City of Lawrence

Task Force on Homeless Services

November 30, 2004 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Tami Clark, Candy Davis, Katherine Dinsdale, Rich Forney, Loring Henderson, Caroline Hicks, Barbara Huppee, David Johnson, Steve Ozark, Mike Rundle, Jim Schneider, Shirley Martin-Smith, Sara Taliaferro, and Sarah Terwelp

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Bruce Beale, Randy Beeman, Helen Hartnett, Barbara Tucker,

 

STAFF PRESENT:

Cindy Nau and Margene Swarts

 

PUBLIC PRESENT:

Chad Longhorn, LJW

 

Rundle called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. 

 

Approval of Agenda

Martin-Smith moved to approve the agenda.  Clark seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Review Preliminary Plan from Program Development Committee, make recommendations for change, and vote on recommendations

Rundle asked if anyone had any comments.

 

Taliaferro commented she could direct people to the changes.

 

Rundle said that Hartnett had suggested that from now that any changes should be done with “track changes” so people can see where changes were made.

 

Taliaferro pointed out the section that included prevention.

 

Rundle asked if it was clear in this statement that the Task Force did not spend time on prevention.  Taliaferro read the statement.   

 

Ozark recommended changing “could” to “should” in the sentence from the bottom of that paragraph.

 

Rundle asked for any other comments.

 

Taliaferro said the only another thing was on page 10, last bullet where she added the last sentence.

 

Martin-Smith said she felt Taliaferro did a great job in making the changes the Task Force asked her to make and noted that in the 5th bullet down she said she believes agency directors should be added.

 

Dinsdale entered the meeting.

 

Taliaferro said there were two other locations she changed that.  Henderson said he thought “service providers” covered it.

 

Ozark said it would be nice to have case manager’s non-confidential data, but didn’t know if it really needed to be there.  The Task Force agreed to take out case managers and leave service providers.

 

Taliaferro then referred to page 14 where she added language on how the Task Force is working on the funding piece that is not complete, at this point in time.

 

Martin-Smith said she’d like to just recognize that there is still work to do on funding.

 

Rundle asked if we could change “recommendations” to “possible strategies for consideration.”

 

Taliaferro said these are recommendations we voted on, but they have not been thought through. 

 

Dinsdale said the word “initial” communicates that.  Schneider disagreed and would like to tone it down. 

 

Ozark said they were recommendations and should say that.

 

Rundle recommended “recommendations for consideration.”

 

There followed a brief discussion on the word usage.

 

Martin-Smith said the Task Force supported these and it should say “recommendations under consideration are”.

 

Johnson suggested “an example could be”.  Taliaferro said if you say “ideas include” then it might prompt others to come up with ideas.

 

Rundle said he didn’t believe it to be as much of a lightening rod as it seems to be but it could be softened.

 

Ozark said he understands softening it but these were 70% consensus recommendations and it should say that. 

 

Minor word adjustments were made by acclamation.

 

Huppee moved to accept the plan as the final draft.  Dinsdale seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Schneider moved that the plan be sent to stakeholders.  Huppee seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 

 

Discuss Flyer announcing Preliminary Plan

Rundle explained that the flyer would be mailed, not the plan.  Rundle suggested “proposed” be placed between “final plan”.

 

Henderson said he thought it unnecessary. He wished to know when the Task Force would no longer be proposing.  Huppee agreed saying she recommend the flyer be untouched except in the 3rd line where it says “a draft of the plan” be changed to “a preliminary draft.”  Schneider asked if the committee reports would be added to the site.  Nau said they would be if the Task Force wanted it to be.  The Task Force did desire that.

 

Swarts left the meeting.

 

Huppee asked if the flyer was going to have the specified dates.  Nau said that was up to the group.  The group discussed the pros and cons of placing all the meeting dates on one flyer and sending targeted flyers.

 

Schneider suggested discussing the meeting formats to determine how to do this.  He thought they were going to be focus groups of 9-15 people. 

 

Ozark said he doesn’t see a problem with a big turnout. 

 

Rundle said perhaps one way to reach the homeless individuals would be to have the service providers post flyers and explain what the Task Force is soliciting.  He said a focus group would be good to draw information out rather than to get reaction to the plan.  Rundle suggested involving Karen Davis from the library because she facilitates focus groups.

 

Schneider said some have told him that they don’t want to be a part of a focus group to put a stamp on something that was already cooked and done.

 

Ozark stated that perhaps it is more important to get this well publicized. 

