Ad Hoc Committee on Racial Equity and Social Justice Meeting Transcript … · ·8· · · · · ·...
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Ad Hoc Committee on Racial Equity and Social Justice Meeting Transcript July 28, 2020
Transcript of Ad Hoc Committee on Racial Equity and Social Justice Meeting Transcript … · ·8· · · · · ·...
Ad Hoc Committee on Racial Equity and Social Justice Meeting Transcript
July 28, 2020
·1· · · · · · · · · · ·THE CHILDREN’S TRUST·2· · ·RACIAL EQUITY SOCIAL JUSTICE AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETING
·3· · · · · · · · · · ·BOARD TELECONFERENCE
·4· · · · · · · · · “VIRTUAL MEETING VIA ZOOM”
·5
·6· · · · · · ·The Children’s Trust Racial Equity Social
·7· · · ·Justice Ad Hoc Committee Meeting was held on July
·8· · · ·28, 2020, commencing at 3:30 p.m., via Zoom
·9· · · ·Webinar.· The meeting was called to order by Tiombe
10· · · ·Kendrick-Dunn, Chair.
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12· · · ·BOARD MEMBERS:
13· · · ·Tiombe Bisa Kendrick-Dunn, Chair
14· · · ·Dr. Magaly Abrahante
15· · · ·Dr. Daniel Bagner
16· · · ·Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall
17· · · ·Constance Collins
18· · · ·Richard P. Dunn II
19· · · ·Lourdes P. Gimenez
20· · · ·Mindy Grimes-Festge
21· · · ·Nelson Hincapie
22· · · ·Pamela Hollingsworth
23· · · ·Marissa Leichter
24· · · ·Dr. Susan Neimand
25· · · ·Mark Trowbridge
·1· · · ·BOARD MEMBERS: (Continued)
·2· · · ·Karen Weller
·3· · · ·Sandra West
·4· · · ·Kenneth C. Hoffman (ex-officio)
·5· · · ·STAFF:
·6· · · ·Amanda Gorski
·7· · · ·Ashley Pugh
·8· · · ·Aundray Adams
·9· · · ·Bevone Ritchie
10· · · ·Bianca Montenegro
11· · · ·Donovan Lee-Sin
12· · · ·Imran Ali
13· · · ·James Haj
14· · · ·Jennifer Ulysse
15· · · ·Jerry Calvert
16· · · ·Joanna Revelo
17· · · ·Jorge Gonzalez
18· · · ·Juana Leon
19· · · ·Lisanne Gage
20· · · ·Lisete Yero
21· · · ·Lori (Katherine) Hanson
22· · · ·Molly O’Doherty
23· · · ·Muriel Jeanty
24· · · ·Rachel Spector
25· · · ·Sabine Dulcio
·1· · · ·STAFF: (Continued.)
·2· · · ·Sabrina Voltaire
·3· · · ·Sebastian del Marmol
·4· · · ·Sheryl Borg
·5· · · ·Stephanie Sylvestre
·6· · · ·Tatiana Canelas
·7· · · ·Teresa Cobb
·8· · · ·Vivianne Bohorques
·9· · · ·William Kirtland
10· · · ·Willmeisha Hall
11· · · ·Xeniamaria Rodriguez
12· · · ·Ximena Nunez
13· · · ·GUESTS:
14· · · ·Leigh-Ann Buchanan, Facilitator
15· · · ·Walter Richardson, Consultant
16· · · ·Manuel Fermin, Healthy Start Coalition
17· · · ·Wanda Finnie
18· · · ·Ingrid Arias, Student
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·1· · · · · · · · · · · · · PROCEEDINGS
·2· · · ·(Recording of the meeting began at 4:00 p.m.)
·3· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Are we ready?
·4· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Yeah.
·5· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Okay.· It’s 4:00 p.m.· We’ll bring
·6· · · ·the meeting to order.· Welcome, everybody.· First, I
·7· · · ·wanted to thank all the board members who attended
·8· · · ·and participated in the second meeting of the Racial
·9· · · ·Equity Social Justice Ad Hoc Committee held last
10· · · ·Monday.
11· · · · · · We had a great turnout.· More than 16 board
12· · · ·members have volunteered to be on the committee, and
13· · · ·we were led in the meeting by our Committee Chair,
14· · · ·Tiombe Kendrick-Dunn and Leigh-Ann Buchanan, a
15· · · ·facilitator, in a discussion that primarily centered
16· · · ·around the purpose, vision, and strategy of the
17· · · ·committee.· Tiombe, would you like to add anything?
18· · · ·I think -- okay.· I don't know if Tiombe’s on this
19· · · ·call, but if she wants to share anything, please --
20· · · ·oh, go ahead.
21· · · · · · MS. KENDRICK-DUNN:· I'm here.
22· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Oh, go ahead.· Hi.· Thank you.
23· · · · · · MS. KENDRICK-DUNN:· I'm sorry.· My computer was
24· · · ·not being cooperative.· So can you repeat that
25· · · ·because I didn't even hear what was happening before.
·1· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· No, I just mentioned that we had
·2· · · ·the -- another meeting of the committee of which
·3· · · ·you’re chair on last Monday.
·4· · · · · · MS. KENDRICK-DUNN:· Okay.
·5· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· And just briefly what happened and
·6· · · ·I just wanted to know if you wanted to share anything
·7· · · ·else with the full board at this time.
·8· · · · · · MS. KENDRICK-DUNN:· I guess I will just share
·9· · · ·briefly that we had our first Ad Hoc Committee
10· · · ·meeting and I think that the meeting went
11· · · ·wonderfully.
12· · · · · · We were able to just, you know, have a
13· · · ·discussion, work through a couple of activities and
14· · · ·just begin the conversation about what we're going to
15· · · ·address and work on.
16· · · · · · And so, I think we have really great feedback
17· · · ·from both board members and staff and we look forward
18· · · ·to a future meeting.· So, I think it went pretty
19· · · ·well.
20· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Good.· Thank you.· Thank you,
21· · · ·Tiombe.· Next, I wanted to share with the board that
22· · · ·we have eight summer youth interns of the trust.
23· · · ·They've been there since early July and will be with
24· · · ·us until August 3rd.
25· · · · · · Donovan Sin heads up the summer program, which
·1· · · ·includes formal projects, guest speakers such as the
·2· · · ·Florida House Representatives, -- and our own board
·3· · · ·member, Juan Fernandez-Barquin.
·4· · · · · · The youth interns have discussions on a variety
·5· · · ·of topics.· They have mock interviews, discuss the
·6· · · ·art of negotiating and other opportunities that we’re
·7· · · ·able to give them.· Donovan, is there -- would you
·8· · · ·like to share anything about the youth internship?
·9· · · · · · MR. LEE-SIN:· Sure.· Thank you, Mr. Chair.
10· · · ·First of all, I think we are thankful for our
11· · · ·partners in this work, Miami-Dade County, Miami-Dade
12· · · ·County Public Schools, the Foundation for New
13· · · ·Education Initiatives that, you know, our collective
14· · · ·effort has allowed us to push forward even under
15· · · ·difficult circumstances with having a summer
16· · · ·internship program.
17· · · · · · The program started in July 1st and will end
18· · · ·August 5th.· We have -- while this is no ordinary
19· · · ·summer, we have over 2,000 interns enrolled in work
20· · · ·experience all across the county.
21· · · · · · In years gone by under typical operating
22· · · ·experiences, we would have had close to somewhere
23· · · ·between the neighborhood of seven or 800 employers
24· · · ·employing our interns.
25· · · · · · This year, we have a little bit over 350, but
·1· · · ·they're hiring more interns, and 95 percent of our
·2· · · ·internship experiences across the board are remote
·3· · · ·internships where all of our students, like most of
·4· · · ·us, are working from home on project-based work.
·5· · · · · · The other five percent are hybrid where some
·6· · · ·students may report to their employer once a week or
·7· · · ·once every 10 days or so, for direct project work and
·8· · · ·niche, then they deliver it once they return back to
·9· · · ·the workplace.
10· · · · · · For students, the school district provided masks
11· · · ·and has continued to provide masks to all students
12· · · ·who may have to report for workplace and, you know,
13· · · ·so far although we are at, you know, over 2,000
14· · · ·students enrolled and we had hoped to be, you know,
15· · · ·in a typical operating time, we'd hoped to be well
16· · · ·beyond that, we’re thankful and are excited by the
17· · · ·talent that the kids are bringing to our workforce.
18· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Right.· Thank you.· Thank you,
19· · · ·Donovan.· Next, we're going to share a brief video
20· · · ·that highlights the 2019-2020 year for the Children's
21· · · ·Trust Youth Advisory Committee, otherwise known as
22· · · ·the YAC.
23· · · · · · The YAC is a youth leadership program open to
24· · · ·all Miami-Dade County High school students.· It's
25· · · ·designed to nurture the next generation of
·1· · · ·changemakers, committed to positive change in
·2· · · ·themselves, the community, and the world.
·3· · · · · · The YAC has regular meetings, advocacy
·4· · · ·trainings, firsthand service learning experiences and
·5· · · ·among other things in addition to those, they have a
·6· · · ·trip -- a yearly trip to Tallahassee during Florida's
·7· · · ·Children's Week, and it is at the Capitol, meet with
·8· · · ·legislators and experience political process
·9· · · ·firsthand.
10· · · · · · This is the 16th year that we've -- that the
11· · · ·Children's Trust has had the YAC program.· There are
12· · · ·nearly 500 students that are registered of which
13· · · ·approximately 300 are actively engaged at any one
14· · · ·time.· So why don't you, Vivianne, then roll the
15· · · ·video and then -- thank you.· Is there sound?
16· · · · · · (Video playing.)
17· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· Ken, you're on mute.
18· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Oh, okay.· Well, then I'll say
19· · · ·that over.· What a great way to get our students
20· · · ·engaged both in community activity, community
21· · · ·advocacy, but also to introduce them to the
22· · · ·government process.
23· · · · · · And I did also thank the staff members who are
24· · · ·involved in that and Mark for -- Mark Trowbridge for
25· · · ·acting as a chaperone for the Tallahassee trip.
·1· · · · · · Finally -- included in your board package for
·2· · · ·this month, is a schedule of the board and committee
·3· · · ·meeting dates for the next fiscal year.· Please make
·4· · · ·note of the dates and times on your calendars.· I'm
·5· · · ·sure Muriel will be sending you reminders as usual.
·6· · · ·Speaking of Muriel, do we have any public comments?
·7· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· No.· No, Chair.· We don't have any
·8· · · ·public comments.
·9· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Okay.· Then I will turn the
10· · · ·meeting over to our Secretary, Karen Weller for the
11· · · ·minutes of the last meeting.
12· · · · · · MS. WELLER:· Sure.· The Board of Directors met
13· · · ·virtually on Monday, June the 15th.· The minutes can
14· · · ·be found on page four through six of the packet.
15· · · ·Hopefully everyone had an opportunity to review.· May
16· · · ·I have a motion for approval?
17· · · · · · MS. HOLLINGSWORTH:· So moved, Hollingsworth.
18· · · · · · MS. WELLER:· Thank you, Pam.· May I have a
19· · · ·second?
20· · · · · · MR. TROWBRIDGE:· Second, Trowbridge.
21· · · · · · MS. WELLER:· Thank you.· All those in favor?
22· · · · · · ALL:· Aye.
23· · · · · · MS. WELLER:· The motion carries, Mr. Chair.
24· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Who will second it?
25· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· Muriel, I recognized Trowbridge.
·1· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Okay.· Yes, it was, Mark.· Yeah.
·2· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Okay, thank you.· All right.· Is
·3· · · ·Steve Hope online with us? I’ll turn over the --
·4· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Yes, sir.· Can you hear me clearly?
·5· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· You're on.
·6· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Okay.· Thank you.· Good afternoon,
·7· · · ·everyone.· Happy Monday.· So I will talk on the
·8· · · ·Finance and Operations Committee meet -- report.
·9· · · · · · So, the finance committee met on June 30th to
10· · · ·review the financial reports to be presented to the
11· · · ·board for the July meeting.· One of the key things
12· · · ·that was discussed at that meeting in addition to the
13· · · ·resolution was the review of the preliminary millage
14· · · ·rate.
15· · · · · · The draft budget schedule were previously
16· · · ·presented to the finance committee on June 4th and to
17· · · ·the board on June 15th, and in the draft and
18· · · ·subsequently at the June 30th meeting.
19· · · · · · In the draft budget presented, the proposed
20· · · ·millage rate was .4478.· The budget represents a
21· · · ·total of $138,250,593 with total expenditure of
22· · · ·$172,908,251 and a projected ending fund balance of
23· · · ·18,000,681 -- I'm sorry, $691,776.
24· · · · · · The proposed millage rate of .4478 represents
25· · · ·the estimated rollback rate and do not represent a
·1· · · ·tax increase.· The proposed rates is intended to
·2· · · ·generate the same revenue as the previous year, i.e.,
·3· · · ·$138,250,593.
·4· · · · · · So there has been no subsequent changes since
·5· · · ·the last presentation.· The fiscal year budget for
·6· · · ·2020-2021 before you today, represents the final
·7· · · ·preliminary budget to be discussed, modified, or
·8· · · ·approved before -- I'm sorry, modified or approved.
·9· · · · · · The first TRIM meeting is scheduled for
10· · · ·September 14th, in which the budget will be presented
11· · · ·for approval.· So I will now turn it over to the CEO
12· · · ·to provide some additional information on this
13· · · ·subject.· Jim?
14· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· Steve, thank you.· I think you've
15· · · ·covered exceptionally well.· The attachment that’s in
16· · · ·your package, the three attachments on page seven,
17· · · ·eight and nine, page seven is Attachment A, and this
18· · · ·-- that is the budget that will be advertised after
19· · · ·today's meeting that will go into TRIM.
20· · · · · · Page two, -- the page eight, which is the second
21· · · ·page, displays the fund balance, and page three is
22· · · ·really the breakdown of the score core strategies.
23· · · ·Staff has been working with the finance committee for
24· · · ·the past three years developing a long-term kind of
25· · · ·projection for the five year cycle, as well as
·1· · · ·individual one year strategies.
·2· · · · · · So the proposed budget that's in front of you,
·3· · · ·as Steve has stated, was shown at committee several
·4· · · ·times.· This is the same exact budget that was shown
·5· · · ·at last month's board meeting and it was emailed to
·6· · · ·all board members with the only thing different is
·7· · · ·the millage rate.
·8· · · · · · It was -- a rollback rate was used, but when we
·9· · · ·got the final rates in July 1, that was adjusted
10· · · ·slightly.· And I'd like -- Vivianne, if she can just
11· · · ·pull up -- Vivianne, if you would pull up the one
12· · · ·page budget highlight, please.
13· · · · · · So on the second page, since the beginning of
14· · · ·this funding cycle -- we're in a five year funding
15· · · ·cycle effective October 18, we committed an
16· · · ·additional 35 -- over $35 million annually to the
17· · · ·cycle which is 162.4 million over the five year
18· · · ·cycle, an additional year earmark for our programs in
19· · · ·this community.
20· · · · · · This five-year commitment continues to emphasize
21· · · ·the importance of spending in critical areas with --
22· · · ·for children and families in our community.· And just
23· · · ·to remind the board for the last three months, you've
24· · · ·approved many things, but it was also an increase in
25· · · ·our strategic plan of $6 million annually for
·1· · · ·programs services in parenting, early childhood
·2· · · ·development, health and wellness, family neighborhood
·3· · · ·supports caused by this pandemic.
·4· · · · · · The total budget for services is 157,544,000.
·5· · · ·And the TRIM revenues and millage as Steven stated in
·6· · · ·the tax roll is $326,562,502,890.· And the proposed
·7· · · ·millage rate that's shown in your package is the
·8· · · ·rollback rate.
·9· · · · · · If the trust adopts the rollback rate, then the
10· · · ·trust is not increasing taxes even if the rate itself
11· · · ·increases.· That's because the rollback rate
12· · · ·calculates taxable property values in relation to the
13· · · ·total revenue.
14· · · · · · If the tax rate generates the same total revenue
15· · · ·one year as it did in the previous year, then the
16· · · ·rollback rate has been applied.
17· · · · · · So you see the total trip revenues.· And what
18· · · ·we're very proud of is the efficiency for G&A so in
19· · · ·the 2000 -- the 2020 budget reflects G&A expenses of
20· · · ·6.23 which is an all-time low in the 17 plus years of
21· · · ·the trust.
22· · · · · · It also reflects a .03 percent decrease from the
23· · · ·prior year, and in trust history, this is the lowest
24· · · ·management expense ratio and the largest investment
25· · · ·that we have put out in the community in program
·1· · · ·services.
·2· · · · · · The budget and millage again, whatever is
·3· · · ·adopted today will be going will be going -- will be
·4· · · ·advertised and brought to the two TRIM dates in
·5· · · ·September 14th and September 21st.· Thank you, Mr.
·6· · · ·Chair.
·7· · · · · · MR. KIRTLAND:· May I clarify just a couple of
·8· · · ·points, Mr. Chair?· Can you hear me okay?
·9· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Yes, of course you may.
10· · · · · · MR. KIRTLAND:· Okay, great.· I just wanted to
11· · · ·state that when we presented the budget last time to
12· · · ·the Finance and Operations Committee where of
13· · · ·exceptional circumstances, we had the meeting on June
14· · · ·30th to present this budget before coming to the full
15· · · ·board.
16· · · · · · What made this circumstance unusual is that that
17· · · ·meeting was about a day earlier or so when we
18· · · ·received the property appraisals -- property
19· · · ·appraisers of its final assessment of total property
20· · · ·value.
21· · · · · · So that's at that date, we did not quite know
22· · · ·what the exact -- what the exact millage rate would
23· · · ·need to be for it to equate to the rollback rate.· So
24· · · ·subsequent to the meeting about a day or two later,
25· · · ·we were able to finalize the calculations of what the
·1· · · ·rollback rate was.
·2· · · · · · So as the numbers that Steve had read off at the
·3· · · ·beginning of this presentation about the revenue and
·4· · · ·expenditures and so forth, the expenditures stayed
·5· · · ·consistent with what was presented in that meeting.
·6· · · · · · There was no adjustments made to our
·7· · · ·expenditures, and the rollback rate was adjusted from
·8· · · ·the rate that he had mentioned at 4472.4507, which is
·9· · · ·the rate that's presented in the schedule today,
10· · · ·explaining the total revenue of 139,000,000 -- 139.8
11· · · ·million.
12· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Thank you.· Steve, back to you.
13· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thanks for the correction, my
14· · · ·apology.· Okay, so the recommendation update.· The
15· · · ·Finance committee and Operation Committee for a
16· · · ·proposed millage rate of 0.4507 for fiscal year 2020-
17· · · ·2021.
18· · · · · · And we're recommending that the board accept the
19· · · ·recommendation of the Finance and Operation Committee
20· · · ·to set the fiscal year 2021 proposed millage rate of
21· · · ·0.4507 mils, which is the equivalent of .4507 dollars
22· · · ·per $1,000 of property tax valued in Miami-Dade
23· · · ·County.
24· · · · · · Secondly, the fiscal year 2020-2021 proposed
25· · · ·budget includes estimate up $139,822,600 and -- I'm
·1· · · ·sorry $139,822,634 of tax revenue.· $172,908,251
·2· · · ·expenditure and a projected ending fund balance of
·3· · · ·$20,263,817.· Can I get a motion, please?
·4· · · · · · MR. SALVER:· I'll move it, Salver.
·5· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Can I have a second, place?
·6· · · · · · DR. BENDROSS-MINDINGALL:· Second Bendross-
·7· · · ·Mindingall.
·8· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you.· Any recusals?· Okay.
·9· · · ·Before voting, I will open it up for discussion.· Any
10· · · ·discussion?
11· · · · · · MS. COLLINS:· Hello.· I'm not sure if you can
12· · · ·see me.
13· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· We can see you.· Go ahead.
14· · · · · · MR. SALVER:· Yes.
15· · · · · · MS. COLLINS:· Thanks.· This is Constance Collins
16· · · ·with Lotus House Women’s Shelter.· Forgive me, please
17· · · ·for what I'm about to say, Steve, Jim, and Ken.
18· · · · · · Contrary to the initial deliberation of the
19· · · ·Finance committee, when the question of the millage
20· · · ·rate came before the Finance committee, I raised my
21· · · ·hand at the time to say that I think these are
22· · · ·unprecedented times in which children and families
23· · · ·are facing unprecedented challenges.
24· · · · · · And perhaps we should use the full resources of
25· · · ·the current millage rate, that is the rate we used
·1· · · ·last year, to invest more deeply in those impacted by
·2· · · ·the pandemic; the poorest children in our community,
·3· · · ·children and families of color and other marginalized
·4· · · ·children.
·5· · · · · · If we do not reduce the rate as contemplated by
·6· · · ·the budget, I'm advised the trust will have an
·7· · · ·additional 5.4 million in additional tax revenues to
·8· · · ·deploy.· The average cost of property owners would be
·9· · · ·only a few dollars.
10· · · · · · I listened to the countervailing voices at the
11· · · ·Finance committee advocating for a tax reduction in
12· · · ·these times, raising the specter of uncollectability
13· · · ·and the notion that we should hold fast to our
14· · · ·previously established five year plan because holding
15· · · ·steady has brought us successfully to this moment;
16· · · ·and no doubt, there have been enormous successes.
17· · · · · · But since then, I have had to really ask myself
18· · · ·what is this moment?· I believe we as a country and a
19· · · ·community are in crisis, and we are at a crossroads
20· · · ·that demands immediate and directed action.
21· · · · · · We can and I believe must respond proactively to
22· · · ·provide additional targeted resources for the benefit
23· · · ·of children of color and other marginalized children
24· · · ·in our community who are being disproportionately
25· · · ·adversely impacted by this pandemic.
·1
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·3· · · · · · We are on the precipice of a second Great
·4· · · ·Depression with millions of people, 51 million at
·5· · · ·last count, having lost their jobs.· Evictions
·6· · · ·temporarily on hold are lifting and countless
·7· · · ·children and families are standing at the precipice
·8· · · ·of homelessness all across this country and our
·9· · · ·community.
10· · · · · · Homelessness is traumatic for anyone, but
11· · · ·especially so for children in the loss of friends,
12· · · ·extended family, neighborhood ties, the loss of
13· · · ·personal possessions, safety and security, the loss
14· · · ·of a bed on which the child will lay at night.
15· · · · · · Life as we have known it is being ripped away in
16· · · ·poor and working-class neighborhoods with
17· · · ·unprecedented speed with businesses closed and
18· · · ·closing.· Public Schools closed and uncertain if they
19· · · ·will reopen or opening online.
