terminate? Um I'm not going to read
through all of these tonight. There is
uh quite a list up on the board. This is
exactly outlined out of our
administrative plan and it follows
federal regulations.
Some examples of this um to name a few
are if a tenant has an eviction for a
violation of a lease, repeated
violations of family obligations, or
persons who are subject to sex offender
requirements or unauthorized occupants
within the home which falls under um the
family obligations. Some others are
listed up here. I know you may have
questions regarding what is family
choice or family zero assistance. Family
choice, people can v voluntarily
terminate themselves, say, "I no longer
want to receive the voucher." In terms
of family with zero assistance, and I'll
let Christina correct me if I'm wrong,
six months without um receiving
assistance from the Scottsdale Housing
Agency where they are paying 100% of
their rent. Once they reach that, then
we terminate assistance. on a positive
note because they have become
self-sufficient
when we file an intent to terminate
intent to terminate letter. So all of
our HCV participants and as outlined in
the administrative plan do receive due
process for participants. We send a
letter out with intent to terminate.
They have they have 10 days. over they
have to request a letter once they
receive a copy of the letter from the
date of that letter they have 10 days to
request a hearing from the termination
letter
and then also contained within this
letter is that within 30 days that's
when our HAP or housing assistance
payment will cease all HCV participants
as I stated are afforded due process
rights due process is meant to be timely
as once the letter of intent to
terminate it is issued it all provides
the date that the hat payments will
cease and starts the 10-day timeline for
them to respond. There are resources
provided by our housing specialist if
facing eviction, especially if they're
facing eviction and maybe facing
homelessness with it. All city resources
are provided as well as legal referrals
to community legal services which can
provide legal assistance during those
hearing processes.
Sometimes these due process can be
delayed. they're delayed sometimes at
the request of the participant
um because of legal representation or
other factors. They may be hospitalized
and just need to um reschedu it outside
of their circumstances. But we do based
on the letter the letter that they
receive the HAP assistance does cease
within 30 days of that letter.
Please know our third well we can go
back a slide one more time. the informal
hearing process. We do contract with
three outside third-party hearing
officers who have or do have experience
in the housing world. Um, all decisions
are based on preponderance of the
evidence. It is not a jury trial beyond
a reasonable doubt. Um, it like I said,
it is scheduled within a reasonable time
frame.
So once the hearing takes place um or
during their rights during the hearing
they have a right as a participant to
present evidence both orally and
written. They have a right to question
any of the witnesses and a right to
state their case prior to the hearing
officer's
um decision. interpreter must be
provided at the participant's expense
and they have a right at the end of the
process to seek redress directly through
the digital procedures in the court. The
Scottsdale Housing Agency does provide
evidence in advance to the tenant or the
participant and the legal council if
it's applicable and that is also vice
versa. So if the tenant has um evidence
that they wish to provide that is also
provided directly to the Scottsdale
Housing Agency as well as to the hearing
officer in advance. The contracted
independent thirdparty hearing officer
then hears the case. I as the executive
director do not sit on those um as once
the hearing is completed, the executive
director has the authority to either
uphold or overturn the decision of the
third party hearing officer. So the
third party hearing officer is a
recommendation and the final
determination is made by the executive
director. The housing authority then
notifies the applicant or family of the
file final decision.
And then finally, just um as a reminder
on the next slide
that our housing agency outside of those
who are employed by the housing agency,
we are not allowed to provide specific
information and details regarding
individual hearings, individual cases.
Um whether it is in the media or not, we
are not allowed to provide that
information under federal regulations.
That concludes my presentation. if you
have any questions.
Looking around the room, uh,
Commissioner Clooney.
Hi, Mary. Thank you. That's that's very
informative. Just something to to clear
up for me. Back on uh slide four,
request for hearing within 10 days. If I
understood correctly, then um if they
don't respond for that or ask for that
hearing within 10 days, payment will
cease in 30 days.
Correct. So, so if they were to wait
until the 10th day, um, they would still
get the 30 days.
Yes, they have 10 days to respond from
the date of the letter. Our And, it
states in the letter that they receive.
And Christina, I know we're going into
the minutia. She knows the No, that's
perfectly fine. Christina knows the
minutia. I know the overview. Um, so
they receive the letter. They have to
respond to us that they want a hearing
within 10 days inside the intent to
terminate. terminate letter. It says in
the we provide a date that HAP
assistance will be terminated if they
fail to respond or if they do not wish
to have a hearing. So they are provided
a date in which assistance will be
ceased. So if they don't respond within
that 10 days, the HAP contract just
terminates.
And if they do respond, does that 30
days shift or does it stay?
It does not. It stays exactly the same.
Very good. Thank you.
Thank you, Mary. Um, as most of us are
aware, there was a um an issue
highlighted um in the media uh a few
months ago that I think brought a lot of
attention to the challenges associated
with um this process. Um
I um referring to your last slide and
the fine print um are we able to ask
questions about that specific issue
um which was a matter of wide public
awareness.
Are we able to ask you questions about
that? Chair Luri, members of the
commission, I'm not allowed to ask or
answer specific questions regarding
specific cases. I can provide general
answers in a whatif scenario um would
occur.
So if
Okay, then maybe a Thank you. I
appreciate that. And I kind of figured
that was the answer in in the context of
a what if hypothetical.
um
uh in reviewing all of the
um details associated with a particular
case. Um
is there anything
um in the context of this hypothetical
case that uh staff um
would have or could have done
differently?
Chair Lori, members of the commission,
you need to be more specific in your
question.
Well, I I really can't if I can't ask
specifically about that particular
issue.
Chair Lur, members of the commission,
could you ask a just ask the concern
regarding the case without stating the
case? Yeah, my my concern is
um
the way the matter was framed uh for all
of the world to read, it sounded like
this family got a raw deal. And so my
interest and concern and I'm somewhat
frustrated that we can't talk about a
specific case when
the entire
readership of the Arizona Republic has
already reviewed it and discussed it.
Um,
so that's my concern is I as a member of
the housing board.
I I'd love to know if we did right by
those tenants or, you know, if there
were some issues that we learned from
that case that
will help us in the future. Chair Luri,
members of the commission, I can give
you an example of an incident in which
um a case is overturned, which means
that the hearing officer decided that um
the Scottsdale housing agency's intent
to terminate. We didn't have enough
evidence and they overturned it. In
those instances, um, if the housing
director would uphold that decision,
then the tenant or the HCV participant
would receive their voucher. They would
be reissued a voucher. In order to be
reissued a voucher, they do have to come
into the office. Then if a tenant per se
is issued a voucher and wants to port
and does no longer wants to stay in the
city of Scottsdale, then there it is on
the housing participant. thus the word
choice inside the program to find their
own housing into the new jurisdiction
that they may or may not wanted to have
ported into which involves working with
another housing agency could further
delay circumstances in which that person
could lease up. That is a perfect answer
and uh
very articulate and I get you and thank
you for um answering my somewhat vague
question. But I have one more question
and that is regarding the hearing
officer. Is it within the purview of the
hearing officer in the case of an invi
of an eviction
for the hearing officer to
um pass judgment on whether the the the
reasons for the eviction were valid and
just in accordance with the terms of the
lease?
