MINUTES

LAWTON CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING

APRIL 19, 2007 –  6:00 P.M.

WAYNE GILLEY CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER

Mayor John Purcell, Jr.                        Also Present:

Presiding                        Larry Mitchell, City Manager

                            Randy Henning, Assistant City Attorney

                            Denise Ezell, Deputy City Clerk

 

Mayor Purcell called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Notice of meeting and agenda were posted on the City Hall notice board as required by law.   

ROLL CALL

PRESENT:                Bill Shoemate, Ward One

James Hanna, Ward Two

Janice Drewry, Ward Three

Keith Jackson, Ward Four

                    Stanley Haywood, Ward Seven

                    Randy Warren, Ward Eight

ABSENT:                    Robert Shanklin, Ward Five

                    Jeff Patton, Ward Six

BUSINESS ITEMS:

1.    Hold a workshop to consider the Consolidated One-Year Action Plan for FFY 2007, receive input from sub recipient organizations, and provide input for development of the plan.  Exhibits:  A copy of the Consolidated One-Year Action Plan for FFY 2007 is on filed in the City Clerk’ s Office.

    Aplin stated tonight is a workshop giving give you an opportunity to review and discuss the Consolidated One Year Action Plan for FFY 2007.  We will provide a brief overview of the projects.  

Aplin stated the draft plan went out for citizen review on March 2.  The thirty day review concluded on April 2 ^nd.  There were no comments from local residents with respect to the draft.  Our sessions with the CPC were concluded on April 12^th.  You have been provided copies of the minutes from that meeting.  The spreadsheet you have shows CPC recommendations

    Aplin stated one of the important parts of the workbook is the first document.  This is the information paper on the Five Year Consolidated Plan priorities.  These priorities were approved by the City Council in the Five Year Consolidated Plan.  These priorities were designed to bring us in line with HUD’ s desires and policies.  These priorities are used to more or less drive the expenditures of our program.  Tim Libby will provide a brief overview during his presentation.  

    Aplin stated tab one identifies the funding request we received to included Public Services.  Not many public services applied for funding this year.  They probably see how our budget has gone south for several years.  There is a limited amount of funds directed to public services.  

    Aplin stated you have also been provided an Application Weighted Average Form that shows you the scores of the applications.  The applications were reviewed by Housing personnel and two disinterested volunteers from outside the City.  You have the latest up to date spreadsheet titled “Com-Plan FFY 2002 Allocation Comparison” that shows Housing’ s recommendation and CPC’ s recommendation.

    Aplin stated he would provide a little background of their funding experiences over the last few years.  Council was provided a spreadsheet titled “CDBG Home Program Funding History”.  Since the first deduction in 2003 the spreadsheet shows the total amount of funds lost on an annual basis.  It also shows the impact it has had on our administration and public services funding.   It is more instructive to look at what the community’ s total loss has been over this period.  If you assume the first reduction of $69,000 we had in 2002 is a permanent reduction then we basically lost that amount for the last five years.  Subsequent reductions all added together and accumulated we have lost over $887,000 of CDBG fund and $206,000 Home Program funds for this period of time.  The impact on our administration over the period is we have lost $173,500 accumulatively.  We are at a stage where we are forced to cut staff in order to stay within the 20% limit.  Mr. Ed Alexander has decided to leave employment with the City.  He will be leaving between now and the end of June.  This essentially leaves two people doing the job of three.  Another issue is the impact on public services.   The total amount of loss is over $133,000 that could have gone to providing public services.  

Aplin stated this is an update to allow you a little bit of perspective in what we are dealing with in regards to the budget.  If you add this all together the City has loss almost $1.1 million over the last five years that normally we would have expected.  The loss hampers our ability to fund projects that we use to do such as infrastructure.  

    Aplin stated for current funding if you look at CDBG funds between our entitlement amount and program income we are able to allocate $901,918.  This total is allocated on your spreadsheet.  For the Home Program and including PI we have $577,621.  Total losses between CDBG and Home are about a $4,000 reduction from the previous year.  

    Aplin stated they were working with HUD on the Section 108 Loan Guarantee application.  The Brownsfields Economic Development was approved and if we get the Section 108 it will give us additional $2 million.  In the future this will come out of the CDBG Program.  This locks in additional resources.  

    Aplin stated Tim Libby will be giving a brief overview of the CDBG Program.  He will be followed by Mr. Ed Alexander who will do the same with the Home Program.  Do you have any questions at this time?

    Purcell stated he knew where they got the $901 but, where did the $12,735 come from?  Is this a hold over from last year?  

    Aplin stated this was program income.  We are allowed to carry over program income and reallocate it the next year.  

    Libby introduced himself stating he was the Grants and Fiscal Officer.  This year we received a slight increase of less than $1,000 in CDBG funding.  The continuing resolution amendment locked in the funding for everybody and it turned out for the City it freed up a tad more money.   The program income is from house payments and the sale of homes.  Twenty percent goes towards administration and 15% towards public services. The rest was for projects.  

    Libby stated HUD’ s mandated is we can not spend more than $180,384 for administration.  Public Service cap this year is $135,288.  The sub-recipients are here to discuss with the Council the disposition of the $135,000.  This year we don’ t have the funds for request from Parks and Recreation or Public Works.  As you can see we have $180,000 for administration and we need $216,173 to fund the administration.  This is where the lose of staff comes in.  

    Libby stated the types of projects that are eligible haven’ t changed over the years. They are low-moderate income people, to remove slum and blight, and urgent needs.  

    Libby stated the low and moderate income map has stayed the same since 2000. According to the five year plan we attempt to fund high priorities.  Any left over funds goes to medium priorities.  We do not fund low priorities.  We would be willing to take a request to Mayor and Council to sign a letter of consistence with our consolidated plan to help any low priorities public services get funding.  If the City has no such need we don’ t provide either a letter of consistence or any funding for that priority.  

