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Minutes 09-13-07 MINUTES OF THE YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROJECT MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 13,2007 AT 4:00 P.M., CONFERENCE ROOM B, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA Present: Jose Rodriguez, Chair Stacey Robinson, YVPP Coordinator Laura Elena Santos Lt. Kelly Harris, Boynton Beach Police Department Buck Buchanan, Board Member, Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce Tanya Ebbole, CEO, Children's Services Council, PBC Kathleen Perry, Principal, Boynton Beach Community High School (arrived at 4:27 p.rn.) James Kidd, South Tech Academy Robin Johnson, Director of Outreach & Improvement Services, Palm Beach Community College Absent: Mikel D. Jones, P.A. Myra Jones, President Ridgewood Hills Neighborhood Association Robert Taylor, CFO, Bethesda Memorial Hospital Lena Rahming, Director Boynton Beach Child Care Center Elivio Serrano, Vice President Programs, United Way of Palm Beach County Beverly Johnson, Executive Director, YMCA Melvin Brown, Ridgewood Hills Vinola Rada, Non-voting Member Lisa Bright, Executive Director, Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Also Present: Nate Nichols, Deputy Director, Children's Services Council Yves Corioland, potential provider I. Welcome and Opening Comments - Jose Rodriguez, Chair Chair Rodriguez called the meeting to order at 4: 17 a.m. II. Roll Call - Recording Secretary The Recording Secretary called the roll. A quorum was present. 1 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, Florida September 13, 2007 III. Introduction of Guests Ms. Ebbole introduced Nate Nichols, Deputy Director, Children1s Services Council and advised Mr. Nichols would be replacing her as a member of the board. Yves Corioland introduced himself and spoke of his background. He would be potential provider. IV. Approval and/or additions to the Agenda Chair Rodriguez requested item "B" be added under New Business, "Update on Meeting with Criminal Justice Commission." Motion Ms. Ebbole moved to approve the agenda as amended. Ms. Santos seconded the motion that passed unanimously. V. Approval and/or additions to the minutes of August 1, 2007 Executive Committee Meeting It was requested the names of Mr. Buchanan and Ms. Ebbole be added to the above minutes as having been absent from the meeting. Motion Ms. Robinson moved to approve the minutes as amended. Ms. Santos seconded the motion that passed unanimously. VI. Chairman's Comments Chair Rodriguez contended there was much work to be done. He expressed disappointment, as he believed some of the momentum had been lost. He requested Ms. Robinson telephone each of the Execute Committee members to determine whether they would be participating on the board and attending meetings. Chair Rodriguez noted the board had commenced funding for some of the providers, and additional providers would be interviewed. VII. Old Business A. Upgrades to the Ezell Hester Center - Lt. Kelly Harris 2 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, Florida September 13, 2007 Lt. Harris advised computers were purchased for the Hester Center. (Ms. Perry joined the meeting). Chair Rodriguez discussed a meeting he had with the Criminal Justice Commission. Mr. Kidd, Lt. Harris and Ms. Robinson also attended the meeting, as did Rebecca Walker and Max Davis, of the School Board. One of the items discussed was the Youth Empowerment Center. On its application submitted to the County, the board members indicated they would use the Hester Center as the Youth Empowerment Center. However, the board had difficulty in allocating time to the program as the Hester Center was in use a good deal of the time. The Criminal Justice Commission encouraged the board to establish a Youth Empowerment Center that could be independent of other organizations within the City, and a center the youth could manage and call their own. West Palm Beach and Riviera Beach had Youth Empowerment Centers. The Community Redevelopment Agency voted to demolish a building located on MLK Boulevard; therefore that building would be renovated and available for use as the Youth Empowerment Center. The cost for renovations would be approximately $50,000 or $60,000. Ms. Bright advised of another building, a church located on Sea crest Boulevard, which was purchased by the CRA. The church was nicer, larger and would not require renovations. However, the CRA had a lease with the church until March 2008. Chair Rodriguez requested Ms. Bright approach representatives of the church to determine whether they would agree to vacate earlier. It was Ms. Robinson's intent to tour both buildings. She could not gain access to the church which was located directly on Sea crest Boulevard. The other building on MLK Boulevard was fairly small and would need to be gutted. Once renovated, the board members could centralize their efforts. The Hester Center could still be used as the sports element. If the building on MLK Boulevard was selected for use as the Youth Empowerment Center, this would provide the youth with the opportunity of participating in the design and construction of the building. Ms. Bright would be contacting church representatives next week. If they did not agree to vacate earlier than the March 2008 lease date, the board would move forward with the other building, allocate resources for the renovation, and assemble a team to work on the remodeling of the building. The CRA would hire a contractor to pull the necessary permits. 