Chair Luri, members of the commission,
no it is not. That is up to the judge
and the court of law.
So in effect,
um that's a private relationship then
between the tenant and the landlord and
that then becomes more of a civil
matter, not something we can help
adjudicate or address through our
hearing process.
Chair Lori, members of the commission,
you are correct, sir.
Okay. Thank you.
Uh Commissioner Jameson, did you have a
qu comment or question?
Thank you, Roger. Uh yes, Mary, good
details here. Um, I want to back up a
little bit into the process in terms of
the intent to terminate letter. Um,
how much leeway is there if the tenant
uh happened to be out of town,
hospitalized,
just didn't recognize the letter for
what it was, uh, or language issues? And
within that 10day frame, is there any
actual human contact from the city to
the tenant to say, "Hey, your time is
running out."
Chair Luri, members of the commission,
prior to receiving an intent to
terminate, um there are instances in
which the housing specialist has had
mandatory counseling sessions, has
discussed um their violations of the
family obligations
um if they would be facing an eviction.
It is not a surprise um to the
participant that they may be facing
intent to terminate. Um they are
wellversed prior to receiving that
letter. That letter is smailed
certified. It is also emailed out of
courtesy and should someone be in a
hospital or um be out of town. We do
provide reasonable accommodations based
on verification of information. So
someone were to state, I've been in the
hospital. I didn't receive this letter.
All they have to do is provide some kind
of verification that they were actually
hospitalized or pro received services of
an emergency nature by a medical
resident and we would provide an
accommodation.
Good. Well, the uh operative words
there, it's not a surprise and um I
understand there needs to be some
leeway. So, thank you for that answer.
Thank you, Mary. What um number of cases
get to hearing?
Chair Lori. Um members of the
commission, I'm going to have Christina
Kulie answer that question. She looked
it up like per year for example.
Chair, members of the commission. Um
sitting down here, I thought that
question might come up. So I took a
really quick look. We did have 11
hearings last year. Of those hearings,
two were overturned. one was actually
upheld by the hearing officer and then
overturned internally due to other
extenduating circumstances.
Okay, super. Thank you.
Um, one final question from my
perspective and that's
in the in the event of a termination
such as the one that happened that um
was reported in the Arizona Republic.
I I I know there's case workers at Vista
El Camino at Pyute at the senior
centers.
Is there a transition to a caseworker to
intervene
and and provide assistance to that
family to to provide or identify other
remedies or other places to live? Chair
Luri, members of the commission,
referrals are made directly to human
services centers as well as nonprofits
and legal assistance.
Thank you,
Mr. Chair. I don't have another
question. I appreciate um the
information you provided, Mary. I really
do. And some of this is super technical,
but there's a human element associated
with it. And um I think our staff does
an incredible job of dealing with the
human side of what is a really
bureaucratically driven challenging
federal process. And I thank you very
much. And what I have gleaned from this
in addition to you know the skill of the
staff is that when our clients go
through the housing choice voucher
program and are able to secure a lease
that it is so vitally important that
they are
incredibly fastidious about the details
in that lease and they don't just skim
over it and sign I think that's a lesson
that's incredibly important for all of
our clients. Thank you.
Thank you for your comments and and
thank you Mary and Christina for for
being here and presenting on this
difficult topic.
Uh we are now at the point uh if any of
you have future agenda items you want to
raise not for the commission but
specific to the housing agency governing
board. Um now is your opportunity to
raise those. Looking around I don't see
any. And so I would ask for a motion to
adjourn the housing governing board. So
seconded.
Okay. And a roll call vote.
Chair Luri. Who is the first motion?
Because um our person is
um electronic. It is Sheila Row for the
record for who's taking the minutes.
Thank you.
Chair Lurie.
Yes.
Vice Chair Jung.
Yes.
Uh Commissioner Jameson.
Yes.
Commissioner Shear.
Yes.
Commissioner Kulie.
Yes.
Commissioner Hill.
Yes.
Commissioner Row.
Yes.
We are adjourned for three minutes.
Afternoon
and welcome to the Human Services
Advisory Commission.
I'd like to start with a roll call.
Chair Lurri
present.
Vice Chair Jung
here.
Commissioner Jameson
here.
Commissioner Shear
here. This one's got outdated
information. Commissioner um Culie
here.
Commissioner
Row and Commissioner Commissioner Row
here.
Commissioner Hill here. Chair Luri, you
have a quorum.
Thank you. Uh this is a time reserved
for public comment. Um
um citizens may address the Human
Services Advisory Commission during this
time. Arizona state law prohibits the
commission from discussing or taking
action on items not on a prepared agenda
and testimony is limited to three
minutes per speaker. Do we have any
comment cards?
Okay. All right. So, moving on. Our last
meeting was held on May 22nd, 2025.
Um, and could I get a motion to approve
the minutes? So, move it.
Second.
All right. And a roll call vote, please.
Chair Lurri,
yes.
Vice Chair Jung,
yes.
Commissioner Jameson,
yep.
Commissioner Shear,
yes.
Commissioner Kulie,
yes.
Commissioner Hill,
yes.
Commissioner Row,
yes.
So item two on our agenda is something
I've been greatly looking forward to for
a couple months and that's an
opportunity to welcome our two newest
commissioners, Commissioner Row and
Commissioner Hill. And um I'd love for
us to take a few moments to go down the
line and uh introduce ourselves. Um, and
Commissioner Jameson. Jeff, could I ask
you to start?
Yes. Jeff Jameson uh lived near
Sweetwater Ranch, North Scottsdale. Uh,
it's my fourth year on the commission.
Uh, prior to this, I spent six years on
the, uh, human relations commission. Um,
so I've been in service to the city
quite a while. Um, semi-retired. I'm
currently working at Lowe's in the
garden shop, which is very healthy and
fun, but um spent 35 years in the human
services trade. So, or human resources
and nonprofits, so um this is uh where I
belong.
Very good. And we'll just go right down
the line. Commissioner Row.
I'm Sheila Row. I've lived in Scottsdale
for 34 years. I am a retired accountant
and I'm delighted to be part of this
organization and see how we can help our
fellow Scottsdaleians.
Okay, welcome Shaylan.
Mary,
my name is Mary Jung and I work at Honor
Health. This is my the beginning of my
uh second term on the human services
commission and the housing board. And
I'm also involved um in the community in
a number of different ways including um
one of the local nonprofits called
Partners for PITE.
