Human Services Commission · Wednesday, November 19, 2025 · City Council Digest

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of October 15, 2025

packet pp.3–4

▶ Watch from 3:46 Open packet at p.3 ↗

Staff report:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) 10-15-25 Human Services Commission Minutes CITY OF ISSAQUAH Human Services Commission 6:30 PM Steelhead Room, 235 1st Ave. October 15, 2025 MINUTES SE, Issaquah

Human Services Emergency One-Time Funding (A)

45 min · Hannah Roberts, Senior Human Services Coordinator · packet pp.5–16

Topics: Public SafetyBudgetEquity

▶ Watch from 3:47 Open packet at p.5 ↗

Staff report:

City staff seeks approval from the Human Services Commission for the

5. REPORTS

Chair and Commissioner Reports

5 min

Topics: Boards & Commissions

Youth Report

5 min · packet pp.17–19

Open packet at p.17 ↗

Staff report:

• November 17, 2025 City Council. City Council will review and vote on the 2025-2026 mid-biennium budget that includes $50,000 additional emergency human services one-time funding. • Mayor’s Non-Profit Organization Funding Impact Meetings o The Mayor has met with Issaquah specific non-profit organization to learn and track federal funding and policy changes impacts to determine the best way the city can support organizations at a state level. Last meeting was on November 6th and the next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 4th. Monthly meetings are anticipated but will adjust as needed. • Opportunity Center: As part of our ongoing commitment to expand access to affordable, community- based services, the City is providing a 10,000 sf space in a new affordable housing development near the Issaquah Transit Center for these services. The City of Issaquah is inviting qualified behavioral health,…

Staff Report

15 min

2641 segments .txt ↗

0:03 ↗ All right, we are good.

0:04 ↗ >> All right. Well, good evening. Uh,

0:06 ↗ today's, uh, Wednesday, November 19th.

0:09 ↗ Uh, we're going to get started here. I

0:10 ↗ have 6:35

0:13 ↗ on our clocks here. Sounds like we do

0:16 ↗ have quorum. Um, we're going to wait on

0:19 ↗ Commissioner Huma.

0:21 ↗ >> Yes, I think she's having some technical

0:22 ↗ issues, so hopefully she'll be able to

0:24 ↗ join us shortly. Other than that, we

0:26 ↗ have everybody accounted for.

0:28 ↗ All right, we're going to move. Oh,

0:30 ↗ >> I also Sorry, I do want to um we do have

0:32 ↗ an additional staff member. I want to

0:33 ↗ say hi to Brenda Parker, our human

0:35 ↗ services manager. So, just want to

0:36 ↗ welcome our manager here for joining us.

0:41 ↗ >> Welcome, Brenda.

0:42 ↗ >> Good evening. Um we're going to go with

0:44 ↗ item number one here, call to order. Um

0:48 ↗ >> we're done.

0:49 ↗ >> Public comment.

0:50 ↗ >> Yeah, public comment.

0:51 ↗ >> Yes. So, I want to welcome Kelly Mud.

0:54 ↗ Thank you so much for joining us here at

0:55 ↗ our human services commission. Um would

0:58 ↗ love for you to um however you're

0:59 ↗ comfortable you can

1:01 ↗ >> stand on the side would love that. Um we

1:04 ↗ love several people here.

1:05 ↗ >> Oh do you wonderful we'd love an

1:06 ↗ introduction and then you feel free to

1:08 ↗ speak your public.

1:09 ↗ >> My name is Kelly W. I'm here as a

1:11 ↗ community member who did applaud the

1:13 ↗ work that you're going to be doing

1:15 ↗ tonight and I'm here also as an equity

1:17 ↗ committee member observing what you're

1:19 ↗ talking about tonight because it's

1:20 ↗ incredibly important for our community.

1:22 ↗ Um

1:24 ↗ what I wanted to say though is as a

1:26 ↗ citizen need to make sure I say that and

1:29 ↗ that is that

1:32 ↗ this city is definitely in the forefront

1:34 ↗ on how to comm to to treat its community

1:37 ↗ members and I think we are remiss if we

1:42 ↗ miss this opportunity for the city and I

1:44 ↗ know it's not your not your work but if

1:48 ↗ this city doesn't start communicating

1:50 ↗ what the community can do to help people

1:54 ↗ who are being chased by ICE that we

1:58 ↗ learn our rights and we learn what we

2:00 ↗ can do to support. You are doing great

2:02 ↗ work here to support actual families who

2:04 ↗ are being you know having difficult

2:08 ↗ times but we need to be doing that. We

2:10 ↗ need all of us to be participating and

2:12 ↗ if the city could do anything to do that

2:14 ↗ it would be good.

2:18 ↗ >> Thank you so much Kelly and thank you

2:19 ↗ again for joining us this evening.

2:26 ↗ Thank you.

2:28 ↗ >> There no other um public comments uh

2:31 ↗ written or in person

2:37 ↗ for joining us.

2:38 ↗ >> Oh, yeah. Sorry I'm late.

2:40 ↗ >> Okay. We thought we were thought we were

2:41 ↗ online for some reason.

2:43 ↗ >> It's an otter that follows me

2:45 ↗ everywhere. So, if you send me an email

2:46 ↗ with a Zoom invite, it will just

2:48 ↗ automatically I'm sorry. I don't know

2:50 ↗ how to turn the AI off.

2:53 ↗ >> We're trying to figure that out.

2:54 ↗ >> I'm so sorry.

2:55 ↗ >> Get a few messages.

2:57 ↗ >> Yeah.

2:58 ↗ >> Um,

3:00 ↗ our next line item is uh approval for

3:04 ↗ minutes for October 15th. We had a few

3:06 ↗ folks come in in terms of uh community

3:08 ↗ organizations from Friends of Youth for

3:10 ↗ Tomorrow, Influence of Choice, uh,

3:13 ↗ Community Cloit. Um, any approval of the

3:17 ↗ minutes? I have one comment on the

3:19 ↗ minutes. Um I think the dates are wrong.

3:21 ↗ It says October 15th and then it says we

3:23 ↗ approved October 15th. Didn't we approve

3:25 ↗ September minutes?

3:27 ↗ >> So that's my only

3:29 ↗ >> good catch.

3:31 ↗ >> Okay.

3:32 ↗ I move

3:35 ↗ >> I second.

3:37 ↗ >> Oh,

3:41 ↗ Mr.

3:43 ↗ >> Okay. And Trish, you motioned. Thank

3:44 ↗ you.

3:46 ↗ and then we will um approve the minutes

3:48 ↗ with the election.

3:50 ↗ >> Thank you.

3:53 ↗ >> That and uh

3:56 ↗ agenda items, human services emergency

3:58 ↗ one time uh presentation

4:01 ↗ uh from

4:03 ↗ >> Yes. Hello commissioners. Um thank you

4:06 ↗ again for your flexibility. As you all

4:08 ↗ may have recalled, this meeting was

4:10 ↗ actually supposed to be a a joint

4:12 ↗ meeting with our equity board for a very

4:15 ↗ different topic in regards to

4:17 ↗ transportation. However, um our

4:19 ↗ transportation um team, they did not

4:21 ↗ have the results that they needed in

4:23 ↗ preparation for that feedback. So, we

4:25 ↗ have future dates. We'll discuss more in

4:27 ↗ details of when we'll be meeting with

4:28 ↗ them. uh which is actually though very

4:31 ↗ timely because we had um kind of a last

4:34 ↗ minute um funding opportunity for human

4:36 ↗ services come up that we really needed

4:38 ↗ to discuss as a human service

4:39 ↗ commission. Um so that's what we are

4:42 ↗ focusing primarily on tonight. So let me

4:45 ↗ get this up.

4:47 ↗ Um so we have human services emergency

4:50 ↗ one-time funding. Um really tonight the

4:52 ↗ purpose is to um come to you

4:55 ↗ commissioners with our um ultimate

4:56 ↗ recommendation

4:58 ↗ um where we would love you uh your

5:00 ↗ approval or um or if you have other

5:04 ↗ recommendations or thoughts we will um

5:06 ↗ move forward with that um to use our

5:08 ↗ one-time emergency funding um

5:11 ↗ specifically for um our contracted human

5:13 ↗ services organizations that are serving

5:16 ↗ our immigrant and refugee and

5:18 ↗ asylumseeking community members. So

5:20 ↗ tonight, um, I intend to really go in

5:23 ↗ the background of why did this come up,

5:25 ↗ how did this come up, um, share with you

5:27 ↗ our staff's review process and what we

5:30 ↗ learned from that. Um, really discuss

5:33 ↗ from everything that we learned, what is

5:35 ↗ our priorities as a city. Um, and that

5:38 ↗ has ultimately led us to our

5:40 ↗ recommendation um, from staff and then

5:42 ↗ really just open it up for discussion.

5:44 ↗ If you have any questions, comments,

5:46 ↗ we'd love to really um have a robust

5:48 ↗ conversation with you all um with the

5:50 ↗ intentions of hopefully taking this as

5:52 ↗ an action item and voting to move

5:54 ↗ forward with our recommendation.

5:59 ↗ So, um, our city mayor has proposed, um,

6:04 ↗ well, now it has actually been

6:05 ↗ officially approved as of November 17th,

6:08 ↗ our city council did approve our 2025

6:11 ↗ 2026 midbian budget adjustments that did

6:14 ↗ include $50,000 for emergency one-time

6:17 ↗ funding for human services ser.

6:23 ↗ Um this is really in response to a few

6:26 ↗ things. Um but really intentionally from

6:29 ↗ um just the federal uh policy changes

6:32 ↗ and funding um changes for our

6:34 ↗ immigration ch um community members. Um

6:39 ↗ we have seen as a community some pretty

6:41 ↗ significant impacts um that I think we

6:44 ↗ have started that conversation here in

6:46 ↗ our commission and and starting to learn

6:48 ↗ and understand it in a broader sense. Um

6:51 ↗ if you recall uh a few months ago now we

6:53 ↗ had Alicia Spinner from the circle um

6:55 ↗ just she intentionally came to share

6:57 ↗ more about what the circle does but it

7:00 ↗ was also during the time where there was

7:01 ↗ a lot of changes quick changes happening

7:04 ↗ um there was ICE a agents in our

7:06 ↗ community and there was a lot of fear um

7:08 ↗ so if you recall that conversation I

7:10 ↗ think that's where we first were

7:11 ↗ introduced to this concern in our

7:13 ↗ community um we also have learned in the

7:16 ↗ last couple of months um of ICE agents

7:18 ↗ in um on the east side area um on

7:21 ↗ detaining. We've also talked to um

7:24 ↗ organizations like the circle who have

7:26 ↗ been working with um immigrants who have

7:29 ↗ been detained.

7:31 ↗ Um, and then more recently, um, if you

7:34 ↗ are aware of the incident that happened

7:35 ↗ in Isiqua, um, it was a very public

7:38 ↗ incident of a a woman being detained at

7:41 ↗ a child care facility, um, that really,

7:44 ↗ uh, concerned our community and was it

7:46 ↗ was really brought to our city

7:47 ↗ leadership as well as our city mayor. Um

7:50 ↗ so in response to all that and

7:52 ↗ understanding the growing need concerns,

7:54 ↗ um our city mayor did respond with u

7:56 ↗ emergency funding of $50,000.

8:01 ↗ So that's what has led us to say, okay,

8:05 ↗ we have potentially some money and

8:07 ↗ funding. How do we best use it? So, as a

8:10 ↗ city, what we did is we quickly did our

8:12 ↗ research uh by talking to our um city

8:15 ↗ partners um who are also using rapid

8:18 ↗ response funding um to serve our

8:20 ↗ immigrant community members. Um so, we

8:23 ↗ learned from them um what their process

8:25 ↗ has looked like and I'll go more detail

8:27 ↗ about that. Uh we also talked to our

8:29 ↗ community partners. So nonprofit

8:30 ↗ organizations, our um other or uh

8:33 ↗ foundations um that we just discussed

8:36 ↗ what's going on in our community, what's

8:38 ↗ going on in our nonprofit organizations,

8:41 ↗ what is the need, what is the gap. Um we

8:43 ↗ also timely we had our quarter 3 reports

8:46 ↗ from our contracted human services

8:48 ↗ grants um submitted u midocctober. So

8:51 ↗ from there we were able to review the

8:53 ↗ narratives, review performances and just

8:55 ↗ see what is going on most currently. Uh

8:58 ↗ we also reviewed our current contract.

9:00 ↗ So we have wonderful partners. Um so we

9:02 ↗ learn more about okay who is working

9:05 ↗ with immigrant community members

9:07 ↗ already? Who is um what type of work is

9:10 ↗ being done? So we looked at that deeper

9:12 ↗ and then we also talked to our city

9:13 ↗ attorney um to understand legally um how

9:18 ↗ can we provide the best support. Um so I

9:21 ↗ did I typically don't um print out the

9:23 ↗ staff memo but you have it here in front

9:24 ↗ of you because I think there is a lot of

9:26 ↗ helpful information a lot of detail um

9:29 ↗ to go into kind of the research that we

9:31 ↗ did. Um but a few I just want to go over

9:34 ↗ quickly that just the the high level

9:36 ↗ highlights that

9:38 ↗ excuse me that really led us to um our

9:41 ↗ ultimate recommendation. Um so city of

9:44 ↗ Kirkland was one of the first east side

9:46 ↗ cities uh to uh request funding um

9:49 ↗ through rapid response funding um to the

9:51 ↗ city council. They had 167,000 to be

9:55 ↗ able to allocate and um they quickly put

9:58 ↗ out an RFP and I think it was open for

10:01 ↗ about a week and in that week they

10:03 ↗ received 24 applications requesting 1.2

10:06 ↗ million. It's quite a bit of money for

10:09 ↗ only 167,000. You guys are very familiar

10:11 ↗ with that type of funding request and

10:13 ↗ not enough money to give out. Um and in

10:16 ↗ that they really um wanted to prioritize

10:19 ↗ making sure that they can spread that

10:21 ↗ money across to uh make sure that all

10:24 ↗ community members were represented that

10:26 ↗ also many services were represented from

10:28 ↗ basic needs to legal services to

10:30 ↗ housing. Um in that they found um six

10:33 ↗ organizations and award funding.

10:36 ↗ Um similarly, city of Redmond um

10:39 ↗ partnered with kind of the city of

10:40 ↗ Kirkland, their human services team, and

10:43 ↗ they use the same RFP um to um put out

10:48 ↗ um um the request for need. Uh they

10:52 ↗ received the exact same amount request

10:54 ↗ and applications. Um they they made

10:56 ↗ their decisions based off of different

10:58 ↗ funding gaps of where Kirkland wasn't

11:00 ↗ able to fund um and to make sure that

11:03 ↗ they were meeting their community needs.

11:06 ↗ So, those were seven organizations that

11:08 ↗ were funded.

11:10 ↗ We also talked to our community members

11:11 ↗ um such as um our northeast funders,

11:14 ↗ other human services staff in our east

11:16 ↗ side area. If you're familiar with

11:18 ↗ Debbie Lacy from East Side for All, had

11:20 ↗ a great conversation with her as well as

11:22 ↗ Alicia Spinner. She's our executive

11:23 ↗ director from the circle to just really

11:26 ↗ understand more so what is the need for

11:28 ↗ our immigration community? What where

11:30 ↗ are the gaps? Um and how can we best use

11:33 ↗ this funding?

11:35 ↗ And a couple things we learned um is

11:37 ↗ that legal services um is one of our

11:40 ↗ highest needs. Um this is anywhere from

11:44 ↗ power of attorneys um working with

11:47 ↗ people who have been detained, working

11:48 ↗ with families with a family member who's

11:50 ↗ been detained. Um in that looking closer

11:54 ↗ at our legal services that we support,

11:57 ↗ we um ELAP we learned is uh no longer

12:00 ↗ able to take um referrals. um they're

12:03 ↗ not providing immigration legal

12:04 ↗ services. Um they do help with um

12:06 ↗ trainings and know your rights, but um

12:09 ↗ that education is funded. Um Northwest

12:12 ↗ Justice Project is another known

12:13 ↗ organization. We don't partner with

12:15 ↗ directly, but um they do great work with

12:17 ↗ our immigration community members. Um

12:20 ↗ they are also at capacity. Um not a huge

12:23 ↗ surprise there. Um

12:28 ↗ um we also did learn um kind of the

12:31 ↗ residual um needs from um being

12:35 ↗ emergency financial assistance, basic

12:37 ↗ needs, rental assistance. Uh we we have

12:40 ↗ great services here at Isqua such as our

12:42 ↗ food bank, um Isqua Community Services

12:45 ↗ for rental assistance, um as well as

12:47 ↗ cultural navigation services.