    Libby stated in the staff recommendation we have taken the consolidated plan and mixed it with common sense based on historical funding levels by the Mayor and Council.  If a public service agency asked for $45,000 they were not funded at that amount.  We tried to cut the pie so everybody got a little bit.  We tried to put the majority of our funding on current high priority agencies.  

    Libby stated the two funding recommendations are HCD/staff and City Planning Commission.  The major difference between the two recommendations was juvenile crime prevention or Teen Court.  Teen Court is a medium priority organization and CPC requested $14,000 be taken from a high priority organization and given to Teen Court. We do not recommend this.  Except C Carter Crane those organizations were already reduced to some level.  C Carter Crane is a ten year priority of the president and we try to max it out every year if we can.  We have recommended maximum funding for the shelter and a $5,000 deduction for the Community Collation.  Community Collation is a drug and alcohol prevention center.  Drug and alcohol prevention was of the top ten in the community needs assessment in 2005.  This makes it a very high priority and as they say “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.  Then you have Family Counseling and they also do drug and alcohol counseling making them a high priority.  

    Libby stated North Side Chamber of Commerce has an economic development project. They create jobs every year and their funding has been reduced from years past.  Their past request was for $72,000 and they reduced it this year to $68,000.  

Libby stated we project a 108 loan repayment and it is not in the plan.  We cannot put it in the actual plan until it is approved by HUD.  At that time we will do a change to the plan.  Then you will see the money from previous years for the 108 loan for repayment from contingency.  

    Libby asked if there were any question.  

    Jackson asked what was the reasoning of the increase request from the Teen Court.

    Libby stated Marie Detty no longer provides funding to Teen Court.  United Way is going to make up the difference for this year.  They cannot count on United Way in the future.  Crime prevention in the city right now is currently high visibility.  In the five year plan it only holds a medium priority.  If it is Councils desire to change the five year plan by raising it to a high priority we can do so.  For now it is a medium priority and that is why we recommended the funding level we did.  

    Alexander introduced himself stating he was the Federal Housing Coordinator.  This year HUD provided us with an entitlement grant of $494,284 which was approximately $3,700 less than last year.  During this past year we generated $83,337 in program income giving us a total amount of $577,621 to allocate for fiscal year 2007.  

    Alexander stated since there is adequate rental programs in town tenant based rental assistance is not a concerned priority.  

    Alexander stated the Home Program has funding requirements.  We are required to give 15% of the entitlement grant to a Community Housing Development Organization. We use to have three CHDO (Community Housing Development Organization).  After June 30 ^th there will only be two which are Great Plains Improvement Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.  Based on the entitlement grant we are required by the regulations to provide $74,143.  We are proposing to use $188,500 for CHDO’ s.  There is a 10% cap in administration for both the entitlement grant and program income.  This totals $57,762 and we are proposing to use all that.  

    Alexander stated the Home Program has a match requirement of 25¢ for every home dollar expended.  For several years we have received a 100% waiver from HUD on the match.  We continue to bank the match that is generated in case HUD comes back wanting us to pay the match.  Currently we have $912,183 and based on this years anticipated match coming in it will be over a million dollars by the end of the year.  

    Alexander stated the CHDO home funding request is Great Plains Improvement Foundation.  They are requesting $188,500 to construct three rental units.  One will be a duplex with two units and one will be a single family housing unit.  This is the first year we are not providing a grant it will be a deferred loan.  Somewhere in the future the entire amount will have to be paid back.  In addition, Great Plains Improvement Foundation is bringing $80,000 of their own money to the table to construct these three units.  

    Alexander stated they want to continue to fund the first time home buyers program.  In the past couple of years this program has taken off here.  We expect to do twenty to twenty-five first time home buyers this year.  Next year we will probably do ten to fifteen depending on the amount of assistance needed.  We would also like to continue the home owner’ s rehabilitation program and the home administration funding.

    Alexander stated subject to any questions this concludes his briefing.  

    Jackson stated last year on the first time home buyers program you had a funding of $250,000.  

    Alexander stated that money will be gone by the end of June.  

    Jackson stated this year you are requesting $100,000.  He understands this program is working great in the community and has a lot of success stories.  Why we are dropping it $100,000.

    Alexander stated rental construction is the highest priority in the plan.  The majority of the money was allocated to rental.  Homeowner rehabilitation has a higher priority and fourth in line are first time home buyers.

    Jackson stated he tends to disagree.  With the outrages home prices in Lawton Oklahoma it seems like you would want to help more young couples purchase a new home rather than rent.  Renting is throwing their money out the window.

    Alexander stated he agrees, but the plan establishes the priorities and our funding recommendations are based on the plan.

    Jackson asked who’ s plan.

    Alexander stated City of Lawton Consolidated Plan.  

    Jackson asked if our plan was reducing the budget by $100,000 and giving it to rental property.

    Alexander stated yes.  It is based on priorities.

    Purcell stated wait.  It is not that simple.  Look at the numbers at the bottom.  Funding went down last year around $50,000.  Last year shows $627 and this year is $577.

    Jackson stated GPIF increased $68,500 from $120,000 to $188,500.

    Alexander stated that is strictly housing projects to build rental properties.  No administrative money.

    Jackson stated not to help the poor young couples who are trying to buy their first home.

    Alexander stated these houses will be dedicated to people that are 50% or below income, which is a great need in Lawton.  There are a lot of people in the community paying more than 50% of their income every month on rent and utilities.  In this particular case they will pay 30%.

    Purcell stated this is caused by being $50,000 less to start the budget this year.  So somebody is going to take a $50,000 cut somewhere in the Home Program.  Is that correct.