And uh I'm Roger Lurri. Uh this is my
second term and I'm one year into my
second term. So I've got a couple years
and then I'll roll off I believe about
the same time that Commissioner Jameson
will. Um, and it's it's really been an
honor. I started getting involved in
human services nine years ago when I
retired from full-time work at Arizona
State University. And by the way, I
still work at Arizona State University
part-time doing consulting work, but uh
I came to Vista Del Camino to do career
coaching uh and started learning about
all the opportunities to get involved in
the food bank and back to school. And um
like Mary, I also serve on the board for
partners for Pyute um and actively
volunteer at Community House, which is a
day relief center in Scottsdale. Um and
Commissioner Sher,
thank you. Um Neil Shear. Uh I have
lived in Scottsdale for over 40 years
and um have dedicated most of my
professional life. I'm currently
retired, but I've been in community
management for 42 years. Um, and 32 of
those years were here in this building
with the city of Scottsdale. And a few
of those years were in human services.
So during that time, I literally fell in
love with the important work that our
staff does uh delivering human services
and and found it to be of the maybe
eight to 10 jobs I had at this city, the
most rewarding of all. And um so I'm in
my um second term uh on on the
commission and um look forward to
working with you both. We have a great
group and and welcome
Hi, I'm Cindy Hill and I am also very
excited to be here. Um, I have worked in
nonprofits for 24 years. I actually run
a nonprofit myself, um, which is Arizona
Leos, if anybody has heard of that,
working with the police officers and the
children in need. Um, and do a lot of
work in South Scottsdale. I live in
South Scottsdale. I've lived in South
Scottsdale for 29 years. And so I'm very
familiar with a lot of the issues that
are going on in our community. Um my
mother is also living here and so I'm
also now familiar with a lot of the
senior centers as well and what is going
on in our senior centers. So I look
forward to really learning more and
being a part of everything. So thank you
for having me.
Thank you. Uh Lee Kulie, um I'm a
10-month veteran, so if you got any
questions, just ask me. Uh, no, but
seriously, uh, looking forward to, uh,
finishing up my first year. And, uh, by
day, I'm a director of marketing
communications for the Scottsdale
Realtors Association. I also am staff
liaison for the housing opportunities
committee. Um, moved here to be 20 years
next year to work for Makea-Wish
Foundation, then Valley Theater, and now
well, then Arizona uh, housing Arizona
Realtors Association, now Scottsdale
Realtors Association because it's such a
shorter commute. Thank you.
Every time we do this, I feel like I
learn a little more about each of you
and and um sincerely want to welcome uh
Sheila and Cindy to our commission. Um
and I think we've got a panel up here. I
think it's a great opportunity for you
all. Uh Mary, I I I know you introduced
yourself during the housing governing
board, but uh but it would be great if
we just go down the panel for
introductions.
You bet, Chair Lori. I actually was
prepared for that this evening. Um, and
it was part of my presentation. So, if
you want to hold off, I can do it as
part of the human services strategic
plan or I can introduce everyone and
read their backgrounds.
Why don't we just Why don't we just roll
right into that? Just one other point I
want to make before you proceed though
is we do have a birthday in the room
that was going to be part of tonight
too.
Okay.
Well, I let the cat out of the bag, but
it is uh Jessica Rap who is the manager
for the Granite Reef Senior Center. It
is her birthday today. So, happy
birthday, Jessica.
All right. And let's proceed with your
presentation.
Good evening, Chair Luri, members of the
commission. Um, I did have ask all of
the human services managers to write a
brief bio, so I thought I would have
them wave and I would read their bio um
for you for the So, the first one is Sue
O.
There she is. Um she has been in social
services for over 18 years before and
before coming to the city of Scottsdale.
She worked for the state of Arizona at
child protective services and adult
adult protective services. She's been
with Scottsdale for the past 10 years.
She started at Vista del Camino as a
caseworker with the CAP office which
stands for community action program and
then in charge of the special programs
such as back to school and adopt a
family. She's helped build the homeless
programs that we have today here in the
Scottsdale and she is currently the
manager of Vista Del Camino which
includes our community action program,
our food bank, we have recreation
programs at Vista Del Camino and
homelessness.
Um up on the top who is running our
screens tonight is Yueno Vilfane Munoz,
also known as Jean. um has been with the
city of Scottsdale for over 28 years,
spending the first 22 years actually at
Vista Del Camino where he began as a
case worker and during his years there
he also held positions of operations
supervisor and eventually became the
manager. After his tenure at Vista in
2018, Gene assumed responsibilities for
both Granite Reef Senior Center and Via
Linda during the pandemic and its
emergence from COVID restrictions. Since
2024, he has only been managing Via
Linda and I shouldn't say only. um via
Linda Senior Center to oversee the
current bond funded expansion.
Next we have Jessica Rap and as you know
tonight is her birthday so happy
birthday Jessica. She has worked for the
city of Scottsdale for 26 years and most
of that time has been with senior
services but she's also worked at Vista
Del Camino as the food and bank
coordinator and in parks and recreation
overseeing Elorado Park in its leisure
education. She is a Scottsdale native
and loves serving the community she grew
up in.
Next to Sue O is Deanna Owens. She is
currently a human services manager um
for Paute Neighborhood Center. Um and
she has been with the city of Scottsdale
for over six years. Her previous
experience um she's been a social
services director for over 15 years and
10 years of those in were in accounting
as an accounting manager. She does hold
an MSW from ASU and she is also licensed
by the board of behavioral health. Um we
do have a fifth manager who
unfortunately couldn't be with us
tonight. Her name is Christy Han
McDonald and she oversees youth and
family services. She has worked for the
city of Scottsdale for 25 years in the
capacity as a case worker at the senior
center, a supervisor at the housing
officer, and a human services manager
both at Pyute and now youth and family
services. She is also a licensed
clinical social worker and she also
manages our um
mayor's youth council.
So, with that, do you have any questions
for the staff other than they're
fantastic and they're amazing? I will
have Chad introduce himself.
Okay.
I I just want to comment that I I
appreciate what all of you do for the
city, the residents. Um really very
happy to have you here and and
available. Thank you.
All right. With that, I'm here tonight
to give you an overview of our human
services strategic plan. Um, in your
packets, you will find an updated plan.
Um, that is color and also ads on
element four. So, so this plan that I'm
going to show you tonight actually has
two things missing under number four.
So, I had the color printed version
provided in your packets which shows the
updated. So for those of you who don't
know, the vision of the Scottsdale human
services is to engage, enrich, and
empower. The city of Scottsdale's human
services strategic plan was developed
through an inclusive and comprehensive
process prioritized by community
feedback and engagement. The process
began with a community questionnaire
which garnered over 1,645
responses. Additionally, our department
held 19 in-person focus groups,
including four sessions with our
employees, the city's most valuable
resource. alongside cons consultations
with a wide range of community
stakeholders which included human
services program participants, nonprofit
partners, Scottsdale Unified School
District, faith-based organizations,
individuals experiencing homelessness,
the Spanish speaking community at the
Pyote Neighborhood Center, HOA groups,
elected officials, and the human
services advisory board. Based on all of
this feedback, five strategic goals have
been identified to guide the future of
Scottsdale Human Services from 2025 to
2028. the five goals as listed on the
the program. Increasing awareness of our
human services department, having highly
skilled, motivated, and productive
employees, enhancing and expanding our
senior services, creating a volunteer
program specific to Scottsdale human
services, and strengthening our
collaboration to improve service to
Scottsdale's vulnerable populations.
with that. Um the first strategic goal
each of our goals are assigned to um
different managers to achieve goal
number one is assigned to
and the ones listed up here are a little
bit different than the ones listed on
the screen that I just read. So the goal
number one with regards to senior
services assigned to Gan and Jessica.
