Bear with me here.

Okay, that's all right.

You want to do it there right.

All right.

Okay, we're live.

Oh, we are we're live.

Oh then.

Um, welcome to the April twenty third, two thousand twenty-six social service human sorry, social service human relations board meeting.

Um this meeting is being recorded if the chat function has been turned off.

I'm sorry, the chat function has been turned off.

If members of the public would like to comment on an item, there are multiple options to do so.

If attending via Zoom, digitally raise your hand, and Secretary Menaeon will announce when it is your turn.

You will then have an option to unmute yourself and proceed with your public comment.

Email your public comment to Secretary Mena at G M-A-N-N-A-H-A-Y-N-O-N at Alameda C A dot Gov before or during the meeting with your name, the agenda item number through front referencing and your comments.

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're calling in my phone, please email Ms.

Mena.

As we cannot see you, raise your hand.

You can also dial star nine to raise your hand and we will call on you.

Please complete a public comment slip with your name and the agenda item number you will be speaking on.

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.

And finally, after public comment, we will open the item up for board discussion and anti vote if recommended.

And I'm um adding a uh a little uh text tonight um that's provided by Housing Human Services Division.

I'd like to remind everyone that this is a business meeting, not a theater, not a sporting event.

We are conducting business of the city of Alameda, so therefore I asked that there not be applause, boos, cheers, jeers, and we actually don't do the wave.

Even though it's really tempting with the way we're all up here right now.

We just listen respectfully when when others are speaking.

Public speaking can be very stressful, and sometimes we have someone who is speaking for the first time.

We never want someone to feel so intimidated that they don't want to share their views.

Um we want to create a safe space for people to share views, and I also like to remind people that sometimes there are young people in the audience or they may be watching from home.

So I'd like us all to get a good civic example.

Um, if anyone, I don't see anyone with signs, but if someone does want to hold signs, it is your first amendment right, unless you're sitting in that last row of the chambers.

Um, you're gonna block people's views if if you do have a sign now.

California PEL Code Section 403 states it is a criminal offense for any person to without authority of law willfully disturb or break up any assembly or meeting that is not unlawful in its character, other than an assembly or meeting referred to in penal code section 302 or elections code 18340.

First violations will receive a warning and continued violations will require additional actions, which could include police intervention.

Um, and as a reminder, we have uh an exit um right here.

And is that door actually an exit too?

Or is that just uh oh, it's a fire escape.

So okay, we're not using that one.

There's our exit right there.

Okay, an emergency, yes.

Um we can now call.

Thank you for sitting through all that.

We can now call the meeting to order at 7 07 p.m.

We will be doing roll call.

Um Chantel Carter present.

Bernie Wolf here, Gerald Bryant here, Michelle Buckholz here, Samantha Green here, Scott Means also here from Housing and Human Services.

We have Simone Falls, division manager, Gustavean, program manager, Andrea Fairley, management analyst, and Yasmin Obadi Obad Day.

Okay, I'll get on the 10th time.

Administrative specialist.

Oh, welcome.

Well, welcome all.

Um, this brings us to item number two, non-agenda public comments.

The city welcome speakers providing public comment, but please be advised.

This is a limited public forum.

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 and human relations board.

Comments will be limited to three minutes.

Comments concerning matters on this evening's agenda will be heard when that item is called.

If speakers fail to follow these rules, they will be warned.

And if they continue to disregard the rules, their opportunity to speak will end.

Gracia, do we have any speakers?

Yes, we have two speakers.

First speaker is Craig Browning.

Thank you.

And feel free to adjust the mic if you need to.

Yes, the name is Craig Browning.

Um, I'm a um vehicle dweller, so I'm concerned about both Donald Trump and Gavin Newsom have you know doing their pogroms against homeless people and also made life difficult for vehicle duelers.

So I'm trying to find ways of improving resources along that front.

Um myself, I do have people I moot stock with from time to time.

And uh I like to find some way of doing some kind of a like a like a parking space that has like you know, he's a disabled kind of part-time self-employed person will have like a location where that can be accomplished.

Um, I did share with Gerald Bryant a couple of YouTube videos to kind of explain the situation more eloquently than I can.

So I mean, this person looks at the one that wants to watch those videos at some point.

But basically, you know, I do have my own electricity.

You know, I know where to get in contact with you know you know, restroom facilities and the gym membership and all that sort of thing.

But it'd be nice to kind of get out of the legal gray areas, not have to be paranoid about you know any authority figures or anything like that.

Right.

That's that's that's where we're making us have some clear defined same spaces.

It'd be nice to find something semi-permanent where I could park in a secure area where there were some usable resources.

I mean, we're the village of love, but fortunately, sometimes bullying stuff.

I know of a woman who was also a vehicle driller, that part of the village of love got sexually harassed.

So it's like be nice to be able to find a better situation than that.

You know, so that's that's that's where I'm at right now.

And I was hoping to kind of bring you know more light on that.

I'm trying to find a way of using the last minute here.

That's intelligent.

Um, I do have a my mechanic will have a written permission to be on his property, like when the business is closed or after hours, you know.

So if somebody was object to me being on, and there's also a guy in a motor home on that same property full time.

So yeah, I mean it'd be nice to be able to you know get some clarification and some reasons.

I've been trying to contact other people that are there's the NVRC, which is the National Vehicle Residency Coalition.

You know, I'm trying to see if they can't set up local chapters, you know, and there's also some organizations I've been trying to get in touch with called Where Do We Go in Berkeley.

I've never heard anything back from them.

Also, supposedly the law school at UC Berkeley is doing some kind of a of a um homeless or vehicle dwellers um legal studying at least at least.

I don't know the whole ramification of what they're doing.

Anyway, that's basically it.

What was your name again, sir?

Craig Browning.

And as I say, there's I give um Gerald two videos, one's on vehicle dwellers, one's on home, some homeless people converted a shopping mall for the Navy and Naval Base users abandoned building or vagablop there rather than a data center.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you for your comments.

Thank you, Craig.

Um, our next speaker is Corinne Kirschbaum.

This board is supposed to be the voice of the unhoused, but from what I have seen, this board is not a voice for the unhoused, it is a wall against them.

You cut me off, you skip over me so I cannot speak, you omit my public comments from the record, you publicly insult and discredit me in live meetings.

You have said I obviously have mental issues.

You have said I have a grudge and think money is being stolen.

I don't think it I know it, and so does Maryland, and so does all the city council.

The only people that don't are you.

You have said at the at the last meeting, two uh you said I had uh grudge and stolen money at the last meeting.

Two men physically use their bodies to barricade me and hold me back from entering a public meeting room.

You are not officials, think about that.

A board that claims to care about human relations, a board that claims to care about homelessness, a board that claims to care about dignity, you don't even know what the word means.