20· · · · · · Childcare facilities closed.· Summer camps,
21· · · ·virtual are closed.· Food is scarce and hunger is not
22· · · ·in poor neighborhoods, like Overtown where we are.
23· · · ·The landscape is looking more bleak by the day all
24· · · ·across our community.
25· · · · · · Nearly everyone on this call has the privilege
·1· · · ·of hearing the trust's safer at home PSA and being
·2· · · ·grateful for having one.· Some have even had the
·3· · · ·luxury of quarantining, working remotely and
·4· · · ·schooling their children from home.
·5· · · · · · I want to say that experiences is for the
·6· · · ·privileged in our community; children and families
·7· · · ·with resources, certainly not the children and
·8· · · ·families we serve at our shelter.
·9· · · · · · The notion of remote work and online schooling
10· · · ·is illusory when you have no home or are on the verge
11· · · ·of losing it.· The same is true for children and
12· · · ·families of countless essential workers, first
13· · · ·responders, healthcare workers, transit, grocery
14· · · ·stores, restaurants, and more.
15· · · · · · Poor and working class people all across our
16· · · ·community could not shelter at home.· They were like
17· · · ·us, working harder than ever putting their lives on
18· · · ·the line and struggling to provide for their children
19· · · ·in these scary and uncertain times.
20· · · · · · Throughout this pandemic, Lotus House had no
21· · · ·choice but to remain open and fully operational
22· · · ·because in these times, shelter is needed more than
23· · · ·ever.
24· · · · · · The National Alliance to End Homelessness warns
25· · · ·that those living on the streets who become infected
·1· · · ·with the virus are two to three times more likely to
·2· · · ·die than the general population.
·3· · · · · · For women and children fleeing domestic violence
·4· · · ·or who have no home, shelter is nothing short of life
·5· · · ·saving.· And yet I cannot begin to express in words
·6· · · ·the challenges we faced and continue to face in
·7· · · ·sheltering 480 women and children nightly through
·8· · · ·this pandemic.· So much so, that I moved into our
·9· · · ·shelter for three months.
10· · · · · · Crisis normalized has become our every day with
11· · · ·the inevitable positive tests, contact tracing and
12· · · ·congregate environments, struggling to keep our team
13· · · ·focused and fearless.
14· · · · · · The constant vigilance needed to operate and
15· · · ·costly new technology, the imperative to stay safe in
16· · · ·an unsafe world.· We had to pivot, adapt, change,
17· · · ·innovate and learn on the fly.· It was and continues
18· · · ·to be daunting.
19· · · · · · In the end, we are figuring out how to operate
20· · · ·when we're most needed.· How to homeschool our
21· · · ·children, how to provide their summer programming,
22· · · ·the therapeutic supports called for in these
23· · · ·uncertain times, and how to advance the health and
24· · · ·safety of everyone.
25· · · · · · We persevered because lives are in the balance
·1· · · ·and we, like poor and marginalized children and
·2· · · ·families all across our community, do not have the
·3· · · ·luxury to do otherwise.
·4· · · · · · This wrenching experience has given us a unique
·5· · · ·vantage point into the needs of the children and
·6· · · ·families lacking in resources, and the stressors
·7· · · ·faced by all providers who remain operational during
·8· · · ·this pandemic.
·9· · · · · · All of the trust providers are going or will go
10· · · ·through the same, and they will need our added
11· · · ·support if they are to survive and offer meaningful
12· · · ·supports to our community's children.
13· · · · · · Moreover, the pandemic will hit hardest as ever
14· · · ·to children of color, children with disabilities and
15· · · ·specialized needs, and other marginalized children.
16· · · ·The gaps in education, health care, housing and
17· · · ·ultimately success in workplace, in life, for these
18· · · ·children are widening before our very eyes.
19· · · · · · If we are to reckon with the huge social and
20· · · ·racial inequities in our community, disparities
21· · · ·wrought of centuries of pervasive and persistent
22· · · ·racism, discrimination, and oppression, and we cannot
23· · · ·do what we have always done in this moment.
24· · · · · · We can and must invest more deeply in targeted
25· · · ·ways to truly make a difference for the children with
·1· · · ·the least who will need the added supports of the
·2· · · ·Children's Trust.
·3· · · · · · Our hope, I hope, for our country and our
·4· · · ·community, that we are finally reckoning more deeply
·5· · · ·with the impacts of racism, oppression and
·6· · · ·marginalization of persons of color, the LGBTQ
·7· · · ·community, gender-based violence and discrimination.
·8· · · · · · There’s no accident that 95 percent of those we
·9· · · ·sheltered at Lotus House over the past 15 years are
10· · · ·persons of color who lack meaningful access to safe
11· · · ·and affordable housing, high quality, extended
12· · · ·childcare, and meaningful educational and work
13· · · ·opportunities.
14· · · · · · The time to heal and readdress centuries of
15· · · ·racial and social inequities and injustice is now. A
16· · · ·debt is owed, and an honest conversation is long
17· · · ·overdue but there must be more than conversation.
18· · · ·There must be action.
19· · · · · · We can start by not reducing the millage rate at
20· · · ·a time when the revenues are most needed and
21· · · ·dedicating those resources to readdress the deepening
22· · · ·racial and social inequities in this pandemic.
23· · · · · · How those additional resources would be deployed
24· · · ·is something which the Board's Ad Hoc Committee on
25· · · ·Racial and Social Justice and the Program Services
·1· · · ·Committee can offer invaluable insight to the
·2· · · ·Children's Trust team.
·3· · · · · · The right questions can be asked and answers
·4· · · ·explored by those with lived experience and
·5· · · ·expertise.· But one thing is clear; innovation and
·6· · · ·immediate action are essential because calls for
·7· · · ·racial and social justice are hollow unless backed by
·8· · · ·meaningful resources targeted to end disparities.
·9· · · · · · I urge this board to recognize in these
10· · · ·unprecedented times unprecedented action is called
11· · · ·for.· Keep the millage rate the same as it was last
12· · · ·year, .4680 and target the additional resources to
13· · · ·readdress disparities that marginalized children are
14· · · ·suffering right now in every aspect of their lives.
15· · · · · · Of course, more is needed but this is a critical
16· · · ·moment for us to act.· The important work and mission
17· · · ·of the Children's Trust is needed more than ever.
18· · · ·Thank you, and I hope this sparks a conversation and
19· · · ·more than that, action.
20· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you, ma'am.· Any further
21· · · ·contribution on the subject?
22· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· Steve?
23· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Yes, sir?
24· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· I just -- for this, you know, just for
25· · · ·the benefit of the board of directors, I just want to
·1· · · ·add -- just share the fact that the Finance committee
·2· · · ·did debate this matter and it wasn't a quick debate.
·3· · · ·It was a lengthy debate.
·4· · · · · · And the vast majority of the Finance committee
·5· · · ·recommended exactly what the, you know, what staff is
·6· · · ·recommending, the 4.507 millage rate which is --
·7· · · ·happens to be higher than the original rollback rate.
·8· · · · · · So, the trust is getting additional money from
·9· · · ·the upward adjustment of the millage rate.· So, I'm
10· · · ·going to recommend as the former chairman of the
11· · · ·Finance committee -- current member of the Finance
12· · · ·committee to accept the staff’s recommendation.
13· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you, sir.· Any other
14· · · ·contribution to the subject?
15· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· I'd like to know from Bill what
16· · · ·the difference in funding that was -- that’s
17· · · ·suggested by the request made by Constance it would
18· · · ·be?
19· · · · · · MR. KIRTLAND:· Okay.· Keeping the millage rate
20· · · ·the same at 4680, would levy approximately an
21· · · ·additional $5.3 million bringing our estimated total
22· · · ·ad valorem tax revenues to around -- about
23· · · ·$145,000,000; a little bit more than that.
24· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Having -- certainly as a board, I
25· · · ·think we're all cognizant of what's going on in our
·1· · · ·community and the tremendous needs that have been
·2· · · ·developed as a result of not just existing conditions
·3· · · ·in the community, but the pandemic.
·4· · · · · · I think that the one point that I talked about
·5· · · ·with the Finance committee and the staff, it’s not --
·6· · · ·we do have additional resources.· We still have a
·7· · · ·fund balance that we've been drawing down.
·8· · · · · · I think that bringing more money in the coffers
·9· · · ·is not self-apparent that we can spend it responsibly
10· · · ·given the processes that we have in a short period of
11· · · ·time.
12· · · · · · So I would say that, you know, in my view, I
13· · · ·think that we should be putting as much money as we
14· · · ·can on the street.· I'm not sure what we have the
15· · · ·capability through our processes of doing that in a
16· · · ·rapid manner at this point.
17· · · · · · MR. HINCAPIE:· Mr. Chair?
18· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Yes, sir?
19· · · · · · MR. HINCAPIE:· I'm also on the Finance committee
20· · · ·and I just wanted to thank Constance, you know, for
21· · · ·her work in this community.
22· · · · · · I don't think anybody can deny that what you do
23· · · ·is so transformational and lifesaving and I, you
24· · · ·know, on behalf of Kiara (ph) and Jakia (ph) and
25· · · ·Laquanda (ph) and Argenia (ph), all young women who
·1· · · ·I've had the honor to serve as their mentor have been
·2· · · ·through your doors and their lives have been or
·3· · · ·continue to be transformed thanks to you.
·4· · · · · · I have a, I don't want to say an issue, but I
·5· · · ·think we need to address some of the things that were
·6· · · ·brought up in the Ad Hoc Committee in such as the
·7· · · ·spiritual bypassing paternalism, denial of white
·8· · · ·privilege, tokenism, the self-appointed white ally,
·9· · · ·and the Make America Great Again.
10· · · · · · These are all things that according to the Ad
11· · · ·Hoc Committee are considered socially acceptable
12· · · ·racism.· So, I bring this up simply because
13· · · ·Constance, you mentioned that the committee could
14· · · ·provide, you know, expertise into how funds should be
15· · · ·expend -- expended -- spent -- I'm sorry.
16· · · · · · So I, you know, I would feel more comfortable
17· · · ·once we have that conversation.· And listen, this is
18· · · ·an issue that, you know, I think we're all very
19· · · ·familiar with.
20· · · · · · And I think it definitely begins with, at least
21· · · ·for the young kids in foster care that I work with,
22· · · ·not having, you know, people at home that can love
23· · · ·them unconditionally and give them the support that
24· · · ·they need to be able to have a life where they can
25· · · ·make something out of.
·1· · · · · · So, you know, I would love to hear some feedback
·2· · · ·from the other board members in terms of, you know,
·3· · · ·either supporting the last year's millage rate or
·4· · · ·what the staff recommends.· And again, Constance,
·5· · · ·this is, you know, I commend you and what you do is
·6· · · ·amazing, and I commend you for bringing it up.
·7· · · · · · But I -- just -- this is a conversation that,
·8· · · ·you know, you said it.· We're facing a crisis, and I
·9· · · ·do agree with you 100 percent, but we need to make
10· · · ·sure that we address it, you know, properly.
11· · · · · · MS. HOLLINGSWORTH:· If I may, Mr. Chair?· First
12· · · ·of all, Constance, I want to thank you for those
13· · · ·words.· It kind of brings to mind the late
14· · · ·Congressman John Lewis, who has always historically
15· · · ·reminded us to be bold and to be courageous.
16· · · · · · And I think we have an opportunity here.· I do
17· · · ·agree with Constance.· When you indicated that we are
18· · · ·on a precipice, I think that is indeed true.· I think
19· · · ·we are in freefall in this community.