Goal number two
is volunteers in creating a human
service specific volunteer program and
that one is assigned to Deanna Owens.
Number three is in regards to our
skilled employees employ and maintain a
highly skilled, motivated and productive
workforce. This is assigned to Jessica
and the human services director.
Goal number four is supportive services
for vulnerable populations, which
include collaborating with community
partners to improve service and
self-sufficiency to vulnerable
populations. This one is assigned to Sue
and myself. And the fifth goal is to
increase awareness of Scottsdale Human
Services. This is assigned to Christie.
So under each of the goals, you will
find some of our strategies
to address these goals. And I'll just
kind of give a high level overview of of
each of them. Number one, under senior
services, um we want to complete the via
Linda and Granite Reef Senior Centers
bond project. So the expansion um for
Via Linda kicked off and it is currently
in the design phase. Um the Granite Reef
Senior Center project is currently
paused um while we do some additional
research on adult daycare services. Um
we will expand um increase awareness
regarding dementia friendly initiatives,
improve our networks and access to
healthy meals
for creating a specific volunteer
program um secure approval and formalize
a human services volunteer program and
engage and recruit um a diverse
volunteer base. Deanna has taken the
great charge in this and is currently
working with our volunteer coordinator
whose name is Brandon Chapman and we are
rolling out um an electronic way for our
volunteers to apply to track our hours
and to sign up for shifts um that will
be coming to human services with a plan
to kick off in September of 2025.
Number three, skilled employees and
employ a highly skilled, motivated,
productive workforce. You'll hear a
little bit about some of our next steps
um at the director's report um tonight,
but we want to invest in training in our
staff. Uh foster employee engagement and
retention. This was one um that really
spoke volumes during our um focus groups
with our employees. They really wanted
to receive more training um and we want
to make sure we keep those who are
currently employed here. Number four,
with regards to strengthening our
working with um our vulnerable
populations, the majority um are related
to Vista del Camino. The fin final two
that are not listed up on the screen,
but are on the pretty version that's in
front of you are in relationship to
housing and community assistance office.
So there is collaboration. Um while
housing and community assistance is
within um human services, we are
considered a separate division by the
budget but we all work together. We are
all one team. So it is specifically
called out and the last one is to
increase awareness of our human services
department through media number one and
also through engagement with our
nonprofit and faith-based organizations.
We did have a strategic plan uh meeting
with all of them and kicked off showed
them our goals. Um, and I know
Christie's been hard at work um, with
regards to doing quarterly meetings with
our nonprofits and faith-based groups
providing some updates as we get going.
That concludes my presentation regarding
the strategic plan and I am open to any
questions that you may have.
Mary, thank you for the overview. Um, I
think it was really important to bring
us all on the same page with regard to
the strategic plan. Uh and I really
applaud the leadership the the city
leadership for initiating this strategic
plan last year and driving it forward.
Um
I I am holding a draft copy of our
agenda for the year our our calendar for
the year uh which I do hope we will get
distributed to all of the commissioners.
But I believe we are slated
for looks like January 22nd to get an
update on progress towards the strategic
plan. So with that, I'll see what
questions or comments. Thank you. Mary,
just one quick comment or question
rather on 33 strategy. Um under the goal
skilled employees, it says improve human
services data management collection
process. Is that relative to those
employees or
uh and their function of their job?
Chair Luri, members of the commission,
yes it is. As we collect data and
employees are required um to enter data
consistently and through a standard
process in a database called HS cams as
well as to ensure accuracy of that data.
So and to ensure that they're provided
additional training um with regards to
standard ways to communicate so that
information is shared and distributed
throughout human services. So if someone
is served at Vista, someone over at the
senior center can type their name into
the database and see hey this person has
all received assistance. We don't want
to duplicate it over here. Um and so
adequate training and keeping them um
the importance of collecting data.
Excellent. Thank you.
Looking around other questions or
comments. Yes, go ahead.
Just a comment. Thanks for the
presentation, Mary. Um, when it comes to
skilled employees, you know, the
objective is ensure this department
attracts, retains, and invests top
talent. Um, just in the bios you read, I
was extremely impressed with the
longevity of the staff here. You know,
20 plus years, and that's that's
certainly to be uh heralded. Thank you.
Thank you all.
Okay. Anything else? Um, thank you,
Mary. And, uh, I think that brings us
to, uh, Chad's presentation regarding
the funding process. Um,
uh, for Commissioner Row and, uh, Hill,
I know this will be, um,
uh, I'm sorry,
mysterious.
Mysterious. It's it it is um it is a
very essential part of our commission
every year um uh reviewing grant
proposals for Scottsdale Cares for CDBG
general funds and so forth uh and making
recommendations to city council on the
distribution of those. it it's uh quite
a bit of reading and uh quite a bit of
uh time to evaluate the proposals and
rank them. Um and um we had a a a
meeting amongst the commission back in
May um where we brainstormed and talked
about some possible improvements in the
funding process. And I think the city
has heard that and is going to to
present on that now. So Chad,
thank you, Commissioner Lori. Um, I'd
like to welcome new commissioners Hill
and Row. And, uh, it's not a quite a bit
of reading, it's a lot of reading. So,
just keep that in mind. So, my name is
Chad Booker. I'm the community
development supervisor at the Housing
and Community Assistance Office.
Uh, as of next month, it will be my 15th
year with the city. I started in the
housing community assistance office as a
housing rehabilitation coordinator. So,
I ran our housing rehab programs for
approximately
12 years. Uh, towards the end of the
duration of that, I was project manager
and I ran a public facility projects
that were funded with federal funds. And
then currently I moved into the
supervisor role. So I basically
supervise over our funding process, our
housing rehab programs, our TBR program,
and also we inherited the operation fix
it program.
So I don't have a long bio, but I'm
working on it.
Okay. So today's agenda, we're going to
review the funding process as a whole
and um go over proposed implemented
changes based on the feedback we
received in the meeting back in May. Uh
we're going to start off talking about
the calendar of events. Then we'll move
into our NOA, which is our notice of
funding availability
slash we also discuss our applicant
orientation. Then we'll go into our
funding priorities and funding caps. The
actual application itself, our scoring
tools, scoring done by the
commissioners, and then scoring done by
staff.
So the funding process kind of kicks off
today. So our I like to see it as our
human service commission and our funding
process kind of run the same as our
fiscal year. So, we're kind of kicking
it kicking things off right now after
our summer break. So, our plan is to
release the notice of funding
availability in late August. Um the the
notice of funding avail excuse me,
availability is almost in line to a
solicitation request for a request for
proposals if you want to look at it that
way. And we'll we'll release that in
late August. And then our applications
will open up in our portal to our
agencies on September 9th.
