December 13, 2023 Minutes

City of Chandler — Regular Meeting (2024-02-07)

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MINUTES 
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION  
NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCES DEPARTMENT  
235 S. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, AZ 85225 
Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 6:00 p.m. 
 
CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL   
Commission Chair Heather Mattisson called the meeting to order at 6:18 p.m. 
 
Commissioners present: Heather Mattisson, Ryan Magel, David Gonzalez, Aimee Griffith-Johnson, Lisa 
Loring, Cecilia Hermosillo, Jeff Reynolds, and Karen Tepper (arrived at 6:22 p.m.). 
 
Commissioners absent: Tony Alcala, Julie Martin, and Sharyn Younger. 
 
Staff present: Leah Powell, Neighborhood Resources Director, Riann Balch, Community Resources 
Senior Manager, Karin Bishop, Community Development Senior Program Manager, Elizabeth Garcia, 
Community Development Coordinator, and Zoe Tepper, Intern.  
 
Public present: None. 
 
SCHEDULED/UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES/CALL TO PUBLIC 
Members of the audience may address any item not on the agenda. State Statute prohibits the Board 
or Commission from discussing an item that is not on the agenda, but the Board or Commission does 
listen to your concerns and has staff follow up on any questions you raise. 
 
None. 
 
CONSENT AGENDA 
Items listed on the Consent Agenda may be enacted by one motion and one vote.  If a discussion is 
required by members of the Board or Commission, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda 
for discussion and determination will be made if the item will be considered separately. 
 
1. November 8, 2023, HHSC Regular Meeting Minutes. 
 
Motion: Commissioner Jeff Reynolds made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Commissioner 
David Gonzalez seconded the motion.  
 
Discussion: None. 
 
Results: The motion was approved 8-0. 
 
BRIEFING 
Chair Mattisson requested to move briefing item 3 out of order. Commissioner Karen Tepper made a 
motion to move item 3 out of order. Commissioner Reynolds seconded the motion.  
 
Discussion: None. 
 
Results: The motion was approved 8-0.

Commission Chair Mattisson called on Ms. Riann Balch, Community Resources Senior Manager to 
present information on item 3. 
 
3. FY 24-25 General Fund Allocation Process  
 
Ms. Balch shared that staff had been asked to take more time to develop the new RFP process. As a 
result, the FY 24-25 general fund allocation process will remain as is for FY 24-25 allocations. Staff will 
continue to work with Crescendo Consulting to update the Community Needs Assessment and refine 
the new process for FY 25-26.  
 
Ms. Balch called on Ms. Karin Bishop to present the allocation timeline. Ms. Bishop provided an 
overview of the timeline and stated that there are no substantive changes to the application from last 
year. Ms. Bishop advised Commissioners that a special meeting will need to be held in February to 
conduct a Subcommittee Orientation. Ms. Bishop also shared that staff identified ways to streamline 
the review process by collapsing the review criteria and allowing reviewers to enter one overall score 
per application. Additionally, staff are recommending reducing the number of meetings for each 
evaluation panel.   
 
Commissioners discussed potential dates to hold the Subcommittee Orientation, which will be voted 
upon at the February 7, 2024, Regular Meeting.   
 
ACTION 
2. Motion to approve exceptions related to Allocations Subcommittee Composition and Leadership 
Criteria.  
 
Commission Chair Mattisson called on Ms. Balch to present information on this item. Ms. Balch 
suggested an additional way to streamline the process, given the shortened timeline we’re working 
with this year, is to waive the requirement for five members per subcommittee and the requirement 
to include community volunteers in the subcommittee composition. 
  
Motion: Commissioner Gonzalez made a motion to approve the suggested exceptions to the 
Allocations Subcommittee Composition and Leadership Criteria to eliminate the requirement for five 
members per subcommittee, and to eliminate the requirement to include community volunteers in 
the subcommittee composition. Commissioner Reynolds seconded the motion.  
 
Discussion:  Commission Vice Chair Ryan Magel expressed concern about not including youth 
community members on the Youth subcommittee as he finds their insight to be beneficial. 
Commissioner David Gonzalez stated that in reading the proposed motion, it is not required but 
recommended. Ms. Balch explained that the reason for not including community members in the FY 
24-25 General Fund Allocations process is because we typically recruit community members in the 
Fall, and conducting a recruitment on short notice may be challenging. Additionally, community 
members may not find the process as engaging this year since there will be fewer meetings. 
Commissioner Tepper asked if it was possible to have a community volunteer for the Youth 
Subcommittee. Ms. Balch stated that staff will work on recruiting a youth volunteer to participate in 
the process.

Commissioner Lisa Loring stated that due to the late start of the funding process, the community 
volunteers will not have the best experience. Commissioners requested that staff attempt to recruit 
youth community volunteers for the Youth Subcommittee, if possible.  
 
Results: The motion was approved 8-0. 
 
 
MEMBERS COMMENTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS 
None 
 
CALENDAR 
4. HHSC Regular Meeting, Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. 
5. HHSC Regular Meeting, Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. 
6. HHSC Regular Meeting, Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. 
 
INFORMATION ITEMS 
Ms. Leah Powell shared that Mrs. Amy Jacobson delivered a beautiful and healthy baby girl. 
 
ADJOURN 
The meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m. 
 
Dated: _____________________________ 
 
 
__________________________________ 
Chair Heather Mattisson 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recording Secretary Elizabeth Garcia