Youth Empowerment Committee Meeting – March 26, 2026

If I can get you to take your seats, please.

And if you're unable to find a seat, uh, we are at capacity.

Um, and so I I do want to apologize for that.

Uh I want to thank each of you for being here.

Uh, and I will start the meeting with a brief comment, but first I'll I'll start with introductions uh to my left Trista Carriher, Council Auditor's Office, Shannon Matt Gellis, Office of General Counsel.

John Everett, Director of Workforce Development, Career and College Readiness.

Randy White, District 12.

Kenomorro City Council District 1.

Uh Terrence Freeman at large, group one.

All righty, and I'm not sure if uh councilmember Pittman will be here.

But uh one, I wanted to start this meeting by saying thank you.

Uh I see so many new faces in the room.

Uh, if you could do me a favor, if this is your first meeting, can you raise your hand for me real quick?

Let me see how many first timers I got in the room.

Amen.

I love this.

Absolutely love it.

Thank you all.

Thank you for coming.

Uh, second question.

If you found out about this meeting through Facebook, can you raise your hand for me?

Gotcha, gotcha, gotcha.

Okay.

And the reason why I asked that question is is was there ever any follow-up on that Facebook post that that let you know that this is the fifth meeting and the final meeting, and that there were four other previous ones that and and so, and that is why I'm saying I would encourage you to reach back out to that post and ask them to send you to archives.

Because what's gonna happen is you're starting a race, that's a four-lap race, a mile race, and we're on the last lap of it right now.

Everybody's still gonna have a chance to apply.

Everybody's gonna still have the same opportunities apply, but with this being the fourth meeting, fifth meeting and the final one, there's information in those earlier meetings that can be very that are very that's very valuable.

Um I'm trying to maintain my composure, and I'm looking to see if the ECA is in here or the council members in here, um, because I do feel like that's slightly unfair for many of you that are sitting there, um having to play catch up in such a quick period.

Um, so with that being said, uh, I wanted to start off the meeting with that.

I've always been taught don't apologize if you're not sorry, and I'm not sorry, but my heart hurts my and it aches for those that are just hearing this for the first time.

Um so thank you all for being here.

Definitely would have had it in a larger room had we known about this.

Um so hopefully you guys got an agenda.

If not, you can find this information on file.

It'll kind of tell you how we got to where we're at, where we're at currently, uh, and it'll get us going into today.

Um I'll call this meeting to order uh four o'clock, and good afternoon, and thank you all for attending this meeting, the youth empowerment committee.

Um thank you for being here and your continued engagement in the work.

I can tell you right now, as a former educator, as a lover of all those who love helping our kids reach their fullest potential.

I couldn't be more excited to see all of your beautiful faces in this room today.

Um I want to begin with a brief update on where we're at in the legislative process related to the youth empowerment committee's work.

Um many have asked what's going to be the timeline.

Uh the one thing that we all know is government is slow.

Um, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Drives me crazy.

Um, but it helps me to help you understand.

So upon the completion of this meeting today, uh, we could look in April for the RFP to go out and hit the street.

Um so I would encourage you.

It's gonna be handled over at KHA.

Um, so that RFP when it hits, uh we can you can go ahead and kind of lock in that the RP is gonna be open for 21 to anywhere from 21, early as 21 days, maybe up to 30.

I don't have all of that information.

Um the standard is about 30 days, um, but a lot of that is contingent upon how many applications you get, sometimes and things of that nature.

But 21 to 30 days.

Uh once it is closed, it'll be um graded and awards will be and sent to the awards committee.

Uh and the goal is by June that these dollars uh will then be uh applied and appropriated to the groups.

Uh and that's June at the latest, it's like a 90-day process, they say or so that the monies will be in your hand by June.

You'll know if you've been awarded, and then within 90 days from that period, the money in your bank account.

Um variables that are going to determine or judge or how do I say this?

Uh affect how quickly this may happen, the number of people that are awarded.

If there are two or three, it doesn't take that long.

If there's this many applying, then yes.

When you got three people grading and you're having 75 or 80, which my heart just loves that, it's gonna take some time to work through it.

So I wanted to make sure that we I kind of laid that out for you so you'll have an understanding of it.

You got a question, Councilman Omar, you recognize.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Through the chair, uh, since uh the um process is being handled through uh K ChA, Mr.

Everett over here.

Uh, what if you're already a recipient of uh KHA uh funding?

Does this impact your effort to apply at all?

Good question.

You recognize great question through the chair to Councilmember Amoro.

Um it can.

Um it depends on if your program already has uh is already being funded with the same type of scope of work.

So with the YAC, because we can't go too deep into the scope of work because that would be a conversation about the RFP.

Um that's all I can really say.

Once we draft the RFP, um and it's distributed, then there will be language within the RP that articulates if you are or are not eligible to apply based on previous funding you got from Kids Hope Alliance.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Chair, I just wanted to ask that question so that those who are making applications are not surprised or disappointed because of uh some parameter that uh disqualifies them.

So I I guess the sooner you can make that clear to uh the potential applicants, they can know where they stand.

