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Home My WebLink About2024-09-04 Government Operations Committee Minutes GovOps ep.csi`��yF:;r�rr; � c "` CITY oF BANGOR Government Operations Committee Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024 Minutes Committee Members: Tremble, Hawes, Schaefer, Yacoubagha, Fish Non-committee Members: Fournier, Deane, Pelletier Staff: Courtney O'Donnell, Debbie Laurie, Jen Jones, Jen Gunderman Time opened: 5:25 PM 1. Catholic Charities of Maine Presentation Michelle Bucholz and Steve Letourneau were present representing Catholic Charities of Maine. They have multiple offices in the state and 24 programs but are here to talk about their Refugee resettlement program. Michelle went through a slideshow, highlights included in order of discussion during the meeting: - The numbers presented are from the Bangor office specifically, which encompasses the Greater Bangor area. - Most refugees are employable from the beginning. - 100 individual refugees to be relocated in FY 24. As of August 6, 84 of those have been settled. Expect to settle 150 individuals in FY25. - Refugees are different than asylum seekers. Refugees arrive at invitation from federal government and can work from day one. - They are typically placed into permanent housing as quickly as possible through relationships with landlords. (Landlords do not receive any additional compensation beyond market rate for housing refugees specifically). Councilor Fish expressed concern about refugees taking housing from those who already live here. They clarified it's a 100 people but its about a quarter or 25 worth of units that would be needed as the number includes families. - Councilor Dina expressed support and pointed out it is the federal government assigning these numbers. Refugee settlements are a planned process and can help fill workforce needs. - Most states have a refugee resettlement program. As part of the United Nations agreement, folks are vetted and approved by the federal government and are distribute to the states. Either the state or the organization tasked with resettlement are responsible to work within the communities to set them up for success. Most strive for the value added by immigrants. - Councilor Fish asked about the term "parolee." Steve explained that that means specific folks recognized and allowed to enter or stay due to urgent humanitarian reasons, such as Ukraine and they have a different process. The term often throws people off term and doesn't mean something negative in this circumstance. 2. Built for Zero Presentation Kelly Watson and Tara Hembree from MaineHousing was joined by Jen Jones, the City's Homelessness Response Manager, to present updated information and data related to the State's Built for Zero program. The state is divided into HUBS, Bangor is apart of Hub 7 which encompasses both Penobscot and Piscataquis counties. They presented a slideshow, highlights include: - HMIS system database stores all information collected providers servicing the homelessness population, some are mandated if they receive federal funding except for domestic violence. The information shared by MaineHousing comes from this system. - Total persons served in shelters, 450. She spoke to duplicates in the data. - CM asked about rental assistance and the city of Bangor shelter plus care and outreach, the numbers are specific to the City of Bangor. They do not include numbers from the program referred to as PATH, which is the primary agency for such work. PATH serves three hubs and Mainehousing indicated they'd have to pull that data separately. The first two columns are City specific and therefore it isn't a complete picture of what may be occurring in Bangor. - Coordinated entry isn't funded but a system was needed to analyze a system. Built for Zero has been trying to implement learning from other initiatives and things are starting to fall into place. There have been 1155 assessments since 10/2022. There are four phases—identifying, assessing needs, making prioritization based on Continuum of Care, and referral to housing. Assessment is where most info is captured. Most resources are looking for those with higher needs. People can be outside or in shelter, but must meet definition of HUD homelessness. - Data shows the last zip code of permanent address and it is self-reported. There was extensive discussion regarding this topic. 