20· · · · · · I happen to be sitting literally in the Queens
21· · · ·of Miami right now in Little Havana that is the
22· · · ·epicenter in terms of new cases, and I think we have
23· · · ·-- we really don't know, we can only fear what's in
24· · · ·store for children and families in marginalized
25· · · ·communities coming down the pike.
·1· · · · · · So I just want to speak up on behalf of
·2· · · ·Constance’s words and her recommendation.· And again,
·3· · · ·would close with saying that this is -- this could
·4· · · ·very well be our opportunity to get in good trouble.
·5· · · ·Thank you.
·6· · · · · · MS. KENDRICK-DUNN:· So, if I -- I would want to
·7· · · ·chime in just briefly, Constance.· I also want to
·8· · · ·commend you for the statement that you shared with
·9· · · ·the trust.
10· · · · · · I think that economic marginalization, which is
11· · · ·huge in our community, is the responsibility of us
12· · · ·all.· One of the things I think we'll be able to work
13· · · ·on as we go through the Ad Hoc Committee that is
14· · · ·discussing root causes, but there is a reason why
15· · · ·economic marginalization happened in the first place.
16· · · · · · And so, I think you brought up many points that
17· · · ·we definitely need to think more consciously and more
18· · · ·deeply as a board, because even after this pandemic
19· · · ·is -- I don't even know if I want to say over, but
20· · · ·when we're not in the same place, we're going to be
21· · · ·dealing with the repercussions and consequences
22· · · ·probably for years to come, especially among children
23· · · ·and families who experience economic marginalization.
24· · · · · · What this has done to their lives, and what this
25· · · ·has done to the education of children and some of
·1· · · ·them, like you said, that can't afford the technology
·2· · · ·or for those that may not be able to afford the
·3· · · ·tutoring or the additional assistance or a mediation
·4· · · ·that will possibly bring them back up to speed
·5· · · ·because that is not going to happen naturally for
·6· · · ·many children in Miami-Dade County.
·7· · · · · · And I think that you're absolutely correct.· We
·8· · · ·do need to understand, you know, the possible
·9· · · ·outcomes and try to mitigate them as much as we can
10· · · ·in the control of the process because this is a very,
11· · · ·very, very, very serious issue, and especially among
12· · · ·our most vulnerable families and children who
13· · · ·experience economic marginalization which in Miami-
14· · · ·Dade County is a huge, huge number.
15· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you.· Any further discussion?
16· · · · · · MR. BAGNER:· Yes.· I'd also like to thank
17· · · ·Constance for those words and sparking this
18· · · ·discussion.· I wholeheartedly agree with the things
19· · · ·that she said and the justification and rationale for
20· · · ·continuing with that rate especially hearing that it
21· · · ·would cost property taxpayers a couple of dollars for
22· · · ·five additional million dollars that we can invest in
23· · · ·the marginalized communities that we know are being
24· · · ·hit the hardest by this pandemic.
25· · · · · · I can't agree more.· I'm honestly -- I'm not
·1· · · ·convinced that we're not in a position -- we've done
·2· · · ·bold things before as a trust, that we're not in a
·3· · · ·position to spend that money wisely.
·4· · · · · · We have a great Ad Hoc Committee that I'm joined
·5· · · ·-- joining, and I think we can strategically think
·6· · · ·about how we could best invest this money, this
·7· · · ·additional money that we can get into the
·8· · · ·marginalized communities that we're talking about.
·9· · · · · · And we know that the people who own property
10· · · ·that that's one of the things that we're talking
11· · · ·about.· It’s the systemic racism in our country, that
12· · · ·those are the people that can afford these additional
13· · · ·few bucks to really invest in the marginalized
14· · · ·community.
15· · · · · · So I wholeheartedly agree and I'd like to hear
16· · · ·more about why we can't figure out a way to spend
17· · · ·that money wisely in the next year, especially given
18· · · ·this pandemic.
19· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you, sir.· Any discussion
20· · · ·before the motion goes to vote for the discussion?
21· · · · · · MS. JIMENEZ-HERRERA:· Yes.· This is Monique
22· · · ·Jimenez-Herrera.· I want to also support the messages
23· · · ·presented by Constance and everyone else that had
24· · · ·spoken after her.
25· · · · · · I believe this is an opportunity for the trust
·1· · · ·to -- through the other committee, the Ad Hoc
·2· · · ·Committee, identify how we can spend those $5 million
·3· · · ·specifically to assist people of color, the parents,
·4· · · ·children of color in our community.
·5· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you, ma’am.· Any additional
·6· · · ·discussion on the subject?· Okay.· So, at least I'll
·7· · · ·make my contribution.
·8· · · · · · So as the finance chair, board member and also
·9· · · ·someone who works in the not for profit sector, I can
10· · · ·identify with what, you know, Constance has put
11· · · ·forward, and I think she presented a very strong case
12· · · ·as an advocate for issues affecting families in
13· · · ·Miami-Dade County.
14· · · · · · So, there -- for me, there are two schools of
15· · · ·thought.· In terms of one, as a board member and
16· · · ·finance chair, looking at what our fiduciary
17· · · ·responsibility is to taxpayers when it comes to as a
18· · · ·taxing agency leveraging a tax rate in a time of
19· · · ·fiscal crisis, while at the same time recognizing the
20· · · ·increase in demand for social services in the
21· · · ·community.
22· · · · · · So, the rate has been slightly adjusted as to
23· · · ·when it was previously discussed.· However, what I
24· · · ·would advocate is, that while given the fact that it
25· · · ·takes time between the development of programs and
·1· · · ·presenting to the board and approving of new programs
·2· · · ·for funding, I think the board should keep in mind
·3· · · ·that the projected operating reserve is approximately
·4· · · ·20 million.
·5· · · · · · And I would say that given that, if there is a
·6· · · ·need for additional funding, I think the board has
·7· · · ·the authority to approve any new programs that they
·8· · · ·deem necessary to fill some of the voids that may
·9· · · ·come up.· But I think in times of fiscal crisis when
10· · · ·it comes to tax increase, optics is important. A
11· · · · · · And so, while I kind of find myself with my foot
12· · · ·in both worlds, I think as a board member and also
13· · · ·Chair of the Finance committee, I think we have to
14· · · ·also maybe demonstrate that fiscal discipline at this
15· · · ·point in time, while at the same time recognizing
16· · · ·that there may be need for additional funding, and if
17· · · ·those need solarize in this fiscal year, that we can
18· · · ·tap into the operating reserve, once the majority of
19· · · ·the bullet so desires.
20· · · · · · However, there is the following fiscal year
21· · · ·which we will have the opportunity if we determine
22· · · ·that there is a need for additional funding to look
23· · · ·at the millage rate it gets.
24· · · · · · So I -- my recommendation is that we stay with
25· · · ·the 0.4, five or seven, but recognizing that should
·1· · · ·there be need in the community that requires
·2· · · ·additional funding, that we have an operating reserve
·3· · · ·that would allow us to do so, and that's my
·4· · · ·contribution.
·5· · · · · · So, if there are no additional discussion on the
·6· · · ·subject, I would like to take it to a vote.
·7· · · · · · MR. HINCAPIE:· I have a question, Steve.
·8· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Yes, sir.
·9· · · · · · MR. HINCAPIE:· When we set the millage -- the
10· · · ·millage rate that we set right, now we can't -- it
11· · · ·has to stay, right?
12· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Or this just going to be correct?
13· · · · · · MR. SALVER:· Yes.
14· · · · · · MR. HINCAPIE:· If we set -- if we were to set
15· · · ·the millage rate to the .468 from last year and we --
16· · · ·in September, we could go back to the -- we can lower
17· · · ·it, but we can never raise it; is that correct?
18· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· Yes.
19· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Calling to all attorney, that is
20· · · ·correct.
21· · · · · · MR. HINCAPIE:· So, I would propose that because
22· · · ·we can lower it but not raise it, that we follow
23· · · ·Constance’s advice and set it at last year's rate and
24· · · ·then see what happens between now -- because there's
25· · · ·so much uncertainty and nobody ever knows what's
·1· · · ·going to happen.
·2· · · · · · And if, you know, in September when we do vote
·3· · · ·on the -- on setting the millage, we can go back to
·4· · · ·what staff is recommending at the four -- I mean,
·5· · · ·.450.· Could we do that?
·6· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Madam attorney?
·7· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· And that's the board's will.· The
·8· · · ·motion will just be to amend the current millage
·9· · · ·rate, and the board will vote on the amended item.
10· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· Okay.· And just to clarify, it will be
11· · · ·then advertised as a tax increase.· That's the way it
12· · · ·will go up.
13· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· So, with the current motion we have,
14· · · ·we’ll have to vote on that first; is that correct?
15· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· Not necessarily.· If it's a will on
16· · · ·the trust, you can move to amend the current motion,
17· · · ·the current proposal, because you haven't moved it
18· · · ·yet, and then it'll just be amended to reflect the
19· · · ·new proposed millage rate.· It -- or you all can vote
20· · · ·on the proposed rate and go from there.
21· · · · · · Another alternative would be to do a straw vote
22· · · ·prior to voting on either just to get an idea on the
23· · · ·will of the majority of the board, and then use that
24· · · ·as the basis on how to proceed on which motion to
25· · · ·make.
·1· · · · · · MR. HINCAPIE:· Madam Attorney, I have a
·2· · · ·question.· There's no way for us to -- if we keep
·3· · · ·last year's millage rate, it will be advertised as a
·4· · · ·tax increase even though it has not been set yet?
·5· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· Yes.
·6· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Yes.· So, I’d just like to add
·7· · · ·something again, along the lines of what Steve
·8· · · ·mentioned.· We have spent many years trying to manage
·9· · · ·actually a large -- funds in our fund balance, and I
10· · · ·think we're at the point where we're in target, but
11· · · ·we do have still excess funds.
12· · · · · · And so I do believe that if we're looking at for
13· · · ·example in this case, raising another $5 million, we
14· · · ·would have within the fund balance and within our
15· · · ·current operations, the flexibility to spend more
16· · · ·money.
17· · · · · · I do still have, again concerns.· I don't
18· · · ·believe that the Ad Hoc Committee right now is set up
19· · · ·to be making funding decisions.· And not to say that
20· · · ·that committee should not ultimately make
21· · · ·recommendations but as I said, I do believe just like
22· · · ·we've spent several million dollars this year that
23· · · ·were unallocated to either specific programs or came
24· · · ·out of our fund balance, that we have the flexibility
25· · · ·to do that next year as well.
·1· · · · · · So, I don't object to it.· It's been my goal and
·2· · · ·in managing the fund balance and coming up and
·3· · · ·working with the staff on how to do that.· I think
·4· · · ·that as Jim mentioned earlier, we were talking about
·5· · · ·the budget, we've actually have the -- as we've been
·6· · · ·bringing the fund balance down, we've had the largest
·7· · · ·budget and expenditures in the history of the trust.
·8· · · · · · And we did that in the last funding cycle too
·9· · · ·with again, the same goal with bringing -- keeping
10· · · ·taxes in line and bringing the fund balance down.
11· · · · · · So I do believe we have resources who -- to
12· · · ·target.· I do believe in our solicitations for the
13· · · ·coming year we can, again, target funding for
14· · · ·particular communities or particular needs.