Thank you.

No, thank thank you for bringing that point.

Uh, and I'll tell you in the in the beginning of this process, I went to um the liaison for Jack's Journey Forward, I think it's called now.

Um, and really had conversations with them that there's no overlap.

The big thing we're trying to avoid is redundancy, redundancy, redundancy.

Um, and then I'm the liaison for KHA as well.

And so the things that they are really looking for are areas where there's gonna be duplication.

We want to try to avoid that, and that's so we've gone to our extreme measures, we've gone to extreme measures to try to ensure that.

So if you're in here and you're getting funded in in a certain category, be sure that if you're trying to go through this process, it's in something, it's in a different category than what you're already possibly being funded for.

Um, and that might put you in a better position.

Uh, and I'm saying might because I don't have all of those answers.

I'm not getting involved in the procurement part.

Um, those who know me should know well that what you see is what you get.

I'm an open book, and then I'm not gonna put my thumb on the scale with anything.

Uh you have another question?

Yes, sir.

You just said something that um for if you're able to explain who does the scoring, etc.

etc.

etc.

Since and like you, I want to be sure that uh the applicants know that we're not part of that.

Yes, sir.

So if you can through the chair, uh to the chair from the chair to Mr.

Everett, I was gonna go 50,000 foot level and just basically say everything's going all things going to KHA.

Um, so I don't necessarily know if we want to get into that discussion of who within KHA is grading it, but I don't know the staff over there that much.

And just an overview.

Yeah.

Go ahead, Mr.

Chair to Councilman Omaro.

Typically, what happens we'll either have internal scores or external scores too.

Councilman Freeman's point, those scores have not been identified yet.

So we couldn't articulate um who they are going to be.

I will say that that is public record.

Once those are scores have been identified, that'll that'll be made available available upon request.

Mr.

Chair, I'm good.

Again, I just wanted to establish that the members of this committee are not weighing in on any of the uh decision making process.

That's that's why.

Uh thank you, Councilman Omaro.

So as we continue to move through this process, uh today's discussion is an important step in helping us think through how these investments can be structured in a way that is both impactful and implementable.

Uh and so we get to the purpose.

Today, the discussion focuses on how youth empowerment investments can support both programming and infrastructure while aligning with existing city capabilities.

Uh, I want to hit pause here because there's another thing that I always do, and I saw them helping us with chairs.

Is Miss Britney in the room still?

Uh we're all right.

The administration, they've been at every meeting, and they're here again today.

So I want to thank them for showing up as well.

Thank you, Miss Britney.

I heard the voice, heard an angel, didn't see it.

Oh, there it is.

Okay.

Uh so I wanted to make sure that is on record.

So we have had supportive administration, uh, and that's one thing that I've loved.

We've seen a collaborative effort here between the council and administration and really trying to bring this forward.

Um, today's discussion uh focuses on youth empowerment investments and can support both programming and infrastructure while aligning with existing city capabilities.

As we've discussed in prior meetings, the committee is exploring investment strategies aligned with four key priority areas.

One education, life skills, mentorship, and civic engagement.

Two, recreational access and safe community spaces.

Three, job training, career pipelines, and employment readiness for public safety and parks, including lighting and infrastructure.

As currently proposed, these funds would be administered through Kids Hope Alliance, consistent with the role, their role and managing youth focused investments across the city.

To help guide today's discussion, I'd like to introduce Mr.

John Everett from Kids Hope Alliance.

Um, and he's gonna serve as our moderator uh for our panel as here today.

John will help us frame why this conversation is important and walk us through today's discussion with our city partners.

Uh Mr.

Everett, uh, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Councilman Freeman, and and good afternoon, everyone.

Um, today's conversation is really about clarity, specifically how we translate the community's priorities into investment strategies that can be implemented effectively.

Um Councilman Freeman already went over the four core areas.

So I just as we think about those priorities, um, there's potential for multiple approaches, including, and we've discussed this in previous meetings, a programmatic track focused on education, workforce, and career pathways, and also an infrastructure-related track, particularly aligned with recreational access and safe community spaces.

Today's discussion is intended to help the committee better understand what different implementation approaches look like in practice.

I do want to note for clarity this discussion is for informational and planning purposes and does not represent final procurement decisions.

Any future funding opportunities will be developed and released to the city's formal procurement process.

With that in mind, one of the key distinctions we'll be exploring today is the difference between a capital construction project and asset-based investments such as equipment, technology, and program-related infrastructure.

I want to frame this conversation in a way that is helpful for both the committee and the community.

For many organizations, this may be the first time thinking about how many different or how different types of investments operate within city processes.

So our goal today is to better understand what each approach looks like in practice, what timelines and requirements are involved, and what considerations should inform future decisions.

We're joined today by representatives from parks, recreation and community services, uh, public works representatives, and for the procurement division.

I'll walk through a few guiding questions to help facilitate the score uh the discussion.

So the first question to our panel, thank you all for joining us today.

Is from your department's perspective, how would you define the difference between a capital meaning building or construction project and an asset-based investment such as equipment, technology, or program-related infrastructure?