12:50 ↗ Um we also again I I took a closer look

12:53 ↗ at our contracts um and looked at our

12:55 ↗ organizations that are already working

12:57 ↗ and embedded into um our community. So

13:00 ↗ we have the circle, we have

13:02 ↗ Indian-American community services, um

13:05 ↗ ELAP is our legal services and for

13:07 ↗ tomorrow.

13:08 ↗ And so um in the report you'll see some

13:12 ↗ more just um details from their

13:15 ↗ narratives that were taken or from

13:17 ↗ conversations with their community

13:18 ↗ members. Um this the circle really has

13:21 ↗ been focusing a lot on their legal

13:22 ↗ assistance has been a major need. they

13:25 ↗ um were able to hire recently a

13:27 ↗ communicate uh community navigator um

13:29 ↗ with legal background and she's able to

13:31 ↗ provide it's contracted work for complex

13:34 ↗ uh situations but she has experience

13:36 ↗ with asylum cases and and really can

13:38 ↗ help support. Um one of the things they

13:41 ↗ talked about that they found is that um

13:44 ↗ clients that come in um typically have a

13:46 ↗ lawyer but the lawyers are usually from

13:48 ↗ out of state. So when they come here

13:50 ↗ they don't know Washington law very

13:52 ↗ well. um so they're not very supported

13:55 ↗ um in that process. So having somebody

13:57 ↗ who speaks their language, having

13:59 ↗ somebody who can um really navigate a

14:02 ↗ very complex system um has been

14:06 ↗ significantly helpful. Uh we also

14:08 ↗ learned with the circle that funding for

14:10 ↗ that contracted um legal aid is um

14:13 ↗ ending at the end of the year.

14:15 ↗ ICS is doing wonderful work. Um they are

14:18 ↗ very focused on our South Asian

14:20 ↗ communities. Um they have been really

14:23 ↗ providing um helpful legal clinics. Um

14:26 ↗ they are located at the Together Center

14:28 ↗ in Redmond. Um they've been focused on

14:31 ↗ H-1B visas. Um if familiar with that um

14:35 ↗ that has been a concern in the last

14:37 ↗ couple of months um how policy changes

14:39 ↗ would impact those visas. And so those

14:42 ↗ legal um clinics have been very helpful

14:44 ↗ for those communities. Um for tomorrow

14:46 ↗ we support um them through their

14:48 ↗ organization. support them through

14:50 ↗ rental assistance.

14:52 ↗ Um and they are really supporting kind

14:54 ↗ of those basic needs. Um families who

14:57 ↗ have been left behind um coordinating

15:00 ↗ detention um kind of detention services

15:03 ↗ as that has been pretty complex.

15:07 ↗ Um

15:09 ↗ so um

15:12 ↗ from that

15:14 ↗ we really recognized

15:16 ↗ we have some really great resources and

15:18 ↗ we have also a few gaps. Um so what we

15:21 ↗ wanted to prioritize with $50,000

15:24 ↗ which sounds like a lot in some cases

15:27 ↗ but in other it's not that much. It can

15:30 ↗ go by very quickly. Um, we wanted to

15:32 ↗ also prioritize providing rapid um,

15:35 ↗ response, our our mayor put out that we

15:38 ↗ needed to have this um, funding

15:40 ↗ allocated by the end of the year. So,

15:42 ↗ that's a pretty quick process. Um, so to

15:44 ↗ be the most effective and provide the

15:46 ↗ most support in Isqua, we wanted to

15:48 ↗ provide uh, prioritize a currently um,

15:52 ↗ contracted human service organization.

15:55 ↗ And that's for a couple reasons. one um

15:58 ↗ these organizations have already been

16:00 ↗ vetted by our commission. You have

16:01 ↗ looked at their application in depth.

16:04 ↗ You've looked at their budget. You we

16:05 ↗ monitor their um performance um and uh

16:10 ↗ we know them. So that's a huge um a huge

16:14 ↗ reason. In addition to help with the um

16:17 ↗ effectiveness, we already have their

16:19 ↗ contractor requirements. So we have

16:21 ↗ their insurance, their business license,

16:23 ↗ all those things that takes quite a bit

16:25 ↗ of time and processing to get the

16:28 ↗ contracting in our system. Um, so that

16:30 ↗ will help expedite that process. We also

16:33 ↗ wanted to pri prioritize

16:36 ↗ just like we do with our human services

16:38 ↗ funding, what can we do that's going to

16:40 ↗ make the most impact. How do we move the

16:42 ↗ needle with just a little bit of money?

16:44 ↗ Um and so in that we really just wanted

16:46 ↗ to prioritize what we have heard and

16:49 ↗ found to be the current most urgent need

16:51 ↗ for immigration um communities members

16:54 ↗ which is legal services and legal

16:56 ↗ advocacies.

16:57 ↗ We also wanted to make sure the

16:59 ↗ organization that we wanted to fund had

17:01 ↗ capacity as we keep finding um commonly

17:04 ↗ with our nonprofits the need and request

17:07 ↗ for help is going up while funding and

17:11 ↗ staffing is going down. Um, so that was

17:13 ↗ important. And we also really wanted to

17:15 ↗ have an organization that's already

17:17 ↗ doing the work that we can just kind of

17:19 ↗ elevate and support with this extra

17:21 ↗ funding. Um, we didn't want to invent

17:23 ↗ the wheel again.

17:25 ↗ So, in that I present you our

17:26 ↗ recommendation. Uh, we would like as a

17:29 ↗ city to allocate just the full onetime

17:31 ↗ emergency grant to a single already

17:33 ↗ contracted human services organization.

17:36 ↗ We really would like to focus it on the

17:37 ↗ need that we have heard and seen, which

17:39 ↗ is legal advocacy and assistance. and

17:41 ↗ we'd really like to partner with an

17:43 ↗ organization that we have vetted, worked

17:45 ↗ closely with, and we know is doing

17:47 ↗ incredible work and who has capacity.

17:50 ↗ So, we'd like to consider awarding uh

17:51 ↗ the circle with $50,000

17:54 ↗ um for these services.

17:58 ↗ So, what that would look like moving

18:00 ↗ forward with next steps, uh we already

18:03 ↗ have the first one completed. Uh our

18:04 ↗ city council as of November 17th has

18:07 ↗ approved our midbian budget uh with the

18:10 ↗ additional emergency funding. Um the

18:12 ↗ next step is really here tonight to to

18:14 ↗ discuss commissioners what are your

18:16 ↗ thoughts? What are your concerns? Is

18:19 ↗ this what you see as the best use of

18:20 ↗ this funding? If approved um the next

18:24 ↗ step in the process would be amending

18:26 ↗ the circles uh contract. It's a very

18:28 ↗ simple process. We would add a new scope

18:31 ↗ of work, the award amounts, and we would

18:33 ↗ monitor it as a part of the human

18:36 ↗ services grant and the services would

18:38 ↗ begin as of the first of next year.

18:44 ↗ >> So, commissioners,

18:46 ↗ >> um,

18:46 ↗ >> your time.

18:47 ↗ >> Commissioner Fish, I'm just curious if

18:48 ↗ you have some sense of the circle and

18:52 ↗ this money like do are they going to

18:53 ↗ just are they adding staffing? Are they

18:56 ↗ going to just be able to add hours for

18:58 ↗ existing staff?

18:59 ↗ >> Yeah, great question. So, um, they

19:02 ↗ already have specifically a community

19:04 ↗ navigator with, uh, legal aid assistant

19:07 ↗ background. She's contracted right now

19:09 ↗ at about 10 hours a week. Um, she's

19:12 ↗ because of her experience, she is pretty

19:14 ↗ expensive and as you can imagine, if we

19:17 ↗ went straight to a lawyer, the $50,000

19:19 ↗ would go much faster. Um, those type of

19:21 ↗ services are very expensive. um there

19:25 ↗ this funding would basically allow this

19:27 ↗ specific staff to continue the work for

19:29 ↗ 2026. If they didn't have this funding

19:32 ↗ then they wouldn't have access to the

19:33 ↗ staff anymore or funding for the staff

19:35 ↗ ever. So um so it is already existing

19:40 ↗ staff and already existing programming.

19:44 ↗ >> Can I ask um for the circle we can see

19:47 ↗ here that they've worked in court on

19:49 ↗ more than 700 asylum cases. Do we have

19:51 ↗ any numbers for the others? How many

19:54 ↗ people have been served the other

19:56 ↗ organizations?

19:57 ↗ >> So, it was actually So, this that is

19:59 ↗ specific.

20:00 ↗ >> No, I don't think there's any other

20:02 ↗ numbers. I would have to look at their

20:05 ↗ um their contracts. We actually don't

20:07 ↗ contract specifically with those

20:08 ↗ services, but I have access to review

20:11 ↗ their um invoicing um so I can receive

20:14 ↗ like their narrative. So, I could double

20:16 ↗ check. I wouldn't have unless they're

20:18 ↗ tracking which I don't think they are is

20:20 ↗ numbers because they're not funded by

20:23 ↗ Isabot in that program. Um this

20:26 ↗ individual um this the 700 really is

20:29 ↗ from that individual

20:31 ↗ >> um who has kind of that that background.

20:34 ↗ >> Sure.

20:34 ↗ >> To kind of show like that she has the

20:37 ↗ experience.

20:39 ↗ >> But it's a great question. I would I

20:40 ↗ would have to either ask specifically

20:42 ↗ the organization for those numbers or

20:44 ↗ see if I can find them. I wouldn't know

20:46 ↗ if I could get I wouldn't know if they

20:47 ↗ would have a squash specific.

20:51 ↗ >> I like the fact you did the homework and

20:53 ↗ that um

20:56 ↗ >> we've already been

20:58 ↗ these most of these that you looked at,

21:00 ↗ right? And so we don't have to start

21:02 ↗ scratch and

21:03 ↗ >> and as far as rapid response that it

21:06 ↗ accounts to speed a lot faster than if

21:07 ↗ you started from somebody that was

21:10 ↗ >> um just coming into the program.

21:12 ↗ >> Yeah.

21:13 ↗ >> Yeah. I think that's a great and circle

21:15 ↗ would have been one of the first things

21:16 ↗ that I

21:18 ↗ >> Yes.

21:19 ↗ >> Yeah. Well, thank you for that that

21:20 ↗ input and yes, again, it was this is a

21:24 ↗ um this is not typical. I don't

21:27 ↗ commissioners who've been here for many

21:28 ↗ years, we we don't u we've probably

21:31 ↗ historically in my time in the last 5

21:33 ↗ years once had one-time emergency human

21:36 ↗ services funding for rental assistance.

21:38 ↗ If it if you were all a few of you were

21:41 ↗ part of that where we partnered with our

21:43 ↗ we did this very similar process where

21:45 ↗ we partnered with our rental assistant

21:47 ↗ programs is community services in St.

21:49 ↗ Vincent and Depal and provided them

21:50 ↗ extra rental assistant funding as an

21:53 ↗ emergency onetime funding. So, we went

21:55 ↗ very similarly to this process, but um

21:58 ↗ to me it just it speaks to our

22:00 ↗ leadership's um concern for this topic

22:03 ↗ and this matter and these community

22:04 ↗ members and really wanting to show we

22:07 ↗ care as a city and we want to make an

22:09 ↗ impact where we can.

22:11 ↗ >> So, how did the discussion go um with

22:13 ↗ the staff as far as um splitting that up

22:17 ↗ or just giving it to one was it? Mhm.

22:19 ↗ Yeah, it was um that was a great

22:22 ↗ conversation with our city attorney

22:23 ↗ actually with Brendan and with our

22:25 ↗ director where we discussed um okay,

22:28 ↗ what would it look like if we did divvy

22:30 ↗ it up? Um would it be 10,000? Would it

22:33 ↗ be 25,000? Would that make an impact?

22:35 ↗ And if we're doing legal services, we

22:37 ↗ know uh from, you know, we know legal

22:41 ↗ services are expensive um comparatively

22:44 ↗ to like a case management or food

22:46 ↗ services. Um and so we just uh it

22:49 ↗ ultimate we definitely considered that

22:51 ↗ and we tried to think okay if we could

22:53 ↗ split it up it would mean more um kind

22:57 ↗ of contracting logistic process which is

23:00 ↗ fine but it would also mean potentially

23:04 ↗ less impact with less funding for each

23:06 ↗ and we what I we also did a comparison

23:09 ↗ with the other cities and kind of what

23:12 ↗ their gr grants amount

23:14 ↗ >> and their largest grant was $50,000

23:17 ↗ um for organizations and then if anybody

23:20 ↗ was under 50,000 they matched what they

23:22 ↗ were requesting. So if they requested 10

23:24 ↗ they received $10,000. Um so um but

23:28 ↗ again those services from those other

23:30 ↗ cities varied those some of them were

23:32 ↗ just basic needs some of them were

23:34 ↗ financial aid assistance. Um but we

23:36 ↗ thought okay if we went with rental

23:38 ↗ assistance I mean we know $50,000 can

23:41 ↗ help not not many households right? Um,

23:47 ↗ so that's kind of that conversation

23:49 ↗ or how that

23:51 ↗ >> Well, basically just the same

23:52 ↗ conversation we had when we were doing

23:54 ↗ the bud.

23:55 ↗ >> Yeah.

23:56 ↗ >> Came up with the same idea.

23:57 ↗ >> Yeah.

23:58 ↗ >> More impact would be

24:00 ↗ >> Yeah.

24:01 ↗ >> Based on one spot instead of giving

24:05 ↗ 5,000 here or there, right?

24:07 ↗ >> Yeah.

24:08 ↗ >> Yeah. Exactly. Uh, sorry, Mory. I had a

24:11 ↗ question real quick if that's okay. If I

24:13 ↗ have the question, are you going to have

24:14 ↗ the feedback loop problem?

24:17 ↗ >> No, you're good. It sounds great.

24:19 ↗ >> Okay. Okay. Um, you know, I I really

24:24 ↗ really really believe in what the circle

24:26 ↗ does. Uh, things that the circle does, I

24:29 ↗ go to them. Um, I participate. I try to

24:32 ↗ help. Um, I've actually uh uh my partner

24:37 ↗ Lori has uh got uh Alicia out to uh our

24:42 ↗ church to speak to people to try to

24:46 ↗ widen the um uh uh input that we get

24:50 ↗ from for that group. Um and uh we

24:53 ↗ totally both of us totally believe in in

24:56 ↗ Alicia and what she's doing.

24:59 ↗ My concern with this is uh we have

25:02 ↗ someone um we're going to give $50,000

25:06 ↗ for a one-time thing for someone um who

25:11 ↗ is now doing 10 hours. Um and that's

25:15 ↗ probably not going to go I mean it's not

25:17 ↗ going to double their hours I'm sure um

25:20 ↗ but uh for the year. Um, but um, is that

25:25 ↗ first of all, is that person someone

25:28 ↗ that is, and I'm sure they are knowing

25:30 ↗ Alicia and how she operates, uh, is that

25:34 ↗ person someone who is going to, um, uh,

25:38 ↗ use that money. Well, um I understand

25:41 ↗ that there's the uh Northwest Lutheran

25:44 ↗ lawyer group that that they'll be

25:46 ↗ coordinating through and um and there's

25:49 ↗ some other things I'm sure that uh you

25:51 ↗ don't need a lawyer a lawyer lawyer to

25:53 ↗ do. Um you need you have a maybe a legal

25:56 ↗ aid or whoever it is that is with Alicia

25:59 ↗ there uh can do a lot of the stuff. Um

26:02 ↗ but uh I guess my question is a is that

26:07 ↗ person the the good person for this and

26:10 ↗ b are we giving the circle too much to

26:14 ↗ do and diluting what it is that they are

26:18 ↗ doing for our community as it is. Um I I

26:22 ↗ it's a concern of mine that we uh we we

26:26 ↗ don't want to take a a good a good boat

26:28 ↗ and swamp it. Um, I mean, I I know the

26:32 ↗ need's there and this is probably a

26:34 ↗ great a great deal, but those are just

26:36 ↗ two things that came to mind looking

26:38 ↗ over um your uh your memo that you sent

26:41 ↗ out.

26:44 ↗ >> Have you discussed this with Alicia?

26:46 ↗ >> Yes.

26:47 ↗ >> And is she comfortable that she has the

26:50 ↗ capacity?

26:51 ↗ >> Yes. Yes. because again that was part of

26:53 ↗ our priority wanting to make sure that

26:54 ↗ they had uh staffing for it, had

26:57 ↗ capacity for it and uh yes it has been

27:01 ↗ confirmed they have the staffing for it

27:03 ↗ and um the funding would make a prolong

27:07 ↗ the staff that they currently have for

27:08 ↗ 2026.