 

Martin-Smith suggested the Mayor be interviewed by the Lawrence Journal-World and emphasize the plan is not done and that input is really desired.

 

Rundle asked if something could be added to the flyer.

 

Taliaferro stated why the Task Force could not have a community-wide meeting added to the list of stakeholders. 

 

Clark asked if there could be more than one of those meetings in more than one area so it is more convenient for them.

 

Huppee said those are not actually stakeholders because they are not affected. 

 

Clark asked if the entire community was affected.

 

Johnson said he’s interested in input from the West because there are a lot of developers there and likes the idea of giving everyone in the community an opportunity to talk.

 

Huppee cautioned against having a meeting about the funding plan when it has not been planned.

 

Martin-Smith said she thinks it is a good idea to hold broader meetings to open the discussions and be able to say the Task Force provided access and asked for input.  It really is a community issue.

 

Huppee said she doesn’t see business interests west of town being interested. 

 

Martin-Smith agreed, but said as citizens they will and the Task Force does not want us to put this in a box around 23rd, Iowa, and 6th.

 

Taliaferro agreed saying we’ve tried to get over the preconceived ideas of who cares and who doesn’t and does not want to start creating that now. 

 

Rundle agreed saying this also ties into economic development, tourism, etc.

Huppee stated that we need to provide clarity on point of who attends and does not attend and how many meetings we will have. 

 

Huppee broke out categories and made the following suggestion:

 

--Funders, local govt,

--P&R, police, and Clinton State Park

 

--LMH, Service providers, education providers, churches

 

--Downtown businesses and other interested businesses

 

Martin-Smith said Lavern Squires would like to be the contact for the rest of the business community and agreed that downtown Lawrence should be separate.

 

Forney said they need to remember that whomever chairs meetings needs to not let the public get sidetracked regarding funding.

 

Martin-Smith said that should not be a problem.

 

Beeman would like to see the same separation with the churches.  He suggested targeting the six that are really affected and ensure the rest are notified.

 

Forney said there are a lot of homeless that are not living downtown.

 

Schneider said he spoke to three businesses between Massachusetts and Mississippi Streets and 9th Street, and businesses down the 9th Street corridor have issues, but don’t consider themselves downtown.

 

--Homeless individuals and homeless advocacy together.         

 

Clark recommended having a meeting at Lawrence Memorial Hospital to get more input from their staff.

 

Dinsdale left the meeting.

 

The Task Force made the following changes:

 

--Homeless individuals and advocates

--LMH, police, P&R

--Downtown business

--Service providers, churches, education providers

--Funders and local govt.

--Neighborhood assns and neighbors

--Community wide meeting (1)

 

Huppee said the homeless individuals should not be lumped with advocates so the people who are going to be directly affected are able to voice their concerns in their own safe environment.

 

Davis agreed.  It will be very intimidating to combine the meeting.

 

Henderson said LINK or Jubilee Café were the best two locations.

 

The advocacy category was moved to the service provider line.

 

Clark moved to have Nau put this together.  Huppee seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 

 

There followed a brief discussion regarding the flyer.

 

Clark moved that Nau finish the flyer with changes.  Schneider seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 

 

Public Comment

Enoch complemented the Task Force on the fine work they have done.  She recommended the flyer not say “has concluded” but has researched and is now seeking input.

 

Enoch said the focus groups are good, but asked if the Task Force could reserve the last 15 minutes for public comment. 

 

Rundle asked for a better phrase for the opening.  Beeman recommended “A Journey for the City of Lawrence.”  Davis said she likes.

 

Forney asked who would be appointed to the stakeholder meetings.  Rundle said the calendar will be set and then an e-mail will be sent to see who will volunteer for which meetings.

 

Nau asked if the CDIC mail list should be used or just the small list.  It was agreed that all should be used. 

 

Nau also asked whether the flyer should have all meetings or only a few.  The Task Force wanted the targeted groups.

 

Forney asked if all these meetings could be held the between January 4th and 7th.

 

Ozark said the town meeting for the Coalition will be January 11th and could incorporate the community-wide meeting.

 

Rundle said Nau and he would get together and work out a schedule.

 

Davis will work to set the meeting with neighborhood associations and neighbors.

 

Taliaferro said this will be the last meeting she’ll be able to attend and would still like to provide input/votes by e-mail or phone and said its been an honor and pleasure to meet and work with everyone.

 

Adjournment

There being no further business, Clark moved to adjourn the meeting.  Martin-Smith seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.  The meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.