15· · · · · · But certainly, I would support having more money
16· · · ·available, but still have a concern that it's -- that
17· · · ·we don't have a process in place necessarily for that
18· · · ·specific -- fees over and above what we're already
19· · · ·doing.· But Jim, would you like to address that?
20· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· Again, I think, you know, this is a
21· · · ·historic discussion every time we hit TRIM, you know?
22· · · ·The ability to bring in more money and the ability to
23· · · ·put money on the streets, and Ken as you said, we've
24· · · ·done a great job reducing the fund balance.
25· · · · · · We have a five year plan to drive it down, and
·1· · · ·we have put -- we put $6 million in the last three
·2· · · ·months to deal with -- directly related to COVID and
·3· · · ·an additional million dollars for emergency needs, a
·4· · · ·one time.· The six million’s recurring.· The one
·5· · · ·million was emergency funding.
·6· · · · · · I agree with Constance about the great need. I
·7· · · ·do think we have the flexibility to do so, to
·8· · · ·address, have additional funds, and address a higher
·9· · · ·rate next year.· It's just the optic.
10· · · · · · In my opinion, the reason why staff brought
11· · · ·forward this is the optic also of raising taxes when
12· · · ·the community is hurting is also another side that we
13· · · ·have to look at in the optic.
14· · · · · · We do have the money in the fund balance, but I
15· · · ·also agree with Constance.· Like she said, one leg on
16· · · ·each side.· This is something that we face every year
17· · · ·and have the same type of discussion.
18· · · · · · I do think we do have the flexibility if we need
19· · · ·additional funds to release with the fund balance at
20· · · ·this time, we do have additional flexibility this
21· · · ·year.
22· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· Just one clarification and I'll ask
23· · · ·Bill, with the current rate, will that be advertised
24· · · ·as an increase?
25· · · · · · MR. KIRTLAND:· No it’ll be advertised as a
·1· · · ·rollback.· I think maybe there's a little confusion
·2· · · ·because it slightly yields -- last year's budget, but
·3· · · ·we talked a bit of it’s a complicated matter.
·4· · · · · · But I think after they do like a re -- you know,
·5· · · ·final assessment of last year's property values,
·6· · · ·they’ve changed their assessment of what the total
·7· · · ·tax revenue was for last year compared to this year.
·8· · · · · · So it ended up yielding about a million more
·9· · · ·dollars in the budget compared to last year's ad
10· · · ·valorem tax revenue, but according to, you know, our
11· · · ·requirements in what is considered the rollback rate,
12· · · ·this is a no tax increase rate at 4507, and would not
13· · · ·need to be advertised as a tax increase.
14· · · · · · MS. ABRAHANTE:· I have a question.· Is that the
15· · · ·highest percentage that will be considered a
16· · · ·rollback?
17· · · · · · MR. KIRTLAND:· The question -- I mean, there's
18· · · ·only one rollback rate.· So, this is what it stands
19· · · ·at.· This is the most we can potentially bring in
20· · · ·without, you know, announcing a tax increase.
21· · · · · · MS. ABRAHANTE:· Thank you.
22· · · · · · MS. DONWORTH:· This is Mary.· I just had a
23· · · ·question.· Is there no concern about people
24· · · ·defaulting on their taxes and not being able to pay
25· · · ·and somehow that amount that we're anticipating is
·1· · · ·not going to be available?
·2· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Bill, do you have any advice in
·3· · · ·the county on that?
·4· · · · · · MR. SALVER:· Well, can I address that, please,
·5· · · ·Steve, with your permission?
·6· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Yes, sir.
·7· · · · · · MR. SALVER:· I wanted to say a few words on
·8· · · ·that.· We have no idea what the storm that's looming
·9· · · ·offshore is going to look like, but based on what
10· · · ·took place in 2007-2008, the overall county's taxable
11· · · ·value could decline by 15 or 20 percent.
12· · · · · · People are going to contest their taxable values
13· · · ·in droves and, you know, we have no -- we absolutely
14· · · ·have no idea what next year is going to look like.
15· · · · · · But one thing I want to share with you is that
16· · · ·in my, you know, in the 15 or more years that I've
17· · · ·been on this board, one of the hardest things that
18· · · ·we've ever had to do is defund a program, and we had
19· · · ·to go through some of that during 2008 or 2009 when
20· · · ·the last economic recession affected the Children's
21· · · ·Trust budget.
22· · · · · · And I encouraged my colleagues on the board
23· · · ·vehemently to be, you know, follow the words of Steve
24· · · ·Hope because if we go and we maintain a steady course
25· · · ·and not do anything extreme, trying to over fund
·1· · · ·programs and collect as much money as possible.
·2· · · · · · I think we should -- we need to slow and steady,
·3· · · ·the ship should go because it's the most difficult
·4· · · ·thing to give a program $250,000 in one year, and
·5· · · ·then the next year tell them that they're not funded
·6· · · ·for no particular reason except we don't have the
·7· · · ·money to fund it.
·8· · · · · · I think the recommendation for the rollback rate
·9· · · ·is appropriate.· I think it's, you know, the right
10· · · ·thing to do, and I think we should call the question.
11· · · ·And if it's going to be a contentious vote, I think
12· · · ·we should have a poll vote rather than just the yay
13· · · ·or nay.· I'm just suggesting that whatever the Chair
14· · · ·wants to do.
15· · · · · · MS. HOLLINGSWORTH:· Mr. Chair, if I may.· Thank
16· · · ·you, Isaac for that feedback.· Steve and others for
17· · · ·the feedback as well.· I'm going to follow the
18· · · ·staff’s recommendation.· I've listened and I think
19· · · ·your words of prudence make very good sense.
20· · · · · · I also hope that at the same time, the board
21· · · ·hears the urgency and the very definite need for the
22· · · ·trust to make a solid contribution or commitment to
23· · · ·righting the wrong of structural racism in the Miami-
24· · · ·Dade community and committing the wherewithal to make
25· · · ·that happen over time.
·1· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Ma’am, so previously a straw poll was
·2· · · ·suggested.· Is that the purview of the Chair or Mr.
·3· · · ·Chair, is that something that I need to do?
·4· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· That’s something that you can
·5· · · ·decide, what to do.
·6· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Okay.· Thank you, sir.· So, prior to
·7· · · ·voting on this motion, Muriel, would you be able to
·8· · · ·take a straw poll and just -- to get the numbers so
·9· · · ·we can determine, you know, what direction the board
10· · · ·would like us to go in?
11· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Yes, Steve.
12· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· I appreciate it.· Thank you, ma’am.
13· · · ·So we will conduct a straw poll and the question
14· · · ·would be those who want to retain the proposed
15· · · ·millage rate up 0.4507 as recommended by the staff
16· · · ·for 2021, that vote will be yes.
17· · · · · · Those who wish to retain the pre -- the existing
18· · · ·rates of fiscal year 2019-2020, the vote will be no.
19· · · ·So if you are going to stick with the rate
20· · · ·recommended for next year 0.4507, you will have to
21· · · ·vote yes.· If you disagree, you will vote no.· So if
22· · · ·we can get the --
23· · · · · · MR. BAGNER:· Mr. Chair.· Can I ask a quick
24· · · ·question?
25· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Yes, sir.
·1· · · · · · MR. BAGNER:· Whenever -- because I know the
·2· · · ·biggest -- one of the biggest concerns seems to be
·3· · · ·optics during this time and I've heard that we
·4· · · ·advertise a tax rate.
·5· · · · · · It's still -- as a non-finance person, it makes
·6· · · ·no sense to me if we're taxing -- I mean, I
·7· · · ·understand that the amount of money goes up that some
·8· · · ·-- that many people will pay because of property tax
·9· · · ·increases, but the rate is technically the same.
10· · · · · · Can someone helped me understand what that
11· · · ·advertisement involves?· Who -- how it gets
12· · · ·advertised?· Who it's told to?· If we're talking
13· · · ·about optics, I wonder if there are other ways of
14· · · ·presenting that information to the public.
15· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Bill, you want to take that, sir?
16· · · · · · MR. KIRTLAND:· I'll take my best shot at it.
17· · · ·Yeah, I believe the first notice in -- I know that we
18· · · ·have to, you know, provide this information, you
19· · · ·know, to the county by the early part of August and
20· · · ·then before the September TRIM meetings.
21· · · · · · I think all property owners are going to receive
22· · · ·that notice and it's going to account for every, you
23· · · ·know, special or taxing authorities right, that
24· · · ·they're trying to find for assessed property value.
25· · · · · · So that -- it would be a disclosed rate, I think
·1· · · ·amongst other, you know, entities that will all be
·2· · · ·applying their own millage rates.
·3· · · · · · So it's built into a more, you know, detailed
·4· · · ·notice that you receive and then following our first
·5· · · ·TRIM meeting leading up to the TRIM meetings, that's
·6· · · ·when we advertise in a little bit more plain English
·7· · · ·in the Miami Herald, exactly what our budget is in
·8· · · ·the cut after the -- of the paper and exactly what
·9· · · ·implications this has for the Miami-Dade County
10· · · ·property owner and if it's a tax increase.
11· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Does that address the question, Mr.
12· · · ·Bagner?
13· · · · · · MR. BAGNER:· I think so.· So, the first
14· · · ·indication is property tax owner -- the property
15· · · ·owner sees on their tax form this is the amount
16· · · ·that's proposed, which they'll see that go up but
17· · · ·they'll see the rate on there stays the same.
18· · · · · · But then it's our disclosure to the Miami Herald
19· · · ·that we say at the trust that we're increasing taxes.
20· · · ·Is there any way that we could justify in there why?
21· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· The public advertisement is in a
22· · · ·particular form and it is required to state whether
23· · · ·there is a tax increase or not, or a tax increase is
24· · · ·affected by the budget.
25· · · · · · So I don't think you -- I don't think we can
·1· · · ·engineer the disclosure.· More the question of
·2· · · ·whether the board's comfortable in affecting a tax
·3· · · ·increase if that's part of the issue.
·4· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· All right.· Thank you, Dr. Bagner.
·5· · · ·Any other questions before we conduct the --
·6· · · · · · MR. ARSENAULT:· This is Matt.· I just want to
·7· · · ·make sure that I'm understanding all the numbers.
·8· · · ·So, the revision that has been discussed would
·9· · · ·potentially result in about $5 million in additional
10· · · ·revenue to the trust.
11· · · · · · However, the current projections at the rollback
12· · · ·rate would still have a fund balance of about 20
13· · · ·million remaining at the lower rollback rate.· So I
14· · · ·just want to make sure that everybody's clear on
15· · · ·that, and I'm interpreting that that correctly.· Is
16· · · ·that correct, Bill or Steve?
17· · · · · · MR. HINCAPIE:· Yeah.
18· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· So, I think when we did the
19· · · ·projections at the last finance committee meeting, I
20· · · ·think it was 18 point something million.· I think the
21· · · ·-- according to the resolution here, the fund balance
22· · · ·would be 20,000,263.· So Bill, can I make the
23· · · ·assumption that since the difference in the rate,
24· · · ·it's about a about a $1.5 million difference from
25· · · ·what was initially proposed at the finance committee?
·1· · · · · · MR. KIRTLAND:· Yeah.· Yes.· And if we don't make
·2· · · ·any amendments to the budget during the year, this
·3· · · ·should be the lowest potential balance that our fund
·4· · · ·balance would arrive to at the end of the year is
·5· · · ·that 20 million point -- $20.2 million.· That's the
·6· · · ·assumption that, you know, all of our budget is fully
·7· · · ·utilized at all contracts are 100 percent spent.