27:09 ↗ >> So so she's confident in this person

27:11 ↗ then.

27:12 ↗ >> Yes. Yes. And uh we that was part of our

27:15 ↗ questions too like what are her

27:16 ↗ credentials? What's her background? So

27:18 ↗ got some more details from that. Um,

27:21 ↗ Alicia,

27:22 ↗ >> that goes that goes a long way to

27:23 ↗ allaying my concern.

27:25 ↗ >> Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. No, because it

27:27 ↗ was something that we wanted to make

27:28 ↗ sure um that it wasn't somebody doing

27:32 ↗ who wasn't an attorney who was doing

27:33 ↗ attorney or um that they had the

27:37 ↗ experience and the background um to be

27:39 ↗ able to support this level of work.

27:41 ↗ Alicia really used this community

27:43 ↗ navigator for the very complex because

27:46 ↗ because previously before this hire it

27:49 ↗ was Alicia and she well

27:51 ↗ admit she is no expert in legal matters.

27:54 ↗ she supported um documents the best she

27:57 ↗ could, but that's why she partnered with

27:59 ↗ this uh staff member to be able to do

28:02 ↗ the work that really she doesn't have

28:04 ↗ capacity or the knowhow to do at the

28:07 ↗ level.

28:07 ↗ >> I know that she's I know she's been

28:09 ↗ going down to the Tacoma Center and

28:12 ↗ she's been going to the the um the

28:15 ↗ trials, the u the uh immigration courts

28:18 ↗ to um to be a witness and and I know

28:21 ↗ that, you know, she's got a lot on her

28:23 ↗ plate already. So it it'd be great if

28:25 ↗ there was other people to do that,

28:27 ↗ >> you know.

28:28 ↗ >> Yes. And that has been confirmed. Yeah.

28:30 ↗ Yeah.

28:31 ↗ >> Those are great thoughts. So Mari, thank

28:32 ↗ you for bringing those concerns.

28:34 ↗ >> Yeah. I just wanted to say, I mean,

28:35 ↗ everybody's bringing up really good

28:37 ↗ points and questions.

28:40 ↗ Um, you guys done the leg work. you and

28:42 ↗ Brenda and whoever else, you guys have

28:44 ↗ done the leg work and I really

28:46 ↗ appreciate. I mean, you obviously spent

28:47 ↗ a lot of time coming up with this

28:49 ↗ proposal and you guys are I'm not even

28:53 ↗ sure if if you're asking for our

28:55 ↗ approval or if this is justformational

28:58 ↗ because um I mean I think it's great if

29:01 ↗ this is justformational.

29:03 ↗ Um I think um the circle would be a

29:06 ↗ great place to put the money. Um, for

29:08 ↗ one thing, it's the only local it's the

29:11 ↗ only local place. And you know, some of

29:13 ↗ these immigrants, they don't have

29:14 ↗ transportation to get up to Redmond and

29:17 ↗ wherever else these other places are

29:19 ↗ located. And and it's money from the

29:22 ↗ general budget that we want to spend on

29:25 ↗ our immigrant population here. So, we we

29:29 ↗ want it to be accessible. Yeah. So, I I

29:32 ↗ think giving 50 grand to the circle is

29:35 ↗ perfect.

29:35 ↗ >> Yeah. Yeah. and thank you for doing all

29:37 ↗ the live work.

29:38 ↗ >> Yeah. Yeah. And thank you for your point

29:40 ↗ and yeah, we wanted to come prepared

29:43 ↗ because we know this is a uh it's a

29:47 ↗ sensitive topic and it's a topic we all

29:49 ↗ care about deeply. Um and so we want to

29:51 ↗ make sure that we're we're doing this

29:52 ↗ right. We're serving our community the

29:54 ↗ best way that we can. And and to your

29:56 ↗ point, yes, we are seeking an action and

29:58 ↗ approval. Um Commissioner, I mean, this

30:00 ↗ is a part of your job as human services

30:03 ↗ initiatives, especially when it comes to

30:04 ↗ our funding. that's a part of part of

30:06 ↗ your role um is to help us make this

30:10 ↗ funding decision. Um this is not our

30:12 ↗ typical funding process by all means as

30:14 ↗ this is a rapid response. Um so this is

30:17 ↗ very different than what you will

30:18 ↗ experience in our upcoming application

30:21 ↗ cycle which is much more detailed. Um

30:25 ↗ and you are much more in leadership of

30:27 ↗ that. Um but uh but yes, we

30:32 ↗ with the need with the way that this

30:34 ↗ came about, we felt like it would be

30:36 ↗ best to do the homework, provide the

30:39 ↗ recommendation, and receive your input.

30:42 ↗ >> I'll say something real quick. I think I

30:44 ↗ think that is the reason why we probably

30:45 ↗ should ask for more money. I don't know

30:48 ↗ and I don't know how the 50,000 got I'm

30:50 ↗ thankful for that. But my question is

30:51 ↗ that we do have a vetted partner that's

30:53 ↗ been here spoke to our work around the

30:56 ↗ the importance around immigration

30:58 ↗ coordination and so forth. I would

31:01 ↗ actually make the argument we probably

31:02 ↗ should ask for more money. You have

31:04 ↗ Kirkland for 167

31:06 ↗ >> Redman 250 and if you really want to put

31:11 ↗ um safety within our communities I think

31:13 ↗ that starts with that. I think that's

31:14 ↗ the investment. you know, we're living

31:16 ↗ in some some tough times

31:18 ↗ >> and and that is maybe my, as we say in

31:20 ↗ my in my job, my wondering around why

31:24 ↗ how that came out around the 50,000

31:26 ↗ versus these other cities. They're all

31:28 ↗ within our region around Northeast

31:30 ↗ Founders.

31:31 ↗ >> Yeah. Yeah,

31:31 ↗ >> they're all trying to do their best in

31:32 ↗ terms of helping families and and we

31:35 ↗ have a an agency, a community pillar to

31:39 ↗ our work that's been doing this work in

31:42 ↗ terms of trustworthy uh the the

31:44 ↗ accountability uh the the the helping

31:47 ↗ our uh in cultural fest couple of time

31:50 ↗ here uh the other mas

31:53 ↗ um I'd probably make the argument why we

31:54 ↗ should give more money or try to find

31:56 ↗ ways to invest that just because they

31:59 ↗ have done the work here for many years

32:02 ↗ around our immigrant uh community.

32:07 ↗ >> I guess no, I was going to say it kind

32:08 ↗ of supports um your point of how far is

32:12 ↗ the 50,000 really going to go. I don't

32:14 ↗ know if that's one of the

32:15 ↗ >> it seems like a drop in the bucket.

32:17 ↗ >> Yeah. Over with the circle and see like

32:19 ↗ I obviously haven't I've actually

32:22 ↗ haven't been here like I wasn't here

32:23 ↗ when you guys originally met with the

32:25 ↗ circle. Um, and I don't know, Alicia,

32:27 ↗ but I've heard the circle come up pretty

32:29 ↗ often. Um, so I guess I'm curious one,

32:33 ↗ like, do they have other staff besides

32:34 ↗ Alicia that also support these services

32:37 ↗ in a non-legal capacity that that 50,000

32:41 ↗ will go towards supporting? Um, and also

32:43 ↗ this person that's providing like the 10

32:45 ↗ hours a week, that doesn't seem like a

32:47 ↗ lot.

32:48 ↗ >> Um, especially when you're hearing that

32:50 ↗ other organizations are already at max

32:52 ↗ capacity. So, how soon until the circle

32:54 ↗ sees that like, hey, we're, you know, at

32:56 ↗ 80%. Like, yes, we have capacity, but

32:59 ↗ only for a little bit longer.

33:00 ↗ >> Um, and then to add to that, like I

33:03 ↗ guess the final point is like how you're

33:06 ↗ saying like the 50,000 will support this

33:08 ↗ community staff, community navigator

33:10 ↗ staff through 2026, but is that the

33:13 ↗ whole year? Is it just like couple

33:15 ↗ months?

33:16 ↗ >> Um, is it based on need? And how are

33:19 ↗ they looking into meeting that need, I

33:21 ↗ guess?

33:21 ↗ >> Yeah. Great questions. That will be a

33:23 ↗ part of the amendment process where we

33:25 ↗ just like I do with our human services

33:27 ↗ contracts. Um you see what the

33:30 ↗ application is of okay the service that

33:32 ↗ a human services organization is saying

33:34 ↗ we are going to do provide this service.

33:37 ↗ Um and and so we have a very broad

33:41 ↗ service of legal advocacy. Um Alicia and

33:44 ↗ I part of our next steps when it uh when

33:46 ↗ we meet will be um amending the contract

33:49 ↗ so that way we have a very specific

33:51 ↗ scope. So part of that scope looks like

33:54 ↗ the detailed work that's being

33:56 ↗ completed. Um the number of units um so

33:59 ↗ we can measure it um in hours, we can

34:03 ↗ measure it in um

34:06 ↗ >> case load.

34:06 ↗ >> Case load. Yeah. So there's different

34:08 ↗ ways we can do it. And then we of course

34:10 ↗ also set a goal for um how many

34:13 ↗ residents that this funding will serve.

34:15 ↗ Um so so that's part of so I don't have

34:18 ↗ those details. That's part of the next

34:20 ↗ step is is really understanding that and

34:23 ↗ I think that would probably be really

34:24 ↗ help kind of the question of okay what

34:26 ↗ is 50,000 going to do for legal services

34:30 ↗ at the circle? Um how long will this

34:32 ↗ last? Will it be the entire year? Will

34:34 ↗ it be six months? Um that will be what

34:38 ↗ I'll find out in that next step

34:40 ↗ conversation. Um and then and then maybe

34:43 ↗ that is looking at um looking at what

34:47 ↗ does requesting additional funding look

34:50 ↗ like. Um the challenge will be uh some

34:54 ↗ of our our timing, but it doesn't mean

34:55 ↗ that we can't consider that as a as a

34:58 ↗ potential next step as a commission and

35:00 ↗ see what that brings us.

35:02 ↗ >> Uh

35:03 ↗ >> yeah,

35:04 ↗ >> sorry. couple. Yeah, we'll let Moore go

35:06 ↗ first.

35:07 ↗ >> Um, how much of the Kirkland money and

35:11 ↗ the Redmond money is going to the

35:14 ↗ circle? Is there any? Um, it is a

35:16 ↗ regional I mean, they're right here in

35:18 ↗ our in our community and they do help

35:20 ↗ our community, but they also help people

35:23 ↗ that are in those communities.

35:26 ↗ >> Yes.

35:26 ↗ >> Are is any money from those those is is

35:30 ↗ there any monies from those communities

35:31 ↗ going to the circle? Uh great question.

35:34 ↗ So for city of Kirkland, no. Uh they

35:36 ↗ decided not to fund uh the circle. For

35:39 ↗ city of Redmond, um they came in to kind

35:41 ↗ of help some of the gaps of uh Kirkland

35:44 ↗ funding and they recognized the circle

35:47 ↗ as an organization to fund and I believe

35:50 ↗ they were awarded 25,000 to serve

35:53 ↗ Redmond residents. Um I

35:57 ↗ um and I think that is for legal

36:00 ↗ services as well. Um but again that will

36:03 ↗ be for that's specifically for Redmond

36:05 ↗ residents like our funding would go

36:07 ↗ specifically to Isqua residents.

36:09 ↗ >> Absolutely.

36:10 ↗ >> Yeah.

36:12 ↗ >> And then

36:13 ↗ >> well I just want to point out Redmond is

36:16 ↗ over twice as big as Isiqua and uh

36:21 ↗ Kirkland is more than twice as big. So,

36:24 ↗ not that we can make generalities,

36:27 ↗ you know, I can't assume that, well,

36:29 ↗ that must mean that there's twice as

36:30 ↗ many immigrants. You can't make that

36:32 ↗ generality, but just keep in mind that

36:35 ↗ we are a smaller city.

36:37 ↗ >> Yeah, we are a smaller city

36:38 ↗ >> and our budget is different,

36:40 ↗ >> right? And if we were to ask for more

36:42 ↗ money, it would have to go before

36:44 ↗ council, right?

36:44 ↗ >> Absolutely. Yeah, it would be quite a

36:46 ↗ process for the commission to go through

36:48 ↗ that. Um, city of Kirkland, sorry. Yeah.

36:52 ↗ City of Kirkland Commission started that

36:54 ↗ and and went to their council

36:56 ↗ requesting. Um so that's that's actually

36:59 ↗ how we received um rental assistance uh

37:02 ↗ funding back in 202122

37:06 ↗ um is that our commission went to uh

37:09 ↗ council requesting for that.

37:10 ↗ >> Yeah.

37:11 ↗ >> So that would be the process.

37:13 ↗ >> Okay. Two things. Um so

37:16 ↗ requesting more funds would go to the

37:18 ↗ council which would negate the rapid

37:20 ↗ response. Yeah, correct.

37:22 ↗ >> Okay. Um and secondly, I see that um all

37:27 ↗ these organizations have capacity. Is

37:31 ↗ that yes, they're full or yes, they have

37:36 ↗ >> chart capability of more.

37:38 ↗ >> Um yes, they have capacity.

37:41 ↗ >> They have

37:44 ↗ not the circle.

37:47 ↗ >> Um they Yes. Capacity capacity.

37:50 ↗ >> Sorry. capac the the question the this

37:52 ↗ column basically means do they have

37:54 ↗ capacity to do additional work the

37:58 ↗ circle yes and then IS for tomorrow yes

38:02 ↗ but we do need to have a further

38:04 ↗ conversation I would need to get more

38:05 ↗ details from them and then elap we no

38:08 ↗ they do not receive referrals

38:11 ↗ >> okay and um they have capacity because

38:14 ↗ of the funding funds coming in

38:17 ↗ >> yeah exactly

38:20 ↗ this one.

38:22 ↗ >> Yeah, good question.

38:22 ↗ >> I get it.

38:24 ↗ >> And um Oh, sorry.

38:25 ↗ >> Sorry. JD had something. Go ahead.

38:27 ↗ >> How do we get educated on these

38:29 ↗ incidences that happen? Are we getting

38:32 ↗ that to the police departments

38:35 ↗ >> so we know specifically when, where, how

38:38 ↗ these these occurrences are happenings

38:40 ↗ or

38:42 ↗ >> I um

38:45 ↗ people talk, right? People talk. um

38:47 ↗ there's not a very streamlined

38:50 ↗ um dedicated professional way that it's

38:52 ↗ being communicated. A lot of it is found

38:55 ↗ out in the news. Um we share it in our

38:57 ↗ northeast funders like other

38:58 ↗ municipalities. We share information. Um

39:01 ↗ we have a lot of um nonprofit connects.

39:03 ↗ So um you Alicia from the circle also

39:07 ↗ been very good about sharing stories or

39:10 ↗ um kind of specific um households who

39:13 ↗ have been impacted. uh we receive

39:15 ↗ information from our quarterly reports.

39:17 ↗ So, it's a little bit of everything, but

39:18 ↗ nothing streamlined. Um but these are

39:21 ↗ kind of part of that's kind of part of

39:23 ↗ our our job is to like understand and

39:25 ↗ know what's going um ground what's going

39:28 ↗ on the ground level, kind of pull in all

39:30 ↗ the pieces so we can pro provide a

39:32 ↗ narrative to our city leadership and

39:34 ↗ say, "Hey, this is what's going on.

39:36 ↗ We've heard x amount of incidences

39:39 ↗ um and this is why it's a concern and

39:41 ↗ why it should be a concern to our city."

39:43 ↗ If you sign up for um council member

39:45 ↗ Sarah Perry's website or Facebook or I

39:48 ↗ don't know are you familiar with Sarah?

39:51 ↗ >> Yeah.

39:52 ↗ >> Yeah. And she

39:54 ↗ >> um but she reports out on her social

39:56 ↗ media.

39:56 ↗ >> That's good to know.

39:57 ↗ >> Okay. Interesting.

39:58 ↗ >> Yeah.

40:00 ↗ >> Katie, sorry you were um you were next.

40:03 ↗ Um,

40:05 ↗ oh, I actually don't know this, but does

40:08 ↗ the city of Seamish have any funding

40:11 ↗ that they could like we could also

40:13 ↗ partner since I feel like we're way

40:14 ↗ closer than like Redmond's and like

40:17 ↗ residents of Seamish were probably going

40:19 ↗ to be like Seamishes as well.

40:21 ↗ >> Yeah.

40:22 ↗ >> Yeah.