And then we will be holding our
application orientation on September
8th. I I do encourage all commissioners
to try and attend that. Uh there's some
really good feedback and we will also
allow time for anyone from the
commission to speak to the applicants as
well. Uh deadline for submission of the
proposals is October 17th.
And then uh during that time between the
17th and the 5th uh staff will review
all the applications
uh come up with any questions we may
have for the agencies and we'll send
them out to the agencies and the
responses are due back to us on December
5th.
And then January 8th kind of starts the
uh the hard work for you guys. Um that's
when we will have our initial
orientation presenting how to score the
proposals, how to utilize the softwares
and also um provide you with the actual
proposals at that point to start
reviewing. Uh you will have an
opportunity to ask questions to the
agencies
and uh those questions will be due to us
on January a
January 29th. So, you'll only have about
two two and a half weeks to kind of go
in there and get any questions you have
so we can get those out to the agencies
and get those responses back to you as
quickly as possible.
Scoring and neighborly from the
commissioners will be due February
19th
and then our informal funding
recommendations meeting on February 26.
I would like to note that we have
modified
this meeting to more of a work session
where you guys will be able to discuss
scores, scoring criteria, individual
scores as a group.
There will be some boundaries within
that meeting what you can and cannot
discuss, but you will have an open
discussion. You will be able to see
everybody's individual scores. And after
that meeting, you will have a 24-hour
window to potentially change any scores
you have. Uh if you do change your
score, you will have to provide some
comments on why you changed your score.
So make those available to the public so
we can still present this in a way of a
procurement process.
And then after that, formal funding
recommendations will be on March 12th.
So this year with the NOA, we are going
to put an increased emphasis
on attending the applicant orientation
to our agencies. There's a lot of
valuable information that we give there
and I feel there's a lot of agencies
leaving stuff on the table because
they're not attending these meetings.
And a matter of fact, we're going to
make it mandatory for CDBG
uh proposals that they attend the
meeting. And we're also going to
reformat our NOA because
prior to this, the application
orientation was mentioned at the bottom
of the NOA, kind of buried in there.
We're going to put that on the top of
the NASA. It's going to be the first
thing they read and then we'll go over
the rest through there. So, the hopes
are we get more people at the
orientation and they're more educated on
what the city's looking for in our
proposals.
funding and priority caps. This has not
changed much since last year. Uh we
still are putting an emphasis on
collaborative proposals for CDBG. Uh
funding cap for that will be 40,000 for
a single proposal and then 80,000 for a
collaborative proposal. And the funding
priority for this funding source will
again be homeless supportive services
and shelters.
Scottsdale Cares again basically remains
the same. Funding cap is $20,000.
Uh we will have the mayor's youth
council participate again if they are
willing and we will also continue with
the 100% funding only to the agencies in
this funding source.
And the priorities again are to address
emergency housing assistance, crisis
case management, vulnerable population,
seniors and disabled, and positive
development of youth.
General funds, we will again have a cap
of 20,000 with the 100% funding
award only. And the priorities for that
are emergency housing assistance, crisis
case management, and vulnerable
populations.
Uh SRPMIC
hasn't changed as well, and that will
all go towards um senior meals either
on-site or home delivered.
And then endowment
again we are going to ask the mayor's
youth council to participate in the
scoring for endowment as well. Uh SRP
and endowment we don't have the the
funds yet or we're not aware of how much
we can make available yet but as soon as
we know that we will um move forward.
So applications um we have made several
changes hopefully
you guys like them. Uh first and
foremost we're going to change the
actual order of the application and
we're going to switch
funding program section with the program
related information section. So
basically you're going to get to read
about the program and what they do and
what they're trying to do prior to
getting into their scope of work and
budget. So you'll have an idea what's
going on.
prior to going through their budget and
everything else. And then also, if a
proposal mentions a use of ai city
facility, they must include a letter
from staff or facility or department
stating that the an agreement is in
place or will be. And another new one is
most agencies must submit a current IRS
form 990 with their proposals and those
will be available for your review during
the evaluation process.
Continuing with the evaluation or
applications, uh this year we are going
to require that the applicants submit a
sample client exit survey with their
application submittals.
And during the performance period,
we are going to request, we can't do it
this year because we're already under
contract, but the following year, we
were going to request exit surveys for
every client served to be submitted with
their uh performance reports that they
submit when they go for reimbursement.
And as we collect those performance
report or exit surveys, they will be
included in our next funding process in
the proposal packets for each agency. So
you guys will be able to read and review
the exit client surveys and
will help score and demonstrate capacity
in their ability to serve clients.
Okay. And then another new section, I
don't know the center managers know this
yet, but we will be reaching out to them
and asking them to outline
basically
what are their needs and shortfalls with
their programs and they're going to
provide us responses and we're going to
include that in the proposal packets for
you guys to review as well.
And then there will also be a new
question added to the program related
information section which will state
outline your agency's involvement in the
Scottsdale community over the last year.
So we're trying to get a a grasp of how
much they are working in Scottsdale and
what are they doing to help improve
Scottsdale especially if they're an
agency that's not located in Scottsdale.
and that will be reflected in one of the
questions in the scoring.
We're also going to provide a revised
scoring tool
um which will include additional details
on where to look in the applications for
specific questions. Commissioner Kulie
has come up with a scoring tool as well
that is very similar to the scoring tool
that we used to use. So, um, the new
scoring tool will almost look like what
Commissioner Kulie has come up with and
it's basically the one that we're using
in the past and we'll just provide a
little more detail on where where to
look to answer specific questions.
Um, we have a historical data and
demonstrated capacity form that we put
in the packet for each agency.
Uh the previous version showed awarded
funds over the last three years and the
numbers served as it related to their
goals. What it didn't show was funds
expended. So we are going to add that to
that form. So you'll be able to see if
someone was awarded $40,000
potentially maybe they only expended
$20,000 in that period. So, it'll give
you a little more ability to know uh
what their their rate of spending is and
if they're actually using the funds that
that are awarded to them.
And then uh the new form I kind of got
ahead of myself on the last slide, but
the the other new form is the feedback
from our center managers on what their
shortfalls and needs are at their
center.
Scoring for commissioners. Um, as with
last year, we will have a condensed
section and each section will be scored
as a whole. It will include a new
scoring scale with descriptions. So,
everything is going to be 1 through 10
and we're going to detail what what
deserves a 10, what deserves a nine,
what deserves an eight, all the way up
and down the board. We're also going to
set a predetermined threshold of what a
certain score if a if an agency scores
at a certain level that they don't move
forward to the informal recommendations.
So, um I want to say 70, but based on
the changes we're making, we don't know
exactly what the final score will be,
but we'll have a line and if they don't
achieve over that line, they're not even
going to be in consideration for funding
recommendations.
Okay.
