Working Session

Mayor and City Council Work Session
July 27, 2005 – 5:00 p.m.
Council Chambers

Council Members Present: Bob Brooks, Doug Christensen(joined meeting in progress), Hal Gershman, Eliot Glassheim, Dorette Kerian, Curt Kreun.
Council Members Absent: Gerald Hamerlik.
Others Present: Mayor Brown, John Schmisek, Rick Duquette, Maureen Storstad, Greg Hoover, Todd Feland, Pete O’Neill, Al Morken, Daryl Hovland, Mike Kirby, Pete Haga, Don Shields, approximately 70 audience members from the community.

Mayor Brown called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and welcomed the presenters from the Community Violence Intervention Center.

1) Community Violence Intervention Center (CVIC).

Duane Czapiewski, co-President of the CVIC Board of Directors, thanked the group for allowing this presentation today and welcomed the opportunity to expand the relationship that exists between the City and CVIC. He stated that a packet was on each desk and contained supporting information for Council’s review. He introduced other board members present: Sandy Dittus, Charlotte Hovet and Kim Woods. He continued that they have just completed a six month strategic planning process with a consultant and have determined that a financial partnership with a local government will be necessary to continue to provide all of the services that they currently offer, and in particular those that serve a quasi-governmental need in the community.

Kim Woods, Board Member of CVIC, gave a brief overview of the purpose of CVIC. She stated that approximately 2,000 local adults and children from Grand Forks and the area immediately surrounding it and provide education and training to over 10,000 local individuals each year. She continued that they are requesting $100,000 from the City of Grand Forks to support the quasi-governmental services that they provide, which is approximately 6.8% of the preliminary 2006 CVIC budget. She stated that they believe this would save the City of Grand Forks approximately $168,305 per year. She added that without this support, it would be necessary for CVIC to discontinue three programs that they are currently offering to the community by the end of 2005: 1) the Witness Program, which serves 600+ per year; 2) Domestic Violence Offender Treatment Program, which serves 90+ per year; and 3) Wishing Well Child Visitation Program, which serves 300+ per year.

(Christensen joins meeting.)

Woods continued that CVIC is unique from other non-profits as they provide quasi-governmental services which increase the safety of citizens in the community through their collaboration with local law enforcement, 24-hour crisis intervention, and the emergency shelter to hide citizens in danger. She continued that the services provided by CVIC satisfy requirements of ND Statutes NDCC 12.1-34 for ND Fair Treatment Standards, NDCC 12.1-17-01 for Sentencing and offender treatment, and NDCC 12-05-22 Supervised visitations and domestic violence. She added that the services provided by CVIC decreasing police costs and reducing the frequency and severity of domestic violence. She stated that CVIC provides for a coordinated community response for violent situations as well as providing over 693.5 hours of training to local law enforcement officers since 1999.

Woods stated that they believe that the services provided by CVIC save the City an estimated $168,305 broken down as follows: $132,150 24 hour crisis/safety services, $8,182 for savings pertaining to statutes, $16,973 savings from crime prevention services, and $11,000 for savings from training and technical assistance costs. In addition, she commented that without the programs that CVIC offers there may be an increased risk of liability to the City of Grand Forks. She stated that 99% of the funds expended by CVIC go back into the Grand Forks community and the loss of the three programs would result in the loss of 14 professional positions (8 FTE), as well as a loss of federal funding for providing the same services directly by the City.

Woods stated that annual fundraising and private donations total over $130,000 and grants provide a majority of the funding, over $700,000. She stated that Board Members are continuing to work on increasing the private donor amount. $20,000 is received from client paid fees. She added that they have also begun the process of starting a planned giving committee for those wishing to leave a legacy.

Gershman thanked CVIC for the information and presentation and apologized that he, Kreun and the Mayor would need to leave at this time to meet with the Assistant Secretary of the Army Corps of Engineers who is in town.

(Gershman, Kreun, and Mayor Brown excused from the meeting.)
Brooks takes over as chair.

Dr. Earl Beal, Chair of GF/EGF United Way Program and a Research Analyst for the Department of Defense in the area of family services, stated that he was representing Pat Burger who was unable to attend this evening and gave a brief review of his background and interactions with CVIC and their programs. He commented that this request is not about money, but is a request to invest in the community and make it a community of caring. He stated that in his research he has found that caring communities have two specific characteristics – they have a shared responsibility and a collective competency. He elaborated on the ways the Grand Forks community fits into these characteristics including listing a number of statistics and first accomplishments that this community has had that others in the state do not.

Capt. Michael Kirby, Grand Forks Police Department, representing Chief John Packett who was unable to attend this evening as he was in Bismarck at a meeting regarding violent and sexual offenders, stated that the police department did provide to CVIC statistical information such as response times which CVIC used to derive the cost savings that were included in their presentation and that he can also verify that there is a strong cooperative relationship between the City and the Grand Forks Police Department. He shared with the group his background and history in law enforcement, as well as his history working with the CVIC as a board member. He stated that he would be available for any questions that the group may have on this information. He added that he believes that CVIC has been a valuable and reliable asset to our community.

Doug Norby, Grand Forks business owner, stated that he is a life-long community member and that he believes that the safety in our community is important and that he is pleased with the decreases in the area of violent crime that has occurred since CVIC began their work and would like to see them continue to be able to provide their services until we can get our incidence of violence down to zero. He suggested that perhaps there would even be an openness in the community to look at funding through a means similar to mosquito control and encouraged the Council to take the lead in providing ongoing funding, with a thought that the County would then also follow suit.

Ken Vein, administrative director of plant and facilities for Altru Health Systems, stated that he and his family has been a recipient of services from CVIC in the Crime Victim Witness Program. He related that story of his sons stabbing and how CVIC was able to assist them in the process of resolving the criminal case against his assailant, as well as dealing with other issues related to the crime.