40:22 ↗ >> No, it's a great thought and we have

40:24 ↗ talked Northeast Funders including

40:26 ↗ Kirkland, Renman, Belleview, Seamish. We

40:29 ↗ have discussed potentially like funding

40:31 ↗ for human services needs like such as

40:34 ↗ immigration or basic needs. Um, city of

40:37 ↗ Seamish actually has way less funding

40:40 ↗ than Isiqua. Um, their human service,

40:42 ↗ they are the smallest city with the

40:44 ↗ least amount of human services grants

40:46 ↗ funding. Um, and they don't even have a

40:48 ↗ full-time human service staff, which

40:50 ↗ many other cities have at least four.

40:53 ↗ So, yeah. So, um certainly something to

40:57 ↗ consider with we can talk talk but um um

41:02 ↗ I don't think there's funding or

41:03 ↗ interest from from current

41:06 ↗ conversations.

41:07 ↗ >> Okay. But worth asking.

41:09 ↗ >> Okay. Yeah, it's a good thought.

41:11 ↗ >> And then another question just to get

41:13 ↗ back to the circle. Do we know if they

41:15 ↗ are supporting any specific group in

41:19 ↗ terms of like for example for tomorrow

41:22 ↗ they've kind of talked about like once

41:25 ↗ detention occurs um is the circle

41:28 ↗ providing services and like support

41:30 ↗ across all range or is it only like

41:33 ↗ prior to

41:35 ↗ any separation or detention or is it

41:38 ↗ more like just know your rights I guess.

41:41 ↗ >> Yeah. Um it has been a spectrum. Um from

41:46 ↗ what I have seen and talked to and seen

41:49 ↗ in their reports, it's a little more it

41:51 ↗ it's much more detailed than just know

41:54 ↗ your rights education. Um they are

41:56 ↗ working very closely like in household

41:58 ↗ with families. They're working with the

42:00 ↗ um family members um who have been left

42:03 ↗ behind um and meeting with them weekly

42:07 ↗ um providing funding and financial aid

42:09 ↗ for for those individuals or helping out

42:11 ↗ with groceries. Um so

42:15 ↗ um but in their other services they they

42:18 ↗ have done like power of attorney and

42:20 ↗ preparation if anything was to happen.

42:22 ↗ um they have done uh working with people

42:25 ↗ for who are seeking asylum and helping

42:27 ↗ them through that process and then they

42:30 ↗ are of course helping them people in

42:32 ↗ who've been detained um who because when

42:35 ↗ you're in the detention center you still

42:37 ↗ have to pay for your food and those need

42:39 ↗ so they're helping them there and then

42:40 ↗ helping helping with the family members

42:43 ↗ who are also left and and honestly just

42:45 ↗ people who are scared they get a lot of

42:48 ↗ phone calls they people don't leave

42:50 ↗ their homes anymore they don't want want

42:52 ↗ to walk their children to school. Um so

42:54 ↗ they are supporting you know families

42:57 ↗ also kind of socially as well in that

43:00 ↗ kind of capacity.

43:01 ↗ >> So um yeah so it's it's a spectrum I

43:04 ↗ guess.

43:08 ↗ >> I I just just key on to something you

43:10 ↗ just said is that when they're in

43:12 ↗ detention they have to pay for their own

43:13 ↗ food.

43:13 ↗ >> Yeah.

43:14 ↗ >> And how are they supposed to do that?

43:18 ↗ I don't know those details but yeah it's

43:21 ↗ um it's pretty gnarly system.

43:24 ↗ Yeah. So that's why the circle has

43:27 ↗ provided we'll give I think they have

43:30 ↗ usually family members put money in an

43:32 ↗ allowance kind of like a bank account

43:34 ↗ that they can use and they can buy like

43:36 ↗ deodorant or shampoos.

43:38 ↗ >> Alicia said that the circle puts in

43:40 ↗ $100.

43:41 ↗ >> Yeah.

43:42 ↗ >> A week.

43:45 ↗ a week I think or I have notes somewhere

43:48 ↗ >> a week or a month must be a week for

43:52 ↗ everybody that's in the detention center

43:54 ↗ that's you know in our area

43:56 ↗ >> you don't have numbers on that right now

43:59 ↗ >> um I don't I'm trying to think

44:03 ↗ I I don't I think it's I don't know um

44:06 ↗ Alicia I think might be working last I

44:08 ↗ heard I think there was four or five

44:10 ↗ individuals in in the detention center

44:13 ↗ but Um, that's just off memory. I don't

44:16 ↗ know Kurt.

44:26 ↗ >> Really great conversation. Um,

44:28 ↗ >> I have one more thing, Anna.

44:30 ↗ >> Please, Mory. Oh, sorry. I didn't see

44:31 ↗ your hand. Please.

44:33 ↗ Um, I'm wondering,

44:36 ↗ uh, I I like Haime's point of, you know,

44:39 ↗ this 50,000 isn't really,

44:44 ↗ is that the limit? And is there a way we

44:47 ↗ could say yes to the 50,000 now and

44:50 ↗ maybe work to get more money later so

44:52 ↗ that we don't have to go through, we

44:54 ↗ don't have to make it stop the rapid

44:56 ↗ response. we can get the rapid response

44:58 ↗ happening and then started an initiative

45:01 ↗ to perhaps uh get more money later.

45:05 ↗ >> I think that would be the solution, my

45:07 ↗ um so we can move forward with 50,000

45:10 ↗ because that has as of November 17th

45:12 ↗ been approved. Um any other funding uh

45:16 ↗ will be amendments to that um approval

45:19 ↗ um that will take time getting to on the

45:22 ↗ council calendar um and conversations to

45:26 ↗ happen. It could require multiple

45:28 ↗ council uh meetings um to to be able to

45:32 ↗ do that and and a lot of preparation on

45:34 ↗ our end to be able to provide that

45:36 ↗ argument. I think the best way to go

45:39 ↗ about it if we want to move forward with

45:41 ↗ something like that would be to um you

45:44 ↗ know to accept the $50,000

45:47 ↗ um and to monitor it closely to see what

45:50 ↗ the impact is. Work with the circle to

45:52 ↗ see how far does 50,000 go and really

45:54 ↗ what is the need and how much. I think

45:56 ↗ we're going to have um kind of a

45:58 ↗ magnifying glass on this for a while

46:00 ↗ because this is extra funding going to

46:02 ↗ human services. Um, so I think in that

46:04 ↗ we're going to learn a lot more

46:06 ↗ information that will help build a

46:08 ↗ stronger case for more funding. I think

46:12 ↗ um what would be the most natural way of

46:15 ↗ asking for additional funding is in the

46:17 ↗ 2027 2028 budget um because that is our

46:20 ↗ next um application cycle. So you will

46:23 ↗ be learning more about this um in the

46:25 ↗ coming months. But for our human

46:27 ↗ services grants, we um the dollar amount

46:30 ↗ is based off of a formula that um looks

46:34 ↗ at uh CPI. Um so the basically our

46:38 ↗ population index, it looks at um

46:40 ↗ inflation and um and it basically from

46:44 ↗ there kind of increases our funding

46:46 ↗ amount for each each year.

46:50 ↗ Um, so we have currently 667

46:54 ↗ some odd dollars annually for 2025 2026.

46:59 ↗ Um, that is an increase from $612,000

47:03 ↗ from the previous cycle. So we can

47:05 ↗ anticipate an increase. Um, but one

47:08 ↗ thing that we can also consider doing is

47:11 ↗ talking to our city leadership and city

47:12 ↗ council for additional human services

47:15 ↗ funding um, in that. So, um I think that

47:19 ↗ would be the most realistic timing to

47:21 ↗ ask for additional human services

47:23 ↗ funding, whether that's for a specific

47:25 ↗ or for more human services.

47:28 ↗ Um and so that's something that we can

47:30 ↗ continue to discuss as a commission to

47:32 ↗ figure out what that need is um and what

47:36 ↗ our dollar amounts that we're looking

47:37 ↗ for for the next cycle. Um but we can

47:40 ↗ decide that. Thank you, Kelly. Take

47:42 ↗ care.

47:44 ↗ Uh, with that in mind, Hannah, I I I

47:47 ↗ would like to move that we approve the

47:50 ↗ $50,000

47:51 ↗ uh going to the circle uh in a rapid

47:54 ↗ response fund.

47:56 ↗ >> Second.

47:59 ↗ >> Right. Thank you for your vote. So, we

48:01 ↗ have Ed um my who is motioning movement.

48:05 ↗ Trish, thank you so much for seconding.

48:07 ↗ And then we need all in favor

48:10 ↗ >> say I raise your hand.

48:13 ↗ Okay. No opposition.

48:16 ↗ Okay. Wonderful.

48:19 ↗ Well, thank you all. I know this is a a

48:21 ↗ tough conversation. It's funding um

48:23 ↗ funding's always it's always hard. Um

48:26 ↗ there's never enough money and the need

48:27 ↗ is always there um and pressing and so

48:30 ↗ I'm thankful for you all for very

48:32 ↗ intentional conversation. Um my next

48:35 ↗ steps will be to contact Alicia from the

48:37 ↗ circle to let her know um that we are

48:39 ↗ going to take actions to amend amend the

48:42 ↗ contract. So it reflects this funding

48:44 ↗ and the dollar amount. Um and then I

48:47 ↗ will provide updates for you all of of

48:49 ↗ how what that scope specifically looks

48:51 ↗ like and um how services are looking and

48:53 ↗ what additional conversations come from

48:55 ↗ there.

48:56 ↗ >> Um it is interesting. We did um allocate

48:59 ↗ what 47 something for originally

49:02 ↗ >> 42.

49:03 ↗ >> Oh we had 42,000 um for cultural

49:05 ↗ navigation services.

49:07 ↗ >> Yeah. Mhm.

49:08 ↗ >> So

49:10 ↗ in this day and time, I think it's well

49:12 ↗ spent.

49:13 ↗ >> So she's getting 92 then next year.

49:16 ↗ >> Yes. For 2026, correct? Yeah. Which is

49:20 ↗ the largest that I've ever seen an

49:22 ↗ organization from City of Biqua Human

49:24 ↗ Services. So that's that's

49:26 ↗ >> the need's big

49:27 ↗ >> need is big. Exactly.

49:32 ↗ >> Well, thank you all. That was a very

49:34 ↗ good conversation.

49:36 ↗ My last comment here is um

49:40 ↗ we we have our human services strategic

49:43 ↗ plan and I'm I'm looking at it right

49:45 ↗ now.

49:46 ↗ >> Um and one of them is cultural specific

49:48 ↗ services and I think that's the the

49:51 ↗ focus of today is how do we continue you

49:54 ↗ know not just write plans out but

49:56 ↗ actually implement and make the biggest

49:58 ↗ impact

49:59 ↗ >> uh that we can. So I just wanted to make

50:02 ↗ that on record.

50:03 ↗ >> Yeah. Thank you for bringing up our

50:05 ↗ strategic plan. It really does guide a

50:07 ↗ lot of our funding decisions. Um I will

50:10 ↗ say at this point that feels outdated.

50:13 ↗ Um our cultural specific um services are

50:15 ↗ still there, but I think it needs to be

50:17 ↗ interpreted a bit differently with the

50:20 ↗ times that that we're seeing today

50:21 ↗ versus in 2021 when that was created. Um

50:25 ↗ still important, but uh

50:29 ↗ expect um more important in a lot of

50:31 ↗ ways.

50:34 ↗ Um, I had two additional comments. So, I

50:37 ↗ feel like just in talking with different

50:39 ↗ people in the community, one thing that

50:41 ↗ I keep hearing is like, well, what is

50:42 ↗ actually happening?

50:44 ↗ >> And I don't know if maybe like one um if

50:49 ↗ there would be a way to put some sort of

50:50 ↗ like

50:52 ↗ like numbers on

50:56 ↗ like the specific services needs. So

50:59 ↗ whether it's like people that have

51:02 ↗ documents but have like laughs like

51:04 ↗ visas or people that are trying to get

51:07 ↗ their doc like that are just

51:08 ↗ undocumented. Um is it like separation?

51:12 ↗ Is it families? Um is it individuals?

51:16 ↗ um are like in what step kind of like of

51:19 ↗ the legal process are they just to like

51:22 ↗ as a city to say like hey we are

51:24 ↗ supporting these services and

51:26 ↗ >> this way

51:26 ↗ >> in this way and here's the broad range

51:29 ↗ of people that are in need. It's not

51:31 ↗ just like I feel like sometimes

51:33 ↗ especially with the news people usually

51:34 ↗ just say like oh it's undocumented

51:36 ↗ people they're just here trying to take

51:38 ↗ our jobs and it's like no like there's

51:40 ↗ >> it's way more complex than that. Um,

51:43 ↗ we've heard a lot of people in other

51:45 ↗ states that are going to the court

51:47 ↗ system and for their um, process and

51:51 ↗ that's where they're getting stopped

51:52 ↗ even though they're following exactly

51:54 ↗ what they're supposed to be following.

51:56 ↗ >> Um, so I don't know if there's any sort

51:57 ↗ of stats. I know it's it's really weird

52:00 ↗ to talk about people in the sense of

52:02 ↗ stats, but I think it could help the

52:04 ↗ communication and then just to raise

52:06 ↗ awareness um kind of like Kelly

52:09 ↗ >> was u mentioning and it's a simpler way

52:12 ↗ for others that maybe are not involved

52:15 ↗ in the space as much to be able to

52:16 ↗ process it as well and be able to say

52:18 ↗ like oh actually the need is bigger than

52:21 ↗ I realized you know. Um, so that's one

52:25 ↗ thing. And then

52:27 ↗ >> the second thing is really more of a

52:28 ↗ resource for people that are in this

52:30 ↗ situation. So I know that there was the

52:33 ↗ email that went out from the city of

52:34 ↗ Isiqua of like here's a link uh with a

52:36 ↗ list of resources. Um, and then as I was

52:39 ↗ reading through this, I saw like there's

52:41 ↗ some days that are providing like who

52:45 ↗ was it?

52:48 ↗ like there's like different days that

52:49 ↗ they're offering weekly, virtual, or in

52:51 ↗ person, three-hour cultural um help

52:54 ↗ desks. So, I don't know if there's like

52:56 ↗ a one pager. I feel like it might be a

52:58 ↗ lot more uh helpful for people in the

53:01 ↗ situations to see like, right, if you

53:03 ↗ send them a link and they're already in

53:04 ↗ crisis and there's

53:06 ↗ >> 10 other links inside that web page,

53:08 ↗ they're not going to know where to

53:09 ↗ start, right? Or they may call someone,

53:11 ↗ they might say, "Sorry, we're out of

53:12 ↗ capacity." So maybe creating one sort of

53:15 ↗ one pager that says like hey sorry what

53:18 ↗ is this organization

53:20 ↗ um

53:21 ↗ IAS we'll hold weekly three-hour

53:25 ↗ sessions at this location on this day

53:28 ↗ from this hour to this hour and then

53:29 ↗ this other organization supports

53:32 ↗ >> um I think for tomorrow was doing

53:33 ↗ something similar and so it's like what

53:36 ↗ day what time yeah

53:37 ↗ >> what's the location

53:39 ↗ >> um and it's all the different

53:41 ↗ organizations that are doing some sort

53:43 ↗ of work in this area.

53:44 ↗ >> Yeah.

53:45 ↗ >> And then that can just be like for

53:46 ↗ additional details maybe scan this QR

53:48 ↗ code but at least in a one pager that

53:50 ↗ just has this organization these days

53:52 ↗ these hours here

53:53 ↗ >> this organization these days these hours

53:55 ↗ here as something that can be more

53:58 ↗ >> um just impactful for when people are

54:02 ↗ looking for where to go.

54:03 ↗ >> Yeah. Um, and yeah, and then in addition

54:06 ↗ to that, I saw on the uh resources page

54:09 ↗ in in Isiqua, ELAP was there.

54:12 ↗ >> Um, and I think it said something about

54:15 ↗ like being able to provide legal

54:16 ↗ services,

54:17 ↗ >> but then I know that um we mentioned

54:20 ↗ here that they don't they're at capacity

54:22 ↗ and they don't have that. So, it's kind

54:23 ↗ of like

54:24 ↗ >> right

54:25 ↗ >> one of those that's hard to keep on

54:26 ↗ there. Like, do you keep it, do you not?

54:28 ↗ Um, but just something that I I flagged

54:30 ↗ cuz I'm like imagine you're calling

54:32 ↗ through all these different services and

54:33 ↗ they're like, "Nope, we're at capacity."

54:35 ↗ And it's like, okay, one more that

54:37 ↗ >> kind of feels like shutting you down.

54:39 ↗ >> Yeah.