    Aplin stated yes.  In developing the housing priorities part of the censes does a very detailed analysis of the housing situation and the needs within the community.  It is that data that more or less quantifies the needs in the community and where the greatest need is.  In our community right now affordable rentals for low income individuals is the worse problem we’ ve got.  The second is transitional housing for people coming out of homeless shelters and don’ t have anywhere to go and can’ t afford it.   They need help getting back on their feet and those kinds of things.  The priorities come based upon those studies.  It is those priorities that drive how we recommend to you what the priorities should be in the Consolidated Plan and what drives our recommendations for your consideration when we put it together.  Bottom line is this is the City’ s money and you are the decision making body.

    Jackson stated he just hates to see the dream of homeownership continue to be a dream.

    Aplin agreed, but how about those people out there that can’ t find a place to live because they can’ t afford the rent.  If you look at the rent in this community it is really high for low income folks.

    Drewry agreed.

    Jackson agreed.  You can’ t afford to buy and you can’ t afford to rent.    

    Aplin stated and not everyone is a homeowner.

    Purcell asked if there were any other questions of Aplin before opening the Public Hearing.  There were none.

Purcell stated the biggest issue will be in the Services Area.  Those people are here tonight.  If Council agrees we will cover Public Services first and then the others.  

    All agreed.

    Purcell called on Christian Family Counseling Center.  

    Charlie Baer stated he was the Executive Director of the Christian Family Counseling Center.  He appreciates the opportunity to speak to the Council.  He would like to take a few minutes to present some of the more significant mental health concerns within the community that the Center deals specifically with.  He will cover some things that weren’ t in the application as well as some things were.  Much of what we will talk about this evening doesn’ t necessarily hit the front page, but he thinks you will agree as we go through this these are concerns and problems that are pervasive, extensive and significant in our community.

    Baer stated the Oklahoma State Board of Health says that 22% of the people in the United Stated experience mental disorders each year.  As you look across the country Oklahoma ranks number one in the nation in mental health disorders.  All of us have some indication of the implications and effect of mental.  He would like to point out a couple of them.  The Presidents Freedom Commission in 2003 said the number one cause of disabilities is mental health disorder.  The Surgeon General Report on the state of mental health in America said the number two cause of pre-mature deaths in America is mental health disorders.  Both of these are examples of things that effect individuals, their families, our businesses and economy.  The pre-mature deaths are primarily due to suicide.  Oklahoma is ranked nine in the nation for suicides.  This is a particularly significant statistic.  This has to due with suicides by young people in Oklahoma. Suicides don’ t hit the front page homicides do.  Suicides by young people in Oklahoma out rank homicides by 72%.  This is a very significant problem.

    Baer stated suicide comes from depression.  The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health estimate that 230,000 people in the State of Oklahoma suffer from depression. Less than half receive treatment.  The primary reason for not receiving treatment is because they can’ t afford the cost of professional care.  Sixty-two percent of our clients this year are fighting depression.  

    Baer stated Oklahoma is third in the nation for divorce.  Number one in mental health disorders, number nine in suicide, and number three in divorce.  Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama and Tennessee have divorce rates that are 50% higher than the national average. Thirty-four percent of our clients this year we are helping with divorce recovery issues, 56% we are helping with family issues, and 16% with marriage counseling.  

    Baer stated this is a mushrooming problem in Lawton stemming from gambling addiction and particular problems with gambling.  The most consistent predictor of a gambling problem across the country is for people who live within 50 miles of a gambling facility.  You take anybody with a gambling problem the most consistent predictor is to live within 50 miles of a gambling facility.  Missouri has 12 casinos, Australia has 13, France and Germany combined have 50, Canada and England combined have 60 and Oklahoma has 89 and growing.  A survey conducted of 400 members of gamblers anonymous states 48% of them have considered suicide.  When people with gambling issues attempt suicide they really mean.  They are twice the national average in terms of fatal attempts.  Fifty-seven percent said that they had to steal to cover their debts and their average debt was $135,000.  Again this not only affects individuals it affects families and the community.  The National Institute of Justice says there is a direct relationship between the presence of casinos and bankruptcy.  I’ m not here to talk against casinos, but I want you to be aware of the issues casinos bring with them.  This is a very significant problem Lawton is facing today.  

    Baer stated we believe there is hope for people in all of these areas.  For a number of years we have had objective studies through outcome base testing.  The scores for people coming for short term counseling for initiation of treatment put them in the red area.  This area is the area that the need professional care coming in at the 90 ^th percentile and the 78^th percentile at the end of treatment.  Mid term counseling initial score is 92^nd percentile and 80^th percentile in the healthy area at the end of treatment.  Long term care 94^th percentile. What this score means is only 6% of all the people in the United States are having more severe mental problems and issues than the average person that comes for long term counseling.  That is at the intake levels 73^rd percentile are healthy at the end of treatment.  

    Baer stated Oklahoma ranks #1 for adults with mental disorders.  This is one more ranking that is particular pertinent to what we are talking about tonight and this comes from the Oklahoma State Health Report issued in 2006.  Oklahoma ranks 45 ^th in the nation in terms of residents that have health insurance.  Oklahoma gave itself a grade of F in this area.  Not only does Oklahoma rank #1 in mental disorder, but we are about the worse in the country for having insurance which would help them to receive treatment. Uninsured in the US is 14.8% and uninsured in Oklahoma is 21.4%.  Lawton has over 20,000 people that are uninsured with health insurance.  

    Baer stated the working pool in Lawton needs this help and that is why we are asking you to continue to fund us and to provide help for those who come to us.  This concludes my presentation.

    Haywood stated we have more than 89 casinos, but the casinos pay the health insurance for the teachers of Oklahoma and the other state employees.

    Baer stated he wasn’ t debating casinos he just wants everyone to know what comes with them.  One of the most widely knows countries whose economy is based on gambling is Monaco.  Monaco has a law their residents cannot enter the gambling facilities.  They produce a lot of money but they have eliminated a number of these things for their residents.  I’ m not suggesting we do that in Lawton I just want you to know.  

