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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-08-2017 Minutes MINUTES OF THE CITY OF OCOEE COMMUNITY GRANT REVIEW BOARD MEETING O( () e FEBRUARY 8,2017 Sd4fiil0 ', CALL TO ORDER- 7:00 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 Dunn. Also present were Community Relations Manager Wright and Recording Clerk Heard. ABSENT: Vice-Chairman Carrington and Member Rainer. APPROVAL OF MINUTES—Regular meeting held on August 10, 2016. Member Dunn, seconded by Chairman Sills, moved to approve the minutes of the Community Grant Review Board Meeting held August 10, 2016. Motion carried unanimously. Application No. 1 —American Legion, Tommie Sanders, Post 109 - 7:02 pm Tom Mottlau, American Legion Member, attended to represent the organization. Funding would be used to send boys to the Florida Boy's State Program, which has had a price increase from $350 to $450 per boy; the School Award Medal Program, which is presented to two fifth- grade boys and girls at five different elementary schools at the end of the year; along with two awards given to JROTC for militarism and scholarship. He also mentioned they put up about 90 flags over Memorial Day weekend. Chairman Sills inquired if there have been good results with this program. Mr. Mottlau answered in the affirmative indicating they used to send two boys to Boy's State, but because they are a small post, they had to drop it down to one. Member Sills, seconded by Member Dunn, moved to recommend that the City Commission award grant funding of$500 to the American Legion, Tommie Sanders, Post 109. The motion carried unanimously. Application No. 2—West Orange Seniors - 7:04 pm Marlene Conley, Vice President, attended to represent the organization. She explained the funds will go towards a covered trailer to make it easier to load and unload at events, because they have always rented a trailer in the past. She indicated they participate in Ocoee's haunted house and Founders' Day. Chairman Sills indicated they are very active in the community and asked if they still provide luncheons once a month. Ms. Conley answered in the affirmative, and indicated this Thursday they are serving Chicken 'n Dumplings. Member Cortes, seconded by Chairman Sills, moved to recommend that the City Commission award grant funding of$500 to the West Orange Seniors. Motion carried unanimously. COMMUNITY GRANT REVIEW BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 8,2017 Application No. 3—Bread of Life Fellowship (Southeastern Food Bank) - 7:06 pm Mark Anthony attended to represent the organization. He indicated this year they are starting their first senior program, and their first stop was today near Leesburg, which impacted two mobile home parks. His vision is to eventually have three trailers for the Central Florida area, which will deliver food to seniors whom are unable and are homebound. He indicated they also support Food for Families, which has been ongoing for 24 years and impacts about 1,250 families and about half are from Ocoee. Chairman Sills asked how many pounds of food they distributed last year. Mr. Anthony indicated they gave away just under two million pounds last year. Chairman Sills stated this is not a seasonal operation, but is year-round. Mr. Anthony advised it is year-round, and explained they have seven sub-distributors within the state of Florida. They were just given a building in Quincy, Florida near Tallahassee to help people in north Florida, south Georgia and south Alabama. Member Cortes shared this organization does amazing things. Chairman Sills, seconded by Member Dunn, moved to recommend that the City Commission award grant funding of$500 to the Bread of Life Fellowship. Motion carried unanimously. Application No. 4—Boy Scout Troop 210 - 7:11 pm Steven Kittendorf, Committee Member, attended to represent the organization. He indicated the funds will help a group of about 16 boys visit Yosemite National Park for a week this summer. Member Cortes asked if the trip will cost $1,200 per person. Mr. Kittendorf answered in the affirmative indicating that total includes airfare, hotel, transportation and expeditions such as rafting and a steam train ride. Member Dunn asked how many of the boys live in Ocoee. Mr. Kittendorf answered that about a third of the troop, 38 members, live in Ocoee. He further explained they are based in Winter Garden; however, they draw boys from all over West Orange. Chairman Sills inquired where they regularly meet. Mr. Kittendorf answered at the First United Methodist Church in Winter Garden. Member Cortes asked what their primary source of funding currently is. Mr. Kittendorf answered different fundraisers like popcorn sales and discount cards. Member Dunn, seconded by Member Sills, moved to recommend that the City Commission award grant funding of$500 to Boy Scout Troop 210. Motion carried unanimously. Application No. 5—Miles of Smiles - 7:15 pm Chairman Sills indicated Miles of Smiles has withdrawn their application. Application No. 6—Read to Sydney - 7:15 pm Chairman Sills asked if there was anyone present to represent the Read to Sydney organization. Chairman Sills announced that the organization must have an individual present at this meeting in order to be considered for a recommendation. As no one came forward to represent this organization, this application was denied. COMMUNITY GRANT REVIEW BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 8,2017 Application No. 7—Orlando Guardian Football—7:16 pm Duane Hunt, Ocoee PD, attended to represent the organization. He explained that this team is a full-contact football league that is part of a national league called the National Public Safety Football League. The Orlando Guardian Football team is the only league within Florida, and there are only 22 teams across the country. Every league has their own