The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About04/21/2009 - Minutes �,. ra"�" M I N UTES CI1'1�OF RENTON City of Renton MAY 2 1 2009 Human Services Advisory Committee ECEIVED Uti�Y o� CtTY LERK'S OFFlCE � j ♦ �Q�'N'1'�� Tuesday, April 21, 2009 City Hall, 7th Floor 3:00 p.m. Council Conference Room Committee members For your calendars: present: The date of the next regular meeting is Tuesday, May 19, at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Conference Room, 7�h Floor, Renton City Hall. Margie Albritton w Anthony Costanti Robin called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. Rolf Dragseth Alicia Glenwell 1. Minutes from March 17, 2009, Meeting: It was moved, seconded and Charlie Gray Robin Jones carried to approve the March minutes. Adria Krail Rob Spier 2. Chip Vincent, Planninq Director, Update on the Housinq Element of the Elizabeth Stevens Comprehensive Plan, the Hiqhlands Plan, and the Downtown Communitv Planninq Effort: Chip explained that the City is required by Growth Management to update the Comprehensive Plan every seven years. Absent: Last updated in 2004, a new plan is due by 2011. They are developing a plan that will be strategic, focused, direct, and easy to understand. There Samantha Williams was a discussion about the housing element, and it included an affordable housing section. An interdepartmental team is being created to work on the Staff Contacts: Downtown Community Planning effort. Outreach events will be held to seek feedback from the community to better align City facilities, capital facilities, Karen Bergsvik and services with the needs and desires of the citizens. Chip discussed the 425-430-6652 challenging history of the Highlands neighborhood, including unsuccessful kbergsvik@rentonwa.gov efforts to redevelop the shopping center, housing in disrepair, and negative Dianne Utecht perceptions of public safety. Plans to improve the Highlands include a 425-430-6655 package for major infrastructure improvements, developing a first time dutecht@rentonwa.gov homebuyer program, expanding business and neighborhood safety/crime awareness programs, and adding a community center. Katie McClincy 425-430-7555 3. Chanqinq Faces Presentation: Students from a UW leadership class kmcclincy@rentonwa.gov compared census data from 2000 to the 2007 American Survey data. They Carol Allread also used data from the Renton School District. They presented their 425-430-6650 findings to the Community Services Committee on April 20, 2009. Their callread@rentonwa.gov report shows that the community is becoming more diverse. The Hispanic population is the fastest growing in Renton, and Hispanic, Vietnamese, Cantonese-Chinese, and Somali are the top languages spoken in the school district. White is still the largest population but is the slowest growing. A large percentage of the population can't afford housing in Renton, without paying more than 30% of income toward housing. 4. Economic Stimulus Bill: Human Services will get approximately $123,000.00 in additional Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars. The idea of the stimulus bill is to spend money and get people back to work quickly. The City is getting $617,000.00 in energy efficiency funds. Ideas include retrofitting old city hall, and improving street lights. O:\Human Services\09Wdvisory CommitteeWgenda-Handouts-Minutes\MinutesWpril MinutesWpril MinutesWprilMinutes.doc p. 1 of 2 version 5/18/2009 � � 5. Report on Meetinq with Terri Briere, Citv Council Member and Communitv Services Chair: Karen and Robin met with Terri on March 26, 2009, as she wants to be more knowledgeable about Human Services. She expressed appreciation for the professionalism and commitment of the members. Robin discussed the funding cycle and some of the issues that the Committee will be facing — more agencies requesting financial help and whether we should fund fewer result areas, and whether services should be physically located in Renton or be more regional in nature. It was clarified that the Committee is looking for direction from the City Council. A joint meeting was suggested between the Community Services Committee and the Human Services Advisory Committee. 6. Aqencv Visit to Vallev Cities Counselinp 8� Consultation: Adria and Human Services staff visited Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation on April 17, 2009. The Domestic Violence program had 20 new clients since the beginning of the year. A support meeting is held every Tuesday from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in Renton. There is also a group for kids and currently there are 13 participants. The goal of their program is to help people get out of the cycle of abuse. The Health Care for the Homeless program currently serves the YWCA, Way Back Inn and Vision House. 7. Manaqer's Updates: On April 14, 2009, a Human Services Summit was held to get a sense of how local agencies are coping with the economy, and to identify what can be done to maintain the ability to serve those in need. Ken Weinberg, Executive Director of Jewish Family Services, was the keynote speaker. He shared the strategies adopted by his agency to cope with these challenging times. The group expressed an interest in continuing to meet to share ideas and look for ways to help one another. A three hour workshop will be held Friday, May 15, 2009, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at Harambee Church in Renton. The workshop will be aimed at providing the tools to navigate through this difficult economy, and will include a hands-on marketing session that will help agencies improve their marketing message. The workshop is free but you must register online at www.GoRenton.com. Dianne is finished with the 2009 contracts, and the agencies will be able to invoice us for the first quarter. On Monday, April 20, 2009, Applebee's partnered with The Salvation Army to raise funds for the food bank, and on Monday, June 8, 2009, Armondo's and Melrose Grilt will be donating a portion of their profits to HOME/ARISE and Way Back Inn. The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m. �._.._._--- �� Robin Jones, air O:\Human Services\09Wdvisory Committee�Agenda-Handouts-Minutes\MinutesWpril MinutesWpril MinutesWprilMinutes.doc p. 2 of 2 version 5/18/2009