Good afternoon, Darrell Joseph Parks Department.

Uh John, thank you for the question.

So a lot of times the best way to define something is based on the actual cost.

So from a capital standpoint, we look at anything over a hundred thousand dollars uh would be related to the capital investment.

So if you're actually going into a facility, spending over a hundred thousand dollars for improvements, that's capital.

Uh, from an equipment standpoint, if you're actually purchasing uh recreational amenities, balls, uh, gaming items, uh, furniture, that is not capital.

Uh, even though those can add up in cost, uh, but the individual cost associated with it is not over a hundred thousand dollars.

So to me, that's the major way that we actually look and define capital as opposed to asset-based uh improvements.

May I also add to that?

Nina Sickler Public Works.

Uh, another element of what whether something is capital is its useful life.

So typically a capital investment will be say for 30 or more years.

It's something that's enduring that you're putting money into that will last um and be uh um something that can be used over long term good afternoon, Robert Warrenberg Procurement Division.

Uh one additional thing to consider with uh capital purchases is whether or not we're talking about construction.

Uh if we're dealing with uh professional design services, there are set of laws and procedures that we must follow for selecting the architects and engineers to go forward with that.

If it's construction, there's a different set of uh laws that we have to follow.

And then if it's just run-in-the-mill equipment and supplies and services, then we do have procedures to allow us to uh procure those, but it's a different channel of events that we follow to make sure we can get those for you.

Yes, uh Councilman Harris, you recognize.

Thank you, Chair.

All right, um, so lots of great feedback there.

Um, the last one you mentioned, which was construction.

Normally, when we have uh when we fund capital projects, we talk about a public use component of it.

Obviously, this has to do somewhat with public use, but if we fund, let's say somebody's building a track or whatever they can, let's say a track, um, does that mean now that they have to also open it to the public as well too?

Or is it gonna be limited only for that group or that program?

Oldest all time.

Oh, so okay.

Uh as far as the the public use you slide that just a little closer to you, the microphone.

I'm having a hard time hearing you, I'm sorry.

Okay, is this better?

I'm sorry.

Uh as far as like a track, you know, as far as you know, is the city does the city own or acquire the property and building the track, or are we funding someone else who is providing it?

In other words, if it's the city owned property and we're funding the the capital improvement, the construction of whatever it is we're doing, then we have to follow those procedures as far as making sure we advertise correctly and follow the uh the the construction uh requirements so we you know go through the bidding process to where we can uh you know bring in this uh suppliers that have the capability to do that.

Okay, I think I'll answer that question a little bit differently.

So over time, any dollars that the city puts into a facility, there's gonna be a public use associated with it.

So we wouldn't provide funding to an organization and there not be public use.

Uh so whether it's on city property or not, if the city's putting funding into it, there has to be a public use associated with it.

Yeah, yeah, and Mr.

Chair, that that was kind of in line with my question because I I know that for a fact, whenever whether a city owned or not, there has to be a public use.

So whether it's a track or a building, um, they have to open it up.

So, Mr.

Everett, uh, I mean, if we're gonna be talking about programmatic or or construction, you know, we have to have that as an understanding for the applicant that hey, if you're gonna build something and use this for construction, you're also not just using it for your program, but you're also opening the doors to the entire city to use your facilities.

I want to make sure that they know that as well, too.

Thank you for that point of clarification.

And when we talked about previously the two potential tracks for the funding, programmatic, we've had a discussion that's that's pretty easy and straightforward.

The secondary track was whether when we look at construction, is it what we just talked about building construction and that $100,000 mark threshold or just assets, which is I have a building already and I just need furniture, computers, or whatnot.

So that's the what the discussion is about today is like which of those construction asset tracks we want to look at.

We wanted to educate the community and also the committee on what those potential um pathways are.

No final decision has been made in that regard, but we did want to educate everybody on what the options are.

And some of the organizations may be in city facilities, so that makes it a lot easier.

They can go after grant funding that will then be used to improve the city facility that they're in.

Um but as far as the private facility standpoint, I would caution once you accept that funding, that's gonna open up some level of joint use agreement that would have to be entered into question number two what does the process typically look like for a capital construction or renovation project with the city, particularly in terms of timeline approvals and overall complexity.

Sure.

On the procurement side, it's uh you know, it's a process where generally we partner with public works as far as developing the scope and requirements for what we're looking for, and the bidding process, we do have an advertising component for construction cost, uh, where we have to uh uh advertise in local uh distributed uh paper, and uh generally that's 30 days, and then the process of uh the evaluation and award recommendation, you can can stretch the process out to uh uh between 90 and 120 days, generally from when we have our design requirements ready to the bid and award.

And so when it comes to actually managing the construction, there's two typical models that we've seen.

One is that the money flows through, say public works, a city department, and we could actually handle the procurement process that Robert's describing.

We also have a uh funding agreement type of model where the private entity handles the construction the design construction uh implementation, uh, but there are certain requirements that come with using the city money for them to handle it.

Um some of it is related to the type of procurement that Robert's described.

And also potentially different uh different requirements related to how you can procure materials and those types of those types of requirements.