Scott means, and yet this is how you treat a person who comes before you and tells you the truth, and you don't even bother to look yourselves, you don't even bother to read the contracts, you don't even bother to read the reports, you don't even bother to look at anything, but you know, you don't know shit.

What is even more disturbing is that this disrespect is backed by ignorance.

You are a board that speaks on homelessness, yet many of you, all of you have not read the contracts, have not read the reports, have not read the road home, the city's own five-year plan to end homelessness, which totally contradicts itself from the new plan that they have.

Simone, she left.

She should be hearing this.

You do not seem to know what measurable goals are even are.

Samantha said something about measurable goals.

How many times?

And all you did was talk over her.

You don't even seem to know what these nonprofits are actually supposed to be doing.

Gerald at the last meeting, or at one of the meetings where that guy who's speaking out of his ass.

Oh, he's so great.

He's so great.

You don't even know what that nonprofit can do.

You're sitting there saying, Oh, well, uh, if somebody comes in and they're sure I'm home, and they can't afford rent.

Are you kidding me?

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much for your comments.

I'm sorry, your time is over.

Thank you for your comments.

No, what's going on with homeless?

When you approve the minutes from March 26, 2026.

Um, have people had an opportunity to review the minutes, and do we have any motion to approve of them?

I motion to approve.

Okay, we have a motion and a second.

I'll take a show.

Okay, we go.

We'll take that.

Then you know what?

We're since we're all in the room.

We don't need to do roll call vote.

We can just all those in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Those are any opposed.

Any i i'm not sure if technically anyone's recused if they weren't here.

I think we were all here though, last.

Yeah, it's good.

We're all good.

All right, unanimously approved.

Sorry, we started doing that when you walked out, but we approved the minutes.

You're gonna we're gonna keep rolling along here.

All right.

Um, we're on to item number four.

Uh 4A is fiscal year 2026-27, CDBG sub-recipient award recommendation.

The city prepares an annual action plan that identifies specific goals, proposed uses of CDBG funds, community engagement opportunities, and other strategies.

Andrew Fairley, management analyst from the housing and human service division, will be presenting on proposals, activities for fiscal years 2026 through 27 that are intended to address the city's current priority needs as aligned with the five-year strategic plan.

Take it away.

All right.

So good evening, President Means, Vice President Uh, Samantha Green, and honorable Social Service Human Relations Board members.

Um, my name is Andre Fairley, and I have been a management analyst here with the City of Alameda for two and a half years now.

Uh, some of you guys are familiar with me, others may not be so much, but um, I will be presenting today on the funding recommendations for CDBG's fiscal year 26-27 projects and programs.

All right.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So, as some of you are aware, and as alluded to in the staff report, the City of Alameda is an entitlement jurisdiction of community development block grant funds, which come directly from the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD.

Community development block grant funds, which I'll refer to as CDBG, are specifically utilized for programs, activities, and other projects that benefit very low, low and moderate income individuals and households, as well as other projects that prevent or eliminate blight.

HUD recently announced that the city will be receiving one million eighty thousand eight hundred and sixteen dollars in entitlement funding for this current year.

The city has received one million ninety-six thousand three hundred and sixty-two dollars, which is approximately a fifteen thousand four hundred dollar reduction in funding.

Funding will be allocated to four main priority areas, including non-housing public services, non-housing public improvements, economic development, residential rehabilitation, and general administration.

I encourage everyone to refer to the annual action plan in exhibit one, not on the screen, but there is an annual action plan that has close to 100 pages in exhibit one to get an in-depth look at the upcoming fiscal year's projects, programs, current year accomplishments, and the overall planning process going forward.

As seen in exhibit two, which is up on the screen above, the draft summary of activities details the various projects and programs that HHS anticipates funding for fiscal year 26-27.

Column one has an activity description, which goes into detail about each category, the four that I previously mentioned.

Column two covers the national objective and eligibility, which ties into HUD's requirements for this specific category of funding.

Column three lists the goal type, which is the number of people served for each organization, or at least the goal that they hope to accomplish by the end of the fiscal year.

And the fourth and fifth columns have prior year funding sources, which is actually this current year, fiscal year 25-26.

And then the last column has fiscal year 26-27, is which will be proposing to city council on May 5th.

Only 15% of our entitlement funding plus any program income we receive from fiscal year 25-26 can go towards non-housing public services or what you guys know as social services.

20% of our CDBG funding is allowed for general administration, and Eden INR will be funded from this category.

Housing and human services will be going to city council on May 5th to seek approval to fund next year's proposed programs and projects.

In addition, staff will ask council for authorization to adopt the CDBG slash home fiscal year 2627 annual action plan and to allow the city manager to execute related documents, agreements, and modify funding levels for prospective projects as needed.

Currently, we are in the midst of the 30-day public comment phase where all residents, organizations, community members, et cetera, who are interested in providing feedback are welcome to participate.

Staff will proceed to notify the organizations that will be receiving funding for fiscal year 26-27, and awards will officially become available when the grantee funding agreement is fully executed between the city and HUD.

HHS staff will make sure to keep everyone on the board updated on any new developments and as progress is made.

Thanks, Andre.

Thank you.

So do we have any just clarifying questions?

Sure.

I got a couple.

Yeah.

So last October, we decided to prorate the CDBG public services funding based on the federal funds.

How deep are those cuts for the existing safety net providers in the fiscal year 2627 for our action plan?

Have we gotten the idea how deep those cuts are yet?

Yeah, that's an excellent question.

I did state that there will be around a $15,000 reduction funding going into the upcoming fiscal year, which is about a $1.4% decrease in funding.

Unfortunately, our public service providers will be impacted by the cut.

But we've tried our best to calculate it accordingly.

And um, there will be about uh $388 reduction for some of the programs that we administer to our our nonprofits, um, as you can see on the screen up there.

So uh Alameda Family Services will be receiving around $20,400 if we were to get approval from council on May 5th, which is around $388 less than previous year.

Okay.

One more question, and then let somebody else uh the as I looked at the draft action plan earlier.

Um it allocated 154,000 to public services safety net out of an expected 1.9 1.09 million CDB allocation.

If the federal allocation comes in lower than projected, what's our contingency plan going to be for protecting the core services like domestic violence uh and homelessness prevention?

Yeah, so we'll probably go back to the drawing board, of course, and I'll consult Simone and our assistant city manager Amy Wooldrich, and we'll try to figure out a plan to um fill those services with any gap funding that is needed to continue um providing the essential essential services to the community.

So we're talking about things like general fund or uh measure W fund, something like that.

I think we can't name what funding we may use at this time if there are gaps in the funding, and that's an assessment we'll have to look at and identify available funds.

Uh general fund could potentially be an option.

We don't have access to measure W.

That would be something that we would have to apply to the county for.

Thank you.