·8· · · · · · So there of course, as there has been in other
·9· · · ·years, there's the potential for a volume of
10· · · ·contracts that maybe have some underutilization that
11· · · ·can leave us with a slightly higher balance than
12· · · ·this.· And that's, that's us -- for us to, you know,
13· · · ·manage and monitor as the year goes, as the year
14· · · ·proceeds.
15· · · · · · And as we've done in this year's past as we look
16· · · ·for opportunities to reallocate any identifiable
17· · · ·underspending so that we can keep on course, much as
18· · · ·possible.· So that I think that's what we've asked --
19· · · ·what's also been proposed in this discussion here.
20· · · · · · If opportunities do come about, we either have
21· · · ·an existing fund balance that we can think about
22· · · ·delving into or we could be identifying, you know,
23· · · ·other areas of the budget at a given point during the
24· · · ·year and potentially bring to the board areas of
25· · · ·opportunity or maybe to that point, some
·1· · · ·underspending has been identified and can be
·2· · · ·repurposed rather than using existing fund balances.
·3· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Okay.· And this budget is based upon
·4· · · ·a 100 percent utilization of grant allocations?
·5· · · · · · MR. KIRTLAND:· Correct.
·6· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Okay.· And historically, there has
·7· · · ·been -- what's the percentage of underutilization of
·8· · · ·allocations?
·9· · · · · · MR. KIRTLAND:· Thus far in our five year cycle,
10· · · ·you know, we have one completed fiscal year, but that
11· · · ·was last year, the fiscal year ‘19, where we launched
12· · · ·an expansive amount of new contract awards and
13· · · ·expenditures, and there were some underutilization.
14· · · ·I think approximately about 11 or 12 percent
15· · · ·underutilized in contract awards.
16· · · · · · Now this year, our ongoing monitoring of how
17· · · ·contracts are spending this year we see improvement.
18· · · ·So, we’re looking to hopefully get more out of our
19· · · ·existing contracts, our program contracts this year,
20· · · ·and we are seeing that.
21· · · · · · It’s -- it comes at a time where we did increase
22· · · ·the revenue last year slightly to slow down the rate
23· · · ·that were utilized, that were using our fund balance
24· · · ·reserves, and that is a trend that should continue
25· · · ·into next year as well because it’s existing programs
·1· · · ·and not necessarily new funding that’s spending more
·2· · · ·and more of this money.
·3· · · · · · So essentially, we're looking at potentially
·4· · · ·utilization dipping under ten percent in this current
·5· · · ·year and maybe even more effective in the years
·6· · · ·following.
·7· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you, sir.· And just for the
·8· · · ·non-finance folks, what it simply means is that if
·9· · · ·the money that has been allocated for grants and not
10· · · ·utilized, this will increase the reserve which can
11· · · ·then be reallocated depending on if the board deems
12· · · ·there's additional needs, as outline by Constance, so
13· · · ·-- all right.
14· · · · · · So, for anything -- any other discussion before
15· · · ·we do the straw poll?· If none, Muriel, can you do
16· · · ·the honors, please?
17· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Yes.· So I'm going to call out the
18· · · ·name and people saying yes would have to say loud
19· · · ·enough, yes?· And no, so I can count after.· So, here
20· · · ·we go.· Dr. Magaly Abrahante?
21· · · · · · MS. ABRAHANTE:· Yes.
22· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Laura Adams?· Matthew Arsenault?
23· · · · · · MR. ARSENAULT:· Yes.
24· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Daniel Bagner?
25· · · · · · MR. BAGNER:· No.
·1· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall?
·2· · · · · · DR. BENDROSS-MINDINGALL:· Yes.
·3· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Constance Collins?
·4· · · · · · MS. COLLINS:· No.
·5· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Thank you.· Mary Donworth?
·6· · · · · · MS. DONWORTH:· Yes.
·7· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Pastor Richard Dunn?· Not there.
·8· · · ·Gilda Ferradaz?
·9· · · · · · MS. FERRADAZ:· Yes.
10· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Lourdes Gimenez?
11· · · · · · MS. GIMENEZ:· Yes.
12· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Nicole Gomez?
13· · · · · · MS. GOMEZ:· No.
14· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Mindy Grimes-Festge?
15· · · ·Representative Juan Fernandez-Barquin?
16· · · · · · REP. FERNANDEZ-BARQUIN:· Yes.
17· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Nelson Hincapie?
18· · · · · · MR. HINCAPIE:· Yes.
19· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Kenneth C. Hoffman?
20· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Yes.
21· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Pamela Hollingsworth?
22· · · · · · MS. HOLLINSWORTH:· Yes.
23· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Steve Hope?
24· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Yes.
25· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Dr. Monique Jimenez-Herrera?
·1· · · · · · DR. JIMENEZ-HERRERA:· No.
·2· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· The Honorable Barbara Jordan?
·3· · · ·She’s not in.· Chloe Scamp (ph)?· Not there.· Tiombe
·4· · · ·Bisa Kendrick-Dunn?
·5· · · · · · MS. KENDRICK-DUNN:· No.
·6· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Marissa Leichter?
·7· · · · · · MS. LEICHTER:· No.
·8· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Frank Manning?
·9· · · · · · MR. MANNING:· Yes.
10· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Dr. Susan Neimand?
11· · · · · · DR. NEIMAND:· Yes.
12· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Judge Orlando Prescott is not here.
13· · · ·Emily Rosendo?· Emily?
14· · · · · · MS. ROSENDO:· Yes.· Hello?
15· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Thank you, again.· I hear you.· You
16· · · ·said yes?
17· · · · · · MS. ROSENDO:· Yeah.
18· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Javier Reyes?
19· · · · · · MR. Reyes:· Yes.
20· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· The Honorable Isaac Salver?
21· · · · · · MR. SALVER:· Yes.
22· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Mark Trowbridge?
23· · · · · · MR. TROWBRIDGE:· Yes.
24· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Karen Weller?
25· · · · · · MS. WELLER:· Yes.
·1· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Sandra West?
·2· · · · · · MS. WEST:· Yes.
·3· · · · · · MS. BOHORQUES:· Muriel, Laura Adams has her hand
·4· · · ·up.· I think she wants to be able to vote.
·5· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Okay.· Laura Adams?
·6· · · · · · MS. ADAMS:· I'm sorry.· I was on a call, but my
·7· · · ·vote is yes.
·8· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Okay.· Thank you.· So, it’s 20 yes
·9· · · ·and six no.
10· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Okay.· Thank you.· Ma’am?
11· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· Just my -- pursuant to the bylaws,
12· · · ·it is based on a majority of the members currently
13· · · ·appointed to serve on the trust.· It’ll still be
14· · · ·enough to pass, but I just wanted to make it clear
15· · · ·it’s not just a majority who are voting today.
16· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you.· So, can we now proceed to
17· · · ·the vote on the motion?· Madam Attorney?
18· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· Yes.
19· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Can we now proceed?
20· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· Yes.
21· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Okay.· Thank you.· All right.· So, I
22· · · ·will read -- I think we had a second already, so all
23· · · ·in favor?
24· · · · · · ALL:· Aye.
25· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· All opposed?
·1· · · · · · UNKNOWN SPEAKER:· 1:13:54 Nay.
·2· · · · · · MR. BAGNER:· Nay.
·3· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Madam -- would you -- would you
·4· · · ·recall the nay’s?
·5· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· The nay’s are Dr. Daniel Bagner,
·6· · · ·Constance Collins, Nicole Gomez, Dr. Monique Jimenez-
·7· · · ·Herrera, Tiombe Bisa Kendrick-Dunn, Marissa Leichter.
·8· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· And if those members can just
·9· · · ·confirm that their vote for the straw poll is the
10· · · ·same vote for the actual motion, that will be great
11· · · ·for the record.
12· · · · · · MS. LEICHTER:· Leichter confirming.
13· · · · · · MS. GOMEZ:· Yes, Nicole is confirming.
14· · · · · · MS. KENDRICK-DUNN:· Yes, Kendrick-Dunn is
15· · · ·confirming.
16· · · · · · MR. BAGNER:· Yes, Bagner confirming.
17· · · · · · DR. JIMENEZ-HERRERA confirming.
18· · · · · · MS. COLLINS:· Yes, Collins confirming.
19· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Perfect.· That was six.
20· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· And the motion passes.· Okay, moving
21· · · ·onto the resolutions.· Resolution --
22· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· Mr. Chair, I think we need a motion on
23· · · ·the budget as well.
24· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Oh, my apology.
25· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· Yes.
·1· · · · · · MR. SALVER:· I'll move the budget as
·2· · · ·recommended.
·3· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Do I have a second, please?
·4· · · · · · MR. REYES:· I'll second, Reyes.
·5· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· All in favor?
·6· · · · · · ALL:· Aye.
·7· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· All opposed?· The motion passes.
·8· · · ·Thank you very much.· Okay, moving on to the
·9· · · ·resolutions.· Resolution 2020-80.· This item came up
10· · · ·at the Finance committee and it contained the
11· · · ·authorization to execute contract with 84 providers.
12· · · · · · However, within this resolution the Finance
13· · · ·committee was also asked to approve a change from --
14· · · ·a name change which would also include a change in
15· · · ·federal ID number for Tiger and Dragon Group to Tiger
16· · · ·and Dragon Miami, LLC.
17· · · · · · And there were a number of discussion in -- on
18· · · ·the subject in terms of how this will impact the
19· · · ·original contract and as a result, it was recommended
20· · · ·to go directly to the Finance committee.
21· · · · · · However, the staff has asked to pull this
22· · · ·resolution and I will turn it over to the CEO to
23· · · ·provide some additional detail on the request.
24· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· Steve, thank you.· This initially came
25· · · ·to the Finance committee.· It was supposed to simply
·1· · · ·just be a name change from Tiger and Dragon, Inc. to
·2· · · ·Tiger and Dragon, LLC.
·3· · · · · · So questions came up at the Finance committee.
·4· · · ·We circled back with a provider to get additional
·5· · · ·information.· They are rescinding a name change.
·6· · · ·They did not know all that went into it from -- they
·7· · · ·have other contracts with other providers, funders,
·8· · · ·and they also -- it impacts your DCF license and a
·9· · · ·bunch of other things.
10· · · · · · And during Coronavirus, they think it's going to
11· · · ·be very difficult to get all these changed.· So,
12· · · ·they requested that they would -- they do not go back
13· · · ·and they stay at their original name.· So, we are
14· · · ·requesting just to pull this reso.
15· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you, sir.· Is there anything
16· · · ·formally that needs to be done Madam Attorney, as it
17· · · ·relates to pulling the resolution?
18· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· Because the committee deferred the
19· · · ·vote, we would just suggest that a motion approving
20· · · ·the withdrawal of the reso to close the loop on this.
21· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Okay.· So, a motion to remove
22· · · ·resolution 2020-80 as referred by -- as deferred by
23· · · ·the Finance committee to the board of directors.· Can
24· · · ·I get a -- ?
25· · · · · · MR. HINCAPIE:· So moved.
·1· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Can I get a second, please?
·2· · · · · · MR. SALVER:· I'll second, Salver.
·3· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Okay.· All in favor?
·4· · · · · · ALL:· Aye.
·5· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Opposed?· The resolution passes.
·6· · · ·Resolution 2020-81.· Amend Resolution 2020-47
·7· · · ·granting authorization to execute contract with 84
·8· · · ·providers for high quality after school and summer
·9· · · ·programs to remove one of the Urban League of Greater
10· · · ·Miami, Inc. subcontractors.