In the uh top priority section, uh
previously you would score just based on
priorities uh a one through 10. Um that
question is going to be modified. Uh
formerly it said does the proposal
address a top priority?
Uh now it's going to say does the
proposed activity address a funding
priority and meet the current needs of
the community and human services. So
give you a little more wiggle room in
there to kind of get that quantitative
versus qualitative uh area that you guys
are looking for.
Staff scoring will also be revised.
There will be an emphasis on proposal ac
I wrote it I can't say itability
to the funding source. So is it actually
meeting the funding source. So we are
going to um look at that very closely
and and weight that a little more on the
staff side too. And of course all of our
scoring will be included in the
proposals that you review. And then
there will also be an option for a
five-point bonus for collaboration with
city staff, human services, andor
collaborative proposals with other
agencies.
That was fast. Okay. Um I'm open for any
questions. I can also explain in detail
further for any of the new commissioners
exactly how all these funds work and
where we get them from and how they're
to be distributed and also the
regulations that follow certain funds
too. So,
so Chad, I'm going to start by saying
that I brought along a piece of paper
with bullet points from our May meeting
identifying the improvements we wanted
to make and and I proudly say that I
checked off every single one of them.
[Applause]
Uh, this is my fifth year through this
process. Could I say my fifth rodeo? Um,
and
it has improved
every year that I've gone through this.
Starting I I think the first year
literally it was do you want to go into
SharePoint to read the documents or do
you want them printed? Uh, do you want a
binder this thick to take home? Um, we
have moved significantly from there. But
I think I I don't just think I know what
we're doing this year is uh a major leap
forward and and I just applaud your your
work in this and in particular the idea
that managers are going to help provide
information on where the gaps are in
their centers. Where are the needs at
PAU? Where are the needs at Vista Del
Camino at Granite Reef? Vista via Linda
and so forth is really important and
really vital and will enable us to be
much more effective at what we do. Um
I'm going to shut up and and open the
floor to you and u I know Commissioner
Kulie has created a a a very good model.
last year was his first year through
this. Uh, and he felt like he needed a
more objective way of evaluating the
proposals and I believe in the packet is
a copy of his spreadsheet.
Yeah, good luck reading.
I'm sorry.
I said good luck reading. It's tiny tiny
type, but that's okay. Uh, I was just
tickled, Chad. Thank you so much. I I
didn't want you to have to go back to
the time machine to pick an old tool up,
but if it's if it's going to work and
help at least me and maybe some other
folks connect the dots between the
applications and where it where it
channels in through the funds, that's
great. Thank you so much. That's huge.
If if I could just ask a few questions,
they're they're benign. I promise.
Please.
Okay. Um on slide four, the or applicant
orientation, how long does that usually
take? And is there an opportunity if one
of these agencies can't attend for
whatever reason?
Chair Lori, Commissioner Kulie, members
of the commission. Yes. Um there is an
opportunity to
see the presentation afterwards. Um it
it will be via team. So we'll record it.
Uh we post it on our website. Uh we also
post the actual presentation from the
applicant orientation on our on our
website as well for review. Um and um to
go back on a response to
how to say but um when we put the NOA
out we have a interested party list. We
get calls all year long wanting to be
added to the list. We also have the
collection of people that have already
been funded that are on our list and we
blanket that email out with the NOA and
we also post it on our website. So you
guys are free to direct anybody to our
website saying, "Hey, there's a NOA out.
Go take a look. This is what we're we're
planning to do for this funding cycle."
That's huge. Thank you. And the
orientation typically is no longer than
half hour, four, five minutes.
Yeah.
Okay. Very good. On uh slide eight
applications,
um
uh we had some discussion I thought
perhaps back in May, outline your
agency's involvement in the Scottsdale
community over the last year.
Seems like there was was talk about,
and this may have been in my head,
whether somebody an agency necessarily
um worked within the city or with in
with city residents in that uh what they
may do on the adjacency of the city can
benefit the city by eliminating
homelessness within the city by
addressing it through services outside
or adjacent to the city. Um, I don't
know if this necessarily preludes that,
but I just thought I'd bring it up.
Chair Lori, Commissioner Kulie, members
of the commission. Um, they'll have an
if,
in my mind, if they're crafty enough,
they can fill out that question to uh
provide the uh details that will benefit
them.
Very good. And again, thank you for the
scoring tools. I I so look forward to
seeing that. I can't tell you. Thank you
very much.
We're just going to take yours and put
our name on it. So,
very good stuff, Chad. Appreciate all
the retooling here. Um, when it comes to
the bonuses on slide 11, um, bonus
points will be provided up to five
points for collaboration with city
staff, human services center, and
collaborative proposals. Um, is that
during the NOA process or historically?
How do you determine the um uh
collaboration with city staff and human
services center? Um if this is a brand
new uh proposal from a new agency we
haven't funded.
Chair Lori, Commissioner Jameson,
members of the commission. Um we can
rely on staff, our human service
managers if they have had a presence in
in any of our our centers. Um, also if
they are proposing to have a presence or
assist in any of our centers, that would
also trigger a bonus and and it's up to
five. So, you know, it could be a two or
a three depending on
the level of uh Yeah.
Okay. Thank you.
This is great. Uh I concur with the
chair and appreciate you hearing us over
the course of you know each of these
campaigns we go through. Thank you so
much uh staff for
improving it on an incremental basis
each year. So, um I I have a few that
they're kind of scattered, but I wanted
to Some are questions, some are
comments, but maybe piggybacking on what
Lee brought up. Um, I is there something
in this scoring process that will cause
us to favor a Scottsdalebased
nonprofit
or
are we focused predominantly on serving
Scottsdale residents no matter if they
are based in Tempe or Mesa or Phoenix?
I'm is
chair Lori, Commissioner Shear, members
of the commission. Um, so in our staff
scoring, we have a matrix that we come
up for the priority scoring. And one of
the the scoring credentials is, is it
based in the city of Scottdale? And they
do get additional points for being based
in the city of Scottsdale. Okay,
I'm not going to quibble with that, but
to me it doesn't matter. I mean, the
problems we deal with, as we've
discussed, go way beyond our city
boundaries. And so if an agency is doing
great work serving Scottsdale residents
and they're based um in the East Valley
somewhere
relatively convenient to our residents,
I I don't see a distinction there that
just because they have a physical
address in Scottsdale doesn't mean
they're superior to a nonprofit that
doesn't. But maybe I'm in the minority
on that and I'm not going to
Commissioner Shear um I failed to
mention in that within within that
matrix is also maybe they're not based
in Scottsdale but they operate in
Scottsdale.
Okay. So there's there is a a fine
difference in that because we do have
agencies that have trouble
documenting their serving Scottsdale
residents when they're not in
Scottsdale.
Yes. Yes, I get it. And I I understand
and as I go through it in my own mind,
I'm thinking about transportation and
the convenience of being able to access
the service and where's the service
provided. So that's more important than
where they're actually located. Um, Chad
or Mary, do we know at this point how
much money we will have to work with in
each of these five funding categories?