That was my question.

My quite my question, do we are we getting oh, are we getting any reports on outcomes and how frequent from these service providers or like what's the data sharing process?

Yeah, so every quarter we collect data from the service provider specifically the the non-housing public service providers, and um those numbers will be the final numbers will be shown in the annual action plan once it's released in maybe June, uh July.

We do have to submit that annual action plan to HUD by no later than June 3rd.

So expect to see it published sometime late June, July.

Um, we do have a draft action plan actually posted um as an exhibit here, and then also uh what we'll be taking the council on May 5th.

Do we have any other questions?

Um can we can we ask if the audience has any?

Is there anyone sign up to speak or any comment?

We do not have any public comment for this item.

Okay, so we can now have open discussion from board members.

Um I I do want to bring up one of the programs.

Um, the boost program uh is basically a technical advice uh program for uh child care providers that provide some assistance with um technical assistance, technology assistance and advice on how to improve their systems.

They pay market rate for their staff, so their staff are quite expensive, and I have serious doubts about whether or not this program will work.

I won't vote no on the whole package based on this program, but I I actually do have a strong no on that specific program, even though I know this is like a package, so I'm not gonna say if we have to do any kind of do we have to vote on approval on this or no, we have to vote on this anyway, so it doesn't matter.

I just want to voice that then.

I don't think that should be funded.

Um I I I did actually review that one.

None of you did, I don't think, but because of my conflict of interests with Alameda Family Services, I read a different group of grants.

So I'm more familiar with this one.

That's probably why I'm and I just have a strong opinion about this.

I I will be really looking if this is really funded and it really goes through, I'll be looking really hard at what the what the outcomes are at the end of this, if anything actually really changed, if these organizations really do have better capabilities because we're not giving them technology, so they're gonna still have to use whatever they have in the in the house for their how their their program.

Um this is mainly a staff budget when I saw it.

So anyway, I just want to go on record for that.

Um I had a question that would, I mean, it's not really something that I guess we can go over long term, but it's the uh lack of flexible funding.

Um that that prevention funding that we were talking about right there.

Um if we're talking about something small like 75,000.

I would think that how we're the question is simple.

How are we leveraging these block grants to prevent those first-time homelessnesses?

I mean, that's that's really what we're talking about.

And so are we uh gonna actually approve any of that for the CDBG grant?

So you know I know that they're trying hard to make everything work out, but it just seems like there's a lot that's being left on the table.

So that's that's my my two cents.

So any other comments or questions or I just had a quick just clarifying.

So we funded these for two years, right?

And so next year it'll go through a full review process.

Is that correct?

Okay.

Yes.

And just piggybacking on what you said, Sam, um, for next year's process, when we do come back to the board for evaluations and feedback, et cetera, for the public services.

I think um keeping in mind what's the most essential need for this community and how we can, like Gerald said, leverage the funds that we currently have to um to really fund the organizations that will carry out the services that provide you know the need to to this community.

I think that's very important.

So uh something to consider going into next year.

Thanks, Broman.

All right, thank you everyone.

There's no other comments.

Um and thank you for the the report and the information.

Appreciate it.

Um I'm gonna uh the next item for B is it's actually my item.

Um it's um to discuss the UC, I want to give you an update on what's happening with the UC Berkeley public health program.

So to remind you, um there is a program that you know UC Berkeley does with the public health department, um, master's students uh where they develop you know model programs um that can typically they get made and then people put them on a shelf somewhere.

But I actually uh met with the students and um you know, told them I really would like to develop something like this.

And you know, it might not be as fast as they want it to.

They have some stuff happening in December.

But uh, but they actually have um they they came out with a statement of per a statement of purpose.

And you know, I I gave them a lot of information about age, you know, age-friendly alameda, but also you know, the model of of inclusion and equity that comes with you know the age-friendly movement.

And uh they decided, and I also told them about the changing landscape that's happening because of programs cut.

Um, and one of them is you know, senior companions, foster grandparents, um, the senior companions part of it is is when we focused on, which is having people, you know, come meet with seniors and help them get out and and access, you know, shopping or community events and doing things like that.

Kind of a more fleshed out volunteer program.

Of course, there's the volunteer list that's you know, we have here too.

And so they use all that.

So they developed a statement of purpose um around trying to recreate a similar program using without the stipend, because you know, one advantage we have in Alameda is we don't have as many low-income seniors who are willing to volunteer.

So using programs like our existing paratransit program to supply some of the transit would be enough.

People wouldn't be looking for that.

So that was the the theory behind that.

Um so there's there's multiple steps.

So we finished that first part of it and they turned in the original paper, and there's so many references, they did so much research.

And then I'm just gonna kind of just show you so you can see the graphic of it.

I I know I can't share this as public information, but you know, they they started doing um flow charts um and how this would work.

Um one of the things that we talked about were different, you know, funding models.

Like if you had to have a volunteer coordinator and something we could apply for next year when it comes through, is there's information referral.

I I remember I showed this this to you earlier this year.

There's information referral um uh positions you can actually hire and get funded whole completely through the county.

Um and then and they can actually coordinate some a program like this.

So it wouldn't cost the city any money at all.

It could be that could exist out of the the um mass senior center.

So we're really excited about this.

And it would be great if I could at some point um Grescia uh pass this amongst the rest of the board.

So I don't know if if I gave you the electronic copies, if we if we had to attach it with the next agenda or something so you could see it.

I think it's fantastic work.

Um, as I said, you know, they they have some launch in December, but that's not, you know, that's not really gonna happen.

But um, you know, I I do think it could be something that could be launched in the next year or two.

It's just you know, with some administrative needs and maybe some fleshing out of a human services department and in the city.

So that's that's my update.

So I don't know if anyone has any questions or comments about this program.

God, we also have the video that was posted with the agenda.

Do you want us to play it?

Yes, show that the video is really exciting.

You know, also just encourage anyone who's interested in developing human services or healthy human services programs.

Um, since I'm now a known factor, like next year if they want to do it again, it'd be great.

I could bring one of you along.

You could pitch your program.

You can say, remember me, here's a new person, right?

We kind of have other people and you know, join in it and stuff.

It's great bringing up a bunch of young people into this work.

Yeah.

So thank you for remembering the video.

It's fairly short, I think.

Three minutes.

Yeah.

Oh yeah.

Oh.

Oh.

Let's try again.

Yeah, it should be the little triangle one down there.

On the very bottom right.

Yeah.

Even lower.

Yeah, that one.

So, what happens when someone spends their entire life giving?

All right, one more time.

All right.

I just I just love this.

This is hi everyone.

We are representing age-friendly Alameda and our names are Priya, Julia, Katie, and then Joe.

So, what happens when someone spends their entire life giving and now suddenly has nowhere to give their time?

Mr.

