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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-10-2016 Minutes 404, MINUTES OF THE CITY OF OCOEE COMMUNITY GRANT REVIEW BOARD MEETING o C o e e AUGUST 10, 2016 florida CALL TO ORDER- 7:01 pm Chairman Sills called the regular meeting of the Community Grant Review Board to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Commission Conference Room at City Hall. Chairman Sills called for a moment of silence followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The roll was called and a quorum declared present. PRESENT: Chairman Sills, Member Cortes and Member Rainer. Also present were Community Relations Manager Wright and Recording Clerk Heard. ABSENT: Vice-Chairman Carrington, Member Dunn. APPROVAL OF MINUTES—Regular meeting held on February 10, 2016. Member Rainer,seconded by Member Cortes, moved to approve the minutes of the Community Grant Review Board Meeting held February 10, 2016. Motion carried unanimously. Application No. 1 —Stars of West Orange - 7:04 pm Allisha Douglas attended to represent the organization. She explained this organization is a nonprofit, is currently located in the West Oaks Mall and has been in existence for 13 years. She stated this organization donates backpacks and school supplies for students who receive free or reduced lunch with Orange County Public Schools. This year they provided supplies and backpacks to over 40 schools. Member Rainer inquired when the funds will be used from this grant. Ms. Douglas said any funds that are raised between today and June of 2017 goes towards the next school year of 2017, which will include this grant, if it is awarded. Member Rainer, seconded by Member Cortes, moved to recommend that the City Commission award grant funding of$500 to the Stars of West Orange. The motion carried unanimously. Application No. 2—The Gift of Swimming,Inc. - 7:07 pm Susan Polder attended to represent the organization. She explained this grant will go towards their swim program, which has been ongoing for 13 years. Member Rainer inquired where they hold the swimming lessons. Ms. Polder said their lesson provider is Southwest Aquatics, which is located in Winter Garden, but the grant money that has been awarded in the past has always been used for children living in Ocoee who have applied for scholarships. Member Cortes asked how many children in Ocoee are able to receive free lessons. Ms. Polder indicated the grant will cover at least two children, maybe more. Member Rainer asked if they can guarantee that the grant will go towards an Ocoee resident. Ms. Polder said everybody that applies fills out an application and registration form, which has their address listed, and they also provide supporting documentation that shows whether they qualify for the scholarship. Chairman Sills inquired whether they are connected with the Roper YMCA. Ms. Polder answered in the negative. Chairman Sills asked how many children are currently on their waitlist. Ms. Polder indicated six. She further indicated last year they provided a total of seven swim scholarships to Ocoee children. Member Rainer Community Grant Review Board August 10,2016 asked how their program differs from the City of Ocoee's swim program. Ms. Polder indicated she does not know how the City's program works, but she explained their program in more detail wherein they will receive 20 to 25, ten minute, one-on-one swim instruction/basic swim survival for four to five weeks. Member Rainer asked what age group this is for. Ms. Polder indicated they concentrate on children prior to preschool age where the risk of drowning is greatest. She further explained the scholarship does not end until the child can exhibit the fully-clothed swim-float-swim technique. Member Rainer inquired where their other scholarships come from. Ms. Polder indicated they put on a 5k walk/run, which raised $25,000 last year, and they have various fundraising efforts and apply for grants elsewhere such as the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation. They recently were chosen by Whole Foods for their five percent give-back day, which $4,900 was donated. Chairman Sills, seconded by Member Rainer, moved to recommend that the City Commission award grant fundinjz of$500 to The Gift of Swimminj', Inc. Motion carried unanimously. Application No. 3—Rotary Club of Ocoee - 7:10 pm Paul Roy attended to represent the organization. He explained this grant would be put towards the purchase of dictionaries for City of Ocoee third-graders. Member Rainer mentioned she thought dictionaries were outdated. Mr. Roy commented that he has heard that, too, but they are encouraged not only by faculty and staff of elementary schools within the city, but also the appreciation and the looks on the faces of the third-graders that receive something that they can hold in their hands and call their own. He explained that although it is easy to spell check with certain programs, it is not easy to learn alphabetical order or how to use reference tools. Chairman Sills asked if students are using the dictionaries. Mr. Roy stated they are told that they are using them. He shared with the Board that they have been distributing dictionaries for so long that a student who received a dictionary while in the third grade was just awarded a scholarship from the Rotary Club of Ocoee to continue his education in college. Member Cortes asked if the club is looking into ways to make it more technology-driven. Mr. Roy explained they have looked into USB dictionaries and alternative technological dictionaries and have not come up with anything that is as cost effective, but they are researching this along with meeting annually with the principals for all of the Ocoee elementary schools whom have asked them to continue with the regular dictionary distribution. Member