But there have been models both with the city managing it as well as the private entity.

Thank you.

Any questions from the committee?

Third question.

In contrast, what does the process look like for asset-based investments and what considerations might make those easier or more difficult to implement?

As far as assets, when we're talking about assets, we're generally talking about you know supplies, equipment, things that are uh removable or portable.

In those cases, generally it's it's a solicitation process where we scope out the requirements that we need.

It's a it's a routine bidding process and the award process can be a little more streamlined.

So it's a little faster if we're buying widgets or books or something that's tangible, we can put out the bids, you know, secure the quotations, move forward with an award and have those those products delivered.

So it's much easier as far as the you're not managing the development from scratch.

It's something that you're buying off the shelf.

John, I think the the main thing on that is coming up with the scope of work.

Um, because anything as far as city dollars, it has to be advertised.

Um, and you you go out to the competitive market from that standpoint.

So coming up with the scope of work to make sure that you get what you're looking for as far as the end result.

Um, because it it could be a comparable product to what you have called out.

So making sure that you have a scope of work that actually does provide you a realistic expectation of what you're gonna get along with the scope of work, I would say the requirements to make those items reimbursable.

So the the paperwork and and those types of things, uh, the entity would need to be clear on what they have to submit to be able to be reimbursed for those assets.

Councilman Harry, right now.

Thank you.

I do hope my colleagues also join me in uh asking questions.

I don't want to be the only one today.

All right.

Uh so that's great.

All right, it's three for him, two for me.

Um, so assets, the way I see it is you know, we're looking at obviously construction and assets, but we've also talked about programmatic in the past.

And I see, for example, we talked about basketballs, I think right now.

That could be an asset, but isn't that part of the program?

So, how would somebody know, hey, I'm applying for an asset or for a program?

Where does this category fall under cooking equipment, for example, kitchen?

They may be using it for the program, obviously it's an asset.

So, how do well there would be somebody at K ChA to say, hey, you could apply, and you might have to fill out two applications.

One is gonna be programmed.

Are you guys gonna be liaison or or do they have to know this?

That's you know.

So, no, I'm gonna I'm gonna defer to to Mr.

Everett on this, but I'll also go back to maybe meeting number two, where we're talking about collaborative efforts as well.

So if you're able to partner with someone that already has kitchen equipment and you have the programming, we're looking for groups to come together and say, you have this, you have that, we come together and we ask for this amount.

And we want to create more connectivity and more sustainability.

That's the goal of the process.

So I'll just kind of start with that because I know some weren't here in these earlier meetings.

Mr.

Ebert, do you want to add to that?

No, that's exactly right.

So we're really looking at consortiums, right?

We want to prioritize consortiums and collaboratives that that bring folks together instead of just one-offs with with funding.

But to your point, again, without getting into too much details about the actual RP, um, there could be one of the options is to have that dual track where you have asset-based and in a separate application for programmatic.

Mr.

Chair, uh, one more question.

So along that line, um obviously there's a lot of people here today, and there's a lot more out in the community that are gonna want to also apply for this.

And we'll more likely get uh the award, right?

So if somebody were to apply, and then you have the dual track, um, but they only submit one application.

Do you put them back to the in the line to then get in line again for the other part?

Or do you just say, hey, you apply for this one?

I think you also follow under this one.

We're gonna move you right now here, or because there's gonna be so many people that if they get moved to the back, they lost that opportunity.

So how are you gonna juggle that?

That's a fair question, but again, that was getting into the notes and bolts of what the RRP could entail, and we can't speak to the nuts and bolts of the RP at this meeting, but that will be spelled out within the within the RFP.

That's a great question.

Um, my apologies, but my ADHD is kicking in sort of to the right.

Did you announce yourself?

Because you're sitting up here at the table.

Okay, well, you pass my mic.

I'm just curious to know who you are, man.

I want to make a friend.

Uh Brandon Russell Council Research.

Oh, you work with us.

Yeah.

Hey, he's he's all the time up here.

What are you talking about?

He's new.

He's new that's nice to meet you.

All right.

Who knew?

All right Mr.

Everett, you're good.

Any other questions from the committee.

Actually that was a great question chair.

That's my one.

All right.

Thank you.

To our panelists what opportunities exist today for organizations to utilize existing city owned facilities or community spaces rather than building new ones.