Thompson is a retired teacher from Alameda High School who has been trying to find a meaningful way to spend time during a visit to Mastic.

They suggested volunteering in the community.

So he began researching volunteer options and became quickly overwhelmed.

Like Mr.

Thompson, many aging adults want to stay active to keep their mind sharp, maintain independence, and stay socially connected.

We are all aging every day, and being able to support accessible opportunities for volunteering helps increase social inclusion and combat loneliness.

While many older adults in Alameda City are motivated to stay engaged, there currently isn't a clear process to help them get access or get to volunteer opportunities beyond their local senior center.

This is why we are proposing a volunteer program designed to increase social inclusion for adults 55 and older with Ripple Effects, we believe will benefit residents across all the age groups in the community.

Our first objective is to identify two community coordinators who will serve as primary contacts for the program and help connect residents to local volunteer opportunities.

They will also provide an attendee list to hosting sites to help them prepare for sessions with participants.

Second, we will establish a buddy system to address transportation barriers.

Coordinators will connect participants to nearby neighbors so they do not feel alone and feel supported throughout the process of getting to and from these events together.

Finally, volunteer stations will be established at local community centers like the library or museum to provide a reliable structure for all participants and collaborative partners.

These locations will provide a welcoming designated space for people to feel included and connect regularly.

Our proposed program serves as the connective tissue between existing infrastructure within the city of Alameda.

The Mastic Senior Center serves as a trusted institution, connecting 4300 members with programs in health, education, and recreation.

By encouraging deeper engagement among its membership and expanding outreach to the broader community, we can create more pathways for connection and social inclusion.

The Alameda Post, a community focused online newsletter, has a consolidated listing page for volunteering opportunities throughout the city.

Listed organizations have a long-standing presence in Alameda, allowing seniors to work with respected and familiar institutions.

Volunteering is also routinely celebrated with the city already funding an annual volunteer celebration to recognize and commemorate civic participation.

Using existing infrastructure, we believe implementing a transportation buddy system, community coordinators, and volunteer stations will allow for a mutually beneficial exchange between seniors and the broader Alameda community.

We ask for your support and investing in the community's strengths and ensuring these resources are accessible and inclusive for all seniors.

Thank you, everyone, for your time.

Yeah, yeah.

I told just I did tell them that we had the volunteer list posted in two places, but they got really excited that there was actually a private like paper.

Yeah, you know.

I think they were thinking newspaper like the Chronicle or something, not realize it's a little smaller press, but it's it's still good.

I mean, it's still important to have those partnerships and those different areas.

So thank you for showing that.

Do we have any other comments or any remark?

Oh, yeah, I have a comment in mind that it seems to dovetail really well with something that just kind of happened organically.

You guys came up with a list of volunteers and it just got bigger and and started getting posted all over the place.

And I think the program they're doing dovetails right well into it and probably could work in conjunction somewhere.

I think it's a wonderful idea, and the price is right.

I mean, you're not trying to take from any other funding to get it done.

You're actually enlisting private organizations to be able to do it.

It's kind of the hallmark of what we do here at the social services and human relations board, right?

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

So good on you.

Right on.

Thank you.

I like creating programs that don't add to general funds.

Anyway, um, thank you all.

Um can I just ask one thing?

Oh, yeah.

It would this volunteer portal be open.

I mean, this is also hypothetical, right?

We would also open that portal to younger people as well.

Or especially the the volunteers themselves, especially.

Yes.

Yeah.

The people who are the initial focus would be on the older adults in terms of the one receiving program.

But what's interesting though, the senior companions program, it's where you know more active seniors are helping the fragile seniors.

The program participants are the helpers, not the people getting helped.

Because it's the social interaction of people who are very active getting to do something.

So, in a way, the fragile seniors that are being assisted aren't the clients.

Yeah, they're the volunteers themselves.

Same idea.

Yeah.

Or I just like how we could pair high school students that have community out, they have to do the service hours to graduate to pair them with a senior.

Yes, I like that.

Amazing.

Um I just got a phone call today from a senior who's like, I have hours, I need to finish, right?

So we've talked about it before, seniors and seniors, and I think it's like it's that.

Seniors and seniors.

Oh, that's cool.

And actually, if they're 18 or over, it actually gets there's a bunch of other things that makes it easier.

Rebbe's no longer minors, so they can actually go places and stuff.

Yeah.

Thank you.

All right.

Yeah, thank you, everyone, for listening to that.

Um, that's right.

Um, is there any public comment?

There is no public comment for this item.

Oh, I should say other additional comments.

No, let's go.

Let's go to four C discussion of social service human relations board fiscal year 2026-27 scope of work.

Each year, Shrub in collaboration with city staff, develop and present an annual work plan to the city council for its consent.

Shrub's annual work plan is typically approved by the board at its April meeting in order to be presented to city council at its first meeting in June.

Thanks to increasing staff capacity, it has become prudent to discuss and develop not only the annual work plan, but also to reevaluate the board's scope of work.

The finalized scope of work will be presented to city council for approval.

And Simone, you can take it away.

All right, thank you.

Uh so as Scott said, the scope of work will inform your work plan for the upcoming year.

And it has become apparent over the last year as Gressy and I've been more involved with the board that it would be helpful to have a more defined scope of work.

And um, it's unclear the last time the scope of work was evaluated.

So we thought this would be a good time before we developed the new work plan to look at the scope of work, ensure everyone is clear on what their role is and move forward in a structured fashion with clear goals and activities for the year.

Um, so I have drafted a scope of work in partnership with Grecia.

Um, it is under review.

The next steps would be for the president to look at them.

So for Scott to look at them and then for us to go over them.

I would ask that you go over them in your working groups.

And part of that is because we are on a tight schedule.

We need to go to city council and have the work plan approved so we can start actually working on it.

And so we're looking at going to city council in July with city processes.

That means that we need to have the work plan approved in May.

Okay.

So next meeting.

Yep.

The next meeting, we would need to be able to have the work plan approved so then we can have the council report uploaded on time for the July meeting.

So it's imperative that you all look at the scope of work on your own and in your subgroups and let us know your feedback so that we can have a finalized scope of work for a goal to approve it in May.

And I can go over some of the suggestions that I have.

So we have our group here, our board is designed to look at social services in the city.

For you all to be an advocacy group to support programs, encourage programming, and encourage funding towards that programming.

And also to inform things like the policies we're developing, the structure if we're doing new programs, what that looks like, and really have a uh kind of be our backbone, if that makes sense.

And so some of the subgroups I'm proposing would be a little different than what we have now.

Uh, one would be around policy, and so really looking at our CDBG reports.

So we have our con plan, we have our uh five-year con plan, our CAPER report, which is an annual uh performance report, and our annual action plan.

Those are three very large reports that go to HUD.