Rainer, seconded by Member Cortes, moved to recommend that the City Commission award grant fundinji of$500 to the Rotary Club of Ocoee. Motion carried unanimously. Application No. 4—Adult Literacy League, Inc. - 7:24 pm Joyce Whidden attended to represent the organization. Chairman Sills asked if they are teaching students at the Ocoee library. Ms. Whidden answered they have a class at the West Oaks Library and also volunteer tutors that work one-on-one with adult students trying to improve their basic reading and writing skills or learn to read/write and communicate in English. They currently have 21 students in the city and 18 volunteer tutors. She expressed they would use the grant money to buy workbooks by New Readers Press, Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press. Member Rainer inquired on the students' range in age. Ms. Whidden said she has not checked the demographics of the students, but mentioned their oldest student is currently 86 years old and their youngest is 17 years old. She mentioned they meet in a number of different locations within Ocoee, but they are always looking for more places to meet within the City of Ocoee. Member 2 Community Grant Review Board August 10,2016 Rainer further inquired how they solicit for students. Ms. Whidden said that marketing to people who do not read well is a bit of a challenge, but they try to get the word out as much as they can by word of mouth, on the radio and other various ways. Member Rainer asked if this program is for English as a first language or second language. Ms. Whidden explained the two programs they currently have, which is for people where English is a native language and a program for people where English is a second language. Currently they have students from 80 different countries speaking 19 different languages. She emphasized that they focus on English language literacy, which includes reading, writing and communicating in English. She indicated students stay in the program on average 27 months, but they ask for a year of their time, and students meet at least once a week, if not twice. She announced they are always looking for more volunteers. Member Rainer, seconded by Member Cortes, moved to recommend that the City Commission award grant funding of$500 to the Adult Literacy League,Inc. Motion carried unanimously. Application No. 5—Society of St. Vincent de Paul Church - 7:29 pm Robert Fontana and Tony Callabro attended to represent the organization. Chairman Sills inquired whether they are associated with Matthew's Hope. Mr. Fontana answered in the negative and indicated not formally, but they do help each other from time to time. Chairman Sills asked what they would spend the grant money on if they were awarded it. Mr. Fontana said they plan to continue doing the work that they are doing, which is primarily assisting people by paying their utility bill that have lost their jobs or their hours were cut or other factors. He explained their process. Member Rainer asked how their organization differs from the Christian Service Center, which provides the same type of assistance. Mr. Callabro explained that they are in conjunction with Christian Services. They give them food and clothing every week. Chairman Sills explained the Board is trying to make sure the grant funds are used for Ocoee residents. Mr. Callabro indicated he understood and said that their organization helped 75 Ocoee residents last year. Member Cortes inquired about their turnaround time from when a resident calls to when they can get assistance. Mr. Fontana said 24 to 48 hours. Member Rainer asked if they assist with anything else other than utility bills. She stated the Christian Service Center also assists residents with their utility bills. Mr. Callabro informed the Board that they are in conjunction with them, and they do pay some utility bills and help them out. He further explained they receive phone calls from Winter Garden and Ocoee, which does not make a difference, because they will assist whoever needs assistance. He stated if they receive a phone call from Ocoee, they will service them. Member Rainer asked what their criteria are for receiving assistance. Mr. Fontana said they interview them, what happened to them, and why they cannot pay their bill. He further explained they will not support them for the next six months, but they give them a hand to help them through that month or until they get back on their feet. He said there is no criterion. If anyone calls that needs help, they are going to try to help them, but their general rule is to only help them once a year. Member Cortes discussed their financial disclosure. Member Rainer asked how the Board can be assured that the grant funds will go towards Ocoee residents. Mr. Callabro indicated everybody they help is inputted into the database, which they can provide. Chairman Sills, seconded by Member Rainer, moved to recommend that the City Commission deny grant funding of $500 to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Church. Motion carried unanimously. 