Yeah so we we've recently um a lot of the senior centers and community centers that were either underutilized or not utilized at all we actually have put requests for proposals out which will allow for organizations that have been in existing in existence for at least two years as a nonprofit to come in and be a partner to actually manage and operate those locations we've recently awarded about four locations as we continue to to move through there is a review process for that making sure it's not just getting a city building it's actually providing the programming and activation in that location as well so there's monitoring that goes along we truly want these to be partners that help and expand on the reach that the city has so the real estate division does lie within public works we keep a database of those properties that other departments have indicated are are not needed by by those departments so there is an opportunity to review those properties with the potential applicants so that they could see what might be available to be considered we also some manage some leases in the downtown area for instance the edball building where our offices are located so there are some spaces there we've been asked in the past to determine hey could we look at a thousand fourteen square feet um and uh and we've been able to say identify those locations that somebody might be interested in so one thing I do think that we can also take an advantage of is a lot of times organizations feel like they need their own building I do think there's an opportunity for them to come in and partner with the city bring their great program into one of our buildings and they may not necessarily be able to operate five days seven days a week but if they can do two good days come in and do those two good days in addition to the program that we're providing I mean I do think that helps one build their resume so when there is a building that comes available they're ready is is there's a low cost to actually having the lease agreement with the city but there is insurance requirements there's operations requirements so there's a lot that goes on to it so but I would hate for those costs to prohibit them from being able to offer these great programs that a lot of these organizations actually have if you guys don't want me to ask any more questions I won't I promise there's a lot of great feedback here.

All right so talking about lease owned uh city owned buildings and and having our organization come in part of the programmatic part what I would assume would be like you mentioned you know there's there's costs encumbered by the city but also the the applicant would have to pay um I would assume Mr Everett that part of the programmatic part of it they will say okay well if you determine that the building's gonna cost a dollar a day $30 a month that will be added into the programmatic grant that way it could be offset that way they're not paying an additional or are you thinking that they still would have to pay separately and that's not part of the programmatic component of things I just want to know like where they would be like do they have to pay or is that could that be added into their programmatic award and I love your questions Councilman and I hate to be cryptic but again we have to protect the integrity of the RFP.

So some of these details that that you're speaking of will be spelled out in the RFP and that's that's one of those components and I'm asking these questions also so that way people out there could understand like hey maybe we won't get the answers today but they could ask those that those those questions later on because you guys could benefit from some of this too you know without having to pay a rent or maybe you add into that grant component of things I don't know so no they're they're great they're great questions and I can't remember which meeting it was again but it was a meeting when we talked about collaboration and I want to say we had I'm a star foundation and was it scratch uh what was the group scratch work and they were talking about how they coexist uh in a location off of Moncrieve um so we have examples again of that type of scenario where there's a city building two organizations are in it and they're bringing life to that building and they're offering a a service to the community that is invaluable and I think they're an example of groups that when they do it and it grows they're able to continue to grow and still be continue to be supported by the city as well correct the common things that we want to hope the community learns today is and we you hope you hear those common themes is the collaborative nature of what this with the YEC is supposed to be representing making sure that we're incorporating all of those different efforts into it so it's like again so it's not just one or two organizations we're looking at consortiums again we can't go into too many details of the RFP but those your questions will be answered that'll be spelled out final

The common things that we want to hope the community learns today is and we you hope you hear those common themes is the collaborative nature of what this with the YEC is supposed to be representing, making sure that we're incorporating all of those different efforts into it.

Um so it's like again, so it's not just one or two organizations.

We're looking at consortiums.

Again, we can't go into too many details of the RFP, um, but those your questions will be answered, that'll be spelled out.

Final question to the panelists.

Based on your experience, what factors should the committee consider when determining which types of investments can deliver a timely and scalable impact for youth and young adults?

So I I would I would say impact.

I mean, again, if a lot of the funding that I mean funding is is limited, um, but if you haven't to spend X number of dollars on capital, as we just talked about, 100,000 and above, then you're limiting the amount of funding that can truly go into the impact of the programming.

Um so to me, I would I would look and persuade you to look at more the programming side of the funding requests instead of the capital side of the funding requests.

Uh as we know, construction dollars are only going up.

So what costs a hundred dollars a hundred thousand dollars today may not be a hundred thousand dollars tomorrow.

So just looking at it from the standpoint of how do we make the most impact um and provide the most reach.

I think understanding all the all the things that the city does already, and if they can leverage off of those things, I know there's there's um some discussion about say training and mentorship programs or just just acknowledging and recognizing that for instance public works, we have a whole slew of STEM STEM jobs, whether it's engineering, um designing, landscape architecture, plus we have trade jobs like uh plumbing, HVAC, um, electrical, all of those staff we already have in our in our department.

And if there's something that a private partner wants to um uh grow from or use those assets, uh I think that's at least from the public works standpoint the best way to get something that can be um easily implemented because you already have resources that that we could potentially provide.

I'd like to share uh as as we move forward with our our project to produce an RFP and and advertise it and go through the process.

Do you want to encourage anyone that's interested to go ahead and pre-register now, pre-register your organization through our supplier portal, which you can reach through our procurement website on the city webpage.

Our staff will be happy to assist anyone that needs to uh get registered uh because as we go through the procurement process, we require all of our suppliers to log into the supplier portal, uh access the RFP documents or the solicitation documents that we have and respond through the portal.

One thing I want to mention is once the RFP is issued, then all of the communications related to the RFP are filtered straight to the procurement division, whoever is assigned to that project.

So at that point, we call that the solicitation silence period, and all communications need to be routed to that individual so any questions can be tabulated and answered consistently across the board so everybody gets the same question and answer at the same time, and that's part of our procurement process for everything we do.

Uh Robert, thank you so much for sharing that.

Did everyone hear that part about pre-registering?