11· · · · · · Two, 2020-56 granting authorization to execute
12· · · ·contract with 14 providers for Family and
13· · · ·Neighborhood Support Partnership, and to remove one
14· · · ·of the City of Homestead subcontractors.
15· · · · · · And thirdly, 2020-46.· Granting authorization to
16· · · ·execute a contract with Miami Dade County for the
17· · · ·HERO truancy prevention program to replace the
18· · · ·subcontractors.· Can I get a motion, please?
19· · · · · · MR. TROWBRIDGE:· I'll move it, Trowbridge.
20· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Can I get a second?
21· · · · · · MS. FERRADAZ:· Second, Ferradaz.
22· · · · · · MS. NEIMAND:· Second, Neimand.
23· · · · · · DR. BENDROSS-MINDINGALL:· Mr. Chair?
24· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Yes, ma'am?
25· · · · · · DR. BENDROSS-MINDINGALL:· This is Bendross-
·1· · · ·Mindingall.· I have to recuse myself from voting on
·2· · · ·this.
·3· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Yes.
·4· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· Yes, you do as well as Dr. Abrahante.
·5· · · · · · MS. KENDRICK-DUNN:· Yes, and I also have to --
·6· · · ·this is Tiombe Kendrick-Dunn.· I have to recuse
·7· · · ·because I'm employed by Miami-Dade County Public
·8· · · ·Schools.
·9· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Would staff like to make any
10· · · ·contribution to this resolution?
11· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· Steve, and this is just -- it’s as
12· · · ·simple -- it’s three subcontrates -- it’s three sub
13· · · ·conter -- subcontractor changes.· Actually two, and
14· · · ·one removal.· So, it’s just dealing with a sub --
15· · · ·these three subcontractors, and I think all those who
16· · · ·have to recuse have recused.
17· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· And can we just for the record --
18· · · · · · MS. FERRADAZ:· And who seconded the motion
19· · · ·again?
20· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Mark --
21· · · · · · MS. FERRADAZ:· I think I seconded it, Ferradaz.
22· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Yes.
23· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· This has no financial impact.· Right.
24· · · ·Any further discussion?
25· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· I think Dr. Abrahante needs to
·1· · · ·recuse.
·2· · · · · · DR. ABRAHANTE:· Yes, I recused.· Thank you.
·3· · · · · · MS. WEST:· This is -- I'm sorry, this is Sandra
·4· · · ·West.· I am also employed by Dade County Schools.· Do
·5· · · ·I need to recuse?
·6· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· Yes.
·7· · · · · · MS. WEST:· I recuse.
·8· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you.· All in favor?
·9· · · · · · ALL:· Aye.
10· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· The resolution passes.· Resolution
11· · · ·2020-82, authorization to --
12· · · · · · MS. KOBRINKSI:· Can you --
13· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· I'm sorry?
14· · · · · · MS. KOBRINSKI:· Mr. Chair, could you please ask
15· · · ·for any opposed?
16· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· I'm sorry.· Any opposed?· Okay.
17· · · ·There’s no opposition.· Resolution passes.
18· · · ·Resolution 2020-82.· Authorization to negotiate and
19· · · ·execute contracts with the Miami Dade Family Learning
20· · · ·Partnership, Inc. and All In One Mail Shop, Inc.,
21· · · ·d/b/a All in One Direct Marketing Solution for the
22· · · ·support and maintenance of a birth to five book club
23· · · ·in a total amount not to exceed $1,387,892 for a term
24· · · ·of 12 months, commencing October 1, 2020 and ending
25· · · ·September 30th, 2021, with three remaining 12 month’s
·1· · · ·renewal subject to annual funding appropriation.· Can
·2· · · ·I get a motion, please?
·3· · · · · · MS. WELLER:· So moved, Weller.
·4· · · · · · MS. NEIMAND:· Neimand.
·5· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Can I get a second?
·6· · · · · · MS. GIMENEZ:· Second, Gimenez.
·7· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you.· Any recusals?
·8· · · · · · MR. BAGNER:· Recusal, Bagner.· Employed by FIU
·9· · · ·who receives payment from this.
10· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Additional recusals?
11· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Dr. Abrahante would need to recuse.
12· · · · · · DR. ABRAHANTE:· Recusal.
13· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· We recuse you.
14· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Before I open the floor to
15· · · ·discussion, is there any information that staff would
16· · · ·like to add to bring greater clarity to this?
17· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· Steve, I just want to reiterate what I
18· · · ·said at committee.· We relaunched the new book club.
19· · · ·I think we showed you our new marketing campaign. I
20· · · ·think you've seen on the buses, the commercial and it
21· · · ·has been an amazing success.
22· · · · · · We may find ourselves in a position as this
23· · · ·thing grows to come back to the board regarding
24· · · ·funding, but I think it has been remarkable the last
25· · · ·couple of months in the rate of enrollment.
·1· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you, sir.· And any discussion?
·2· · · ·None?· All in favor?
·3· · · · · · ALL:· Aye.
·4· · · · · · MS. KENDRICK-DUNN:· You didn't ask for recusals.
·5· · · ·I needed to recuse.
·6· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Yes, I did.· I'm sorry.· I didn’t
·7· · · ·hear you.
·8· · · · · · MS. KENDRICK-DUNN:· I didn’t -- yeah, I didn’t
·9· · · ·hear.
10· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· Tiombe, you don’t have to recuse.
11· · · · · · MS. KENDRICK-DUNN:· Oh, okay.· Okay.· Thank you.
12· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· So, let’s do it again.· All in favor?
13· · · · · · ALL:· Aye.
14· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· And any opposed?· The resolution
15· · · ·passes.· Resolution 2020-83.· Authorization to expend
16· · · ·up to $50,000 for Community Engagement Team support
17· · · ·services in the Haitian community with Hermantin
18· · · ·Consulting, LLC for a term of 12 months commencing
19· · · ·October 1, 2020 and ending September 30th, 2021.
20· · · ·Can I get a motion, please?
21· · · · · · MS. KENDRICK-DUNN:· Motion, Kendrick-Dunn.
22· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Can I get a second?
23· · · · · · MS. DONWORTH:· Second, Donworth.
24· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you.· Any recusals?· Any
25· · · ·discussion on this resolution?· If none, all in
·1· · · ·favor?
·2· · · · · · ALL:· Aye.
·3· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Opposed?· The resolution passes.
·4· · · ·Okay.· All right.· Let’s see.· Resolution 2020-84.
·5· · · ·Deferred by Finance committee, so this resolution
·6· · · ·came before the Finance committee.
·7· · · · · · Originally, it came before the Finance committee
·8· · · ·in May the 7th and again, on June the 30th and it has
·9· · · ·to deal with the CEO’s procurement authorization, and
10· · · ·at the Finance committee prior to the vote, it was
11· · · ·determined that there was some additional attachments
12· · · ·in terms of the previous reso’s that would bring some
13· · · ·greater clarity that was not attached, and as a
14· · · ·result, the decision was to bring this directly to
15· · · ·the board.
16· · · · · · However, the Finance committee has discussed
17· · · ·this, I think at least at two Finance committee
18· · · ·meetings, and what it is intended to do is to bring
19· · · ·greater clarity in terms of the accountability of the
20· · · ·CEO’s expenditure while at the same time minimizing I
21· · · ·guess, some of the bureaucracies that is required for
22· · · ·him to authorize expenditures in excess -- I'm sorry
23· · · ·-- under 25,000.
24· · · · · · So, the resolution states to rescind and replace
25· · · ·Resolution 200760 and 2007-60, which was amended on
·1· · · ·September 4, 2018, and amend the procurement policy
·2· · · ·to reflect separate CEO spending authority for a
·3· · · ·certain category of funding requests and B, purchase
·4· · · ·of operating goods and services for the trust.
·5· · · · · · The CEO spending authority relates to certain
·6· · · ·categories of funding requests will be limited to
·7· · · ·$1,200,000 per fiscal year with quarterly reports
·8· · · ·provided to the board of directors.
·9· · · · · · CEO spending authority for operating goods and
10· · · ·services will be limited to $25,000 per vendor and
11· · · ·approved by the board during the budget approval
12· · · ·process.
13· · · · · · And just to provide a brief background on this
14· · · ·is, that the operating budget provides approval of
15· · · ·the cumulative operating expenditure for the year,
16· · · ·and the CEO is given the authorization to expend
17· · · ·those funds up to a limit of $25,000.
18· · · · · · However, if we were to ask the CEO to generate a
19· · · ·report for all expenditures under $25,000, which were
20· · · ·previously approved by the board in the operating
21· · · ·budget, the administrative process would be
22· · · ·cumbersome.
23· · · · · · So what I would do is ask the CEO to, you know,
24· · · ·take the flow and provide some additional information
25· · · ·on this particular subject.· Mr. CEO?
·1· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· Steve, thank you.· So, for the new
·2· · · ·board members as CEO, that CEO authority has been
·3· · · ·going on since 2007 with the reporter requirements
·4· · · ·quarterly, that has always been there.· Nothing has
·5· · · ·changed.
·6· · · · · · What happens when we updated it in, I believe it
·7· · · ·was 2018, goods and services was included in a
·8· · · ·procurement process which could be interpreted as
·9· · · ·goods and services to buy supplies for the trust and
10· · · ·additional items, which was not the original intent.
11· · · · · · So the finance committee several months ago,
12· · · ·asked us to go back and revert back to the original
13· · · ·intent.· We brought it in May, I believe we're
14· · · ·bringing it in May.· We polled it just to collect --
15· · · ·to work with our attorneys.
16· · · · · · Our attorneys, I do want to thank them in
17· · · ·advance for the last two months on· working on this
18· · · ·just to make sure we shore up the difference between
19· · · ·CEO authority for our small CBO’s and direct services
20· · · ·to the community versus buying goods and supplies for
21· · · ·the office and to keep the trust operating.
22· · · · · · So this was really a clarification. There's
23· · · ·nothing drastically new about this.· It was more of
24· · · ·clarifying and sure -- shoring up our procurement
25· · · ·policy.
·1· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you, sir.· This is open for
·2· · · · discussion, questions?
·3· · · · · · MR. SALVER:· Steve, it's less of a question and
·4· · · ·more of a comment.
·5· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Yes, sir.
·6· · · · · · MR. SALVER:· You know, when you described the
·7· · · ·item using the terminology, “minimizing bureaucracy,”
·8· · · ·is not what I understood this to be, and I think
·9· · · ·that's kind of misleading, you know, what this is.
10· · · · · · I’m, you know, I’m going to support this and I
11· · · ·think it's appropriate, but I think it was, you know,
12· · · ·I think it is -- this is more a resolution that puts
13· · · ·in line and into words, the practice that we've been
14· · · ·-- that that we've been doing for the last several
15· · · ·years anyway.
16· · · · · · But, you know, I had about a 15 minute
17· · · ·conversation with our CFO about this, and he kind of
18· · · ·talked me down and made me understand it.· And I
19· · · ·would ask your permission to maybe have William give
20· · · ·the bullet points to the board at large that he gave
21· · · ·to me explaining exactly what the operational aspects
22· · · ·of this resolution is in very simple terms, if that's
23· · · ·okay, Stephen.
24· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· All right.· So before turning it over
25· · · ·to Bill -- and when I say “minimize bureaucracy,” the
·1· · · ·fact that if we, the CEO, is to provide a detailed
·2· · · ·report on all operating expenditures under $25,000
·3· · · ·that has been approved by the budget, it would be
·4· · · ·cumbersome and bureaucratic to some extent, but we
·5· · · ·can disagree on that.· So I will turn it over to Bill
·6· · · ·to provide some additional clarity on the subject
·7· · · ·matter.
·8· · · · · · MR. KIRTLAND:· Okay.· Thank you, Steve.· I'll do
·9· · · ·my best to provide clarity and hopefully not
10· · · ·confusion.· A lot of the main points have been made,
11· · · ·essentially in discussions that I had with Isaac
12· · · ·previous to this meeting, is that we are looking, of
13· · · ·course, to clarify the language of the procurement
14· · · ·policy as it’s stated.
15· · · · · · The reporting requirement has a $1.2 million
16· · · ·limitation on CEO funding authority also, with the
17· · · ·provision that it has to be less than $25,000 to --
18· · · ·unless in that case it would have to come to board
19· · · ·for approval.
20· · · · · · Being familiar and actually in reviewing the
21· · · ·budget today, I mean, because you can see that our
22· · · ·management expenses exceed around $10 million.
23· · · · · · The original procurement policy and the total
24· · · ·funding authority that it provided to CEO does not
25· · · ·capture the total amount of our management expenses
·1· · · ·that it takes to operate the trust, and it's the
·2· · · ·lights -- keep the lights on type of expenditures as
·3· · · ·-- to refer to it as.
·4· · · · · · We had designed several years ago, a set of
·5· · · ·procedures within various sections of our procurement
·6· · · ·policy.· ·Ways of vetting every request that's
·7· · · ·received at the trust and the opportunity to maybe
·8· · · ·supplement a small program or a sponsorship
·9· · · ·opportunity so that the trust in detail, the
10· · · ·organization and the validity of the request whether
11· · · ·or not meets the scope of the type of items that
12· · · ·typically you would expect to receive when it's an
13· · · ·unsolicited request.
14· · · · · · I -- but I also wanted to make it clear that
15· · · ·when it comes to CEO spending authority, and it's
16· · · ·often an item that Jim and I discuss in our regular
17· · · ·budget meetings, it's not a separately allocated pool
18· · · ·of funds.
19· · · · · · If you were to look at our budget, you're not
20· · · ·going to see our main strategic initiatives such as
21· · · ·parenting and youth development, and a CEO spending
22· · · ·authority.
23· · · · · · It's merely a method of procurement meaning that
24· · · ·amongst our budget there can be opportunities to fund
25· · · ·an unsolicited request whether or not it comes
·1· · · ·through and we decide to allocate it to youth
·2· · · ·development or to community engagement.· It's a
·3· · · ·method of spending that’s supported through
·4· · · ·procurement.
·5· · · · · · So if we fund an opportunity or a specific
·6· · · ·vendor that's not supported by the competitive
·7· · · ·solicitation process or informal quotes, then we
·8· · · ·typically will have this method of funding authority
·9· · · ·at our expense to make a funding decision.
10· · · · · · And that spending limit is tracked within our
11· · · ·systems that have been approved by our board in years
12· · · ·past, so that we make sure that we have the controls
13· · · ·in place to make sure that the proper vetting
14· · · ·procedures took place before any unsolicited request
15· · · ·is approved.
16· · · · · · And that again, includes a detailed vetting
17· · · ·process by staff.· We have even more limitations
18· · · ·within each department that receives the requests.
19· · · ·Often times, we only approve sponsorships or
20· · · ·community engagement opportunities only up to
21· · · ·$10,000, and I believe also that these requests have
22· · · ·to be exclusive or outside of our regular funding
23· · · ·portfolio.
24· · · · · · So, we look to ways of funding opportunities or
25· · · ·sponsorship activities of providing organizations
·1· · · ·that are both funded in our service providing pot of
·2· · · ·funds as well as these requests made for these other
·3· · · ·funding opportunities.
·4· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Steve --
·5· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you, sir.
·6· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Steve, if I may?
·7· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Yeah?· Yes?· Yes, sir?
·8· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· I would just say since this has
·9· · · ·come up several times at the finance committee, this
10· · · ·is really in the nature of a glitch bill.
11· · · · · · The 2000 -- this amendment to the original 2007
12· · · ·resolution had words, goods and services, that were
13· · · ·not in the original resolution that were amended.
14· · · ·There was no history of putting those in the
15· · · ·procurement policy.
16· · · · · · And again, after going over this at the
17· · · ·committee several times and making sure that that was
18· · · ·the right interpretation, I think we're trying to fix
19· · · ·it to both conform with the original resolution as
20· · · ·well as the practice that the trust has had over the
21· · · ·succeeding years.
22· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thank you.· Thanks, everyone for
23· · · ·bringing --
24· · · · · · MS. HOLLINGSWORTH:· Mr. Chair?
25· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· -- some clarity to this.· Yes?· Go
·1· · · ·ahead, please.
·2· · · · · · MS. HOLLINGSWORTH:· Mr. Chair, if I may.· First
·3· · · ·of all, I want to thank Steve, James, Jim, as well as
·4· · · ·Bill for the clarification.
·5· · · · · · I do want to be candid and say that I had to
·6· · · ·take a proverbial highlighter to this resolution as I
·7· · · ·was kind of pouring over it and plowing through it.
·8· · · · · · But the explanations have been really helpful.
·9· · · ·I'm supporting this resolution.· The level of
10· · · ·autonomy seems perfectly appropriate and transparency
11· · · ·is certainly built in.· And Bill, your explanation of
12· · · ·the internal controls is extremely helpful.· Thank
13· · · ·you.
14· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Thanks.· Any additional comment,
15· · · ·discussion, questions?· Okay.· If none, all in favor?
16· · · · · · ALL:· Aye.
17· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Any opposed?· Resolution 2020-84
18· · · ·passes.· I will now turn over to Jim for the CEO
19· · · ·report.
20· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· Mr. Chair?· Excuse me, Muriel?· Can
21· · · ·you say who moved and seconded that motion?
22· · · · · · MR. ARSENAULT:· Yeah, I don't think we asked for
23· · · ·one.
24· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· We didn't have the motion yet.
25· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· I jumped the gun.· My apologize -- my
·1· · · ·apologies.· Okay.· So, let's start over again.· Do I
·2· · · ·need to re-read the resolution again then?
·3· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· No, you can just call for a motion
·4· · · ·and just identify that it’s 2020-84.
·5· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Okay.· Can I get a motion for
·6· · · ·Resolution 2020-84, please?
·7· · · · · · MR. REYES:· I'll move it.
·8· · · · · · MS. HOLLINGSWORTH:· Second, Pamela
·9· · · ·Hollingsworth.
10· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· So who moved it?
11· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Reyes.
12· · · · · · MS. JEANTY:· Okay.· And second?
13· · · · · · MS. HOLLINGSWORTH:· Hollingsworth.
14· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· All right.· Do we need to -- Madam
15· · · ·Attorney, do we need to take a vote again?
16· · · · · · MS. GRAVES:· Yes.
17· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· Yes.· Okay.· All in favor?
18· · · · · · ALL:· Aye.
19· · · · · · MR. HOPE:· All opposed?· Resolution 2020-84
20· · · ·passes.· I will now turn over to Jim for the CEO
21· · · ·report.· Thank you, everyone.
22· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· Steve, thank you.· Just a couple
23· · · ·items.· Champions for Children, I think I may have
24· · · ·brought this up at the last board meeting as -- it’s
25· · · ·our signature event, but due to COVID we are now
·1· · · ·going to do it virtually.
·2· · · · · · We're selecting a date for late November or
·3· · · ·early December.· We are going to ask board members as
·4· · · ·we typically do to look through to screen and select
·5· · · ·the Dave Lawrence Award winner.· As long as it’s
·6· · · ·before our program of the year, and that should be
·7· · · ·coming up the next month or two.
·8· · · · · · Young Talent Big Dreams, another one of our
·9· · · ·programs went online virtually.· It is, I think I
10· · · ·have the dates here.· It will close on August 3rd.
11· · · ·The semifinals are scheduled for August 29th, and the
12· · · ·finals will be live streamed on Sunday, September
13· · · ·13th.
14· · · · · · As we talked about, during the first part of the
15· · · ·meeting, TRIM I and TRIM II are September 14th and
16· · · ·21st, and quorum is essential.· The Miami Herald
17· · · ·Op-Ed, Ken and I authored a Miami Herald Op-Ed which
18· · · ·ran last Friday.
19· · · · · · If you have not seen it, we will send it to the
20· · · ·board members.· It’s just about the great work of the
21· · · ·trust board and what we're doing this community.
22· · · · · · We've also launched a campaign -- we do know the
23· · · ·COVID issues, but there's also some issues with
24· · · ·immunizations and child's well visits, so we're
25· · · ·really pushing as we're getting close to the school
·1· · · ·for the immunization and working with the clinics and
·2· · · ·the people we support to get immunizations up to
·3· · · ·speed.
·4· · · · · · In our grade level reading camp campaign award,
·5· · · ·one of our four submissions won the National Grade
·6· · · ·Level Reading Campaign.· The Children's Trust Thrive
·7· · · ·by Five QIS, won the 2019 Pacesetter Honoree in the
·8· · · ·category of meeting fiscal challenges.· And one of
·9· · · ·our providers, FIU CCF reading scores was selected as
10· · · ·a finalist in the category.
11· · · · · · I also don't know if Ken had brought this up,
12· · · ·but just to remind everybody, last week or two weeks
13· · · ·ago, we had our All Stars event where we celebrated
14· · · ·early childcare providers about their excellence.
15· · · · · · And these are people who run quality programs;
16· · · ·level three, four and five and received a financial
17· · · ·incentive.· So we did an online event which was
18· · · ·phenomenal and thank you for all those board members
19· · · ·who attended.· Mr. Chair, back to you.
20· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Okay.· Thank you, everybody for
21· · · ·your participation.· Let’s be safe out there.· Thank
22· · · ·you.
23· · · · · · MR. SALVER:· Mr. Chair, before you adjourn, Mr.
24· · · ·Chair, before you adjourn the meeting, can I request
25· · · ·a verbatim transcript of the conversation for the
·1· · · ·recommendation of the Finance and Operations
·2· · · ·Committee for proposed millage rate from this
·3· · · ·meeting?· Just that section of verbatim transcript?
·4· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· Certainly.
·5· · · · · · MR. SALVER:· Thank you.
·6· · · · · · MR. HAJ:· I’ll see we’ll get that to you.
·7· · · · · · MR. SALVER:· Okay.· Appreciate it.
·8· · · · · · MR. HOFFMAN:· All right.· Have a good afternoon,
·9· · · ·guys.· Thank you so much.
10· · · · · · MS. HOLLINGSWORTH:· Thank you.· Leaving the
11· · · ·meeting.
12· · · · · · ALL:· Bye, everybody.· Bye, stay safe.
13· · · ·(Whereupon, at 5:00 p.m., the meeting was adjourned.)
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·1· · · · · · · · · CERTIFICATE OF TRANSCRIBER
·2
·3· · · ·The above and foregoing transcript is a true and
·4· ·correct typed record of the contents of the file, which
·5· ·was digitally recorded in the proceeding identified at
·6· ·the beginning of the transcript, to the best of my
·7· ·ability, knowledge, and belief.
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·9· · · · · · Signed this 11th day of August, 2020.
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11· · · · · · · · · ________________________________
12· · · · · · · · · Brenda Saliba, Transcriptionist
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