3 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, Florida September 13, 2007 Chair Rodriguez advised he would coordinate a meeting with the City Manager and CRA to determine how the work could be performed in-house with resources available. Direction would be provided at the next meeting, or sooner, if a special meeting was called. Ms. Robinson met with the teens, and they developed a logo for the program, as well as a web page. A list containing the names of youths was collected at the recent Intergenerational event, and Ms. Robinson agreed to follow up with Ms. Lyons in an effort to reach out to the youths. B. Violence Crimes Task Force Visual Presentation - Stacey Robinson The flyers had been redesigned and printed for the board's presentation at the Community Relations Board meeting of September 26, 2007. The flyers would be provided to the middle and elementary schools to be furnished to parents. Chair Rodriguez advised he met with the Boynton Forum and discussed the presentation from both enforcement and proactive positions. C. Strategic Planning - Jose Rodriguez, Chair At the last meeting, the board voted on hours and functions pertaining to the Center for Non-Profit Excellence. Ms. Robinson had been working with Katharin Brink, PhD, and had put together outcome measurements that would be furnished to the providers for use in managing the outcomes. D. Community Walk Assessment - Lt. Kelly Harris Lt. Harris, Ms. Robinson, representatives from Mad Dads and a reporter from the Boynton Forum met near the Cherry Hill Mini Mart and got together with some of the citizens to let them know the Youth Violence Prevention Project was underway. Citizens were requested to assist, including participation in their neighborhood associations. Positive feedback was received by the board members, and many of the citizens were grateful for the help provided by the YVPP. The members of the YVPP agreed to meet at least once a month and visit different communities in an attempt to get more people involved in the program. Chair Rodriguez expressed an interest in participating in the next meeting, and encouraged participation by board members as well. 4 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, Florida September 13, 2007 VIII. New Business A. Review of Additional Application for Funding Assistance Update - Jose Rodriguez, Chair Three additional providers submitted applications and Mr. Robinson put together recommendations. Ms. Robinson advised the R.M. Lee Community Development Center was a non-profit organization that housed St. John Missionary Baptist Church. The Center sought initial startup costs of approximately $10,000 for their REV (Reducing Ethnic Violence) program designed to curtail negative behavior through the arts and cultural enrichment. The program would serve a minimum of 50 teens and would also target some of the issues addressed by the YVPP. The total program costs would be approximately $200,000. The organization was fiscally sound, having approximately $35,000 in assets. Funding sources included gifts, donations, grants and proceeds of fundraisers. Ms. Robinson's recommendation would be to provide seed funding to the R.M. Lee Community Development Center, provided they furnish outcome measures and other required documentation prior to additional funds being awarded. The board agreed a checklist should be established setting forth the documentation needed by the YVPP to provide additional funding to organizations. Organizations must provide a syllabus or design prior to the receipt of funding and must advise whether they had any connection to the Center for Non-Profit Excellence. Lastly, any center performing any type of parenting or offering parenting education would be required to work with the parents and confirm the center provided a bona fide curriculum. The board concurred it was not necessary to discuss each foundation individually, and agreed to accept Ms. Robinson's recommendations as set forth in the handouts. Motion Ms. Ebbole moved to approve Ms. Robinson's recommendations to provide seed money in the amount of $10,000 to the R.M. Lee Community Development Center; $10,000 in seed money to the M.A. Baldwin Foundation; and to provide fully-based funding in the amount of $10,000 to Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs Future Fisherman Foundation. Ms. Santos seconded the motion that passed unanimously. 5 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, Florida September 13, 2007 B. Update of Meeting with Criminal Justice Commission - Jose Rodriguez, Chair This item was discussed under VII., Old Business, Item A. Non-Agenda Item Chair Rodriguez requested an item be added to the agenda, and the board had no objection. Chair Rodriguez informed the board two organizations verbally advised they would not accept funding from the board, contending the board was disorganized and had no timelines. The organizations were informed the YVPP would not provide funding to any organization that would not furnish outcome measurements. He advised the organizations if they wished to refuse the funding, they most do so in writing. To date, one of the organizations followed up and sent a letter refusing funding. A response letter would be drafted and provided to the Executive Committee members. IX. Member Comments Mr. Kidd believed that in order for a program to be successful, requirements must be specified. It was his desire to help make the community a better place in which to live and work, and was in favor of establishing a Youth Empowerment Center. Ms. Johnson emphasized organizations seeking funding from the YVPP must be made aware of all funding requirements, and all requirements must be set forth in writing and clearly understood. In response to Ms. Johnson's query, Ms. Robinson advised the organizations receiving funding submitted receipts and were accountable as to the manner in which the dollars were spent. Ms. Ebbole believed a line item budget was needed, even for funding in the amount of $10,000. Ms. Perry suggested as funding requests were approved for the various entities, this be communicated to the publiC by website or newsletter. In response to Mr. Buchanan's query, the board advised the foundations were being funded up to $10,000. Chair Rodriguez suggested the board be more proactive with the agenda. 6 Meeting Minutes Youth Violence Prevention Project Boynton Beach, Florida September 13, 2007 x. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, the meeting properly adjourned at 5: 15 p.m. (1 I!L~ Qi- c~~~~ ';vi Stephanie D. Kahn Recording Secretary 09-18-07 09-18-07 7