    Baer stated Oklahoma started last year a certification for counselors to be certified to help people with gambling addictions.  Our clinical director is about finished with this certification.  We have a number of clients at the center we are working with on these issues and they are significant issues.  

    Haywood stated you didn’ t mention anything about the horse tracks.  

    Baer stated his slide did have the number of horse tracks and lottery but he eliminated those and just focused on the casinos.  

    Purcell asked if there were any other questions.  

    Baer said thank you.

    Purcell stated next is Great Plains Improvement Foundation Volunteer Health Clinic.  

    Odell Gunter stated he was the Executive Director of the Great Plains Improvement Foundation Community Action Agency representing the clinic.  This is a volunteer clinic. Gunter asked Baer to put his last slide about the uninsured people back up.  The clinic serves those individuals who are uninsured and under insured.  They were closed to renovate a building located at 304 SW A Avenue.  They have been open about a month. The grand opening is on Thursday the 27 ^th.  We are going to ask the Red Coats and everyone to be there.  If you can join us please do so.  

    Gunter stated the clinic is run by volunteers.  During 2006 the clinic was only opened two months and we saw 160 patients and filled more than 300 prescriptions.  During the closing volunteers continued to call and have been inundated with calls from individuals who need the service.  We are back in service serving the uninsured and under insured individuals.

    Gunter asked if the Council had any questions.  We do appreciate your support and he will certainly agree with the amount Council decides to give.  We have asked for $15,000, but we can live with the $10,000.  We appreciate it very much.  Thank you.

    Purcell stated that is a good point.  I know that everyone wants as much as they can get, but Mr. Bear can you live with the $33 that was recommended.  

    Baer stated whatever level we are funded at is how many people we can help.  For every thousand we are cut will be that many families we say no to.  Obviously we would like the $40, but we can live with the $35.

    Purcell stated next is C Carter Crane Shelter.  

    Betty Caldwell stated she would like to take the opportunity to tell Council how much she appreciates Aplin and his staff.  They have a problem every year when all the social service units come to them wanting this money.  It is very hard for Carter Crane from year to year to be able to say we have enough money to operate on.  This year we are asking for $35,000.  I can live this with $33 and understand we are sharing a piece of the pie. We are a community and we need to work together as a community to make sure we try to fund all the organizations we can.  We also know that in years to come this money may dry up.  When applying for grants there are questions that ask how your City helps to fund you.  Does your City fund you?  Does your City support you?  I have been very happy for many years to say yes my City supports the shelter.  Yes it is hard.  It is not always about money.  Volunteers are a big help.  It is the everyday things that help our operation stay in business and to keep helping those who are in need.  

    Caldwell stated we understand those who have mental and physical disabilities.  Most of our clients are the ones nobody will take the time to work with.  We are there to help them.  We may have to go to the shelter in the middle of the night to take a client to Taliaferro or to the hospital.  We haven’ t done that lately, but if we have to we are there to help.

    Caldwell stated she appreciates everything Council does for them on an individual bases.  Hopefully you will support the shelter at the $33.  She would like the $35, but will share the pie with their sister organizations.  She asked if Council had any questions.  

    Haywood stated part of this is the City of Lawton’ s problem.  It is not your problem, but you are there to coordinate and we appreciate it.  When I was in Reno one of the #1 problems was homeless.  I’ m quite sure the City Manager and the Council understands.  

    Caldwell stated she appreciated it.  Many years ago when she started in this field she did not realize that her last 21 years would be working with the homeless in the community.  This has been a great honor to be a service provider for the City of Lawton and I stand very proud for that.  Thank you.  

    Purcell asked if there were any questions.

    Shoemate stated a gentleman came to his church for dental work done.  The church does free dental.  While he was there the dentists extracted a couple of teeth.  The gentleman didn’ t have a place to stay.  I called C Carter Crane and they said bring him out.  I gave him a ride to the shelter.  The staff was very professional with taking and accepting the man I was just real proud of the way the employees treated him.  Thank you.

    Purcell asked if there were any other comments.  Seeing none Teen Court is next.

    Marsha Frazier stated she was the director of Teen Court and this is my assistant Pam Benskin.  We are here to tell you first handed that we are making a difference in the lives of juveniles, defendant families and a volunteer group of about 50 kids.  The volunteers are also low to moderate income kids.  

    Frazier stated Teen Court is not unique to Lawton.  There are over 1,100 active youth courts across the country.  All of those are making a difference through remediation and prevention.  We have proven during the last five years that our success in Comanche County is the best in the entire state of Oklahoma.  Unfortunately with the recent cut of $14,400 annually from Marie Detty it is imperative we find funding else.  Our annual budget has remained steady at about $50,000, but this only allows for one paid employee. This makes it impossible to enhance or expand the program.  

    Frazier stated according to the statistics from the Comanche County Juvenile Bureau in 2006 we had a 95% success rate.  Many of the youth returned to the program as a volunteer.  In the 2005 Community Needs Assessment Survey delinquency prevention is a medium priority.  In light of the recent increase in crime due to gang activity it has become a high priority.  A pro-active approach to juvenile delinquency can only help this problem.  You have copies of some of the tables in the assessment as well as the statistics on Teen Court in 2006.  As you can see the issues Teen Court deals with every week are listed in the top ten priorities in every single table.  Help the families with delinquent children, student behavior in school, substance abuse, under age drinking, etc.  This even holds true for outlying town.

    Frazier stated they began a new crime awareness and deterrence curriculum last year. This curriculum has proven through quantifiable measures that these juveniles are giving serious thoughts to why they made the decisions they made and how they are going to approach the same pressure in the future.  It has helped them to make better choices, increase communication with their parents, and taught them how to deal with pier pressure and anger.  This educational program alone cost $2,500 to administer to 75 kids. One of our defendants just completed this program.  The last question on the survey was “what has this program taught you”.  His answer “I didn’ t learn anything I already knew everything it just made it click.  I guess that is what your program did.  It made it click”.  