Commissioner Shear, members of the
commission, um,
pretty certain on CWG.
I'm not ready to divulge it yet, but uh
the Scusso Cares SRPMIC and endowment uh
I would my mind I I think I believe
they're going to be very similar to what
they were last year.
Okay. Um very good. Um
Oh, I know this I couldn't read my own
notes.
There's a lot in this that I really like
about us getting feedback from staff.
The one thing that I feel like is a
missing
piece of information for us
at a timely point in the process relates
to other
contracts that the city
is involved with that do not come
through the commission. some of those
sue you administer. Um, so it would be
helpful for us to know to the extent we
have information
if some of the funding associated with
those contracts is maybe in jeopardy or
um has been reduced to the point where
there may be some potential service
impacts because
that will help me
understand uh the relative importance of
how I score some of these services
through these uh for these various
nonprofits. So, um I I don't know if you
understand what I'm trying to say, but
we've got multiple funding tracks going
on. The stuff that comes through us, the
stuff that staff uniquely deals with,
and
at the end of each one of those
services, somebody's getting the benefit
of a service from us. So
the extent to which we can be plugged
into that if there is a positive or a
negative or a neutral as as relates to
those services it would be it would be
extremely helpful um because those are
good things that are happening out there
that we care about. And the last thing I
will say is you will all be very pleased
to know that I am off this
long-term issue of
not rewarding a 100% of the dollars for
these agencies. I'm waving a white flag.
I have failed to get adequate
colleagues. However, I may reserve the
right to work uh with Cynthia and Sheila
through the course of the year for next
year's funding cycle.
But but only Cindy and Sheila and not
the rest of us.
The rest of you have not seen the light
to date. I'm not counting on it,
Mary.
Yes, thank you for this. It's very
exciting and I'm looking forward to this
process this year. Um, question on
vulnerable populations. So, one of the
things
that I was challenged with before um and
I want to I think we've I think it's
been addressed is if we receive a
proposal for say
a clothing closet
that or clothes for donated clothes for
working people. Um,
will you automatically
eliminate that proposal because it's not
addressing a vulnerable population,
seniors, disabled, and positive
development of youth? Or are we still
going to see that proposal?
Commissioner Hope, excuse me,
because I'd rather not see the proposal
if it doesn't even meet the if you're in
fact defining what vulnerable is here.
Are we going to see that proposal or
not?
Commissioner Lori,
Chair Lori, Commissioner Jung, members
of the commission, the uh when we review
the proposals, if we find one that
doesn't meet the criteria in the funding
source they presented, then we will
contact them via our human services
evaluation and say, "Are you willing to
move into this funding source because
you're you're not meeting the the
criteria here or if it's not meeting any
of them, that will be a response in the
human service evaluator. The question
will be, how are you meeting any of
these priorities? and they'll respond
back to us and then from there we can
determine the if if they can move on or
or even stay in the process. They they
could also if if somehow they sneak
through um obviously their their scoring
is going to to show that and most likely
be under that threshold to where they're
not even going into the uh
Okay. because you know job seekers or
those that need clothes could be
considered vulnerable.
Yeah. But so but I'm understanding the
staff's review will define vulnerable as
seniors disabled and positive
development of youth.
So those are kind of two different
category. Yeah. Go for it.
Chair luri members of the commission
that would fall under emergency
assistance.
Okay.
Not vulnerable population seniors and
disabled
or
Well, I'm looking at Scottsdale Cares,
emergency housing,
crisis case management,
vulnerable population.
It is part of crisis case management.
They could arguably make a case for
crisis case management to become
self-sufficient through the use of
clothing.
Okay, got it. For job hunting. Okay, got
it. Thank you very much. I think the the
the other variable there will be that
we're also going to get some feedback
from the managers at the centers as to
whether this fills a gap that they have.
So for example, clothing related to work
for people that that may be looking for
a job at the career center of Vista Del
Camino, they do have a closet with
clothes,
you know. So while it may be
a perceived need. Um, you know, when the
when the managers evaluate it, I think
they would also see that it's it's a
need that they're already fulfilling.
Yeah, I appreciate that. and and we I
very much um take the staff review um
very seriously being your h in your
given your expertise and hands-on work
dayto day and and to Neil's point
wanting to make sure we fill the gaps
for what you see um as needs in the
community.
Thank you.
Any other questions or comments? Um,
so one of the reasons and and typically
our first meeting in the fall is not
until August. And one of the reasons I
wanted to have this meeting is that NOA
is going to come out in late August. And
I wanted to make sure we had an
opportunity
to to discuss this as a commission and
provide feedback, which um I feel
comfortable that we've done. Um,
Mary, will we uh well, I I'm going to
state that differently. Um, could we get
uh ISOL to send out specifics on the
application orientation session that
will occur on September 18th to the
commissioners
uh in case we need a notice of quorum?
Chair Lori, members of the commission.
Absolutely.
Okay. Thank you. Uh, do we need a roll
call vote?
Chair Luri. Yes, sir. You need to either
approve or disapprove the recommended
changes.
Okay. So, a motion to approve.
I make a motion to approve the
recommended changes.
I second.
And a roll call vote.
Chair Lurri.
Yes.
Vice Chair Jung.
Yes.
Commissioner Jameson.
Yes.
Commissioner Cheer.
Yes.
Commissioner Kulie.
Heck yeah.
Commissioner
L.
Yes. Commissioner Row.
Yes.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
Lee, I think you forgot to mention um in
your introduction of yourself that
you're the comedian of the group.
Uh and that brings us to the director
report. So, uh for Cindy and Sheila,
once I believe once a month we will have
a director's report. And Mary, you're
up.
Chair Luri, members of the commission,
are you tired of hearing my voice yet
tonight?
So, I will provide the director's report
this evening. What is currently been
happening in human services.
All right, next slide.
I'm excited to come before you and I
have welcome and introductions here, but
we did do it a little bit earlier, so
I'm going to skip over that. Um, but I
definitely want to start talking to you
a little bit about our brown bag
program. So, our brown bag program was
um at um Granite Reef Senior Center as
of August 7th. This will be moving over
to our food bank over on McKelps. We are
piloting a trolley ride um to provide
that transportation with our
transportation department. It'll kick
off at 9:00 am um and it'll go from
Granite Reef Senior Center all the way
to the food bank um for those seniors um
who have to pick up a brown bag and it
will also be available for those um who
have an appointment to pick up a regular
food box at that time. So, we are
excited um to start this pilot project.
Um it's kicking off. We're going to look
at the data and the numbers for the
first month to see if we will continue,
but we're excited to give it a try and
get things moving forward.
