HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-02-2019 HRC MinutesMinutes
Human Relations Commission
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Regular Meeting of the Human Relations Commission
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Human Relations Commission was called to order on
Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, located at 990 Palm Street, San
Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Welts.
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Renoda Campbell, Bill Crewe, Abe Lincoln, Vice Chair Michael
Hopkins, and Chair Nancy Welts
Absent: Commissioners Jeannette Richardson and Emily Rosten
Staff: Cara Vereschagin, Housing Coordinator and Brian Leveille, Senior
Planner
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None.
--End of Public Comment--
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Consideration of Minutes of the Regular Human Relations Commission Meeting of
September 4, 2019.
ACTION: MOTION BY CHAIR WELTS, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR HOPKINS, 5-0-2 to
approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Human Relations Commission of
September 4, 2019.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2.Community Needs Workshop
Housing Coordinator Vereschagin presented an overview of the Community Development
Block Grant and Grants-in-Aid processes and timelines, which highlighted key dates for the
applicants. She also explained that the Workshop is intended to gather information from the
City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle
Minutes
Human Relations Commission Meeting of October 2, 2019
Page 2
public, regarding health and human service needs in order to develop funding priorities for the
2019-20 grant cycle. Additionally, she explained that this fiscal year, the City Council
allocated $20,000 for diversity and inclusion efforts, and that the HRC had been solicited to
collect feedback from the public during this Community Needs Workshop, as to how the
money should be distributed.
Chair Welts then opened the public hearing.
Public Comments:
Steven Orozco, Peoples’ Self-Help Housing
Kelly Cunningham
Grace McIntosh, CAPSLO
Jane Pomeroy, RISE
Jan Maitzen, Transitional Food and Shelter
Anne Wyatt, SmartShare Housing Solutions
Kirsten Rambo, StandStrong
Kevin J Drabinski, Food Bank Coalition
Alexis Okumura, Senior Volunteer Services
Chair Welts closed the public hearing.
No Action was taken on this item.
3.Establish 2020-21 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Grants-
in-Aid (GIA) Funding Priorities
Chair Welts opened the public hearing.
Public Comments:
None.
Chair Welts closed the public hearing.
After hearing the public testimony, the Commission agreed that they loved the creative spark
of the community and that their mission to address all the needs was far from completion. The
public testimony also solidified that their work has been heading in a positive direction. The
Commission also expressed a desire to discuss non-fiscal priorities and to further impact and
address the crucial community needs.
ACTION: MOTION BY CHAIR WELTS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CREWE, 5-0-2
to approve the recommendation of the funding priorities for the 2020-21 CDBG and GIA grant
cycles to remain unchanged from what was previously adopted described following below, and
to further explore and discuss non-fiscal priorities to address the community needs:
City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle
Minutes
Human Relations Commission Meeting of October 2, 2019
Page 3
Grants in Aid (GIA) 2020-21 Funding Priorities
Main Priority:
•Homeless prevention including affordable and alternative housing, supportive
services, and transitional housing
Other Priorities:
•Hunger and malnutrition support
•Supportive physical and mental health services for those in need
•Services for seniors and/ or people with disabilities in need
•Supportive and developmental services for children and youth in need
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2020-21 Funding Priorities
1. Provide emergency and transitional shelter, homelessness prevention and
services.
2. Develop and enhance affordable housing for low and very-low income
persons.
3.Promote accessibility and/or removal of architectural barriers for the disabled
and elderly.
4. Enhance economic development (including seismic retrofit, economic stability,
low and moderate income jobs).
STAFF & COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS
4. Staff Updates
No updates from staff were presented.
5. Commissioner Updates
Vice Chair Hopkins reminded the Commission to reach to the 2019-20 GIA grant recipients as
assigned liaisons.
Commissioner Crewe announced that the upcoming veteran’s stand down event in Santa Maria
was providing shuttle services for attendees.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Welts adjourned the meeting at 5:46 p.m. The next Regular meeting of the Human Relations
Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing
Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California.
APPROVED BY THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: 12/04/2019