3. Grant Application - Housing Navigation & Stabilization Pilot Program Jen Jones, Homelessness Response Manager, and City Manager Debbie Laurie reviewed this funding opportunity through Maine Housing. It is for those experiencing homelessness and requires wrap around services to insulate those transitioning to housing. Approval would move the authority to apply for grant in the amount 400k to create two-year pilot program to full Council. It would allow the City to hire one full time employee as a housing navigator.There are others are in the community but it is not systemized or available to a larger population. Requirements of the grant is that it must start Feb. 1 of 2025. Already have starting pieces that are required and we would want to be in position to move quickly. Evaluation of program parameters are flushed out. A motion was made by Councilor Schaefer to move the item to full Council, seconded by Councilor Tremble, all in favor. 4. Order: Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Revised Memorandum of Understanding with Maine Mental Health Connection's Together Place Peer Run Recovery Center to Receive Up to $50,000 from the State of Maine Public Health Director Jen Gunderman shared that this grant would shift the existing funding from one organization that could fulfill the requirements to the Together Place Peer Run Recovery Center. A motion was made by Councilor Schaefer to move the item to full Council, seconded by Councilor Hawes, all in favor. 5. Order: Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for a Bangor Breakfast Rotary Grant to Assist with Funding for a Prenatal and Postpartum Support Group Public Health Director Jen Gunderman shared that every Friday at the library nurses work with those and provide support for those who recently gave birth for the last eight or nine months. This funding would support the milk and cookies they bring for the parents. A motion was made by Councilor Schaefer to move the item to full Council, seconded by Councilor Tremble, all in favor. 6. Order: Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for$1,231,588 through the Maine Continuum of Care Notification of Funding Opportunity for City of Bangor Rental Assistance Program Public Health Director Jen Gunderman explained this item. It is a renewal for ongoing work for voucher. The City has held this grant for over 20 years. It is formerly known as Shelter Plus Care. A motion was made by Councilor Schaefer to move the item to full Council, seconded by Councilor Tremble, all in favor. 7. Order—Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for$8,000 in 2025 Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) Grant Funding through Dirigo Safety, LLC for the Police Department City Manager Debbie Laurie provided an overview of this grant opportunity for targeted enforcement related to underage drinking laws to support police department. The Grant manager identified this opportunity. A motion was made by Councilor Schaefer to move the item to full Council, seconded by Councilor Tremble, all in favor. 8. Public Health Director update - Public Health Director Jen Gunderman provided an update on arbovirus disease from insects. At the end of July, a crow tested positive for West Nile in Bangor, which was confirmation but isn't new to our area. In mid-august "Triple E" was tested positive in an emu. Ways to care for yourself are through personal protection and mosquito control — be aware, insect repellent, clothing, no standing water, etc. Numbers are not increasing, that is misinformation. In response to a question, City Manager Laurie shared that large retention ponds have an outlet in place, so it flows out as designed and is moving. - HIV cluster remains at 13 cases. Maine CDC has a website available and is updating numbers every Thursday. CDC is reporting of the 13, all are coinfected with Hepatitis C and have a risk factor drug injection; 11 have reported being unhoused in the last year. - Maine CDC emergency preparedness are setting a incident command from DHHS and the City was formally invited to participate in that process. - Flu is around the corner and clinics being scheduled. Walk in hours are on Mondays and Wednesday at Public Health. - Accreditation —The City was unsuccessful with their grant application for the fellow. Approval from state to hire a person with infrastructure grant dollars that already exist will be used instead. - Opioid settlement funds, update took feedback and are drafting a more detailed proposal based on feedback. 9. ACM Update Courtney 0'Donnell, Assistant City Manager, gave a quick update on the Community Connector including a need to reduce service by combining a couple routes of Hammond and Center Streets. We are doing what we can regarding service. Will have another update soon. A motion was made by Councilor Schaefer to move into Executive Session 1 MRSA Section 405 (6)(F) - Workers Compensation Settlement, seconded by Councilor Hawes, roll call vote, all in favor. 10. Executive Session— 1 MRSA Section 405 (6)(F) - Workers Compensation Settlement 11. Open Session —Workers Compensation Settlement Recommendation A motion was made by Councilor Schaefer to recommend approval of the settlement agreement to the item to full Council, seconded by Councilor Tremble, all in favor. Time Ended: 7:23 PM