Those are reports that would be helpful for you all to review and provide feedback on, and so that would be a policy group.

The policy we also have other policies that we uh create for our department.

So potentially those policies would be something that you all may be interested in reviewing and providing feedback on.

Um let me open this.

We also have see if it will open a second subgroup that I am proposing instead of having individual social service groups, there would be trying to find the the name of it.

There would be one general social service group.

So, for example, if you all find that there's a domestic violence that you want to focus on, or senior services that you want to focus on, or youth services that you want to focus on, that group would focus on those specific populations so that we're not just having separate groups focus on separate things and being scattered and having one person here and one person there when you know sometimes we end up short staffed, and I'm looking for the third one.

I can't remember it off the top of my head.

Okay, here they are.

So the first one I call funding, and this is draft form.

So I just want you all to know that.

The first one is funding review and recommendations.

So reviewing applications submitted for all categories.

Um, so we have more than just public service CDBG grants.

So reviewing all the different CDBG grant RFPs, providing your input on those different RFPs, um, and advising on funding priorities and project recommendations and promoting equitable distribution of resources based on need and eligibility.

That's one group.

The second is program oversight and performance.

Um so that would be reviewing performance reports, updates on CDBG funded programs and capital projects, conducting site visits, and uh writing up your review of the site visit to provide us input on how these programs may need to improve or how they may be doing well, and identifying opportunities for program delivery and community impact.

And then the last one community engagement and public participation, present and advocate at city council meetings, participate in public hearings, community meetings, and outreach activities, support the city's efforts to engage residents in the CDBG planning process.

And this would be the group that has more their ear to the street, so they're doing the needs, uh potentially supporting the needs assessment, understanding what's going on in the community and bringing that information back to the board to help inform what you would like to see the city doing.

Again, just suggestions, um, but I do think it will be very helpful for there to be a clear outline structure of the purpose of this board that will then inform your work plan and have clear activities outlined for the year, and then we move forward from there.

And so Grecia will look at these in your groups, and then hopefully in May, we'll have a final version and a work plan, and we can get started for the year.

Can I can I ask the question?

Um, I don't know if this is the role, it's is it more of a oversight, or is it more of a um sounding board advocacy?

Like, would the opinions that we deliver on the projects in then have any teeth?

Or I mean, I would you have to come to us to make approval like policy procedures?

I would say I would use the word advisory.

Advisory, okay.

I I don't want to have oversight of your job.

I think you guys are much more qualified to do your jobs without our, but is it so it's more of a like a sounding board uh uh role?

Is that what I'm hearing in these kind of different realms of to have additional outside lenses in these different forums?

Um, I think that's accurate and to advise, hold us accountable too, you know, if you we're doing things that we can do better, then let us know, you know, it's to support us in our work, but also support the community at large and having the social services they need to people in the city of Alameda need to thrive.

So just one quick question.

Um, so these would be uh categories of groups that would be separate from the initial from the groups that we already have, or they would replace the groups, yeah.

Yes, just a quick question around the one central group, if you don't mind just kind of re-explaining that to me.

I'm taking notes.

It sounds like, and correct me if I'm wrong, it sounds like um, if there is a topic or a concern or issue that we want to maybe focus on that we can collaborate together and say, hey, this is a domestic violence uh task force that we really want to push through and partner with uh law enforcement and the city.

These are the few initiatives that we want to work on.

That is that am I capturing that correctly?

Okay.

Okay.

That's yes, that's accurate.

Okay.

And I heard a lot of the CBG grant, would a lot of this be relating auditing to the funding that we're doing, or how does that like say that again?

I I've maybe because you just went fast, I didn't follow.

Um, we're I'm trying to look, is a lot of this would be looking at budget.

You said the second group, can you repeat that?

Or I'll wait till we'll do it.

I was just trying to understand the like the budget oversight is what you said?

Program oversight to C D BG grant making.

So it would be only specific to that grant making uh funding source.

So right now you all look at like a subsection of CDBG.

You only look at our social service grants, which actually isn't typical practice across other cities.

There are like advisory boards that review, do site visits, like similar to what you all are, but they advise on all of the CDBG funding.

So like capital improvements, the economic development, the workforce grants, like all of it.

So that way they all kind of work as a system.

Sorry.

With the idea being that they review them to look at them more like a system.

And only with the grant funding, not the the general not our division budget.

No.

Okay, I was like, that is.

Okay, just therefore it's an opportunity for you all to give more input on our day-to-day and more collaboration, is how we're looking at it.

Because I think there was an era where like you all would do the needs assessment, right?

Like completely almost independently and with out staff, and now we're doing the, you know, we just want more places where we're like collaborating, and there's places for you to give day-to-day input.

I'm just my my final, I think that it sounded great.

Um, so I look forward to seeing the draft and going over these in our work group.

So appreciate it.

It would be good, just one request.

If we could get something before we actually meet in the work groups, at least a few days in advance, we can review it before that'd be great.

And it does sound good though.

And our current work that we were doing, would that be incorporated or I guess uh I would want clarification on the are there certain things that you're concerned about?

I mean, part of this is also to ensure that we're focusing the board is focusing on the technical issues around the work of HHS.

Um I don't know if there are there certain things that you are thinking about.

I'm just like the road home or um Alameda's against hate and like even that the poetry.

Yeah, like I don't want to give up the poetry sign.

So what my what my um suggestion to the board would be is that we have another group that you typically partner with, which is the youth, the YAC.

Sorry, I can't remember if the acronym is um.

And so my suggestion would be to continue to partner with them with them on the leads for those programs.

And you know, the the young folks are good at putting those on.

And I think it's a good collaboration to have you all join them in those events and have you all with your expertise being selected on this board to focus on some of the technical tasks that really may not always be the funner task, but they're really the the it's the privilege that we have to be able to do the behind the scenes work that have a big impact that people don't necessarily realize.

I'm a little torn myself because I feel like united against hate is probably something that needs to be spoken about a lot more.

And simply saying that we can turn it over to the kids to do it is not necessarily an effective way to do it.

There needs to be guidance, there needs to be focus about what they're going to do.

Happy to let them make decisions, because that's what kids do, but um certain programs, um, connecting with other partners.

You see uh Davis, the Davis program, working with them uh on their United Against Hate program.

I think these are viable things that everybody needs to recognize.

And in a town like this, it's definitely needed.

There's a whole lot of hate going on.

So I myself am kind of just a little torn about the idea that sure, you know, being the front face for something is is it's got its place, but the task force against domestic violence has its place.

I think that these are things that should not be lost because of the other side.

Now, I don't know how else we'll be able to work it out.

I don't know what the details will be, but I think it's these kinds of things that we don't want to lose sight of, because that's the actual human relations portion that we're talking about, in my opinion.

And so I would like to clarify a couple of things.