    Frazier stated she is asking Council to help Teen Court to continue to make it click.  

    Benskin stated Frazier has addressed the issues very well.  I would like to add that we are currently trying to get Teen Court into the school systems to help with suspensions. We would like to work with these kids in making better choices instead of being suspended for long periods of time.  We feel with the additional funding we could expand more into the schools.  

    Purcell asked if there were any questions from the Council.  

    Shoemate stated the media kept bringing up the tragedy in West Virginia.  You read about all this stuff in the media.  When Teen Court first started I was on the board.  I would like to see the media do a story about some of these young people in our community that are doing good.  It is always the bad that is reported.  

    Purcell stated this is a major problem in Lawton.  The media does not supporting the City.  Ms. Drewry and I are going to visit with the media to talk about this very issue. There are a lot of positive things going on in the City of Lawton and you never see it or read about it.  If it is negative you see it and you read about it.  If it is positive in Duncan or somewhere else we see it but not here.  We need to change that attitude.  

    Shoemate stated we the business people need to step out and do something about this.

    Frazier stated we have an awesome group of volunteers.  Anytime Council would like to watch the court proceedings they are open to the public.  We ask you let us know why you are there.  They do a terrific job and are there every single week.  They are making a difference through positive peer pressure.  I salute our volunteers.  

    Jackson asked what Ruby Sims was.

    Frazier stated she was a paid Community Service Supervisor in 2006.  The budget did not allow for one this year.  If we can make our budget we will hire another one.  Our kids need to be out in the community doing work such as beautifying and clearing the parks, cleaning medians and things of this nature.  A supervisor is needed out there with them because they are teenagers.

    Haywood asked if Ms. Sims worked for Marie Detty also.

    Frazier stated yes.  

    Haywood stated she was also the citizen of the month and is on one of the Mayor’ s committees.  

    Frazier stated she did a terrific job we just didn’ t have the money to continue to use her.  

    Purcell asked if there were any other questions.  Last but not least Wichita Mountain Prevention Network.

    Lisa Barnes stated she was speaking on behalf of the Wichita Mountain Prevention Network.  Our project is for the Lawton/Ft. Sill Youth Coalition.  Teen pregnancy prevention was done almost exclusively from the funding of CDBG.  Last year we switched the priority and the older teens worked in the area of substance abuse prevention.  This year we were able to get funding through the State Health Department to continue teen pregnancy prevention in the Title One schools.  We have taken the same concept to help bolster this in the Lawton/Ft. Sill Youth Coalition.  

    Barnes stated the year was started with turnovers and different things.  A lot of the kids graduated and we had six kids active at the first of this grant year.  This is the lowest number we have ever had.  A new staff person was hire and she has worked the program. Right now there are sixty-one active members coming from Macarthur, Lawton High, and Eisenhower High schools.  They are recruited a little different than other programs.  We don’ t go to the schools asking them to send the kids with the best grade point or the president of the senior class.  We advertise in the media such as radio, TV, and we send flyers to the churches and school.  Then they come to us.  They self select to be youth volunteers to work for substance abuse prevention, teen pregnancy prevention and other issues.  As a result we get a really fantastic group of kids.  These are not resume building kids and they building a resume now in Jr. High and High School or their parents start it for them.  They are there because they have a real heart for the issue.  We have a real diverse group of kids from high income to low income.  The kids are supported financially through this program or low income that would go through the leadership program.

    Barnes stated last month we took thirty volunteers to go through two and one half days of intensive training.  We do have fun but they are trained in research based curriculum. They learn about the stages of addiction, different prevention measures, and about underage drinking.  The National Mayor’ s Coalition has selected underage drinking as their platform for this year.  Our agency was instrumental in bring in Ms. America who’ s used underage drinking as her platform.  Our agency does a lot of the ground work to help the community get to where they want to be.  We plant the seeds to get things to the next level.  

    Barnes stated these kids are learning how to work against underage drinking.  That means they go to retailers to do a buy operation.  They go with the Police Department. Lawton Police loves these kids because they are responsible, they show up on time, they are eager to be there and they have to have kids who have been through formal training that we provide.  They must have permission slips from their parents.  We are the collaborators.  We help other people succeed in the community.  The kids will go in stores and attempt to purchase alcohol.  Of course that was above the fold in the Lawton Constitution a couple of years ago because 50% of our retailers sold alcohol to underage kids.  After the operation the number went down to 22%.  This really does make an impact.  

Barnes stated also do what is called “Reward Reminder Visits”.  This is an attempt to buy cigarettes.  The kids do not travel with the police on this project.  If the retailer does not sell they receive a card and are rewarded for not selling.  If they do sell they are reminded that they just sold to a minor and could be liable to the ABLE Commission.

Barnes stated the ABLE Commission loves this program.  They are so under manned with only six men to the whole State of Oklahoma.  When they find out we have a youth coalition with kids who have been through extensive training they are so grateful.  

Barnes stated our motto in prevention is “First do no harm”.  Harm can be done in prevention.  There are programs that are not effective, programs that will make kids use more, and teen volunteers can be used in way where their depression rates go up due to situations that are to stressful for their age.  That is why you need professionals doing this.  You need our people who have been through training because it is more effective.  

Barnes stated these kids have already performed 2700 volunteer hours this year. Those are trained volunteer hours.  Those are paraprofessional volunteer hours.  That is a full time employee of just teens going.  Younger kids listen to them and they are very impactful.   

Barnes stated these volunteers have been invited to speak this summer at the Oklahoma Domestic Violence Coalition Conference.  They will be the only teen presenters there.  They will be talking about dating violence which is called “Heart Break Prevention 101”.  They also will be going to Orland with all expenses paid to speak at an underage drinking conference.  

