02-22-1995 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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DRAFT MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION ON DOMESTIC ABUSE SHELTERS HELD ON JANUARY 20, 1995 The Orono Planning Commission met on the above date with the following members present: Chairman Charles ^hroeder. Vice Chairman Sieve Peterson. Sandra Smith, Janice Berg, and Dale Lindquist. City staff was represented by Building and Zoning Administrator Jeanne Mabusth, Assistant Planning and Zoning Administrator Michael Gaffron. and Police Lt. Gary Cheswick. City Councilmember JoEllen Hurr was present. The applicants were represented by Margaret Webber and Greg Sichender. No members of the public were ir attendance. The worti session was called to order by Chairman Schroeder at 7:40 a.m. Mabusth briefly reviewed the January’ 6th work session, noting that the Commission had concluded there was relatively little by way of standards for domestic abuse shelters other than the guidelines established by the Association of Battered Women Shelters. She also reviewed the financial needs, noting the likelihood that additional staffing above and beyond the initial level would be needed if the shelter functions like those in Minnetonka and Plymouth. Mabusth presented an overhead indicating the annual budget needs of the shelter. Webber commented that she had discussions with Home Free, Sojourner, and the Department of Corrections, who indicated that approximately 95% of the shelter operation was covered by the per diem payments, and at this time Westonka is not proposing to add major education or counseling activities to their program such as occur at some of the larger shelters. She indicated Westonka would like to get the shelter established and continue using volunteers rather than hiring a large staff at this lime. Lindquist asked whether the grants are awarded on a yearly basis. Webber replied that grants from the County are awarded annually, and funding from the State is biannual. Schroeder asked whether the pei diem amounts are set or if they vary from shelter to shelter. Webber indicated that the State has budget review policies that look at all aspects of the operation and establish an appropriate funding level based to some degree on occupancy rates and the average costs per occupancy day. Any expense incurred by the organization that is directly related to providing shelter is an eligible cost. The expense of providing counseling or job training is not an eligible cost. Webber noted she had learned much from her discussions with the other shelters. For instance, she learned that the staffing level for a twenty bed residence would be two people on the site from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and one person from 7:00 p.m .0 7:00 a.m. She also found that concerning standards of operation, the Department of Corrections "Application for Designation p a Battered Women Shelter Facility" contains a four page set of standards with which the s. ilter must certify that they comply (application copies distributed to Planning Commission Members). Webber indicated that no one from the Department of Corrections inspects the shelters specifically, but shelters are expected to be in compliance with the standards. Mabusth indicated that likely the only agency which would inspect a shelter would be Hennepin County Health Department in regards to food handling and storage. The shelter if approved would be subject to any inspections required by the City. Mabusth also indicated that the building