HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/25/2005 Adjourned Meeting 2 37
ADJOURNED MEETING
JANUARY 25, 2005 - 5:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
YAKIMA CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1. RoII CaII
Present:
Council: Mayor Paul George, presiding (until 6:35 p.m.), Council Members Ron
Bonlender, Neil McClure, Mary Place, Bernard Sims, and Susan
Whitman
Staff: Assistant City Manager Rice, City Attorney Paolella and Acting City
Clerk Watkins
Absent: Council Member Edler (excused)
2. 2 -1 -1 Project
Mayor George called the meeting to order and introduced Marilyn Mason - Plunkett
from People for People, and Julie Devine and Lance Stevens from United Way.
Julie Devine, a United Way Board Member and part of the state -wide 211
Committee, gave a history of the 211 Program. The 211 Program is an
information referral program. In the past, referral information was at a variety of
places and accuracy was questionable. About four years ago, the United Way
formed a program called 4 People. 211 is the next level. 211 is state wide and
Yakima is looking to be one of the first to roll it out with four people handling the
call center.
A video showing how the 211 system works was viewed.
Marilyn Mason - Plunkett gave a Power Point presentation. The program will help
employees who are in dire need. For the small business, it is like having an
Employee Assistance Program. But, it is a community tool that benefits everyone
in the community. It prioritizes and directs people to the right care organizations.
It is an easy -to- remember phone number and a centralized phone connection to
important community services. It is a helpful emergency management response
source for human service referrals. Nationally it currently is serving more than 100
million Americans with more centers coming on -line daily. Washington State is
looking at a state -wide approach and proposes eight call centers. The Yakima
center would be for the central portion of the state serving twelve counties. When
the center is fully staffed, it should create an additional twenty jobs. They are
looking at two 24 -7 operating centers in the state, one each in Yakima and King
Counties.
A list of why the centers are successful was given:
• Easy
• Eliminates frustration
• Coordination of services and planning
• Can track the data
• Supports EMS
33
JANUARY 25, 2005 — ADJOURNED MEETING
211 PROJECT
• Real -time snapshot of community needs
• Promotes efficiency by identifying gaps and overlaps in service
• Early warning on emerging needs
• Identifies patterns of how services are used
• On -line accessible
Community education would be required to teach the public when to call 211
versus 911, and there will be a seamless ability to transfer between the two
services.
Other benefits. given were:
• Cost savings with centralized response
• Centralized data base
• One time start-up costs
Cost information:
• Statewide - $1.66 million
• Yakima County - $114,000 (start up funds to support four counties)
• Asking City of Yakima for $15,000
• Opportunity for matching funds
• Ongoing support — federal /state /local partnership
• United Way sponsorship
• City of Yakima funding would help leverage with other municipalities
Funding was discussed and Council advised that they are out of the budget
process. They also questioned where this fits on the state's priority list. There
was concern expressed about the program taking funds away from other priorities.
Also expressed was concern for on -going support beyond the start-up costs.
Marilyn Mason - Plunkett advised that they are looking to support a start up at eight
hours a day, five days a week, and to add counties as they can afford them. They
are looking at using volunteers to help enter the data for start-up. They have
already gotten the software and have it loaded and are starting to convert the data.
They are hoping, as time goes on and the benefits begin to show, that the majority
of the running costs would be from federal funds. Council offered to have the
City's grantwriter help them.
Wayne Wantland, Public Safety Communications Manager, said 911 supports the
concept of 211. It works and it is a good partnership. He emphasized the need to
educate the public about the difference between the two systems and that 211 is
not a clearing -house for 911 calls.
Police Chief Granato supports the idea noting that it is a resource for people to
find out about the community as well as social services available. Businesses
from other areas could also use it if they were considering relocating to Yakima.
He commented that, in the future, he thought 911 could possibly defer some of
their funding to it. Texas began using this system a while back and it has proven
to be a good resource.
2
JANUARY 25, 2005 — ADJOURNED MEETING 39
211 PROJECT
At 6:35 p.m. Mayor George left for another appointment and turned the gavel over to
Mayor Pro Tem McClure.
Fire Chief Mayo spoke in support of the program comparing it to the start of the
911 program. His staff is in support of the program based on their experiences of
receiving calls for information and not knowing where to send the people. This
would be the connection for people in need with the available resources. He
recommended taking advantage of the opportunity to use state funding.
Council Member Bonlender commented that Yakima should show a leadership role
and work hard to find the requested start up funding.
Wayne Wantland said he would take it back to the 911 Boards to consider and
Council Member Sims suggested the formal presentation be given to them.
3. Audience Comments (6:45 p.m. — 7:00 p.m.)
No one came forward to speak.
4. Adjournment
PLACE MOVED AND SIMS SECONDED TO ADJOURN. The motion carried by
unanimous voice vote; George and Edler absent. The meeting adjourned at 6:50
p.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY /
COU CI MBER DATE
f OUNCIL MEMBER DATE
ATTEST:
Of, _
ACTING CITY CLERK PAUL P. GEORGE, MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins. An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City
Clerk's Office
3