All right, so here's my shot across the bow.

Send that request to the same people that sent you the Facebook post and have them help you walk through the process.

All right, government is cumbersome.

I'm not gonna lie to you.

I was a I was a staffer.

It's why I'm sitting in this seat because I was so frustrated with how difficult it was to get simple things done.

And then once I learned the process, I started sharing the cheat code with everyone as a staffer.

And so what I'm saying is is if you start this process and he's telling you to pre-register, and he's right, get in early.

If you have questions, reach out to one of the ECAs.

I'm kind of joking when I say the Facebook post, but then I'm not joking because a lot of you are here because of their reach.

So that means they care, and that means that they'll be willing to take on that.

But my ECA is not gonna like this, and Jerry and I work together, but Miss Jerry Ford Harden, um, feel free to reach out to my office as well.

Um, if you need some type of assistance uh with this type of process and getting information.

I'm so sorry, but I just need to add at that point.

You have something.

Any questions from the committee?

Uh Darrell, would you repeat again for everybody that's in here?

It's a two-year if you haven't been established for two years, you cannot even apply.

Right, correct.

In order to respond back or actually have a partnership lease agreement for one of our city buildings, you have to be a nonprofit for at least two years.

And this is the key point, a nonprofit that's in good standing.

That means having all your ducks in the role with the state.

Um, so that two-year requirement, and not just having a nonprofit that's just been sitting there for two years, really being able to detail and document what you have done, and then what you plan to do.

Uh thanks for that question, uh, Councilman White.

I was actually gonna ask something along that line.

So the way you just stated, Darrell, was two years for the um facility owned partnership part of it.

That does not mean that they can apply for programmatic things less than two years.

So if you're still in one year into your your organization, you can still apply.

It's just only if you want to have a city-owned facility.

Um, that's where the two-year threshold happens.

The second thing, um, Robert, uh, that you mentioned was you know, pre-register.

Um, just curiosity, how long does it take from somebody from from day one they register pre-register right now?

How long is that process to get officially becoming a supplier for the city of Jacksonville?

Well, we we have two stages.

The first stage in registration is for a prospective supplier.

They can register as a supplier and within five minutes be approved to submit a response to a bid or an RFP.

Now, the next stage is pay authorized, and that is requires a little more vetting as far as ensuring that the uh W9 is correct, the 10 matching is done, uh we have the right banking information so we can transmit funds, but we cannot produce a purchase order or enter into a contract until a supplier is spend authorized.

That process may take two or three weeks because it requires additional vetting by our accounting department.

But to participate in a solicitation, if I put out a bid today, somebody can register and respond today.

Okay, well, that's that's good to know.

At least it's not months.

I was thinking 60 days, but this is a good sign right here.

Um, all right, and then my last point, Mr.

Uh Chair would be we're talking about uh nonprofits for the most part here organizations.

Um I also want to educate the crowd that we also have a nonprofit route through the JCEB uh Jackson Small Emerging Emerging Businesses as well.

We created that maybe a year ago um as policy legislative movement that it wasn't just for small businesses but also for nonprofits.

So if you feel that you didn't qualify or you just didn't have enough time to apply for these bids because it's gonna go pretty quick, you still have an avenue through the JSAP community.

So I encourage you to look at them and become a JCEB.

That process is not five minutes, I'll tell you that much.

Um, so start that now because there is money there for uh nonprofits as well, too.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And and JSTEB stands for Jacksonville Small Emerging Businesses.

Um there is always a concerted effort by council members like council member is myself, White, to fight for dollars in the budget to fund that.

Um I believe right now there's six hundred and fifty thousand dollars currently over there.

I know we just sent another two hundred for microgrants, so it could be smaller grants.

Um, and and our we just had our advisory meeting yesterday, and they are getting ready to partner with the bank to help them with the the grading and determining who were to get awarded those dollars.

Um, I have a simple kind of vote question here.

Um I know it's a lot thrown at you all today.

It was a lot, uh it was heavy for me to get it all.

I try my best to write my one-word little notes, but uh again by show of hands.

If you feel like your your organization provides more on the programming side, can I just see what like a show of hands?

If you can raise your hand if you're more on the programming side, yeah.

Okay, cool.

And then on the infrastructure side, if you're one of the ones that would be interested in trying to get into a city facility, partner with the city facility.

So one, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

All right, so that that really helps because the next part of our discussion really here from a body is trying to um give guidance to uh Mr.

Everett and the team uh as they're building out the RFP, and so he was able to also take in that visual that uh it seems to be the appetite of all those uh in this room uh that there is a a higher level of focus on programming per se than infrastructure.

I will say um as well.

I think just through my lines of understanding Councilmember Amaro's uh questioning and communication on the council.

Uh he's always he always seems to be that balanced guy.

So I I would I would always kind of count Councilman Amaro as that 50-50.

Um and so I'll do a little poll up here real quick.

Uh Councilman Aris, we're kind of on your notes and your understanding of the discussion today from the panel how with the RFP process.

How do you feel the weight of it should be programming to infrastructure?

All right.

Uh two things, Mr.