Barnes stated when our budget is cut and we get below $35 we can no long staff a fulltime employee.  To get qualified people to do this kind of work we had to raise salaries.  Right now we have a wonderful person and I would like to keep her.  When an employee leaves for bigger and better things not only does the agency lose expertise but that is your money going out the door as well.  You help to train them to get them where they are.  If we get down to a part-time employee what happens is 25% of that employee goes to another grant and our agency has a lot of grant dollars.  We don’ t have grant dollars that will pay for this program.  They want us to go out and do research curriculum in the schools adult to adult.  They want us to go in and do legislative work at the state level.  This is the best program we do.  There is not a lot of grant funding for youth on youth work.  

Barnes stated we have one of the premier programs in the state because of the City of Lawton.  Another one is in Shawnee.  It is very similar to what we are doing.  It was born out of our concept.  We are collaborating with them now because they have some ideas we haven’ t had.  Shawnee is a nice city and is very pro-active.  I have been to their Leadership Shawnee.  

Barnes stated Lawton is a good place to live and I like it here.  Our kids are doing great things.  This has been a good evening to talk about what is right here, but we have got to do more public services projects and more things that involve youth.  When we ask them if there were 3 things you could tell adults about yourself what would they be?  I’ ve been doing this for 18 years and the top 3 in every group we have worked with there is only one answer.  They say “we would like to tell them to not be afraid of us”.   There is pain on their faces.  Crossing to the other side of the street, hitting the power locks, it’ s just real tough.  However, the upside is they are doing well and the City of Lawton should be very proud.  

Barnes asked if there were any questions.  Once again she thanked Council.  I love to work with the CDBG guys.  We mange a lot of grants from State and Federal levels and my bottom line is they are just so smart.  They can always answer our questions and are very pro-active.  I’ ve worked with a lot of funders where it is tough when they don’ t know how to manage a grant and you are working for them.  This group is fantastic they are so efficient, so helpful and they have also coached us on how to do some different things on our evaluation that has helped us get funding on the federal level.  

Purcell asked if there were any questions.

Haywood asked in regards to the ABLE Commission your kids go out as the tester.  

Barnes stated yes.  If more than 22% of the retailers sell to minor we lose our funding from the Department of Mental Health.  I believe they loss $6 million in funding and they hold the State accountable for this.  We were at 26% and they gave us 18 months to get this in line.  They came to agencies like ours and it was a mandate that we do this program.  We haven’ t gotten below the 22% but we teeter on it.  

Purcell asked can you live with the $35.

Barnes stated $35 is tight but we can live with it.

Purcell asked if she would live with the $30.

Jackson stated it is kind of a take it or leave it.

Purcell stated we have to hear from her and Council has got to make a decision.  

Barnes stated it is tough, but I know it is tough for everyone.  How it will affect us is we will have to knock an employee down to probably 75% maybe 60% in order to do the program.   I hope then I can keep her.  This is what we get into.

Purcell stated you said something in your presentation that the minimum to keep everyone on board was $35 thousand.

Barnes stated yes.  We get a lot of matching funds, but it is very seldom cash.  We have other grants we are applying for, but nothing in hand and we have heard almost everybody we think we will hear from for next fiscal year.  

Purcell stated so you need $35 to keep someone on board full time, but you can live with the $30.  

Barnes stated we will always make it work.

Purcell stated okay.  Are there any other questions.  Okay Council lets work with this so when everyone leaves here tonight they know what to bring back to the public hearing and the guidance they are going to use in the Public Service area.  We have two recommendations.  There is the original proposal by staff and the one from CPC.  So which one would you like to do or do you want a third one.  We will have a motion on public service to provide guidance to staff to bring back whatever you say.  Then we will move on to the other part of CDBG.  

Warren stated he didn’ t asked questions simply for the fact that there is no doubt in his mind that each and every one of the groups deserve and provide a service to the community.  In years past we talked about putting a limit on the number of years that an organization can be involved in this simply because the funding doesn’ t seen to ever increase it always decreases.   Even in the years when the funding stays about the same the cost of providing services goes up so effectively those dollars buy less help for the citizens.  So we had hoped in the past we would use this as an incubator or as seed money to get organization started while they were getting grants and things like that.  A problem we run into is we didn’ t have any new groups come asking for help.  Part of that is because looking at years past they see there is three or four that basically get 80 to 90% of the money and the rest is doled out to whom every can scrap for it.  That is not to say that any of these groups are not deserving.  It is simply the fact we have less money every year and the money has less value every year.  At some point we have to open this up and say at the end of four or five years that’ s all.  We can’ t continue on and if we continue on this way we are basically going to fund three organizations from now on.  I don’ t know how we get there from here and I don’ t know Council’ s desire.  Do they just want to continue to fund everybody and hope that the great money machine in Washington smiles on us and dumps a couple of million in our laps.  That will never happen.  I would guess we will have less money next year.  This is another reason for limiting the number of years you can apply.  We don’ t know how long the money will last.

Drewry stated she disagrees.  These are all community programs and if it is twenty years it’ s twenty years.  How can we say okay you have been on here ten years so we are not going to feed you anymore.  I disagree.  As a community we have to do what we can to support them.  If the money goes down they will get less.  We have to do our part in supporting the programs.  

Haywood stated he agrees.  This was the purpose of the weighted application. This way each agency can be weighed.  The agencies do work together.  They don’ t have enough money, but I’ m hoping the democrat party will get involved with the social program.  They always have.  Excuse me if you are republican or democrat, I’ m sorry, when the republican president is gone there will be more money in the system.  There has always been more money in the system when there is a democrat is involved for public assistance for summer jobs.  That is why we are having gang problems now because kids do not work in the summer time.  We use to have year round programs where kids would make quite a bit of money.  Those programs are not available anymore.  That is why we are having gang activity all over the United States not just in the Lawton.  This is why social programs get involved to keep the crime activities down.  They work close together referring different things to each other.  They are not here to fight each other.  They are not here to take any money from anyone and they will live with this.