So the YAC is not a board that operates independently, it is staffed by HHS staff as well, and it also has a separate uh a board by adult professionals as well.

And then also for the three subgroups, I'm not suggesting eliminating these categories entirely.

My suggestion is that those groups are folded into one subcommittee.

And so there's a subcommittee that is focused on policy, looking at our reports, ensuring that those have the information.

I feel like you all are missing a lot of the work we're doing.

For example, in our annual action plan, we it's I don't know how many pages it is, but we outline all of the plans that we have for the year and the way that we're going to spend the funding, and you all aren't putting giving your input on that.

You're not looking at that ahead of the time.

And so, yes, we want to be able to do things like the poetry slam and things like that.

Right.

But we also want to make sure you all are providing input and prioritizing things like providing input on these the critical decisions around how the funding is spent.

And so I think it that's an important piece to really consider is if we have to choose what we prioritize as a board, because unfortunately we our time is limited.

I would suggest that we prioritize on this impact of how is this funding spended, how are these programs developed?

And uh uh Alameda's United Against Hate, the domestic violence task force, those can be put into one subcommittee where they're really you all are really focused on these specific categories and programs that will enhance services in Alameda around those categories.

And and I understand the other categories.

Matter of fact, I think they're great choices.

Um, but I think the message would be lost for these types of programs if we put them into a single one program.

I think that with these types of other heavy responsibilities, the other things that are again the human relation portion of it would be lost because of lack of time or effort on everybody's part.

I don't have a problem with doing extra work, but losing something like this, I I was amazed with what Scott was talking about.

I was going to talk about something similar at the next meeting because I think that there are just there's a lot of there's a lot of need for understanding of the hate that we're living with in this day and age.

And so that's something that you all can discuss in your subgroups and then together in the May meeting, what you want that to look like, and then there will need to be a vote.

And if it is the desire to continue these programs, that's something that also needs to be discussed and considered.

That if you want to lead programs and select and identify these programs, X, Y, and Z, whatever it is that you're going to do throughout the year, what it is that you all are going to commit in order to make those happen.

And do you have the capacity and time to do that?

Absolutely.

I think that's a good idea.

Um, opportunity for us to have those conversations in the subcommittee so we can really hash it out.

I think overall, these are some good choices.

These are really good choices, but I still think we should have those conversations.

Absolutely.

I have a question.

So one of the things I think we've talked about it before too, that I think would be really, really helpful and could be helpful for informing the scope of work is our discussion of the scope of work is an understanding of the calendar for like the year, right?

So or the year prior the next two years, so that we can think of HHS's calendar.

Yeah.

So thinking about like what are those, when would those policy components come to play in what months?

When would the CPGB things need to be so that we could kind of have a better understanding of when things were going to be on our docket as we prepared for other activities?

Okay.

Yeah, we can provide that information.

Okay, that'd be awesome.

Great.

I applaud you.

It feels like a really more collaborative approach.

And that I like that there's more uh um oversight.

Yeah.

Or not over advisory.

So I didn't mean to say oversight.

Um, I do also want to mention that I also think that these existing groups are valuable and the events and the task force that you all do are valuable.

I also really like the idea of having these new groups and potentially consolidating some of the social service aspect because there is so much to our division that you all are not getting the opportunity to participate in or have a say in.

Um you mentioned not minding more work.

That's great, Gerald, but more work for you is more work for me and staff.

So should there be a limit to staff capacity?

We're gonna have to look to the board to carry out some of those additional activities.

Yes.

Well, does Almeida use the same kind of budget sheets like the FM300?

I'm always up for looking at budget sheets.

You're not referring to, right?

Yeah, pivot tables.

Is there anything else that we should know?

Uh, or what to help us inform us of how to develop or think the group from your like what is the unmet need that we should fully understand?

Um I don't think there's necessarily anything else to know.

I think the biggest thing is to really understand what we need as far as advisory and support and understanding what's going on in the community and really looking at you all to understand what's happening in the community and for you all to also understand that this is um a very small subset of Grecia's job.

And so there's limited time and capacity in order to do certain types of activities.

And we do have another group that does those things.

Well, I yeah, I look forward to it.

It seems fascinating.

Some of this you're talking about.

So I look forward to seeing your your plan and everything and reviewing it with an open mind, and we'll see how it goes.

Yeah, I agree.

I would think I can I just make one question suggestion, which is is there I we can't because of Brown Act.

Um I'm just thinking it would be because we'll be divided into our work groups, which are based on the old work groups.

It's kind of funny to review the new scope of work in the silos in those weird in the old existing silos.

Does that make any sense?

Yep.

It makes sense.

I think the work groups are an opportunity for you to review it and discuss it with staff and another board member, and then there would be discussion time during the May meeting, and again, the goal is to vote.

But I don't want to say if you don't come to a consensus, I really hope you come to a consensus, but I we can't force you to come to a consensus.

If you really feel conflicted and that you need more time, then that's something that we we would have to push forward with.

But that also means that you delay going to council and being able to um show council your work plan, which is a requirement in our charter, and that delays you being able to start on the new work plan.

Right.

And when we did the oh, sorry, sorry, I'm just trying to figure out if there's a way for us to be able to receive the information from the other subgroups prior to our meetings like notes from the discussions, yeah.

Could we pass because that it's part of the reason we'd be doing it in the subgroups is because it wouldn't be quorum, right?

You can't have conversations across the board and if it's not in a public setting.

But can we bring notes?

Could our notes become public so that we could see them with the agenda?

Can you during the oh, yes, you mean when we post it with the agenda to be discussed at a meeting?

Yes, yeah, it would be great.

Um just to know what work we'll have to do.

I remember previously it'd be like you will organize six events by this time, like we had to do pretty granular.

That is also what we're developing, right?

The work plan, yes, yeah, but really like the the granular details.

Okay.

Was there any public comment?

Yeah, I said, and with the item number, they're up there, and this item number is four Cnow why she's saying this.

So we do have one public speaker that is Karen Kirschbaum.

Corinne Kirschbaum, my apologies.

You can think go ahead, your time starts.

You know why she is saying all of this because you don't know anything about what you're doing, nothing.

How can you go in to be a member of a board and not know anything about it, but act like you do, and then do what?

Make decisions for the people that you haven't even spoke to.

No, none of them, you haven't even read anything, nothing.

So, how do you know what people need?

How do you know what's going on in these nonprofits?

Because I can guarantee you I would bet my life on it, and I know for a fact that village of love has we're talking 10, almost 10 million dollars of state, federal, and public funds.

This city council has committed fraud, they are covering it up.

Why do you think village of love isn't no is no longer there?

Joey Harrison did nothing, nothing, and if you go out and you ask any homeless person, it's called the village of hell.