Chair.

The panel, they're the experts.

We heard from them.

Obviously, programmatic is the route to go.

And you just took a vote.

The community wants programmatic.

That doesn't mean that we can't do both.

I think it's about how much do we want to allocate.

We have about five million dollars.

Do we do four and one?

Um, I'm leaning more towards the size of programmatic.

Okay.

Um, and that's my decision.

No, love it.

Um, Councilman White, you you're the same.

Uh, and I to trust uh the um the voices of those here that deal with nonprofits and organizations partnering with the city and doing business with the city.

Um my heart is always 50-50.

I'm always that guy in the middle.

Um, but I definitely understand and and have heard your voices through your hands raised here with the programming.

Uh so Mr.

Everett has seen it and he's taking that in.

He's taken our thoughts into consideration as well.

Uh, and so I would imagine that when we move forward with RFP process, we will see something um that is gonna probably lean a little heavier towards the programming side as opposed to the infrastructure side.

And now let me be clear.

Um this is the youth empowerment committee.

This is our fifth meeting.

This is my eighth year on council, but this is not my first time working on behalf of kids and nonprofits.

If you Google it, you'll see there's been a number a lot of good things done in the eight years I've been on the council.

So my encouragement to each of you in this room is that if you do not get a crumb of this five million dollars, that this is not the end of your journey if you're truly vested in this process.

It takes communication, it takes building relationships, and it takes really getting us out to see it.

I'm not the only council member up here that works with kids and has done it for a living.

There's several other ones that are currently teachers or have been engaged and involved.

So I I hope I'm landing in a good place because I want everyone to understand that this is one bucket and it was well advertised in a very short window, but the work's been done since before we got on this council, and it's gonna be done when we leave.

It just takes you to reach out to us.

Um I'm not quite sure.

We have 15 minutes.

Do you have anything else?

Okay, go ahead, Councilman Aris.

Right.

Um so two things.

Uh, just to kind of finish my thoughts on this last uh question you asked me, you know, we talked about capital, but we also talked about um assets.

I want to make sure that even though it's programmatic, my question initially, I know you can answer it now.

If they need balls or tools, that is capital still.

So I also don't want to take that away from them.

So we you need a can I help?

Yeah, go ahead.

Yeah, so anything over 100,000 is gonna be a capital investment.

Okay, right.

So anything but below that, it wouldn't fall into that category.

And as I've shared with numerous organizations that have reached out to me, um, you all as council members right now at the district level, which are CBA dollars, and you get we get discretionary funds every budget cycle.

I mean, I've already met with a group that I realized in eight years I hadn't funded, but I've served there and been to many of their events.

I've pledged that if I get any dollars in the upcoming budget this year, I'm going to put mine towards that.

Every year I try to bless a different group.

I'm not the only one that does that.

Um so I would just say build relationship.

We're human, contrary to what you may see on the news.

I wish there was a news camera here now.

When there's good stuff happening, man, I don't ever see the news cameras.

I don't ever see them, right?

So talk about kids and we're not talking about bad things or good kids that are making bad decisions.

We're talking about ways that we're trying to empower our kids and bring out help them reach their fullest potential.

Can't get a news story.

Um, but that said, I'm not that uh come on, keep it coming.

Um the last point will be um last my train of thought.

I'm sorry.

Uh you're you're long-winded.

All right, yeah.

Um I'm a baptist preacher, so it's all right.

Um, yes, um, that's what it was.

So this year we're we have our our um direction, right?

The one that we've already discussed, and it's the age group and and the different types of um uh I guess the vision that we want.

You talked about uh work sourcing and and trade and all that kind of stuff.

I only um I tell you all this because that doesn't mean that next year it's gonna be the same.

It could probably shift into a different direction.

I know that one of my concerns um that I brought up previously was you know to make sure that we we take care of all communities.

We've seen in council a lot of uh folks come up, especially in the last year when with not having access to things in the city.

So next year, my route, if if we were to even have dollars for next year, which I truly want you guys to advocate to all your council members, make sure we add it to the budget so we could continue this program is we shift if the appetite is there to other different um components, not just the same components every year.

So um just we got to take care of everybody, not just one specific group.

That's all thank you.

No, love it, man.

And and I I want to make sure that I kind of give credit to this this body as well.

Um, like we will partner with ARC and some other organizations, they're eligible for this as well, these dollars as well, in doing so.

Um, but I I definitely agree with you, and we'll be right there with you uh and and trying to advocate for more dollars.

Um with that being said, Mr.

Everett, we got public comment.

Is there anything else that you would like to to add?

The only thing I would like to add is I want to thank our panelists uh for showing up today, so we just give them a round of applause.

I'd thank them for coming out and and sharing their knowledge.

Um, I think this is a very important conversation to have and in our efforts to be as transparent as possible and to inform the public as as we go into this process.

I think this was extremely helpful.

So thank you all, as well as the committee.

All right, well, thank you, Mr.

Everett.

Uh we're we're gonna, Miss Jerry, did you get any public comment cards?

Do we fill any out?