Warren stated I understand what Drewry and Haywood are saying, but my point is if we continue on the way we are we are not going to have any new groups ask for money next year.   We didn’ t have any new groups this year because they know they were not going to get it.  It is simple economics.

Drewry stated they have other sources.  

Purcell stated he isn’ t sure that is a valid statement.  Council passed a Resolution several years ago stating if there was a new group or groups 20% of the budget would be set aside for those groups.  That is available unless Council rescinds the Resolution.  

Haywood stated we don’ t mind different groups coming in, but we don’ t them to duplicate these groups.  These groups are doing everything for the City of Lawton.  I don’ t know anything different a new group could come.  

Warren stated we go back to that same deal.  You keep on doing what you have been doing and you are going to keep on getting what you have been getting.  I don’ t have a problem with that.  Let me speak on something we really need to address which is Teen Court.  I think if you divide our gang problem into three areas you have individuals out there that are good kids walking the straight and narrow.  We need to spend dollars and expend money to make sure they stay that way.  Then there is a group of kids starting to get in trouble and we need to expend dollars to make sure we can grab those individuals back.  Once you get past the second group the only help we can give is to the police department.  Once they past that area we can’ t save them.  We need to prevent them from becoming members because the redemption of those individuals is very costly, very difficult, and it very seldom happens.  We need to spend as much money as we can at the first two levels so we don’ t have to spend so much at the third.  

Purcell stated we have had a lot of talk, but we need some kind of proposal.  Right now we have two proposals on the table and there maybe a third one.

Drewry stated I have a third one.  

Purcell stated okay.  So everyone knows you have the two proposals and the third proposal basically reduces Teen Court by $5,000 from the CPC proposal.   It brings it down to $24,288 and adds the $5,000 to Wichita Mountain Prevention Network bringing it up to $35.  Everything else remains the same, $33,000 for Family Christian Counseling Center; $10,000 for the Health Clinic; $33,000 for C Carter Crane.  Those are the three proposals we have.  Does anyone have another proposal?

Jackson stated in support of Drewry’ s proposal if you use the weighed application averages it is justified.  

Drewry stated the proposal for Teen Court was $15,000 so we are increasing it from the $15,000.

Purcell stated it is an increase over the City staff proposal and a decrease from CPC proposal.

Jackson stated it is still a $9000 increase from last year.  

Purcell stated okay now we have three proposals on the table.  Does someone want to make a motion to accept one of the three?  It is almost easier to do the whole City budget than it is this $135,000.    

Jackson stated they are all very good causes and they all do great work.

Shoemate asked Gunter if in regards to the new health clinic in town can you guys work with them.  Don’ t we have a new health clinic in town that is starting up?

Gunter asked if he was referring to the federally funded program.  

Shoemate stated he thought it was a local program.

Gunter stated I think you are talking about the federally funded program.  We are doing the free clinic with no cost.  They can make donations of $5 or less.  This is the one on A Street.

Shoemate asked if that was the one with Jeff Sadler.

Gunter stated yes that is Great Plains.

Purcell stated that is the one for $10,000 that reads GPIF Volunteer Health Clinic.  

Purcell asked Warren if he had another proposal.  We have another proposal.  This will be proposal number four.  We will be comparing to CPC.  Family Christian Counseling Center $22,288; the health clinic $13,000; C Carter Crane $30,000; Teen Court $30,000 and Wichita Mountain Prevention Network $40,000.  So basically you have given back to Teen Court and taken it away from Family Christian Counseling Center.  

Warren stated and simply because of the number of years.  That is the only criteria.  

    

     MOVED by Drewry, SECOND by Jackson, to adopt proposal number three which is $33,000 to Christian Family Counseling Center; $10,000 to GPIF Volunteer Health Clinic; $33,000 to C Carter Shelter; $24,288 to Teen Court; and $35,000 to Wichita Mountain Prevention Network.   

Jackson stated according to our spreadsheet last years funding for these groups were Christian Family Counseling Center increased by $3,000; Teen Court increased by $9,000; and Wichita Mountain Prevention Network will hold it’ s own at $35,000; C Carter Crane increased by $3,000.  Two will get an increase of $3,000.

Purcell stated Teen Court will be increased by $14,000.  They are going from $10,000 up to $24,000.

    Jackson agreed.  There is an increase in a couple of those areas.

    Haywood stated the only difference is you are taking $5,000 from Teen Court and giving it to Wichita Mountain.

    Purcell stated yes under the CPC proposal which is different from the City proposal. Is there any further discussion on that motion?

    VOTE ON MOTION.  AYE: Hanna, Drewry, Jackson, Haywood, Warren, Shoemate. NAY: None. MOTION CARRIED.

    Purcell stated that item passed six to zero.  We need to finish CDBG.  If you look at the rest of CDBG the City proposal in column K and the CPC proposal in column L are both the same.  Do you want to make any changes there?  This is one proposal do you have any way different of breaking this out or do we want to vote on that for the rest of CDBG.

     MOVED by Jackson, SECOND by Drewry, to approve the rest of the CDBG program funding as proposed by CPC and staff.  AYE: Jackson, Haywood, Warren, Shoemate, Hanna, Drewry.  NAY: None. MOTION CARRIED.

Purcell stated the item passed six to zero.  Now let’ s go to page two which is the Home Funding Program.  Again there is no difference between column K and column L between the staff proposal and the CPC for a total of $577,621.  

Jackson stated he made his case earlier about the First Time Home Buyers Program and that was shot down in flames.  

Warren stated he agrees with Jackson, but it is six of one and half a dozen of the other.  

Purcell stated if you want to move it around taking it from one giving to another that’ s okay move it around for another proposal.  