Um, the next thing on our agenda is the
back to school event. Our back- tos
school event is scheduled for July 30th
from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm at Puma
Elementary School. Currently, we have
over 900 students that are enrolled to
receive um these backpacks and other
items. On that day, we have our
partnerships with Scottsdale Community
Partners, Noah Health Screenings, First
Things First, Scottsdale Library, the
Scottsdale Unified School District
Nutrition Office and Community
Specialist, and Sketchers are some of
our um sponsors and will be there at the
event. We um cordially do invite the
commission to attend. Um we will receive
an invite so that we have a note. We
need to know if we need to put us a
notice of a quorum. Um the mayor and
council is also being invited. You guys
are welcome to stop by, get a tour and
see how the adopt or adopt a friend, not
adopt a family back to school um works.
I will even be there. It'll be my first
time. I'm super excited to participate.
Um the community action program. Um so
there are some changes that are
currently um as part of our strategic
plan. Um if we want to go back to
serving vulnerable populations, one of
those goals um that were mentioned there
is to change the process on how
applications are reviewed and submitted
um stop the backlog and make sure that
um people who need emergency assistance
are receiving that assistance in the
time frame so that we can prevent
homelessness, prevent eviction. Um so
with that um the CAP office um has
followed suit with Maricopa County and
any cases that are not assigned within a
two-eek period. Um and I am going to if
we need to get into the minutiae at the
end of my director's report I will turn
that over um to Sue um to talk more
about it if you have specific questions.
Um but if those cases are not assigned
within a two-eek period and cases are
assigned to pay determined based on
capacity and workload of staff that are
currently there. they're closed out and
then they can reapply. Now, that doesn't
mean that they're not going to get help.
It just means that someone who submitted
a paper application can come in and
resign the paperwork and it'll be
resubmitted and re-reviewed. If they've
submitted electronic application, they
can call Maricopa County and it can be
reput right away. Um, they're now
processing applications, I'm happy to
report, that are only two weeks old. So,
this back this process of closing out
the cases every two weeks actually is
making the difference. and people are
getting services quicker. While it is a
little bit confusing, as long as we are
providing open communication and
reasonable accommodations, it is showing
some improvement. And we will continue,
I know Sue will continue to monitor it
along with um Liz, the supervisor.
The next item is our mayor's youth
council. The mayor's youth council
received over 40 applications and they
held three weeks of interviews. It is
one of the most competitive rounds and
the mayor's youth council will
officially kick off on August 4th this
year.
Next item is the Paute Park bathrooms.
This project has been a long one in the
making. It began um with our CDBG um
COVID funds that we received in 2021.
And I am happy to report that those
bathrooms are installed and working at
Pyute Park. So we no longer have
inoperable bathrooms.
So, I don't think anyone's more excited
than Chad because he's been managing
that project for four years.
Uh, fall programming, we have fall
programming kicking off at the Pyute
Neighborhood Center um in September of
this year. So, we are super excited to
get community programming back at the
Pyute Neighborhood Center. And then in
alignment with our strategic goal with
regards to retention and employed and
skilled employees, we are kicking off
some customer service training. Um
Jessica Rep will be leaving that leading
that training along with um library
services um September 16th, 17th and
18th. So it is one of our training
opportunities to meet in our strategic
goal.
Um next in cure true Kira fashion I want
to show pretty pictures to make sure you
guys can see what's going on at our
centers. So, the senior centers had ice
cream socials this summer. Um, Granite
Reef Senior Center held theirs on July
2nd and Via Linda Senior Center held
theirs on July 10th um of this year.
They were very well attended as you can
see and I can personally attest to the
ice cream was delicious.
Next up, we continue to have Vista's
family Friday recreation events. During
the fall, we had over 121 participants
this summer. Um we have open wreck
night. Um as you can see on the far
right hand side, well my right hand side
probably your no it is your right hand
side. Um some relay races and sack
races. And then we also had um cooking a
cooking event in kitchen safety where
kids got to decorate their own chef's
hat, make pizzas and rice krispies. So
you can see it's kid tested and approved
right there in the middle with a thumbs
up.
And the last one, The Vintage Voice, is
continuing to go strong. It is now a
video podcast that you can watch on
channel 11. Um, our fourth episode is
our fine fixing what matters, our
housing rehabilitation programs out of
the housing and community assistance
office. Up here you will see Reese in
the black shirt who is talking about
Operation Fix It, which is helping
seniors on the outside of their homes
with their landscaping and code
violations. And then in the center we
have Armando Aliveres who is our housing
rehab coordinator and he is talking
about our emergency repair program, our
roof replacement and repair program and
our major housing rehabilitation. Our
next episode will be focusing on seniors
and parks and recreation.
And that concludes the director's
report.
Thank you, Mary. Um and just a footnote
about the back to school. Any of you
that want to participate? I will
personally be there volunteering from 12
to 2:30.
Are there any items of discussion?
I just wanted to make a comment. It's
it's uh as you were able to I think uh I
just throwing it out there if there was
an HSAC race, human services advisory
commission race, that would be kind of
cool. And I did want to compliment
Jessica that last vintage voice was
great. Thank you for co-hosting. It was
huge. I really appreciate it. It's great
information.
Okay, so moving forward, this is the
opportunity to identify future agenda
items. Um, again, I I I will mention
that u I do have a tentative
calendar for the year. Um, Mary, if we
could get that sent out to all the
commissioners, that would be great. Um,
August 14th, we're slated to get an
update on the Family Resource Center,
uh, TBR, the tenant-based rental
assistance program. Uh, and then we also
talked about an update on continuum of
care.
Um and then August 28th,
uh currently funded application
presentations,
accomplishments, fiscal year 2425,
and a director's report. Uh I won't go
any further with just reading this, but
are there any specific agenda items in
the near future we want to address?
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just it it it
may or may not need to be an agenda
item, but it will be I think an agenda
item with the city council. I was just
curious about the Scottsdale Cares
recommendations.
Is that coming back to us? Is that going
this fall to a council meeting?
Chair Lur, members of the commission, it
is scheduled to be discussed with Kira
at my next one-on-one to see if we want
to bring it forward. I do have a a
tenative item on se in a late September
meeting. So, um I'm going to talk to
Kira about potentially doing that in
late September with the same item.
And it looks like it's on this calendar
for October 9th
as an update. Yes.
Yes.
Thank you.
Yes.
And where would it be without me asking
something else? Um at one point I think
we talked about getting an update on the
shower trailer. I know it's working. I'm
excited. That's great. Um, but I I don't
know if we have to circle back on that.
Just to
I saw it at Vista Del Camino last week.
Sue,
yes, I'm happy to pres um say that it's
working where all three stars are uh
stalls are open and functioning and
they've been in high usage this summer.
Very good news. Anything else? In that
case, a motion to adjurnn.
So move
and a second.
Second.
And a roll call vote.
Chair Lurie,
yes.
Vice Chair Jung,
yes.
Commissioner Jameson,
yes.
Commissioner Kulie,
yes.
Commissioner Hill,
yes.
Commissioner Row,
yes.
All right, we are journ.
Hold it. Hold it. Hold it. Hold it.
There is a seventh commissioner that was
left out there, I think.
Oh, I forgot Commissioner Shear. My
apologies.
Whoops.
Okay, just for that I'm going to bring
up the 100% funding at the next meeting.
That's a yes.