54:40 ↗ >> So,

54:40 ↗ >> really good points. I love your because

54:43 ↗ I do think that's a common question of

54:45 ↗ like, well, like

54:46 ↗ >> what is actually going on? Like what is

54:48 ↗ the actual concern? And I think that

54:50 ↗ will help guide maybe the um scope

54:52 ↗ creating with the circle. So, they can

54:54 ↗ help us kind of gather the data. That's

54:57 ↗ really hard to gather, but they could

54:58 ↗ provide some broad numbers for that. And

55:01 ↗ that would I think help with kind of

55:03 ↗ additional funding requests or just

55:04 ↗ again that um narrative that to help

55:08 ↗ >> yeah show their impact like it's it's

55:10 ↗ hard but

55:11 ↗ >> to put numbers together especially when

55:13 ↗ you're talking about people. But I think

55:14 ↗ it it goes a long way towards showing

55:16 ↗ the impact and maybe even

55:18 ↗ >> getting access to additional funding

55:19 ↗ leading.

55:20 ↗ >> Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. And then I love

55:22 ↗ your idea for as a one pager. We have I

55:25 ↗ brought these just cuz I just wanted to

55:26 ↗ show you the kind of what we have. So

55:28 ↗ these are kind of um resource cards for

55:30 ↗ people who are in crisis just on the

55:32 ↗ streets or just need immediate services.

55:35 ↗ And so it has the shelter information or

55:37 ↗ safe parking information on the back. It

55:39 ↗ has um kind of 247 kind of phone numbers

55:43 ↗ for people in crisis or clinics in the

55:45 ↗ area. Um and then basic means with that

55:47 ↗ QR code for additional services. So when

55:50 ↗ you were saying that I'm like, "Oh, we

55:51 ↗ have that for people in crisis." It

55:54 ↗ would be great to have create something

55:57 ↗ similar concept. Yeah.

55:59 ↗ >> Um kind of for like know your rights on

56:01 ↗ one side of the page resources on the

56:03 ↗ back saying um kind of the the base that

56:06 ↗ we know are

56:08 ↗ >> is specific services vetted and we know

56:11 ↗ they have capacity um with the QR code.

56:13 ↗ I love that idea.

56:16 ↗ >> I piggyback off James um about the

56:19 ↗ stats. I think also you add in how many

56:22 ↗ children are being helped as that's

56:24 ↗ always

56:25 ↗ >> that's a powerful statement

56:28 ↗ >> and also I realize that um sometimes

56:32 ↗ information is purposely um vague

56:36 ↗ >> so that

56:38 ↗ >> protect people

56:39 ↗ >> the ice doesn't um

56:41 ↗ >> get a hold of it

56:42 ↗ >> right so I think you have to be real

56:44 ↗ careful of

56:45 ↗ >> that's true absolutely and I I agree to

56:48 ↗ that but I think to the extent And of I

56:50 ↗ probably spent over 20 minutes um just

56:53 ↗ at work today trying to find like

56:55 ↗ something concrete and that was a little

56:57 ↗ bit challenging to

56:59 ↗ >> um and I was just sitting at my desk had

57:02 ↗ nothing to do and I was like okay let me

57:04 ↗ kind of click through the links and see

57:06 ↗ what I can find and then

57:08 ↗ >> um it was interesting to me like I feel

57:09 ↗ like I got more concrete information

57:11 ↗ obviously from a staff report that to

57:13 ↗ your point it's more detailed and it's a

57:15 ↗ safe area to share information but I

57:18 ↗ don't know if there's anything like that

57:19 ↗ created

57:21 ↗ >> um for for people that actually need it.

57:24 ↗ Um

57:28 ↗ >> yeah, no, I think I think that's a

57:29 ↗ really good point and something that we

57:31 ↗ can improve as a

57:33 ↗ >> Yeah. And I mean obviously maybe it's

57:35 ↗ not shared publicly, but maybe it's

57:36 ↗ something that the circle has and then

57:38 ↗ can share it with other families at or

57:40 ↗ even within like schools. Um

57:44 ↗ >> yeah,

57:45 ↗ >> but I think that's really um

57:48 ↗ >> that is our job is kind of creating the

57:50 ↗ pulling together these these detailed

57:52 ↗ narratives and stories and being able to

57:55 ↗ put it at as a highlevel statement

57:57 ↗ impactful statement for our city

57:59 ↗ leadership and basically try in that

58:01 ↗ statement saying this is why you should

58:03 ↗ care and this is the problem. Yeah. And

58:05 ↗ so that's that's what we get to work and

58:07 ↗ do with stad. So, um, Preston's still

58:09 ↗ on.

58:10 ↗ >> Preston?

58:12 ↗ Yes.

58:12 ↗ >> Yeah, I'm still on.

58:14 ↗ >> Has he heard anything

58:16 ↗ from the, um, deans or anything that's

58:19 ↗ happening in

58:20 ↗ >> Yeah.

58:21 ↗ >> anything from your peers or for your

58:23 ↗ from your community, Preston, in on this

58:25 ↗ topic?

58:27 ↗ >> Oh, yeah. when we um I know that at

58:30 ↗ least there was a lot of social media

58:32 ↗ presence um during the with information

58:36 ↗ about the

58:38 ↗ ICE incident in with that child care

58:41 ↗ center. Um there was a lot of social

58:44 ↗ media presence especially on like

58:46 ↗ Instagram where people were reposting

58:47 ↗ and posting about it and voicing their

58:50 ↗ opinions. Um, so I've been listen I have

58:54 ↗ I've been listening for this and I do

58:57 ↗ think um obviously I support it. I'm not

58:59 ↗ actually I I think I'm not allowed to

59:01 ↗ vote, but yeah, in favor, but um I think

59:06 ↗ it's really important to advocate for

59:07 ↗ this and to um continue to support not

59:11 ↗ only local profits that are helping this

59:14 ↗ community, but helping in such a time of

59:17 ↗ like um p a panic and need not only for

59:20 ↗ the people affected, but for just like

59:22 ↗ general concern in the community

59:24 ↗ overall, because this is a really

59:26 ↗ important topic, not only in Isiqua, but

59:29 ↗ essentially nationwide at this point.

59:33 ↗ >> Absolutely. Very well said, Preston.

59:35 ↗ Thank you.

59:40 ↗ >> Oh, commissioners, you have some really

59:42 ↗ good input, some really great insight,

59:44 ↗ and it really makes me excited for our

59:46 ↗ future of next year looking at grants

59:49 ↗ and and making these tough decisions and

59:51 ↗ having these tough conversations. So re

59:53 ↗ really appreciate just your

59:55 ↗ professionalism, your respect and your

59:57 ↗ your care. Truly it it comes across. So

59:59 ↗ thank you all.

1:00:03 ↗ >> All right, we on to reports.

1:00:06 ↗ >> Um any reports from the group?

1:00:16 ↗ Um well I went to um

1:00:22 ↗ uh the Halloween

1:00:24 ↗ >> DS day. What?

1:00:26 ↗ >> Yeah. And I thought it was Yeah.

1:00:27 ↗ >> I thought it was really well attended.

1:00:29 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:00:30 ↗ >> Did anybody else go?

1:00:31 ↗ >> Yeah, I went. It was great.

1:00:33 ↗ >> Yeah. And it was really well attended.

1:00:35 ↗ Yeah.

1:00:37 ↗ >> I I heard there was a lot of um city

1:00:38 ↗ council members who attended some city.

1:00:40 ↗ that we always appreciate when they come

1:00:42 ↗ to our city events.

1:00:44 ↗ >> Yeah,

1:00:48 ↗ >> I attended a community lunch. Maybe some

1:00:51 ↗ of you are familiar with it, but it was

1:00:52 ↗ my first time. It's in the fire station.

1:00:55 ↗ It's not the Catholic community services

1:00:57 ↗ lunch. It's not that. It's held on

1:00:59 ↗ Thursdays at noon.

1:01:01 ↗ >> Do you know about that?

1:01:02 ↗ >> Oh, yes. Oh, yes.

1:01:02 ↗ >> Oh, okay. Um, yeah. And I met some folks

1:01:06 ↗ there. I met the oldest participant who

1:01:09 ↗ has been attending for almost 20 years.

1:01:11 ↗ She's 102.

1:01:12 ↗ >> Oh my gosh.

1:01:13 ↗ >> She comes to lunch.

1:01:14 ↗ >> Yes.

1:01:15 ↗ >> And her friends drive her there.

1:01:16 ↗ >> Oh. And it is such an amazing community.

1:01:20 ↗ Um it is not

1:01:23 ↗ >> it is not just a community for like the

1:01:26 ↗ nons. It is truly building community

1:01:28 ↗ across.

1:01:29 ↗ >> And I'm sorry. This was at the Where was

1:01:30 ↗ it?

1:01:31 ↗ >> It's in the It's in the community. What?

1:01:33 ↗ What is that? It's It's a community

1:01:34 ↗ hall.

1:01:34 ↗ >> The community hall in the fire station

1:01:37 ↗ building.

1:01:37 ↗ >> So, the same place that they do.

1:01:38 ↗ >> The same place, but it is only Thursdays

1:01:42 ↗ uh at 12 and I think they might have a

1:01:43 ↗ weekend day that they told me.

1:01:45 ↗ >> They do weekend um meals. So, we we fund

1:01:47 ↗ um Isiqua Meals program services. Their

1:01:51 ↗ Monday through Friday um 365 days meal

1:01:54 ↗ program. Um but there is um a different

1:01:57 ↗ they're not even a nonprofit.

1:01:59 ↗ This is this is a group of people who 20

1:02:02 ↗ years ago decided we need to feed the

1:02:04 ↗ hungry in our community and they have

1:02:06 ↗ done it ever since. It's potluck style.

1:02:09 ↗ >> Um and they really wanted the

1:02:12 ↗ commissioners who don't know about it to

1:02:13 ↗ know about it. So

1:02:15 ↗ >> they don't have a name. It's uh

1:02:18 ↗ >> every Thursday

1:02:19 ↗ >> every Thursday at noon anybody is

1:02:21 ↗ welcome.

1:02:22 ↗ And I, you know, when I was there, I saw

1:02:26 ↗ folks that presumably are of all income

1:02:28 ↗ levels. Obviously, I did not ask them.

1:02:31 ↗ Um, I saw

1:02:33 ↗ day laborers who were coming in to eat

1:02:35 ↗ lunch. Um, uh, there were professors

1:02:39 ↗ there. I mean, there were there was

1:02:41 ↗ basically like every segment of society.

1:02:43 ↗ And I asked them how many people they

1:02:45 ↗ serve and they said like at least 50

1:02:47 ↗ each lunchtime. So, it is a need um that

1:02:51 ↗ they're meeting. And above all, I was

1:02:53 ↗ just really impressed with the community

1:02:55 ↗ that was being built. There's

1:02:57 ↗ generations of people,

1:02:59 ↗ >> different racial and ethnic,

1:03:02 ↗ >> you know, groups and Yeah.

1:03:04 ↗ >> Yeah. Well, thanks for sharing.

1:03:05 ↗ >> We really want everybody to know that

1:03:07 ↗ they

1:03:09 ↗ >> and to support them through word of

1:03:11 ↗ mouth and

1:03:13 ↗ >> Yeah. to check come out and check it out

1:03:15 ↗ and value what they do.

1:03:16 ↗ >> Yeah. I've been there where they've done

1:03:18 ↗ birthday parties and and brought out

1:03:20 ↗ cakes and

1:03:21 ↗ >> Oh, that's really cool.

1:03:23 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:03:23 ↗ >> Yeah. We we don't like monitor. It's

1:03:25 ↗ not, you know, funded things. So, we

1:03:27 ↗ don't have that data or information. So,

1:03:30 ↗ that's really great. Um, for comparison,

1:03:32 ↗ our meals program is anywhere usually

1:03:33 ↗ between 25 and 40 individuals each

1:03:36 ↗ night. So, that sounds like it's pretty

1:03:38 ↗ hopping.

1:03:39 ↗ >> And they did specifically say it is not

1:03:41 ↗ funding that we're looking for. We just

1:03:43 ↗ want people to know that we're doing

1:03:45 ↗ this and to support us feeding the

1:03:48 ↗ hungry.

1:03:49 ↗ >> That's great.

1:03:51 ↗ >> I think is it a church group that

1:03:53 ↗ started it and they

1:03:54 ↗ >> I feel like that's true. Yes. Because

1:03:57 ↗ Wes who is Do you know him? He's he's he

1:04:00 ↗ was a professor of religion at Seattle

1:04:02 ↗ University and he's like one of the main

1:04:03 ↗ organizers there.

1:04:05 ↗ >> It was through his church community many

1:04:08 ↗ years ago.

1:04:08 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:04:10 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:04:10 ↗ >> Great. That's great that you went.

1:04:13 ↗ >> Yeah, it was it was really it was

1:04:14 ↗ amazing.

1:04:15 ↗ >> How was lunch?

1:04:16 ↗ >> Delicious.

1:04:17 ↗ >> They Okay, so about lunch, it's not just

1:04:21 ↗ whoever is bringing whatever or um it is

1:04:26 ↗ they are so intentional about providing

1:04:28 ↗ a balanced meal. So, there will always

1:04:30 ↗ be a salad, there will be two kinds of

1:04:32 ↗ soup, a vegetarian option, there will be

1:04:34 ↗ a home-cooked hot dish. So, they're

1:04:37 ↗ trying to really balance it. And then of

1:04:39 ↗ course you've got the fun things like

1:04:40 ↗ you know the junk cupcakes and stuff.

1:04:41 ↗ But

1:04:42 ↗ >> yeah,

1:04:42 ↗ >> but they try to be really intentional

1:04:44 ↗ knowing that nutrition matters to people

1:04:47 ↗ who might be food insecure. So

1:04:49 ↗ >> make that meal count.

1:04:50 ↗ >> That's junk.

1:04:53 ↗ >> Um I volunteered at the Isqua Community

1:04:55 ↗ Closet event.

1:04:57 ↗ >> Oh, last week. Two weeks ago maybe.

1:04:59 ↗ >> Yeah, you did.

1:04:59 ↗ >> Um at Pickering Barn.

1:05:02 ↗ >> They had over a thousand people come

1:05:04 ↗ through the barn. I was going to stay

1:05:06 ↗ for about a half hour and like three

1:05:08 ↗ hours later.

1:05:09 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:05:10 ↗ >> Great.

1:05:11 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:05:11 ↗ >> It was bonkers.

1:05:13 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:05:14 ↗ >> Yeah. We knew there would be a lot more

1:05:16 ↗ people interested in this event, but I

1:05:18 ↗ don't think we anticipated it. Yeah. The

1:05:20 ↗ number

1:05:21 ↗ >> donations. It's seven tons of clothing.

1:05:24 ↗ >> Yeah, it was quite a bit.

1:05:26 ↗ >> I five of them.

1:05:28 ↗ >> Five.

1:05:30 ↗ >> More than that, Manny. Come on now.

1:05:33 ↗ >> Did you say you you went there?

1:05:34 ↗ >> Yes. Yes, he did. Twice. You stopped by

1:05:37 ↗ twice.

1:05:38 ↗ >> It was lovely. Yeah. Well, appreciate

1:05:40 ↗ that participation. It's It's a really

1:05:42 ↗ fun event. So,

1:05:47 ↗ >> I do want to give kudos to uh um here

1:05:51 ↗ have the Isiqua tree giveaway program.

1:05:55 ↗ >> Yeah. I didn't know. I had no idea. I

1:05:57 ↗ just know a couple of my neighbors are

1:05:58 ↗ like, "Hey, we got we signed up for

1:05:59 ↗ these

1:06:00 ↗ >> tree giveaway." And I'm like, "What what

1:06:02 ↗ are you talking about? We have a truck.

1:06:03 ↗ Can you go pick up trees?" I'm like,

1:06:06 ↗ "Okay, it's like at the big green barn."

1:06:08 ↗ I'm like, "All right." And here I am lo

1:06:11 ↗ the truck and they're all very great.

1:06:13 ↗ You have a team park rangers and

1:06:15 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:06:16 ↗ >> Um

1:06:16 ↗ >> only one park ranger officially. Yeah.

1:06:18 ↗ Alex.

1:06:19 ↗ >> Yeah. There you go. I got to meet him.

1:06:21 ↗ >> Yeah. Alex.

1:06:22 ↗ >> Definitely. Huge props to that program.

1:06:24 ↗ >> Yeah. No, it's great.

1:06:26 ↗ >> Like the whole green Eiqua is amazing.

1:06:29 ↗ >> They really mobilize our volunteers and

1:06:31 ↗ keep our parks great and

1:06:33 ↗ >> Yeah. It's part of the charm of this

1:06:35 ↗ process.

1:06:35 ↗ >> Yes.