     MOVED by Jackson, SECOND by Warren, to approve the Home Program Funding budget according to CPC and staff proposal.  AYE: Haywood, Warren, Shoemate, Hanna, Drewry, Jackson.  NAY: None. MOTION CARRIED.

    Purcell stated that item passed six to zero.  The item will come back next Tuesday night.  There will be a public hearing and that will be the final approval.  This was just to give guidance.  

    Jackson stated he would like to thank Mr. Alexander for the work he has done for the City.  He has been doing a good job from what he understands listening through the grapevine.  It is a shame that we are continuing to lose funds from this CDBG program and now we have to eliminate a staff position.  

    Alexander stated his position was not being eliminating because of the loss of funds. I’ m just leaving.  

    Jackson stated that was the indication we were given.

    Alexander stated if someone didn’ t leave then someone else would have had to.  

    Jackson stated he stands corrected, but that is what he meant it is a shame that we have to get to a position that somebody will have to be eliminated.  

    Warren stated it will be worse next year.  

    Purcell stated before we adjourn there are a couple of announcements.  I’ m handing out a memo you ask me to do.  Let me read it to you.  As discussed during our special council meeting of 14 April on appointing a Mayor’ s Advisory Committee to look into the feasibility of the City taking on the responsibility of ambulance service for the City of Lawton.  I would ask the committee to seek input from Comanche County Memorial and Southwestern Hospital, the current ambulance services companies that operate in the city, the Comanche County Sheriff, the Cities of Tulsa and Oklahoma City, as a minimal. Upon receipt of a recommendation from this committee I will immediately agenda an item for City Council consideration.  The members of the committee are Randy Warren Chair, Bill Shoemate, Stanley Haywood, Police Chief Ronnie Smith, Fire Chief Bart Hadley, Finance Director Rick Endicott, and someone from the City’ s Attorney office. There is no timeframe for this.  

    Jackson stated his only request is the entire Council to be made aware of when the committee meetings will be held.

    Purcell asked the Chair to notify the Council.  Just to let you know it was done this way deliberately.  This is the Mayor’ s Advisory Committee, therefore they don’ t have to worry about a quorum and all the other stuff that goes with that.  It will all come to Council anyway.  

    Mitchell stated he is handing out is a draft proposed workshop schedule for the budget of FY 2007-2008.  The difference here is we plan to distribute the preliminary budget documents to you on May 8 at your Council meeting and then have a budget overview/workshop starting May 10.

    Warren asked how this compared to last year.

    Mitchell stated it is about the same.  We presented the preliminary budget on May 6 of last year.  

    Purcell stated since we will have new software in place next year he has asked the manage to get started as early as he can so maybe we can get done a littler earlier next year.

    Mitchell stated the other part of the problem is just trying to project revenues and expenditures.  Trying to get a number for year end and then project those for twelve months out gets problematic.  I think we will be able to do that next year and tighten the schedule up a little.  

    Purcell asked if anyone else had an announcement.

    Haywood stated he would like to thank Ms. Ezell for being here today.

    Jackson stated he would like to inform everybody and the media because we never get much positive information.  There was a Junior Macarthur High School student by the name of Blake Rulison who out of an application process of 1000 was chosen to be in the Youth Leadership Oklahoma Program.  This is a state wide program where outstanding students are chosen in to participate in a Youth Leadership Oklahoma.  I wrote a letter of recommendation for Mr. Rulison and he was the only one chosen.  He has been the only one chosen from Lawton in several years.  I’ m very proud of that.  Congratulation to Blake and I hope the newspaper will do an interview with him because this is a real big deal for these kids.  

    Haywood stated he would like to say Kim does a wonderful job for us, but it is the other people that don’ t do their job so she has to take up the slack.  

    Purcell stated Kim does do an outstanding job.  She reports exactly what happens at all our meeting and it is accurate.  If only the rest of the media in this whole country had Kim’ s everywhere we would be in good shape.  

    Shoemate stated he decided on two sites we can look at.  Either the mile south of the gate at the salvage yard or Lori Tatum Road.  Those are two nasty areas that need to be picked up.

    Purcell asked that Shoemate set up a date and tell us.

    Drewry stated April 28 ^th is trash off day.

    Purcell asked if Shoemate wanted to do it on the 28 ^th.

    Shoemate stated no.

    Purcell asked if Shoemate would tell us when he wants them.

    Shoemate stated yes.  There are two areas you guys need to look at and tell me which one you want to go on.  Lori Tatum Road and the mile south of the landfill.

    Purcell stated south of the landfill is in the county.  Let’ s go a mile north of the landfill.  Shoemate will tell us what day he wants us and what time.  Are there any other announcements.

    Warren stated he just wanted to make a comment about the good things that happen. He doesn’ t know if there is a way to get this accomplished, but there are good things happening.  There are good things happening at the City level and at the tribes.  You would think the only things the tribes are doing is running Casino’ s and that’ s not true. There are really good things going on all over this community.  I hope that someway, and we haven’ t got to budget talks yet, but if we could budget to run an add in the newspaper on a monthly or quarterly basis.  It could be a full page add non-political add stating here is what is going on.  Maybe one month do a question and answer about garbage pickup or the animal shelter with comments from the Council or Manager.  A lot of people are just not getting the message.  Since they didn’ t hear the message they don’ t think anybody has addressed the issues.  With the new utility bill we will have the opportunity to have inserts, but that will cost more.  

    Purcell stated a lot of Cities have that provided by the media at no charge.  In some newspapers around the Country on a certain day of the week, in the exact same place, there is a blurb about what is going on in the City or County and everyone knows where to look.  We will discuss that.  Is there anything else?  We need a motion to adjourn.

    There being no further business to consider, the meeting adjourned at 9:11 p.m. upon motion, second and roll call vote.

                            JOHN P. PURCELL, JR., MAYOR

ATTEST:

DENISE EZELL, DEPUTY CITY CLERK