But oh, don't believe the 30-year teacher just because that 30-year educator isn't on my forehead in front of you because you put that big H on my forehead, you have treated me with the utmost this respect, and here you are talking about being biased and hate that's all you have shown me.

That is all you have shown me.

You sit up there and you laugh all you want, Gerald.

Because you know nothing, you act like you're smart, you act like you're asking all these great questions, but really they're not because you know nothing to ask.

And I have seen nothing done.

The same old thing every single time.

You're a board that speaks on homelessness.

Yet many of you have never read the contracts.

And this is why this matters.

Because when people like me come to you with first hand knowledge with facts, with lived experience.

The golden ticket words.

Instead of listening, you dismiss us.

You believe everybody except actual unhouse.

You say you want to know what people need, but you do not ask the people living it.

You do not investigate.

You do not educate yourself.

Thank you.

What you're saying is we have been holding your data for a reason.

I am the voice.

We need to check it out.

Excellent.

So we're going to go to 4D work group reports.

This item is for board discussion only.

There's no staff presentation, so go directly to public comment.

Is there public comment?

No.

No, right?

See not I do.

I do need to check, which I'm going to.

We do not have public comment.

I do technically can receive them online.

So that's why I check.

We do not have public comment for item 4D.

So there are well, I mean, it is nice to have public comment.

So this item is now open for discussion.

Does anyone want to go first?

Road home against hate.

It's up to you.

I can go first.

Yeah.

Last month I only talked briefly about the uh open mic that we did, and I didn't really get a chance to talk about how wonderful it was to see the young folks come out and give their art and their music and their poetry and their spoken word.

Um there were a lot of local uh people that were there.

Um, some of them are the people that have been part of the West End for a long time, and they commented on some of the same people I did.

Um, there was young lady named uh Tegan Williams, who did an amazing job as part of her uh spoken word.

Um there was a young man who came in from uh trying to remember which school that was came in from I think it was Nell, and he talked about hate and love, and another young man came in from some artwork that I thought was amazing.

He was showing his family and his family's love again.

It was a great program.

Um, I think it was worth spending the time.

Um we needed more participation from the adults, is my only opinion.

We had a few kids, but not enough adults.

Um the other part of our United Against Hate program was that recently last week, as a matter of fact, the national chapter of United Against Hate Week had a program that I'm actually going to try and get on for next month for us to be able to see some of it because it was a really eye-opening program where it talked about the digital division and the breaking of the cycle of online hate and how wedge narratives are used to weaponize online hate and figuring out ways to keep the large corporations who use hate as a business model from doing so, or at least give them understanding that the people who are on the other side, the receiving end, are not going to necessarily take it anymore.

Um, they talked about things like building gangs, not followers, groups of people that you could actually get together with and share the right narratives as opposed to letting them give you the narratives to choose from, because that's the way the algorithms are designed.

Another really poignant piece they talked about was don't feed the trolls, don't give them the oxygen that they want, don't give trolls oxygen.

Don't give trolls oxygen.

If you comment on stuff the trolls do, then you give them oxygen.

And these are the type of things that I'd like to bring next month as similarly, because I think that this is part of what United Against Hate Week, the national chapter, and what United Against Hate, Alameda United Against Hate are all about.

We need to inform as many people about these types of things so that we can try and change some of the issues that we've been seeing.

A lot of the hate that you hear and see come from these same kind of algorithms and pushing those buttons in people's dopamine receptors.

And that's the only two things I have so far.

I will leave it at that.

You know, I I got to go to something last week, and it made me uh think of you and the the whole garden and everything.

There's a concert series that's happening right now in Alameda.

It's um celebrates uh it's uh celebrates bands that have the front person as a woman or non-binary person.

And they they just had one in that garden, like the other ones in Alameda.

It's a very um inclusive group.

Um, I think that that could be the type of group that that could be collaborated with in terms of the you know, Alameda's against hate type events.

Yeah, like that.

I think they would be really open to it.

Yeah, yeah, especially if you listen to a lot of things they talk about.

It wasn't just about the music, it was about the social inclusion.

Yeah, and I'd actually been doing some uh work trying to work with some of the various churches to try and bring some of the local churches who are also involved.

They have some uh again, they're the ones that are doing the work.

You know, Trinity Lutheran is the one that's got the doors open for all the homeless, and it's not like they have a lot of room and finding other places to be able to have people have safety are the same things that I talked about with Craig.

And so it's not like these are not known topics.

So yeah, that those are the pieces that I'm working on.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah, thank you.

Um why don't we do well?

Actually, um, Bernie, do you want to actually show it's gonna be the record?

Oh, excellent.

Yeah.

Um, so uh so we met this past Monday, and um, just as a very short report is that our task force is scheduled for May 4th.

And I believe we're still waiting on kind of ironing out who's going to speak.

And what we're doing, I think we have that now, don't we?

Do we have that?

Because I don't know.

We've requested AF.

I have sent a request to Catherine Schwartz from AFS to present, and she um responded but hasn't confirmed.

So uh hopefully I'll confirm next week.

But typically we do have like an update from APD and like the latest stats.

Um, yeah, I will finalize the agenda early next week.

Perfect.

Thank you.

That's all I am.

Okay.

So thank you.

Um, do you have anything, Samantha for Road Home or No, just for folks that are not participating in the strategic planning uh process, um, just to let them know that the third planning meeting was canceled due to community feedback, um, that it was difficult to attend.

And so um HHS is going to be putting together the report and circulating it to community members for feedback rather than doing it as an in-person meeting.

Um, so Scott and I will be able to review that and hopefully be able to provide more information about that.

Um, but we won't be attending the next meeting.

And the only other team we have planned um in May for city staff, um, uh overdose uh response training.

Right.

Um, and the hope is that the training will be first for city staff and then opened.

We have a partnership with the East Bay AIDS Found AIDS Foundation.

Yeah, I just forget the acronym for it.

Um, they'll be leading their excellent, and then we'll hopefully have these trainings then open up to the public.

Okay.

Oh, and then we're working on the age from the age-friendly cities survey, right?

Yes.

Oh, so yeah.

Um, thank you for your comments.

Um, I basically like 90% of them actually were very useful.

So that was so great.

So thank you.

And and I I appreciate that you listened to me and actually focused.

So the survey, you know, has your demographic part, and then you have the main part of the survey.

And and I I was really, I felt squished with the regular part of the survey.

You have to have a minimum amount of demographic stuff, right?

And then it makes it go longer.

And you really did cut out so much of that, which I really appreciated.

Um, the one thing that I just want to clarify as a nuance, one issue that I kept coming up again and again with Alameda Seniors amongst, and this is across a bunch of different programs and things, is there's a nuance where um I don't use this service because I don't want to use the service, but I know about it, I just don't use it, right?

And I know about the service, I don't use it because I can't.

That was that one that one question section.