charity, and this team's charity this year is Autism Awareness. Last year this team raised $12,000 for their charity. The funds will go towards the fields, the referees; moreover, once all of the regular fees are met, all other funds go towards the charity. He explained if any person or organization sponsors $250 to $500, their organization is placed on the team website and banners will be placed at every game. He personally sees this as advertising for the City. He emphasized that eight free tickets will be provided to every sponsor at the $250 to $500 level. Chairman Sills asked if any games will be played in Ocoee. Mr. Hunt said all games are at Lake Howell, but he explained there will be a City of Ocoee banner put up. Member Dunn inquired if missing Items 1, 3 and 4 have been satisfied. Staff Liaison Wright indicated Number 1 has been satisfied, but Number 3 and 4 have not been turned in. Mr. Hunt indicated he is working on getting those. He said the EIN number has been provided, but he is working on getting the forms. He also indicated the organization is a 501(c)(3). Chairman Sills indicated he is normally against traveling teams, but this one seems as if Ocoee would get some good recognition. Member Dunn said she is not sure this organization meets the criteria of the grant. Member Cortes asked how many team players live in Ocoee. Mr. Hunt indicated two. Member Cortes asked how many people are on the team. Mr. Hunt answered the most they have had is 42, but they usually average 25 to 30. Member Cortes indicated she feels it would be good recognition for the City, but they need to see if it would benefit anything more than that. Member Dunn indicated she agrees the recognition would be good for the City, but feels this may not be the appropriate place for it. Member Sills, seconded by Member Cortes, moved to recommend that the City Commission award grant funding of$500 to Orlando Guardian Football. Motion carried 2-1 with Member Dunn opposing. Application No. 8—Ocoee Little League -7:27 pm Paul Schwartz, Vice President, attended to represent the organization. He indicated the funds will be used for baseball equipment, catcher's gear, and baseballs. Chairman Sills asked if the players purchase their own uniforms. Mr. Schwartz answered the uniforms are provided from the initial costs except for the cleats and glove. Member Cortes asked if the players pay a registration fee. Mr. Schwartz answered in the affirmative indicating it is $125, which includes the entire uniform and insurances for the league and paid empires. Chairman Sills said this is keeping them occupied and off the streets, and Mr. Schwartz expressed itis keeping them busy and out of trouble. Chairman Sills asked what the age range is, and Mr. Schwartz indicated 5 years to 14 years old. Member Dunn, seconded by Member Sills, moved to recommend that the City Commission award grant funding of$500 to the Ocoee Little League. Motion carried unanimously. 3 COMMUNITY GRANT REVIEW BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 8,2017 Application No.9—Barkie's Legacy - 7:29 pm Jennifer Bark attended to represent the organization. She explained that they had a big year with a lot of dogs saved and a lot of medical needs with dogs needing surgeries such as a broken pelvis. She indicated it is very expensive, but well worth it after they recover and get placed into good homes. Chairman Sills asked how they receive the animals. Ms. Bark indicated they are on FaceBook, PetFinder.com and AdoptAPet.com. Chairman Sills asked what the cost of adoption is. Ms. Bark indicated there is an adoption fee of$150 for an adult, which helps them with all the costs involved and keeps them moving forward to save the next animal. She indicated they take care of primarily big dogs, which takes a little bit longer to get adopted, because of their size. Chairman Sills asked how many animals were rescued last year. Ms. Bark indicated they saved 36 animals and 32 were placed. Chairman Sills expressed this is amazing to have an individual this devoted and that it takes a special person. Member Dunn, seconded by Member Sills, moved to recommend that the City Commission award grant funding of$500 to Barkie's Legacy. Motion carried unanimously. DISCUSSION OF APPLICATIONS Chairman Sills asked when these will go to the City Commission, and Staff Liaison Wright indicated probably the March 7th City Commission Meeting. Chairman Sills asked the Board if there are any discussions on the applications or if anyone would like to make any changes. As nothing was brought forth, Chairman Sills reiterated that all organizations should be represented in person at this meeting in order to be considered for a recommendation. He said the next grant cycle will be in July of 2017, and the organizations which were unable to attend tonight are welcome to reapply at that time. NOMINATION OF OFFICERS FOR ONE-YEAR TERM Chairman Sills opened the floor for nominations of chairman and vice-chairman. • CHAIRMAN & VICE-CHAIRMAN Member Dunn, seconded by Member Cortes, moved to nominate Chairman Sills as the Community Grant Review Board's Chairman and Vice-Chairman Carrington as the Community Grant Review Board's Vice-Chairman. Nominations were closed and a vote was called. Motion carried unanimously. COMMUNITY GRANT REVIEW BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 8,2017 COMMENTS Chairman Sills commented that he has been on this Board a number of years, and this meeting went very smooth, which has not happened in a long time. Member Dunn mentioned it is sad that there is money left over, and asked whether it carries into the next cycle. Staff Liaison Wright indicated that it does carry into the next cycle. Chairman Sills thanked everyone for coming out and being patient. ADJOURNMENT - 7:38 pm Attest: APPROVED: �! � aur✓ . _ �✓ Kat y Heard, Recording Secretary m Sill-, Chairman