1:06:38 ↗ >> All right. Preston, anything from you in

1:06:40 ↗ terms of youth report?

1:06:44 ↗ >> Um, I don't think I have anything today.

1:06:48 ↗ >> No worries.

1:06:49 ↗ >> Sorry.

1:06:51 ↗ >> We'll get you next time.

1:06:56 ↗ >> All right. Um,

1:06:57 ↗ >> I guess I had something to add.

1:06:59 ↗ >> Yes.

1:07:00 ↗ >> Okay. And it actually originated with um

1:07:04 ↗ Lucier.

1:07:05 ↗ Um

1:07:07 ↗ your team

1:07:09 ↗ recently housed a a council member sent

1:07:12 ↗ me this information. You your team

1:07:14 ↗ recently housed somebody that had been

1:07:17 ↗ unhoused here for like decades.

1:07:20 ↗ >> Yes. 30 years. Oh gosh. and uh you guys

1:07:24 ↗ because you built relationship and made

1:07:26 ↗ them feel comfortable they agreed to

1:07:28 ↗ move to a place in Seattle, right?

1:07:31 ↗ >> Yeah. So I mean you can share more about

1:07:33 ↗ that.

1:07:34 ↗ >> Yeah. I I think it's all because of our

1:07:37 ↗ coordinated entry program that we

1:07:39 ↗ started participating in with the King

1:07:41 ↗ County uh homeless what's it called?

1:07:44 ↗ >> HMIS system. What does that stand for?

1:07:46 ↗ I'm drawing a blank.

1:07:48 ↗ >> Homeless management information system.

1:07:49 ↗ Sorry. So, we're now able, the

1:07:51 ↗ behavioral health coordinators are now

1:07:53 ↗ able to do the coordinated entry

1:07:55 ↗ assessment, which gets them on a list

1:07:57 ↗ for housing in all different areas. And

1:07:59 ↗ so, then not only are they on a list,

1:08:02 ↗ they're also being nominated. So, Lisa,

1:08:04 ↗ Amir, and Kyle are daily nominating

1:08:06 ↗ them. As we find out places are coming

1:08:09 ↗ available, we can say yes, they've

1:08:11 ↗ agreed that they will live here or, you

1:08:12 ↗ know, they all have different

1:08:13 ↗ requirements.

1:08:15 ↗ >> And so, that has has absolutely changed

1:08:18 ↗ the work that we're doing. I think there

1:08:20 ↗ have been six in the last We've been

1:08:22 ↗ doing it for about six months and about

1:08:25 ↗ six.

1:08:25 ↗ >> Um, and we're also working with the

1:08:27 ↗ faith communities to donate these

1:08:30 ↗ welcome home baskets. So, as they move

1:08:32 ↗ in, we have these baskets full of

1:08:34 ↗ cleaning supplies and and it's really

1:08:36 ↗ overwhelming for someone who's been on

1:08:38 ↗ the street, you can imagine, for all

1:08:40 ↗ these years. They don't know what they

1:08:42 ↗ need and and some of these places

1:08:44 ↗ provide the basics, some bedding and and

1:08:46 ↗ some general things like that. But we're

1:08:49 ↗ able to now give them this nice basket

1:08:51 ↗ and some a broom and and all kinds of

1:08:54 ↗ things. So, we're really excited about

1:08:56 ↗ it.

1:08:57 ↗ >> And and I might mention that this place,

1:08:59 ↗ I understand, has supportive services.

1:09:02 ↗ They do.

1:09:02 ↗ >> So, this person's moving into a place

1:09:04 ↗ not only just to live, but there's and I

1:09:08 ↗ can't even describe what the supportive

1:09:09 ↗ services are, but there's supportive

1:09:11 ↗ services.

1:09:11 ↗ >> It's case management. It's um

1:09:13 ↗ >> case management. anything from helping

1:09:15 ↗ them get plugged into work or benefits

1:09:18 ↗ or

1:09:19 ↗ >> mental health um treatment, substance

1:09:21 ↗ abuse treatment. So, a variety of

1:09:23 ↗ different things.

1:09:24 ↗ >> Yeah, that's great.

1:09:26 ↗ >> We have uh two more who have been

1:09:28 ↗ approved who were we're waiting right

1:09:30 ↗ now for their spot to come open. They

1:09:32 ↗ can't one of the buildings in the Queen

1:09:34 ↗ Anne area, they weren't able to move

1:09:35 ↗ everyone in at once, so they're

1:09:37 ↗ staggering. So, uh, this gentleman that

1:09:39 ↗ you're talking about was number 12 to go

1:09:41 ↗ in there and we have two more who are

1:09:43 ↗ any day.

1:09:45 ↗ >> Yes.

1:09:46 ↗ >> Do do you find that any of the homeless

1:09:48 ↗ that you're working with just refuse to

1:09:51 ↗ leave as the

1:09:52 ↗ >> absolutely and even some of the people

1:09:53 ↗ even this gentleman for for the past two

1:09:56 ↗ years that I've known him has said, "No

1:09:57 ↗ way. I'm not leaving." And I think that

1:10:00 ↗ the data will be really interesting over

1:10:01 ↗ these next months or year to see how

1:10:04 ↗ many people that are actually placed in

1:10:05 ↗ those housing units, how many stay

1:10:08 ↗ >> because it's a big it's a big loss of

1:10:11 ↗ their support.

1:10:12 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:10:13 ↗ >> Um I'm a part of the Isiqua Gospel

1:10:15 ↗ Network and today we had a great

1:10:16 ↗ conversation about that very thing is

1:10:18 ↗ some people are saying don't take the

1:10:19 ↗ housing because now all of a sudden

1:10:21 ↗ you're isolated and and people are

1:10:22 ↗ overdosing and they don't have those

1:10:25 ↗ supports that they used to have out on

1:10:26 ↗ the street. So, we're working with other

1:10:29 ↗ people to try to help support that. So,

1:10:31 ↗ not just moving someone in, but staying

1:10:33 ↗ connected

1:10:34 ↗ >> and a lot of them will take the bus back

1:10:36 ↗ to Isqua just to hang out, check in, and

1:10:38 ↗ >> okay, let us know how they're doing. So,

1:10:41 ↗ >> yeah, thanks for bringing that up.

1:10:42 ↗ That's it's been really exciting for us.

1:10:44 ↗ >> Oh, yeah. That when I saw the email,

1:10:46 ↗ it's really exciting.

1:10:47 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:10:52 ↗ >> All right. Anything else from the

1:10:53 ↗ status?

1:10:55 ↗ >> No. My I have a self report.

1:10:58 ↗ >> What's that?

1:10:58 ↗ >> I got that before. I'll be ready for

1:11:00 ↗ that one.

1:11:02 ↗ >> All right. Um so, uh staff reports

1:11:04 ↗ sometimes are short, easy, sometimes

1:11:06 ↗ they're long. Um today they're a little

1:11:08 ↗ bit long. I wanted to use this as an

1:11:09 ↗ opportunity to share a few human

1:11:11 ↗ services initiatives that are happening

1:11:12 ↗ in our city. Um and uh so you have them

1:11:16 ↗ also printed out in front of you for

1:11:17 ↗ reference. Um so again, part of the

1:11:19 ↗ staff report I provide just specifically

1:11:22 ↗ mayor and city council updates. Um so

1:11:24 ↗ wanted to kind of go through that real

1:11:26 ↗ quick. Um so we've already discussed

1:11:28 ↗ November 17th um mid bianium budget was

1:11:31 ↗ approved uh with that additional funding

1:11:33 ↗ for human services. Um I also want to

1:11:36 ↗ share uh you may have reme recall our

1:11:39 ↗ our mayor um has been reported on this

1:11:42 ↗ maybe once um been meeting with our

1:11:43 ↗ local isa nonprofit organizations really

1:11:46 ↗ the start of this year um with a lot of

1:11:48 ↗ unknowns happening with federal funding

1:11:50 ↗ cuts um as policies have continued to

1:11:54 ↗ change. There's been concern about with

1:11:55 ↗ immigration and with ICE uh policy

1:11:58 ↗ changes as well as most recently with

1:12:00 ↗ SNAP benefits um freezing and how will

1:12:03 ↗ that impact our community. Um so very

1:12:05 ↗ thankful for a mayor who it really u

1:12:08 ↗ wants to work closely with our

1:12:09 ↗ nonprofits and really better understand

1:12:12 ↗ um what is going on and and the

1:12:14 ↗ intention of these meetings are to

1:12:17 ↗ really um to track data track

1:12:20 ↗ information um to create a narrative

1:12:22 ↗ that can be brought to our legislative

1:12:24 ↗ and state level for additional funding

1:12:28 ↗ or policy changes that could help and

1:12:30 ↗ impact human services. Um the feeling

1:12:33 ↗ that we are and sense that we're having

1:12:35 ↗ is we are in a human service crisis. Um

1:12:38 ↗ and we just basically need to provide

1:12:41 ↗ the data, the narratives um to our state

1:12:44 ↗ and legislative um level um to be able

1:12:47 ↗ to make these changes. And so that's

1:12:49 ↗ that's what her goal is for these

1:12:50 ↗ meetings. Um they were quarterly, they

1:12:53 ↗ are now moving monthly um because there

1:12:56 ↗ are just a lot of things changing. Um

1:12:58 ↗ and so with that, um as you are probably

1:13:02 ↗ all aware, um our city mayor is

1:13:05 ↗ retiring. She's stepping down and we

1:13:07 ↗ have a new city mayor coming in. Um so

1:13:09 ↗ with that, there's a few unknowns. Um

1:13:12 ↗ but fortunately, this initiative is

1:13:13 ↗ going to continue with deputy council

1:13:15 ↗ president um D. Michelle. Um so she will

1:13:18 ↗ she has been at these meetings and she

1:13:20 ↗ will continue um to take ownership and

1:13:22 ↗ leadership of this. So, um, very

1:13:24 ↗ thankful for, um, just leadership

1:13:27 ↗ listening to our nonprofits.

1:13:30 ↗ Um, I also want to share an update in

1:13:32 ↗ regards to our opportunity center. Um, I

1:13:35 ↗ can't recall if we've talked about it

1:13:36 ↗ briefly here in human services

1:13:38 ↗ commission. Um, opportunity center is a

1:13:41 ↗ project that the city's been working on

1:13:42 ↗ for 10 plus years.

1:13:46 ↗ >> We did. We did. We did.

1:13:47 ↗ >> Thank you. Thank you. Um, and um, so we

1:13:50 ↗ do have an update in regards to that. So

1:13:52 ↗ that is a affordable apartment complex

1:13:54 ↗ coming in at the squad transit center.

1:13:57 ↗ Um and the city has 10,000 square feet

1:14:01 ↗ to use for operation of behavioral

1:14:03 ↗ health, medical and dental um for

1:14:06 ↗ affordable services, people who accept

1:14:08 ↗ Medicaid or at a sliding scale. Um the

1:14:11 ↗ funding is very specific that we that

1:14:13 ↗ it's uh those services are provided at

1:14:16 ↗ um with using the space. So, we recently

1:14:19 ↗ um put out we not not human services,

1:14:22 ↗ our executive department, uh we helped

1:14:24 ↗ support um this, but there's a letter of

1:14:27 ↗ interest out to our community partners

1:14:29 ↗ and nonprofits. Um basically um saying

1:14:34 ↗ here's our initiative, here's our

1:14:36 ↗ request. Um if you are interested,

1:14:38 ↗ please answer these questions. Um so

1:14:40 ↗ that's currently out to I think we sent

1:14:43 ↗ it to 30 plus partners. Um but um I

1:14:48 ↗ think we're open if anybody has any kind

1:14:50 ↗ of specific organizations or even

1:14:53 ↗ individual providers um that you got

1:14:56 ↗ think might be interested. I think this

1:14:58 ↗ is a very broad

1:15:00 ↗ this is a very broad um letter of

1:15:03 ↗ interest that we we are really just

1:15:04 ↗ trying to see who is available to do

1:15:07 ↗ this. Um, we originally had two main

1:15:09 ↗ providers, Valley Cities and

1:15:12 ↗ remember the other one, Valley Cities

1:15:14 ↗ and I'm

1:15:15 ↗ >> Wasn't Sound?

1:15:17 ↗ >> No.

1:15:18 ↗ >> Um, but they they basically don't have

1:15:21 ↗ capacity when they agreed to it about 5

1:15:23 ↗ years ago. Um, so we are kind of a

1:15:25 ↗ little bit um starting over to figure

1:15:27 ↗ out who has capacity now. Um, so it'll

1:15:30 ↗ be interesting to see what we find out.

1:15:33 ↗ Um, this is not free space. We are

1:15:35 ↗ looking to rent it out. Um but there is

1:15:37 ↗ funding to for the the build. So if an

1:15:40 ↗ organization says yes, we can do it. Um

1:15:42 ↗ basically they can say this is how many

1:15:46 ↗ offices we need or this is the medical

1:15:48 ↗ you know rooms that we need and so we

1:15:50 ↗ can help support that.

1:15:53 ↗ Any questions or comments in regards to

1:15:54 ↗ either one of those?

1:15:56 ↗ >> Can we see the list of the organizations

1:15:58 ↗ that it went out to available to us?

1:16:00 ↗ >> Um yeah, I can I can email it. Is

1:16:02 ↗ anybody else interested? I know Ry, this

1:16:04 ↗ is a topic that you're probably very

1:16:05 ↗ interested in. So, we'd be happy to have

1:16:07 ↗ a follow-up conversation with you in

1:16:08 ↗ regards to this,

1:16:09 ↗ >> especially for the providers that um

1:16:11 ↗ receive funding through Medicare and

1:16:13 ↗ Medicaid.

1:16:14 ↗ >> Yeah. Yeah. Would love to kind of have

1:16:16 ↗ you take a look at that list for sure.

1:16:19 ↗ Thank you.

1:16:22 ↗ Okay. And then, um I think this is

1:16:24 ↗ shared a little bit, but I just want to

1:16:26 ↗ I'm going to share my screen. Um there's

1:16:29 ↗ been a lot going on as mentioned uh with

1:16:33 ↗ uh immigration policy changes with

1:16:35 ↗ federal funding uh with the government

1:16:38 ↗ freeze I mean all of it right so

1:16:42 ↗ out of this um so the city I just want

1:16:44 ↗ to share kind of some of the city

1:16:46 ↗ response

1:16:47 ↗ um in what we have done so um we've we

1:16:52 ↗ discussed this here but we do have a um

1:16:55 ↗ a topic in human services it's

1:16:57 ↗ integration resources

1:16:58 ↗ Um, so this is kind of what JD was

1:17:01 ↗ talking about kind of this lengthy email

1:17:04 ↗ or list frequently asked questions. Um,

1:17:07 ↗ but this is it is a helpful um kind of

1:17:10 ↗ resource to point people to at least for

1:17:12 ↗ initial concerns and kind of that you

1:17:15 ↗ know Q&A. I'm hearing multiple times

1:17:18 ↗ from from comm community members what is

1:17:21 ↗ the city doing? Um so currently our

1:17:24 ↗ action items are you know we're

1:17:26 ↗ providing emergency funding right now

1:17:28 ↗ and we have um we have communicated our

1:17:32 ↗ uh resources that are available.

1:17:36 ↗ And then in regards to um food resources

1:17:38 ↗ recognizing that um our SNAP benefits u

1:17:41 ↗ for many of our community members um uh

1:17:45 ↗ froze and there was a lot of unknowns in

1:17:47 ↗ that. We anticipated a lot of people in

1:17:50 ↗ need um and so we really partnered with

1:17:53 ↗ um the Silkot Food and Clothing Bank to

1:17:55 ↗ make sure they had um kind of the

1:17:57 ↗ support that they needed. They did uh

1:17:59 ↗ report that they had quite a bit of

1:18:01 ↗ increase in volunteers and donations

1:18:03 ↗ which has helped. Um but we've also here

1:18:05 ↗ posted some just emergency food support

1:18:08 ↗ um additional food banks knowing that

1:18:10 ↗ people will have to probably shop at uh

1:18:11 ↗ additional places, hot meal options and

1:18:14 ↗ those things. So that is a helpful tool

1:18:16 ↗ to have.

1:18:17 ↗ Um, and then the other thing that I

1:18:21 ↗ >> my understanding is SNAP cards are being

1:18:24 ↗ filled for November, right, for state of

1:18:26 ↗ Washington. Now, is is December up in

1:18:29 ↗ the air or

1:18:31 ↗ >> from what I understand? Yes.

1:18:33 ↗ >> Okay.

