10-02-95 Special
SPECIAL JOINT COUNCIL/RICHFIELD SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
October
Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Michael Sandahl; Russ Susag; Don
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Priebe; and Susan Rosenberg.
James Prosser, City Manager; Steven Administrative
STAFF PRESENT:
Services Director; Thomas Ferber, City Clerk; William Fillmore,
Liquor Operations Director; and Dennis Johnson, Human
Services Planner/Coordinator.
SCHOOL BOARD
Nancy Rowley, Roger Stern, David Lamberger, Rorie,
Steven Gamble, and Terry Freeman.
SCHOOL DISTRICT
Barbara Devlin, Bruce Abrahamson, Lynda and Judy
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at p.m.
Item #I
City Manager Prosser reviewed Council Letter No. 270 regarding the proposed
formation of a Richfield Community Council as recommended by the Family Services
Collaborative.
Camillo DeSantis, Chair of the Richfield Human Services Planning Council
(RHSPC), reviewed the history and background of the South Hennepin Human Service
Planning Agency and the Family Services Collaborative. He stated the South Hennepin
Human Services Planning Agency received a grant from the State of Minnesota for this
planning initiative. He indicated the main goal is to improve the health and development of
families by initiating systematic changes in a system that is currently fragmented in the
delivery of services to children and families. Mr. DeSantis stated the broad vision for the
Family Services Collaborative initiative is to develop an integrated service system that is:
Family focused and empowering for families
¦
Comprehensive and provides a continuum of services
¦
Community-based
¦
Focused on prevention and early intervention
¦
Culturally relevant
Built on strengths and resources of families and communities
¦
Mr. DeSantis stated the Family Services Collaborative planning initiative went
through the following six step planning process:
Creating a steering committee
2. Conducting research
specific
3. Defining goals and issues
4. Creating working groups to develop strategies
5. Preparing a blueprint
6. Approving the blueprint
Hestatedthe original blueprintcontained thirteen recommendations but was
condensed to the following three recommendations:
Develop a family support network in South Hennepin
2. Establish Community Councils and a South Hennepin based Family Services
Council
Decentralize and integrate county and other services into South Hennepin
Family Services Collaborative Steering Committee members Denny Johnson,
Nancy Rowley, and Lynda Gault presented and answered questions regarding the
following proposed responsibilities of the Richfield Community Council:
Help facilitate the implementation of the Family Services Collaborative blueprint
at the local level.
Serve as an advisory body to the local resource center.
Assess community strengths and needs, set community goals and evaluate
progress toward these goals.
Advise Richfield City Council and School Board and other bodies as appropriate
on how to meet family needs.
Coordinate community building efforts that support the strengths of families
Develop service evaluation guidelines and incorporate evaluation requirements
into the local Request For Proposal (RFP) process.
Provide ongoing support to local collaborative efforts.
¦
Serve as an advisory body to City Councils, School Boards and other bodies as
¦
deemed necessary.
Denny Johnson, Human Services Planner/Coordinator, explained the potential for a
joint local resource center with the City of Bloomington utilizing available space from an
existing agency which may be relocating to the l-494 area. Heindicated the resource
centers would bring existing resources together to redirect them to meet human services
needs for families.
Jeanne Massey, Senior Planner for the South Hennepin Human Service Planning
Agency, discussed the implementation process for the Family Services Collaborative
planning initiative blueprint.
Council Member Sandahl questioned why the existing Richfield Human Services
Planning Council cannot carry out the blueprint.
Council/School Board Meeting Minutes
City Manager Prosser indicated it was a symbolic step to make it more of a
community group rather than a city group.
Barb Devlin, ISD 280 Schools Superintendent, stated community organization
would appoint their own representatives to the Community Council.
Council Member Sandahl stated the current RHSPC was intended to represent the
community and the City Council would appoint others to represent any interested group.
He stated concern about the City giving up oversight and control with the proposed new
Community Council concept.
Camillo DeSantis stated he envisioned the Community Council continuing to advise
the City Council. He indicated the need to broaden community participation.
Council Member Susag discussed concerns about who the enabling body would be
for the Community Council, the structure, the vagueness of the collaborative effort, and
what is actually being committed to in this collaboration.
City Manager Prosser stated the Community Council would service the entire
community and not report only to the City Council. He stated the current RHSPC is
established by the City. The new Community Council would be established by working
agreements between the City, the schools, and other organizations. He stated the
Community Council would be a advisory body, not a policy body.
Barb Devlin stated that there is a need for better human services collaboration and
efficiency in facing state and federal budget cuts to human services.
Council Member Susag asked about the discussion in the August 21 RHSPC
minutes regarding the rent or purchase of a building for the local resource center along the
l-494 corridor.
Nancy Rowley indicated the discussion was in relation to a human service agency
relocating and providing extra space in their building for the resource center as an in-kind
donation.
City Manager Prosser indicated the Community Council’s goal would be to
influence how existing services are directed.
Date Approved:
Martin J. Mayor
Thomas P. Ferber
City Clerk