3 Community Grant Review Board August 10,2016 { Application No 6—Smart Homes for Vets, Inc. - 7:46 pm Dr. Dallas DeFee attended to represent the organization. He stated that this organization is a new nonprofit founded by himself and his fiancée to assist education of veterans, seniors and people with disabilities in using technology for health and improvement. He indicated they are requesting the $500 to acquire the very first robot called Kubee Telepresence Pedestal for home healthcare. Chairman Sills inquired what constitutes a smart home. Dr. DeFee answered monitoring and nurturing of critical functions against falls, heart conditions and safety along with monitoring vital signs, activity levels and medication compliance. He further explained that one of the best uses currently is to facilitate counseling in PTSD patients. Member Cortes inquired if they have received other funds to date. Dr. DeFee indicated they are already funded for the first year. Member Rainer asked how many clients in Ocoee does the organization serve. Dr. DeFee indicated they anticipate at least 12 robots in smart homes within Ocoee before the end of this year. Further discussion ensued regarding the number of veterans in the community that can benefit from a smart home. He indicated their initial target will be the veterans affected with PTSD. Member Cortes indicated the Board usually tends to not give grants to start-up organizations. Dr. DeFee said it was very difficult to obtain the nonprofit status, but they did obtain it and are committed. Member Rainer inquired how many veterans would the $499 help. Dr. DeFee indicated the grant would be for demonstration, which would be used the next two years to connect the City of Ocoee with innovative services in healthcare. Further discussion ensued regarding what entails a smart home. Chairman Sills, seconded by Member Rainer, moved to recommend that the City Commission award grant funding of$499 to Smart Homes for Vets,Inc. Motion carried unanimously. Application No 7—Ocoee High School Science Olympiad - 8:03 pm Patricia DeNoon, attended to represent the organization. She explained that the Science Olympiad team is an after-school program that consists of students from different science programs. This is a 15 student competition team that attends 23 events. She stated that the grant would be used for the team registration fee, which is $235 and to purchase shirts. She explained they are applying for another grant to help them purchase the supplies. She announced last year the team made a robotic arm, which was placed fourth in regionals. She explained Science Olympiad is a nationwide event that has been in existence for over 35 years. Member Rainer, seconded by Member Cortes, moved to recommend that the City Commission award grant funding of $500 to Ocoee High School Science Olympiad. Motion carried unanimously. } 4 Community Grant Review Board August 10,2016 Application No. 8—Woman's Club of Ocoee- 8:10 pm Jackie Titus attended to represent the organization. Chairman Sills stated the Board has granted numerous grants to this organization over the years, but has never granted one for repairs to the building. She explained the 124-year-old building and the location and indicated they are trying to spruce up the place a little bit. She announced this past year the club created Expressions again with the seven Ocoee schools. Member Rainer commented that this grant is going towards a new sprinkler system, but during certain events residents do park on the grass. Ms. Titus indicated the sprinkler system is being installed only in the front of the building. She mentioned they feel they need to upgrade their building a little bit, because of the new development. She further explained many activities and donations they give to the residents of Ocoee. Member Rainer, seconded by Member Cortes, moved to recommend that the City Commission award grant funding of$500 to Woman's Club of Ocoee. Motion carried unanimously. Application No. 9—Police Athletic League of Orlando/Apopka - 8:16 pm Renee Fryer Reed and Chick Fryer attended to represent the organization. Ms. Reed explained the Police Athletic League (PAL), which was founded by Chick Fryer three years ago, saying PAL positively directly impacts the youth through various programs and events. PAL is currently planning a Labor Day event, which will be a baseball game, a Halloween event and a Thanksgiving Day game, which will be with the Ocoee Police Department. Member Rainer inquired why their organization is named PAL of Orlando/Apopka and it does not include Ocoee; and further, asked if all they do are baseball games. Ms. Reed answered they do basketball and football events, but the feedback from the community has been baseball, because it is the most expensive sport. She further explained their name and why it is named Orlando/Apopka, but stated they are directly in Ocoee. Member Cortes asked whether they are affiliated with the National PAL Association. Mr. Fryer said he is one of the founders of PAL; and further, stated every major city in the United States has a PAL, and he is in charge of everything in between Miami to Jacksonville. Member Cortes advised that the PAL up north supplies funds to the clubs and asked whether that will be the case here. Mr. Fryer indicated that they intend to help out in Ocoee. Member Cortes further said she can vouch for the program up north with getting the police involved with the coaching and mentoring programs, because it is very successful. Member Rainer inquired if they give scholarships to the children. Ms. Reed indicated they do give out scholarships for the football and basketball, but it is not monetary. Mr. Fryer announced that the PAL provides soccer and tennis, which many residents are not aware of Chairman Sills stated it looks as though they are keeping the children off the streets. Ms. Reed indicated that is their main focus. Member Cortes, seconded by Member Rainer, moved to recommend that the City Commission award grant funding of$500 to the Police Athletic League of Orlando/Apopka. Motion carried unanimously. 5 Community Grant Review Board August 10,2016 COMMENTS Chairman Sills explained that the Board has to be very careful when dealing with the taxpayers' money and the grants go towards the best benefit of the Ocoee residents. He explained that sometimes the questions may be harsh, but they want to make sure all of the questions have been answered before this goes before the City Commission. ADJOURNMENT - 8:27 pm ti Attest: APPROVED: /i Ar K. y He d, Recording Secretary m :it s, Chairman gE q4 } q3 tt (pi }f} 6