1:18:33 ↗ >> Yes. I mean, we'll see how the state

1:18:35 ↗ responds. Um,

1:18:37 ↗ >> with that, has there been more interest

1:18:39 ↗ in food bank? And

1:18:42 ↗ >> I was wondering that too. Um, you do you

1:18:46 ↗ mean is there um

1:18:48 ↗ >> more turnover flow through? I guess are

1:18:51 ↗ they serving more people?

1:18:51 ↗ >> Are they serving more people because

1:18:53 ↗ SNAP benefits have been cut?

1:18:55 ↗ >> That that's what we have heard kind of

1:18:57 ↗ from the food bank and from our other

1:18:59 ↗ nonprofits is um specifically needs and

1:19:05 ↗ the type of need has increased not just

1:19:07 ↗ for food bank for for many of our other

1:19:09 ↗ nonprofits. Did you want to add anything

1:19:11 ↗ else? just I met with Stephanie at the

1:19:13 ↗ food bank recently kind of right right

1:19:15 ↗ after the SNAP thing started and they

1:19:18 ↗ were in really good shape then but she

1:19:20 ↗ was expecting and then couple weeks

1:19:22 ↗ >> after a couple weeks they would have

1:19:23 ↗ more data on that. So

1:19:25 ↗ >> I'll circle back with her and see how

1:19:26 ↗ they how the month ended for them.

1:19:29 ↗ >> But in general even before the snap they

1:19:31 ↗ were up

1:19:33 ↗ >> uh year to date I think over a thousand

1:19:36 ↗ >> more people than the year before. So

1:19:40 ↗ >> thousand total or weekly

1:19:42 ↗ >> and I think total new people out

1:19:45 ↗ >> and just in that week that I had met

1:19:46 ↗ with her since the SNAP announced the

1:19:49 ↗ the cut um or since the government

1:19:52 ↗ announced the cut it was I think 30 new

1:19:54 ↗ families that week and then and that was

1:19:56 ↗ about two weeks ago. So it's time for me

1:19:58 ↗ to follow back up with her. But

1:20:00 ↗ >> yeah,

1:20:00 ↗ >> like Hannah said they were in good shape

1:20:02 ↗ then with so many volunteers coming

1:20:04 ↗ forward and donations.

1:20:06 ↗ So they

1:20:07 ↗ >> Yeah. And and with that, we actually um

1:20:10 ↗ I I think I was surprised by this,

1:20:11 ↗ pleasantly surprised. We received a lot

1:20:13 ↗ of response from our community members

1:20:15 ↗ asking, "Well, wait a minute. How do we

1:20:17 ↗ help? Like I I don't mean this, but I

1:20:19 ↗ want to make sure I help the people who

1:20:20 ↗ do." Um and so we decided to respond um

1:20:24 ↗ with kind of a help your neighbors

1:20:26 ↗ thrive campaign of um partner with our

1:20:29 ↗ organizations. So here are some local

1:20:30 ↗ organizations. Here's what they do.

1:20:32 ↗ here's how you can help to um volunteer

1:20:34 ↗ or to donate or different things like

1:20:36 ↗ that. I

1:20:37 ↗ >> mean community members actually called

1:20:40 ↗ the city

1:20:40 ↗ >> called the city called emailed us saying

1:20:44 ↗ how do we help

1:20:45 ↗ >> the food bank too

1:20:46 ↗ >> and the food bank. Yeah. But

1:20:48 ↗ >> and they the calls were then routed to

1:20:50 ↗ you guys probably.

1:20:51 ↗ >> Yeah. Emails directly to our to our

1:20:53 ↗ email. Yeah. So

1:20:55 ↗ >> yeah.

1:20:55 ↗ >> Um which again I just I think that's a

1:20:57 ↗ testament to how much our community

1:20:58 ↗ cares.

1:20:59 ↗ >> Yeah. um you know we are a community

1:21:01 ↗ that um in in some ways affluent in

1:21:04 ↗ other ways very much in need and so to

1:21:07 ↗ see people step up and want to help

1:21:09 ↗ their neighbors is a beautiful thing. So

1:21:11 ↗ I just appreciate that about this this

1:21:13 ↗ city.

1:21:15 ↗ Um so yeah so just wanted to share again

1:21:17 ↗ some some things that we're we're trying

1:21:19 ↗ to respond to in the ways that we have

1:21:21 ↗ capacity to as a city. Um so you can

1:21:23 ↗ find those online. The last thing I want

1:21:26 ↗ to do is some logistics. So, I love

1:21:28 ↗ scheduling out meetings and talking

1:21:30 ↗ about what's ahead of us. So, um the way

1:21:32 ↗ that I did it this time is I made u just

1:21:35 ↗ so you have reference of what we've

1:21:37 ↗ done. We've done a lot in 2025. We met

1:21:39 ↗ with a lot of great organizations, very

1:21:41 ↗ successful, very busy. Um but we we are

1:21:45 ↗ transitioning now to prepare for the

1:21:47 ↗ application review process. Um so, um

1:21:51 ↗ and in that we also have a few other

1:21:53 ↗ special meetings. Um, so I I just need

1:21:55 ↗ some feedback of how you would like to

1:21:58 ↗ move forward with some scheduling and

1:22:00 ↗ some rescheduling. Um, so we're going to

1:22:02 ↗ go through kind of each month of kind of

1:22:03 ↗ what to expect for kind of the basically

1:22:06 ↗ next nine months or so. Um, and then we

1:22:09 ↗ can kind of discuss what makes the most

1:22:11 ↗ sense for everybody. Um, so we have

1:22:13 ↗ decided we're going going to take a

1:22:15 ↗ break in December. Yay for all holidays.

1:22:18 ↗ Um, and enjoy some good hopefully family

1:22:20 ↗ time and some rest and peace. Um and

1:22:23 ↗ then um the joint meeting with our

1:22:26 ↗ equity board for transportation

1:22:28 ↗ presentation is now rescheduled to be on

1:22:30 ↗ um equity boards schedule. So it'll be

1:22:33 ↗ on January 7th.

1:22:34 ↗ >> Does that start at 6:30?

1:22:36 ↗ >> That's actually a great question. I

1:22:37 ↗ think they start at 6.

1:22:39 ↗ >> Oh.

1:22:40 ↗ >> So um I would love to know if any again

1:22:44 ↗ this is this is a what we considered a

1:22:47 ↗ special meeting. Um so it's not a part

1:22:48 ↗ of our regular scheduled meeting. Um and

1:22:52 ↗ uh we could have a few people attend. We

1:22:56 ↗ can have all of us attend. Um but um if

1:23:01 ↗ you are not able to attend, please let

1:23:03 ↗ me know.

1:23:04 ↗ >> I'm interested in attending.

1:23:06 ↗ >> Great.

1:23:08 ↗ Anybody able to not attend that they

1:23:09 ↗ know of already with their schedule

1:23:11 ↗ complex?

1:23:11 ↗ >> Is remote access available?

1:23:13 ↗ >> Yes, remote access will for sure be

1:23:15 ↗ available. Absolutely. Um and locations

1:23:18 ↗ u most likely will be Gibson Hall but

1:23:20 ↗ still TBD. Um so that is January 7th. So

1:23:24 ↗ then that brings us to January 21st. Um

1:23:27 ↗ that is our regular meeting um that we

1:23:30 ↗ technically have scheduled. So we need

1:23:31 ↗ to decide if that is a meeting that we'd

1:23:33 ↗ like to meet at or not. Let me continue

1:23:36 ↗ with the rest of the schedule and that

1:23:37 ↗ might help decide what makes sense for

1:23:39 ↗ us. The next meeting is February 18th.

1:23:42 ↗ However, um if you are I don't know if

1:23:44 ↗ you are familiar, but we do we have a

1:23:47 ↗ religious um holiday calendar. So if it

1:23:50 ↗ conflicts with certain religious

1:23:52 ↗ holidays, we don't have um public

1:23:54 ↗ meetings. So um the one for 2026 is on

1:23:58 ↗ February 18th. Um so we do need to look

1:24:01 ↗ to reschedule that meeting. Um so again,

1:24:03 ↗ we can consider cancelling it. Please

1:24:06 ↗ consider just rescheduling it as a

1:24:08 ↗ special meeting for different um first

1:24:11 ↗ day of Ramadan.

1:24:11 ↗ >> Oh, that's how I should know that.

1:24:14 ↗ >> I'm going to be fasting

1:24:18 ↗ your calendar.

1:24:20 ↗ >> Oh my god.

1:24:21 ↗ >> Wow.

1:24:22 ↗ >> Take it off for that.

1:24:23 ↗ >> Well, it's not off. Um like we all still

1:24:26 ↗ work but but we are trying to respect

1:24:28 ↗ those holidays so we don't have public

1:24:30 ↗ meetings.

1:24:31 ↗ >> Okay.

1:24:32 ↗ >> Okay.

1:24:36 ↗ Yeah. Yeah. So,

1:24:38 ↗ >> the city council also

1:24:39 ↗ >> That's awesome.

1:24:40 ↗ >> City council does it. Yeah. So, we

1:24:42 ↗ adjust meetings so we can um respect um

1:24:45 ↗ specific holidays. This was initiative a

1:24:47 ↗ few years ago that the equity board or

1:24:50 ↗ human services.

1:24:51 ↗ >> Yeah. They didn't take my birthday off

1:24:52 ↗ though.

1:24:56 ↗ >> Actually, the equity.

1:25:00 ↗ >> Um okay. So again, we'll we'll come back

1:25:02 ↗ to the January and February um one. I

1:25:05 ↗ just uh keep going here. So March 14th

1:25:08 ↗ um this is going to be our equity or so

1:25:11 ↗ every cycle we have a joint east side

1:25:15 ↗ human services commission equity

1:25:17 ↗ training um right before we review the

1:25:19 ↗ applications. Um so this year we have

1:25:22 ↗ decided um to um have it as a three-hour

1:25:26 ↗ chunk which means we'll need to do it on

1:25:28 ↗ a Saturday. Yay. Um, so it will be at

1:25:31 ↗ Redmond City Hall from 9:00 to noon.

1:25:33 ↗ We'll have coffee and snacks. Um, and so

1:25:38 ↗ more details on that to come.

1:25:40 ↗ >> Who is facilitating it?

1:25:42 ↗ >> Um, Community Rise is the so the same

1:25:44 ↗ facilitator from last time. However,

1:25:46 ↗ there are a lot of adjustments of how

1:25:48 ↗ we're doing.

1:25:48 ↗ >> Okay. I wasn't very impressed with them,

1:25:50 ↗ but I was one of those people online.

1:25:52 ↗ >> Yes. So, I will say and you'll note

1:25:54 ↗ here, I'm so so sorry team. It is in

1:25:57 ↗ person only because of that,

1:25:59 ↗ >> right?

1:25:59 ↗ >> So, if you're not able to attend, I I am

1:26:03 ↗ so sorry. There's no virtual options. We

1:26:06 ↗ will have to just fill you in next time.

1:26:08 ↗ Um I hope you all can attend in person.

1:26:11 ↗ Um it's just one of those meetings that

1:26:13 ↗ they just cannot accommodate virtually,

1:26:15 ↗ unfortunately. I

1:26:18 ↗ um had some fun conversations trying to

1:26:20 ↗ advocate for that, but I did not win.

1:26:23 ↗ So,

1:26:25 ↗ that's where we're at. No, I think I

1:26:27 ↗ think you know if people can make it,

1:26:28 ↗ it's better to all it

1:26:29 ↗ >> is better. Yeah,

1:26:30 ↗ >> but I wasn't impressed with that that

1:26:32 ↗ particular group as facilitators.

1:26:35 ↗ >> Yeah, we are working with them very

1:26:37 ↗ closely to have a lot more hands-on. So,

1:26:39 ↗ the plan the kind of agenda that we're

1:26:41 ↗ looking at is we're going to have have

1:26:43 ↗ like pre-work knowing that not

1:26:44 ↗ everyone's going to be able to do it,

1:26:46 ↗ but we're going to have some pre-work to

1:26:47 ↗ kind of set some foundational stuff. The

1:26:50 ↗ first hour will be kind of um some kind

1:26:53 ↗ of we know that everybody's on a

1:26:54 ↗ different equity journey and on

1:26:56 ↗ different some people are are brand new

1:26:59 ↗ to equity training some people are

1:27:00 ↗ experts at it um I have found that this

1:27:03 ↗ commission is a little more on the

1:27:04 ↗ expert end um and has had more

1:27:07 ↗ experience thought and knowledge in it

1:27:10 ↗ um comparatively but um so there will be

1:27:12 ↗ some foundational training um there's

1:27:15 ↗ going to be breakout groups inerson

1:27:17 ↗ breakout groups so there can be some

1:27:18 ↗ smaller kind of conversations and

1:27:20 ↗ discussion. Um, and then there's also

1:27:22 ↗ going to be like a followup. So, one of

1:27:25 ↗ the things that this group provided

1:27:26 ↗ feedback for um that we're making sure

1:27:28 ↗ we have for this equity training is that

1:27:31 ↗ we are going to basically say, "Okay,

1:27:34 ↗ Redmond, Kirkland, Samish Commissioners,

1:27:36 ↗ it was great chatting with you, hearing

1:27:37 ↗ your perspective. We learned this. We

1:27:39 ↗ took this, but now we're going to bring

1:27:40 ↗ it back home and we're going to talk

1:27:41 ↗ about it and we're going to really dive

1:27:43 ↗ deeper into it as a here on this

1:27:45 ↗ commission." And that's where it leads

1:27:46 ↗ us into March 18th. We're going to keep

1:27:48 ↗ that as a regular meeting so we can have

1:27:50 ↗ timely conversation um in regards to the

1:27:54 ↗ equity training followup.

1:27:56 ↗ So,

1:27:58 ↗ and then we'll discuss if we like it or

1:28:00 ↗ not for next time.

1:28:02 ↗ So, hopefully there's an improvement

1:28:03 ↗ because I agree there was some

1:28:04 ↗ opportunities missed and opportunities

1:28:07 ↗ for a better training. So, we hope this

1:28:11 ↗ will facilitate that. So, yeah. Yeah.

1:28:14 ↗ So, March 18th will be our equity

1:28:16 ↗ training um followup um and then

1:28:20 ↗ potentially grant preparation.

1:28:24 ↗ Um and then April 15th, this will be a

1:28:26 ↗ quick turnover for staff for us, but um

1:28:28 ↗ the application closes like April 7th or

1:28:31 ↗ some somewhere early April. Um so, what

1:28:33 ↗ the my hope is by April 15th that we'll

1:28:36 ↗ have basically the general numbers.

1:28:37 ↗ We'll tell you how many organizations

1:28:39 ↗ applied, how much funding was requested.

1:28:42 ↗ um we'll have it by our subgroups, those

1:28:44 ↗ things. And then um we'll make decisions

1:28:47 ↗ on um subgroup assignments at that point

1:28:50 ↗ and then um so then from there um you'll

1:28:53 ↗ also be trained on like how to access

1:28:56 ↗ everything kind of the logistics of the

1:28:57 ↗ application. So then from there, April

1:29:00 ↗ to May, our next meeting, you'll have

1:29:02 ↗ time basically to just dabble into it.

1:29:04 ↗ look at one, maybe two applications and

1:29:06 ↗ come prepared to ask questions on the

1:29:09 ↗ 20th meeting where we'll just kind of

1:29:10 ↗ say, "Okay, how's this process going?

1:29:12 ↗ What kind of questions do you have?

1:29:14 ↗ What's the review process? Making sure

1:29:16 ↗ our toolkits up up to speed, all that."

1:29:19 ↗ June, we will not have a meeting because

1:29:21 ↗ you're going to be meeting in

1:29:22 ↗ subcommittees. So, we'll have smaller

1:29:24 ↗ groups with that aren't quorum. So, no

1:29:26 ↗ regular meeting, but you are meeting at

1:29:28 ↗ least twice a month to have that those

1:29:30 ↗ kind of unrecorded conversations about

1:29:33 ↗ those applications and to make um to

1:29:36 ↗ make those decisions. Um and then July,

1:29:39 ↗ we'll have our report out and then come

1:29:41 ↗ August or September, we'll have um we'll

1:29:45 ↗ basically have our recommendation by

1:29:47 ↗ then.

1:29:49 ↗ So the one thing that we um have not had

1:29:52 ↗ or what we need to talk about is making

1:29:54 ↗ sure that we have between now and April,

1:29:58 ↗ I guess May, we have enough time to feel

1:30:00 ↗ like everybody here is trained in the

1:30:03 ↗ application review process. So, what

1:30:05 ↗ that's going to look like is a training

1:30:07 ↗ of um kind of the background

1:30:10 ↗ information,

1:30:11 ↗ um the application,

1:30:13 ↗ how to access the application, um how to

1:30:16 ↗ review it, and then the big one is the

1:30:18 ↗ toolkit. So, we use a specific toolkit

1:30:21 ↗ that I think has worked really well for

1:30:23 ↗ this group. It's basically kind of um a

1:30:26 ↗ two two-tier process. first is we go

1:30:30 ↗ through the applications in your

1:30:31 ↗ subgroup and we decide it's a it's a

1:30:35 ↗ red, yellow, green process. So, yes, we

1:30:39 ↗ should definitely fund them. I don't

1:30:41 ↗ know how much yet. Maybe we should.

