#2a 091609Minutes
Minutes of the Janesville Community Development Authority (CDA) Regular Meeting
September 16, 2009
Present: CDA Members: Michael Bachmeyer, Sylvia Moore, George Fenn, Russ Steeber, Tom McDonald
Absent: CDA Member, Duke Ellingson
Also present: City Staff: Jennifer Petruzzello, Kelly Lee, Carrie Clark; Others: Andreah Briarmoon, Jackie Wood, Traci Rogers, Capt.
Kirk Schuetz, Heather Walz, Erick West, Tina Janssen, Karen Lisser, Rob Wilkenson, Cathy Jennings, Kellie Morris, George Mark, Karl
Dommershausen, Sue Conley, Margaret Delaney, Martha Pearson, Kay Deupree, Jeni Sauser, Mich Gilbertson, Ashely S.
The minutes of the regular and closed session meetings held on August 19, 2009 were approved by consent.
Chairperson Bachmeyer opened the public hearing on the 5 Year Consolidated Plan for the Community Development Block Grant
Program (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Program.
Public Comments regarding the plan include the following:
Police Chief Moore spoke in favor of any initiatives to be funded with CDBG/HOME that promote clean neighborhoods, eliminate
blight and keep residents safe. He indicated that a safe community would attract new businesses and supports any initiatives that
promote those activities.
K. Andreah Briarmoon spoke in favor of creating a community center for children to allow for camaraderie and mentoring under
supervision. She also spoke in favor of allowing use of the Housing Choice Voucher Program for the purchase of homes.
Margaret Delaney, representing the Neighborhood Action Teams (NAT), spoke on the history of the NAT, indicated that there have
been improvements made to the neighborhoods including reduced drug crime and code violations. She also indicated that the NAT
would continue to provide their own ‘sweat equity’ to continue their efforts.
Mick Gilbertson, representing the Downtown Development Alliance (DDA) spoke about previous CDBG funding received that has
helped with making downtown improvements including street-scaping, trash containers, lighting and banners. He indicated that the
Façade Grant Program has made 63 grants to date to downtown businesses. He indicated he was grateful for the use of CDBG and
concurred with Chief Moore.
Jeni Sauser representing the DDA spoke in favor of the DDA’s activities.
The public hearing was closed at approximately 6:17 p.m.
Petruzzello introduced agenda item 5 and indicated that each agency wishing to make a presentation to the CDA would have 5
minutes to do so and they would be called in alphabetical order.
Heather Walz, representing the Boys & Girls Club spoke on behalf of their application for funding for their Lincoln After School
Adventure program.
Karen Lisser, Executive Director of ECHO, spoke on behalf of their application for funding for emergency rental assistance.
Member McDonald inquired whether the agency had a contingency funding plan and what it consisted of. He indicated that he
would be asking this of each agency making a presentation.
Karen Lisser responded that they depend on free-will donations and send out at least 3.500 newsletters to their donor base.
Heather Walz responded that they also depend upon donations and have a few hundred individual donors and there is usually a
wait-list for their programs.
Traci Rogers, Executive Director of Healthnet, thanked the CDA for their past support and spoke on behalf of their application for
funding. She indicated that they receive funding from the United Way, other foundations, fundraisers and in-kind volunteerism.
Cathy Jennings, The Literacy Connection, spoke on behalf of their application for funding. She indicated they receive funding from
the United Way and due to a reduction in funding has had to cut staff hours; they have 100-200 reliable donors.
Captain Kirk Scheutz spoke on behalf of their application for the Pathways Program. He indicated that they rely upon kettle
donations for funding and have approximately 1000 individuals on their mailing list.
Martha Pearson, YWCA, spoke on behalf of their application for funding. She indicated that the YWCA has a large donor base for
their established programs, and as this was a new program, has a very small personal donor base of 5.
Petruzzello indicated the CDA would also be hearing from the Neighborhood Action Team.
Petruzzello presented a request for funding an anti-poverty project that has yet to be defined, but fits within the goals and
objectives set by the CDA. She described a future poverty forum that would be coordinated with the Community Foundation that
would bring key-note speakers that could provide inspiration and best-practice ideas to a potential grass-roots group project. She
also indicated that the City Manager is proposing $5,000 in general fund dollars for the project.
Margaret Delaney spoke on behalf of the Neighborhood Action Team. She thanked the CDA, staff, Westgate Development Group,
and Young Professionals for their past support. She highlighted some of their recent activities. She indicated that due to the low-
income status of many of their members, they are not able to tap their membership for donations.
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Petruzzello presented a report on the Summer Camp Scholarship program that is in its 8 year. She indicated that staff was
recommending that this Program be discontinued in 2010 as Youth Services was not a priority recently set by the CDA.
Petruzzello indicated that the individual agencies would have to find within their own budgets the ability to offer camp scholarships
and the Recreation Department would continue to offer scholarship for City-sponsored camps.
Member Steeber indicated that he hoped that there would be a way to continue to fund this program.
Member Bachmeyer indicated a desire to consider not discontinuing the program.
Petruzzello indicated that no action was required at this meeting and the preliminary allocations to the various agencies and
programs would occur at the CDA’s next meeting.
Under agenda item 9, Petruzzello indicated that client 04-114 had made a payment to their loan and would be making another by
the end of the week to bring their loan current.
Clark indicated that client 97-117 could not stay throughout the meeting but indicated to her prior to the meeting that they would
be making monthly payments of $150 until the end of the year and then would pay off the loan in full. The client had indicated they
were making payments on delinquent state taxes and must pay those off first or risk losing a teaching license.
Petruzzello presented an update on projects under agenda item 10.
Under Matters Not on the Agenda, Steeber indicated he may not be able to attend the next meeting.
There being no further business, Steeber motioned to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by McDonald and passed
unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:25 p.m.
These minutes are not official until approved by the CDA.
Respectfully submitted, Carrie Clark, Housing Financial & Rehabilitation Specialist