And that's especially happens at Mastic.

There are some classes that the same group of five or six people are just constantly in because they know when it opens up, and so it only leaves them half open.

It's an ongoing problem there.

The transportation program, the way they give out the bus passes, they're constantly don't have the resource, right?

So those are great examples of that.

And I'm trying to uncover that.

But I know it's a it's a wonky way to ask it, so we may not get good data.

We'll see, you know.

Um, the other thing I wanted, so uh Shelby's gonna do final um revisions, and we're hoping for a mid to late May launch because May is is older Americans month.

Um, I also have a proclamation with the mayor.

I don't know if she's going to decide to read it or not.

Um, we'll see, but I gave her a proclamation for older Americans month in May.

And this this month is champion your health.

So it's all about uh health care and taking personal responsibility for making sure your healthcare is um in place.

And and actually one thing about homelessness we're gonna touch on.

Um the dignity village uh resident advisory board is trying to start a community garden.

They have raised beds and some other areas of ground level, but there was never that in the budget to actually have planting.

So right now I'm working with uh one hundred thousand trees, if you're familiar with them, and actually uh a co-op that's in West Oakland that I I've known from from the past um on trying to get supplies and equipment.

But if anyone also knows any resources, it's it's a really it's a worthy cause, and having them grow their own food is fantastic.

The Alameda Backyard Growers, you haven't connected with that farm, the baker goes, but oh I thought I thought the Alamia Backyard Farmers picked fruit from other they have they have all the seeds, yeah.

They have seed gardens, they have workshops, they have a tool library.

So you do that in addition to the because I always knew about the tree picking where they go to people's yards and get the fruit and bring it to the biggest.

They're amazing.

And I just met someone yesterday from there.

I'll just call her.

She gave me her card.

I was at I was at a certain person's launch meeting for something.

Yeah, and I met her.

So yeah, I'll call her.

Yeah, Alameda, I think would be the really the natural.

Yeah, I don't know why I think of that.

Yeah, I've been doing a bunch of grants for the schools for their gardening projects.

Um, and I can help you connect with other resources or thank you.

Yeah.

I just yeah, just to be wonderful thing with you know, food has always been an issue and having fresh food there.

And so if they could grow some of their own, it'd be fantastic.

Some green beans.

Um we can move right along to item five staff communications.

Uh, do we have a stash report on the city of Alameda's housing and human services?

Yes.

So uh mine are pretty short this month.

Uh, our biggest announcement um and victory is that the day center reopened uh earlier this week.

Restorative pathways is the new provider operator of the day center.

We will be hosting a resource fair there on April 27th at 11 a.m.

Uh, as a uh a little bit of a selfish plug, in addition to all the very valuable resources.

I will also be there with voting slips so people can vote on a name.

So that'll be pretty cool.

Uh we have we've released a request for proposals or RFP for our residential rehabilitation program that was released April 14th.

Uh program potential program administrators have until May 14th to respond.

And this would be for funding for residential rehabilitation of rental units, and we have affordability requirements and a requirement for it to be for smaller buildings.

And um Michelle mentioned the overdose response trainings.

That's what I have for you all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um we can go to item six.

Does anyone have any bar communications non-agenda item?

I do.

Excellent.

Go ahead.

Um, I have a couple of things.

First, I sat down and made a quick statement.

I wanted to make sure everybody got a chance to hear, and I want to put it on public records.

Um I really care deeply about the work that we do in this board.

And lately I felt like we've lost some of our initiative.

I really do.

Um, we've had a lot of turnovers, and at our last meeting we had been forced to table agenda items because of a disruption.

I'm not going to speak on the specifics tonight, but out of respect to the processes that are underway.

What I'll say at this point is that the public's right to observe the board to record it and to criticize it is protected.

And we uphold that without reservations.

But those rights are not the same as the right to threaten or intimidate board members.

That is a line that no one recognizes.

The law recognizes that line.

Every minute we lose to disruptions is a minute we're not giving to these three task forces that we are working on right now.

The road home and age-friendly, united against hate, and domestic violence.

Survivors of domestic violence need us to be doing the job.

People who are receiving hate need us to be doing the job.

In the last month, that's a great sign.

The over the three overdose uh response trainings are scheduled already.

We've got those in place in May and July.

The day before our last meeting, I stood at the open mic for the season of nonviolence.

And that is work, and that is what the board is for.

I'd like us to refocus on our 2026 and 2027 work plans and get back to doing the work.

Again, we're talking about the work of the people that we're supposed to be representing.

So with that, I finished that statement.

I'll bring up one other topic that I think we should know about.

Um I don't know how many of you are familiar with the Crab Cove Alameda Wellness Respite Center.

It's one of my favorite programs.

It's now called Arnold's Place.

There's going to be a ribbon cutting on April 30th.

That's right.

The doors are opening.

The ribbon cutting will be at the Crab Cove Alameda Wellness Respite program.

And you can come down to 1245 McKay Avenue at 330 on April 30th to watch the ribbon cutting.

I don't know about you guys, but I've been involved in that program for almost nine years now.

Eight years of us trying to get it down.

I remember when it was just paper, and now it's a building, and it's only the first half.

We have a lot more work to do, and we need to be getting that done.

And that's coming up this week or this next week.

So please join me next week if you can for the ribbon cutting for Arnold's place.

Thank you.

Thank you, Gerald.

Are there any other announcements?

I have one.

Everyone who's living out of the media should have received one of these by now or will very soon.

It's actually a survey.

It's a survey about built environments.

I'm using some age-friendly terminology here.

Uh BERT built environment.

Um, you know, it's it's about um, you know, flooding, repairing potholes and that sort of thing.

Um, during a WABA meeting a couple of weeks ago, the mayor mentioned that they are going to be planning to put out a huge infrastructure bond um to voters.

So this would be an early opportunity.

That's what the signal of this is to me is this be an early opportunity for community members to actually comment on some of these proposed things they're going to do.

I have a question because I I looked at mine today, and it requires you to put a post it stamp on it.

Yeah.

It requires you to put a postage stamp on it.

So that's going to skew the people that respond.

And a lot of people don't even know what a post stamp is these days.

So maybe somebody could just put a box out in front of City Hall and collect them.

And are you?

I think the QR code as well.

I saw to get you on there.

So I know not everybody does QR codes.

Oh, you can't, yeah.

So I mean, I I hear what you're saying.

There is one other option though.

For people who can use and know how to use QR codes or have the technology for it, you can do that way.

But people who may not have money for stamps may not be able to do the QR code too.

So I I your point is well taken.

Very well.

Yeah.

Um, but please, if you get this survey, uh fill it out if you can.

Any is there any other uh uh any other communications?

No, well, seeing none, we can adjourn this meeting at 8 30 p.m.

Thank you, everyone.

Thank you, Scott.