1:30:43 ↗ Let's talk more about it. Or no, they're

1:30:44 ↗ not aligned. We have a toolkit that

1:30:47 ↗ really helps guide us those decisions.

1:30:49 ↗ So, what's in a green category is

1:30:51 ↗ labeled as this, a yellow, and then a

1:30:54 ↗ red category as this. Um that's what

1:30:56 ↗ we're going to go into details for so

1:30:58 ↗ everyone feels prepared in looking at

1:31:00 ↗ the applications and then add the equity

1:31:03 ↗ training we hopefully be well equipped

1:31:05 ↗ to um start looking at applications come

1:31:08 ↗ April.

1:31:09 ↗ >> Now we might have another commissioner.

1:31:13 ↗ So that is the other thing that kind of

1:31:16 ↗ is a little complex with this is that

1:31:18 ↗ come May 20th

1:31:20 ↗ will be there'll be a new we have a

1:31:23 ↗ vacant position that we're looking to

1:31:24 ↗ fill and if anybody steps down

1:31:30 ↗ we might have other positions to fill

1:31:33 ↗ that.

1:31:36 ↗ So it what that will require is um

1:31:39 ↗ one-on-one training with those

1:31:40 ↗ individuals to kind of get them up to

1:31:43 ↗ speed. So it'll be doable. But yes, we

1:31:45 ↗ probably have one to two additional

1:31:48 ↗ people.

1:31:49 ↗ Um so going back though to the kind of

1:31:52 ↗ So now I just my hope is that laying out

1:31:54 ↗ like what's what's ahead of our schedule

1:31:57 ↗ um and what we need to accomplish. Um

1:32:00 ↗ let's rewind to January and February.

1:32:03 ↗ Um, we basically need to make sure we

1:32:05 ↗ have time to talk about our toolkit and

1:32:08 ↗ dissect it, change it, update it, and

1:32:11 ↗ then making sure that we have enough as

1:32:13 ↗ a commission, enough time for training

1:32:14 ↗ in the application process. That can

1:32:18 ↗ take one meeting, that could take one to

1:32:19 ↗ two meetings.

1:32:20 ↗ >> I suggest that we keep the meeting for

1:32:24 ↗ January 21st.

1:32:25 ↗ >> We have a lot of new people

1:32:27 ↗ >> and maybe possibly go through a scenario

1:32:30 ↗ or how things work.

1:32:31 ↗ >> Yeah. And uh you know because that

1:32:35 ↗ toolkit does take a little bit of

1:32:38 ↗ >> work to get.

1:32:39 ↗ >> Yep. Yep. Great.

1:32:42 ↗ >> Are you proposing

1:32:44 ↗ >> Commissioner Money around maybe keeping

1:32:46 ↗ the 21st and then council on the 18th?

1:32:50 ↗ >> Yeah,

1:32:50 ↗ >> that's what I I when I look at this I if

1:32:53 ↗ I

1:32:55 ↗ >> Yeah. And then we would have that we

1:32:57 ↗ would know whether or not we need the

1:32:59 ↗ February meeting. I I think I think what

1:33:02 ↗ we could do is do like a very um I think

1:33:05 ↗ we could be very intentional on the 21st

1:33:08 ↗ really um go through kind of the the

1:33:11 ↗ kind of highlevel background so everyone

1:33:12 ↗ feels like orientated about what is

1:33:14 ↗ going on uh with grant application

1:33:16 ↗ process and then we can dive deeper into

1:33:18 ↗ our toolkit because that does take a

1:33:20 ↗ little bit of time um and I think that

1:33:22 ↗ could be easily done on one meeting um

1:33:25 ↗ and then come March 18th we'll have a

1:33:28 ↗ very Uh, nope. Sorry. March 18th.

1:33:32 ↗ Um, so with the so if we skip February

1:33:36 ↗ 18th keeping okay

1:33:38 ↗ >> instead of rescheduling it, we'll have

1:33:40 ↗ kind of two in March. So that's kind of

1:33:42 ↗ I we have two in January, we'll have two

1:33:45 ↗ in March

1:33:46 ↗ >> and possibly skip February.

1:33:49 ↗ >> Um, with skipping Yeah, with skipping

1:33:51 ↗ February, we could also wait to make a

1:33:53 ↗ decision and see how do we feel in

1:33:55 ↗ January? Do we feel a little bit

1:33:56 ↗ overwhelmed and we need to have a little

1:33:59 ↗ like we need to kind of slow down and

1:34:01 ↗ really start looking at things again? We

1:34:03 ↗ can certainly keep a February meeting so

1:34:06 ↗ we can make that decision. Um I think

1:34:08 ↗ with March 18th meeting we're going to

1:34:11 ↗ have probably an hour plus conversation

1:34:13 ↗ in regards to the equity training

1:34:15 ↗ followup and we could probably um

1:34:19 ↗ probably use about 30 minutes for kind

1:34:21 ↗ of grant prep. We will also have April

1:34:24 ↗ 15th uh or yeah April 15th we'll also

1:34:27 ↗ have grant preparation because we'll

1:34:29 ↗ have a report out of okay overview of

1:34:31 ↗ what it is. Now let's go and let's do it

1:34:34 ↗ um another training on it since it's so

1:34:37 ↗ that way it's fresh in your minds.

1:34:39 ↗ >> Yeah. I think the April May is when the

1:34:41 ↗ overwhelming comes.

1:34:43 ↗ >> Yes, I agree. Because you're meeting

1:34:45 ↗ outside of the regular monthly meeting

1:34:50 ↗ >> trying to make sense out of stuff. I

1:34:52 ↗ don't know if you need a break before

1:34:53 ↗ that, but I think if you're comfortable

1:34:55 ↗ with the tool blocks and that it will be

1:34:59 ↗ you don't there's be one part of the

1:35:02 ↗ process you don't have to worry about.

1:35:03 ↗ >> Yeah, that's true. And you know we are

1:35:05 ↗ trying to give you commissioners like a

1:35:07 ↗ month to kind of like test the waters a

1:35:09 ↗ little bit, try it out like and so that

1:35:11 ↗ will basically it's it come June June

1:35:15 ↗ and July is really when you are going

1:35:17 ↗ deep dive into the applications.

1:35:20 ↗ >> It's fine. fun.

1:35:24 ↗ I

1:35:24 ↗ >> was going to say for those of us who are

1:35:26 ↗ new,

1:35:29 ↗ >> how do you define fun?

1:35:31 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:35:33 ↗ >> Don't make sense.

1:35:35 ↗ It'll make sense.

1:35:37 ↗ >> I like getting into the nitty-gritty.

1:35:38 ↗ So, don't I like read reports and stuff.

1:35:42 ↗ So,

1:35:42 ↗ >> kind of rips you out as soon as you

1:35:44 ↗ think.

1:35:45 ↗ >> Yeah,

1:35:47 ↗ that's true.

1:35:48 ↗ >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. So, commissioners, I'm

1:35:50 ↗ hearing January 21st. Yes. And then

1:35:53 ↗ February 18th, we will cancel. And then

1:35:56 ↗ March, we got a double double meeting.

1:36:01 ↗ And then April, we'll get right into it.

1:36:03 ↗ Okay. Excellent.

1:36:05 ↗ >> Mor, you good with that?

1:36:07 ↗ >> I'm good with that.

1:36:08 ↗ >> Lovely. Okay. Thank you. All right,

1:36:10 ↗ commissioners. Appreciate your time on

1:36:11 ↗ that.

1:36:12 ↗ Um, I did have a question about the

1:36:15 ↗ information you you had out for helping

1:36:21 ↗ the homeless as far as getting

1:36:24 ↗ information. Is that information

1:36:25 ↗ available at the library?

1:36:27 ↗ >> Oh, like these resource cards

1:36:29 ↗ >> um cards or how they can get help from

1:36:33 ↗ different services?

1:36:35 ↗ >> Uh, at the library, I believe. So, we

1:36:37 ↗ used to have the library hours. We

1:36:39 ↗ haven't done that in a while. Yeah, we

1:36:40 ↗ used to staff over there once a week.

1:36:42 ↗ Um, let me check in with Carla and see

1:36:44 ↗ what they have.

1:36:45 ↗ >> Yeah,

1:36:46 ↗ >> they used to I know they they refer a

1:36:48 ↗ lot of people to us, so I think they

1:36:49 ↗ have the information over there still,

1:36:50 ↗ but I'll

1:36:51 ↗ >> you can look it up hard copy, right?

1:36:54 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:36:55 ↗ >> Thank you.

1:36:59 ↗ >> Okay. And other business over there,

1:37:01 ↗ other announcements or business

1:37:03 ↗ controls? Oh, you were nice. Um, I know

1:37:07 ↗ I brought this up a couple times before,

1:37:09 ↗ but I really believe that um our

1:37:15 ↗ our youth representative needs a vote.

1:37:18 ↗ >> Okay.

1:37:18 ↗ >> Uh I don't know if we have to go through

1:37:21 ↗ change of bylaws or or what, but um I

1:37:26 ↗ think if we're going to get other youth

1:37:28 ↗ engaged,

1:37:30 ↗ we have to be more than just present.

1:37:33 ↗ Absolutely. Um let me talk to our city

1:37:36 ↗ clerks about uh Preston's role. Um we

1:37:39 ↗ would love to have um him to have a

1:37:42 ↗ vote. He might might I I may not be just

1:37:45 ↗ be aware of that. Um some boards and

1:37:47 ↗ commission have specifically like a

1:37:49 ↗ position that is a youth representative.

1:37:51 ↗ We actually as a commission don't have

1:37:53 ↗ that. We just have had um volunteers

1:37:56 ↗ youth representatives come in. Um, so

1:37:58 ↗ that would be a bylaw change if we

1:38:01 ↗ wanted to look at that as a commission,

1:38:02 ↗ which we certainly can. Um,

1:38:06 ↗ um, but let me

1:38:08 ↗ let me ask and let me come and bring

1:38:10 ↗ this back in 2026 when I see you again.

1:38:12 ↗ >> And I guess I can ask Preston. Preston,

1:38:14 ↗ do you want to vote?

1:38:16 ↗ >> Sure.

1:38:19 ↗ >> All right. Well, we're going to give you

1:38:20 ↗ a vote.

1:38:20 ↗ >> Next one, too. Preston.

1:38:22 ↗ >> Yeah, we got Preston's place, but you've

1:38:25 ↗ been with us, Six years. How long? No,

1:38:27 ↗ it's Yeah. No, I totally agree. I think

1:38:29 ↗ that that's a great point. So, we we

1:38:31 ↗ would love to support that.

1:38:32 ↗ >> Okay.

1:38:33 ↗ >> Yeah. Thanks, Manny.

1:38:37 ↗ >> Any other announcements from the group?

1:38:39 ↗ >> I had a question.

1:38:41 ↗ >> Okay. I was I was I had a lot of time on

1:38:44 ↗ my hands today. So, I was doing a lot of

1:38:45 ↗ digging online and I was um I couldn't

1:38:48 ↗ find like all the past presentations

1:38:51 ↗ from the other providers I have

1:38:53 ↗ presented previously. And I don't know

1:38:55 ↗ if we have that saved in a folder

1:38:56 ↗ somewhere. I just couldn't find it.

1:38:58 ↗ >> I know sometimes they'll share it like

1:39:01 ↗ just like

1:39:01 ↗ >> Oh, their powerpoints.

1:39:03 ↗ >> Their powerpoints and like they'll send

1:39:04 ↗ those over email, but I wasn't sure if

1:39:06 ↗ we like shared those or kept those like

1:39:08 ↗ in an email somewhere.

1:39:09 ↗ >> Yeah, cuz um I didn't put them on our

1:39:11 ↗ agenda. Um I would need to follow up

1:39:13 ↗ with those um

1:39:15 ↗ >> providers cuz I didn't receive a copy of

1:39:17 ↗ them or most of them I didn't. Um, we do

1:39:21 ↗ have a YouTube channel that this gets

1:39:23 ↗ posted to. Um, so if you wanted to re we

1:39:27 ↗ re rewatch things on YouTube.

1:39:29 ↗ >> Okay.

1:39:30 ↗ >> I think this YouTube can find commission

1:39:32 ↗ and boards.

1:39:33 ↗ >> Okay.

1:39:34 ↗ >> This is all public recorded and posted.

1:39:36 ↗ So yeah.

1:39:38 ↗ >> Um, so that's where you can at least

1:39:40 ↗ find that like real quick. But if you

1:39:41 ↗ want me to follow up if there's any

1:39:43 ↗ anyone you're looking for specifically

1:39:44 ↗ or is there are you looking for all of

1:39:46 ↗ them? Well, I was looking for more of

1:39:47 ↗ the ones that I hadn't participated. So,

1:39:50 ↗ like everything before May.

1:39:52 ↗ >> Um,

1:39:53 ↗ >> but then I was like, oh, like I remember

1:39:55 ↗ like a couple different presentations

1:39:57 ↗ that were really good. And I was like,

1:39:58 ↗ oh, like additional details and

1:40:00 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:40:01 ↗ >> just to kind of like refresh and

1:40:03 ↗ >> Yeah. Yeah.

1:40:04 ↗ >> Like I've had like friends that will ask

1:40:05 ↗ me sometimes like how can we support and

1:40:07 ↗ I'm like there's a really good

1:40:08 ↗ organization for that. Let me look

1:40:10 ↗ through all my notes. But I'm like,

1:40:12 ↗ yeah, obviously if there was like

1:40:14 ↗ something that we could like at least

1:40:15 ↗ share, not everything, but like, oh,

1:40:16 ↗ hey, this organization is doing this

1:40:18 ↗ type of service. Here's how you can

1:40:20 ↗ support or whatever.

1:40:21 ↗ >> Yeah. Yeah.

1:40:23 ↗ >> Um, the website I shared um would be

1:40:26 ↗ really great just for that specifically.

1:40:28 ↗ Um, but YouTube to kind of reook at

1:40:31 ↗ video I think would be the quickest way

1:40:34 ↗ right now.

1:40:36 ↗ Thank you.

1:40:44 ↗ Oh, and so then for next year there

1:40:46 ↗ won't be any moreations,

1:40:48 ↗ >> right?

1:40:54 ↗ >> Yeah.

1:40:55 ↗ >> I mean, they are welcome to come as a

1:40:57 ↗ public um and make a public comment at

1:41:01 ↗ this point. Um but since it's a

1:41:03 ↗ application review year, we are

1:41:05 ↗ sensitive to making sure it's kind of

1:41:07 ↗ equally fair. Yeah.

1:41:14 ↗ >> All right. Hey,

1:41:16 ↗ >> I think uh

1:41:18 ↗ we're journ

1:41:22 ↗ >> and I have stop recording and

Approved minutes

Extracted from the next meeting's packet, where this meeting's minutes were approved as a consent-calendar attachment.

Open PDF

Attendance

Council / Members (9)

Jaime Fajardo

Manny Brown

Maury Edwards

Madeline Fish

Huma Mohibullah

Jaydianette Ramirez

Ray Manahan

Trish Bloor

Preston Miele, Virtual Attendance

Staff (2)

Hannah Roberts, Senior Human Services Coordinator

Brenda Parker, Human Services Manager

Recommendations & actions (6)

Sentences extracted from the narrative containing words like recommended, requested, directed, moved, or approved. Best-effort — verify against the full minutes for context.

Commissioner BLOOR motioned to approve the minutes of October 15, 2025 with the proposed edits.
Commissioner BROWN seconded the motion, there was unanimous consent to approve the minutes with the recommended edits.
Based on performance, cultural competency, and ability to deploy funds quickly, staff recommended allocating the full $50,000 to The Circle, an existing contracted provider.
If approved as part of the 2025–2026 mid-biennium budget and endorsed by the Commission, staff will amend The Circle’s contract to include the one-time emergency funding.
After discussion, Commissioner EDWARDS motioned to approve the funding recommendation to support The Circle with $50,000 for legal support services, BLOOR seconded the motion and there was unanimous consent to approve…
c) Staff Report Staff reported that City Council approved the mid-biennium budget, which includes $50,000 in one-time emergency human services funding, and that the Mayor continues holding monthly meetings with local…