Czapiewski again thanked the group for hearing the presentation and stated that they were open to any questions from Council.

Kerian stated that she valued the presentation and commented that the budget process has been proceeding for the City and they have had their budget presentation and inquired as to the current status of the CVIC annual budget, long-term funding expectation, and what factors have led to the need for the funding request. Czapiewski stated that the main factor is the changes and eliminations of federal grants that have funded these programs and explained that most grants are not open to continuing funding for ongoing programs, and are open to development of new programs. He continued that they are continuing to look for new grant opportunities, while continuing to offer their core programs, and that they have unfortunately come to the conclusion that there is not enough available funding to continue to provide these services without the requested funding from the City. He continued that none of the programs being considered for closure are available locally from any other source and as such they view them as vital to the community, but are in need of a funding source to be able to continue them. Kerian inquired what has been done at the state level for these unfunded mandates of the State. Czapiewski stated that they did work at the state level, but were not successful thus far with securing any funding at the state level, despite the fact that all of these services remain as required in state statute. He continued that they are also continuing to look at other potential funding sources besides the grant including a request that will be made to the County, private fundraising and gifting, and the United Way. He stated that they have not yet met with the County, but will be doing so.

Glassheim stated that in looking at the financials that were provided it appears that the total amount of federal funding is increasing and asked for more specifics. Kristi Hall-Jiran, Executive Director of CVIC, stated that while they are securing some different grant funds, they can only be used to fund the specific projects for which they were applied for and can not be redirected to cover shortfalls in funding for other programs. She continued to give examples of some of the specific areas that these new grants have funded, including an attorney to be on staff to assist their clients and a transitional housing program. She stated that one of the primary grants they are losing is the Edward Byrne Grant which has been eliminated after 2005 as well as their VOCA funds and they have been told by their contacts in Washington D.C. that this situation will be continuing to get worse. Glassheim asked Capt. Kirby whether the cash saving listed is directly from the Police Department. Kirby stated that they provided statistical information and typical response time and CVIC then translated that to a dollars and cents for the presentation. He added that it would be fair and appropriate to say that if CVIC did not provide the services that they do there would be some staff time by the Police Department that would be needed to provide some of those services. He stated that at the present time there is a good cooperative effort between CVIC and the Police Department to provide their services and save the Police Department staff time and they work to avoid duplication.

Glassheim asked with the Offender Treatment Program what the rate of success/recidivism is, as well as details of the program. Hall-Jiran stated that this is an area that they have just begun to track, but their program is based on a nationally known model and that model has a 60% rate. She stated that usually they hear about it only when it doesn’t work and they see a recurrence. She stated that the program is a 27 week program that has three programs running concurrently at different times.

Brooks commented that the City is at the end of their budget process for the upcoming year, but they will review the information provided and see if there is any way for the City to assist them in 2006. He added that he has in the past suggested that perhaps an ongoing revenue source generating from the source of the problem to provide funding for these programs. He continued that he views this organization as also serving the region and therefore there may also be some other entities that could assist in providing funding sources. Hall-Jiran stated that she appreciates those thoughts and any partnership that could be established with the City and that the intent of the board is to be up front and that if there is not an opportunity to find some permanent funding for these programs that they then need to go ahead and make some hard decisions and move forward.

Christensen commented that the City staff has struggled with this budget and reaching the 9 mill cuts that Council had requested and that they have also garnered some support from other entities to also assist with cutting some mills. He continued that there is a process for those requesting funds from CDBG dollars to apply for those funds, which has traditionally been the source of funds for CVIC. He requested that CVIC provide a copy of their 2005 budget and a listing of the direct costs for providing the three programs in danger of being discontinued, including number of staff persons, salary, benefits, etc. He commented that he read the statutes provided and did not see that there was a direct responsibility for the community to provide the services, but rather for the prosecutor to provide them, and while he sees the value he is struggling with a way we can help to provide them any more than a one time deal, but that is this is truly a service that our community wants and desires then it needs to become a part of the political process. He continued that he will be visiting with the Police Department as to why they did not include a request for this in their budget, as if it is to be an ongoing funding it should be a line item in the budget. He inquired if they knew how other cities in North Dakota handle these requirements, and if maybe there was a way to have the funding handled the same here. Hall-Jiran stated that they have a staff person in the prosecutor’s office and that we are one of three crime victim witness advocates community based programs and these are funded out of the States Attorney’s budget, but they believe that it can be valuable to have this not associated with the prosecutor, as they are supposed to be advocates for the victim and sometimes there is reason to disagree with the prosecutor on some aspects of a case and when they are your boss that creates an additional conflict. Christensen inquired whether there was any conversation at the state level on funding for this. Hall-Jiran stated that at this time the requests have not been openly received at the state level and while they will continue to try it is unknown whether they will be successful. She added that North Dakota is alone in how little they recognize and do not provide funding for these services in comparison to other states. Christensen asked whether if the City were able to assist with funding in 2006 with no promises for an ongoing process, other than that they would try to work out a way to look at funding in cooperation with the County going forward. Hall-Jiran stated that they would be appreciative of any assistance that could be received.

Glassheim asked for more information on the funds that would need to be returned or refrained from if the three programs are discontinued. Hall-Jiran stated that these funds were specifically awarded for the three programs that would be cancelled and therefore they would not be able to retain then once the program ended. She stated that some of the grants run July-June and that they would not be able to apply since those programs no longer exist. Christensen requested detail on this also be provided with the other information that he requested.

Czapiewski again thanked the Council for their time and expressed appreciation for any assistance that they can give.

2) Adjourn.

Brooks declared the meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Sherie Lundmark
Admin Spec Sr.