Social Service Human Relations Board Meeting – March 31, 2025: Work Plan and CDBG Funding
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Social Service Human Relations Board Meeting – March 31, 2025
Note: The meeting transcript indicates a date of March 27, 2025, but the provided metadata specifies March 31, 2025. This summary uses the latter date as instructed, while acknowledging the discrepancy.
The Social Service Human Relations Board met on March 31, 2025, at 7:04 p.m. and adjourned at 9:20 p.m. The agenda included approval of minutes, discussion and vote on the FY 2025–26 work plan, and review of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public service funding recommendations. Board members also received updates from work groups and discussed community civility concerns.
Consent Calendar
- The board unanimously approved the minutes of the previous meeting (6–0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Josh Altierian (Community Relations Manager, Housing Authority of the City of Alameda) announced two housing projects: Estuary One (45 units of permanent supportive housing for unhoused individuals 18+, no wait list, referrals via Alameda County coordinated entry) and Lynette Corner (senior housing 62+, wait list opens April 4, 2025, at 11 a.m. for two weeks; 23 studios at 30%–40% AMI; preference for those living/working in Alameda; also 16 units reserved for disabled, unhoused senior veterans). He encouraged use of 211 or 211alamedacounty.org.
- May Funabiki (Fall Prevention Program Manager, Spectrum Community Services) described new fall prevention exercise classes at Damascus Senior Center and expressed gratitude for board support.
- Carol Mahar (Development Director, Spectrum Community Services) spoke during the CDBG discussion, noting that Spectrum served nearly 15,000 meals last year at Mastic Senior Center, highlighted the importance of nutrition and social connectedness, and thanked the board for considering their application.
Discussion Items
- FY 2025–26 Work Plan: Staff presented a draft work plan organized by categories (community needs assessment, administrative, infrastructure, and work group objectives for The Road Home, All Means Together, and Domestic Violence). Board members discussed making objectives more attainable and adjusting timelines (e.g., extending data collection for the community needs assessment to November 2025). The board voted to approve the work plan with the agreed modifications.
- CDBG Public Service Funding Recommendations (FY 2025–27): Staff recommended funding the top five applicants based on scores and priority needs: Spectrum Community Services, Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity, Family Violence Law Center, Alameda Food Bank, and Building Futures with Women and Children. Alameda Boys & Girls Club and Alameda Family Services were not recommended. Board members debated adjusting allocations to provide some funding to Alameda Family Services, noting mental health as a priority. After discussion, they voted on a motion to fund Spectrum at 90% of its request and the other four recommended agencies at 75% of their requests, with the remaining funds (approximately $13,000) allocated to Alameda Family Services, and to not fund Alameda Boys & Girls Club. The motion passed 5–0–1 (President Means abstained due to conflict of interest).
- Work Group Updates:
- Domestic Violence Work Group reported creating a web page structure and securing city website placement.
- All Means Together Work Group reported progress on community listening sessions and outreach to schools and churches.
- The Road Home Work Group (homelessness) reported scheduling a presentation at Encinal High School, negotiating a date at Mastic Senior Center, and planning a presentation with Dignity Village residents on April 28.
- Board Communications: President Means shared personal experiences of incivility and microaggressions in Alameda, urging the board to prioritize civility and community relations. Other members echoed concerns about rising racism and fear. They discussed the need for proactive measures.
Key Outcomes
- Vote on Work Plan: Approved with modifications (motion and second, unanimous voice vote).
- Vote on CDBG Allocations (Motion):
- Spectrum Community Services: 90% of requested amount.
- Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity, Family Violence Law Center, Alameda Food Bank, Building Futures with Women and Children: 75% of requested amount each.
- Alameda Family Services: approximately $13,000 (from the aggregate reduction).
- Alameda Boys & Girls Club: $0.
- The board designated Sam Green and Gerald (last name not specified) to present the recommendations at the May 6, 2025 City Council meeting. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention (President Means).
- Staff Updates: Two new part-time case managers introduced (Princess E. Irano and Anthony Smalls). Bella San Diego (Gabriela San Diego) thanked for her service (this was her last meeting).
- Next Steps: Staff will incorporate the CDBG recommendations into the city council report and evaluate the feasibility of the $13,000 allocation to Alameda Family Services. The work plan will be finalized at the next meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Are we live? Yes, we're live. Okay, just give me one second. I want to get to it. Okay. Um good evening. Uh welcome to the March 27th, 2025 Social Service uh Human Relations Board meeting. Um before we get started on this, I just want to take us a minute here and uh uh thank uh Bella for her hard work and support of this board and we're going to miss you and uh thank you Diane for picking these up. We just have some flowers we'd like to give you an appreciation. Thank you. Thank you, Bella. Thank you, Bella. Thank you so much. All right, we we have a long and full meeting, so I'll get right to work here. Um this meeting has been recorded. If a panel member would like to speak, please physically or digitally raise your hand and the chair will acknowledge your request. The chat function has been turned off. If members of the public would like to comment on item, please digitally raise your hand or email Grestia Mana Ayan G M-A-N-N-A-A-H-A-Y-O-N at Alameda C A.gov. Comments submitted during the meeting before the conclusion of the public comment section will be read into the record. Her email address is also on the meeting's agenda. If you are calling in by phone, please email Ms. Mana Anyon as we cannot see you raise your hand. You can also dial star nine to raise your hand, and we will call on you. Public comments will be limited to three minutes. To clarify, the public has two opportunities for public comment. First, under agenda item two, public comments. Comments from the audience may concern matters either on or not on the agenda, but must deal with matters subject to the jurisdiction of the Social Service Human Relations Board. Second, under each agenda item, there will be an opportunity for public comment on that specific item. Each item follows a format similar to city council meetings. First, after presentation, we will ask if there are any clarifying questions from shrub members for staff. Second, we will ask if there are any public comments on this agenda item. And finally, after public comment, we will open the item up to forward discussion and a vote is recommended. This meeting will now come to order at 7.04 p.m. Okay. Um we'll do roll call. Um Bernie Wolf here. Michelle Buckholz, she's absent. Samantha Green. Here and Scott Means here. And I just want to add uh that uh Sam, can you just say why you're on remote? Yeah, I've been joining you remotely because I have a cold. Sorry. Didn't want to share. Thank you for still showing up tonight. Thank you for not sharing. We also have from the Housing and Human Services Division, Simone Falls, Housing and Human Services Manager, Greshamana, program manager, Andre Fairley, management analyst, and Gabriela San Diego Community Engagement Specialist. So today we're gonna have the daily meeting for the season for nonviolence, and then uh you're going to speak that for us. Sure. The word of the day for March 27th is service. The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
openpublica.com