If not, uh I got about 12 minutes, so uh do we think it's fair if I if you get 30 seconds?

It depends on how many people, how many people would like to have a public comment?

Let me just ask that real quick.

One, two, three, four.

Well, if it's limited numbers, then we'll go two minutes.

So if you want to come and uh line up by the podium here, you're gonna need to fill out a green card before or after you speak.

Um we just have to be done by the notice time, and we notice this meeting for one hour.

So if I see the line growing, I'm gonna have to shorten the time and I don't want to do that.

But all right, I'm seeing, yeah, and if you want to sneak out, now's the time to sneak out as well.

Yeah, all righty.

As as you're exiting the public comment section, they're going to be speaking.

If you can do us a favor and exit quietly, uh we have to be out of here by five o'clock, and we have several people that would like to speak, and so we would love for them and their voices to be heard.

So when you start speaking, if you can give us your name and your address is on the card, so you can say address on file if you don't want to say your address openly, that's fine.

All right, you're the floor is yours.

And is anybody timing?

Okay, thank you.

Two minutes.

Uh good afternoon.

Uh Anthony Dorsey, program director, teen leaders of America, addresses on file.

I'm gonna be brief.

Uh, we will talk about infrastructure and it being uh open to the public.

Um my question is if it's if we're doing programming and we're doing we have a new members, is they considered public?

Because what does help me understand what is public and what is uh programming?

When you get new members, aren't they part of the public that's coming in?

Or is it or when they come in, are they already you know considered programming?

All right, uh can you say your name for me one more time?

Anthony Dorsey.

All right, so Mr.

Dorsey, during public comment, we usually don't allow ourselves for dialogue back and forth, but I want to make sure I'm I'm understanding your question.

Your question is i.e.

If I were a football association and I had control of a park and people come from various parts of our town to play in our organization, would that be considered open to the public?

Is that was that your kind of your that's correct?

Okay, and I think Mr.

Joseph kind of answered that earlier uh in the aspect that that would be a public use then.

Yes.

So that'll be considered public use.

Yes.

All right, thank you.

I just want to make sure I understood your question.

Thanks.

Uh good afternoon.

My name is Sheryl Limrett, and I'm with the preservation firm, and my address is on file.

I have two questions.

The first one is will this be a reimbursable grant or are funds distributed at the on at the award.

All right, I'm gonna answer very briefly then.

This is one time, this is a pilot program.

Okay.

Uh the goal is is if it's uh the will of the president next year and the will of the body, uh, yes, this will be a carryover.

Um is that good?

Do you reimbursement?

Go ahead, Mr.

Joseph.

I missed it.

Yeah, so your question was if this would be reimbursed, or would this be funding that will be provided up front?

So is it funding that you provide up front?

And are we responsible like are we responsible for doing the work first?

Right and then we're reimbursed.

Correct.

Mr.

Everett would have to answer that, but more than likely those are those are points that will be covered and discussed as part of the development of the RFP.

That is absolutely correct.

Okay.

This other question may be premature.

Then is there any matching funds requirements or matching funds considered?

Again, that's that will that's uh strictly a part of the RFP.

So it'll be we can't discuss that at this point in time.

Okay, thank you.

No, and then thank you for that question.

And and please go back and watch the archives because in some of the questions you ask, the answers were given in in some previous presentations.

Okay, thank you.

How you doing?

Michael Daniels, uh Atlantic Steam Race After Later Association, uh off of Emerson Spring Park.

Uh my question is uh, will these funds be able to upgrade our facilities?

Uh we have no sprinkle system, all the equipment kind of real old for the kids, so lights out, stuff like that.

So we're trying to figure out what's going on because a lot of stuff we're providing, building, building goalposts.

You know, I probably got 60,000 in my park and never got a dime from the city.

Uh our kids, uh I don't even live in Jacksonville, but our kids playing on dirt, and then I go to different surrounding areas, and you know, it's nothing getting done.

So I want to know what we got to do.

You yeah, I guess uh so the location that you're playing at is a school board facility, that school board facility is actually going away, which we talked about.

So the school actually will be building a new park facility and replacing the new school on the park where you're playing at.

So from a taxpayer standpoint, it doesn't make sense for us to spend a whole bunch of money putting into that facility when a school's actually gonna be built there, which I think they start construction later on this year.

Okay, all right, thank you.

Uh Mr.

Joseph, so if the school starts construction, they don't sorry, through the chair.

Can I sorry?

All right, if they start construction later on this year, where are they gonna be able to play?

Yeah, so we'll work with them to find another location.

They actually permit the location that they're at currently.

They don't have a lease agreement, so we'll work to find another location for them to utilize.

And just one more point.

Um, your council members uh council member uh Joe Carlucci, at least for that district.

So yourself, Mr.

Joseph, and Mr.

Carlucci could work together on locating another location if you need one if you want to stay in that specific area.

Thank you.

Uh for the brevity and sake of trying to attain obtain clarification, it may already be outlined in the RFP.

My question is regarding transportation COI.

Those who don't know certificate of insurance, um, what insurance is required, and is there a minimum amount or maximum amount?

Name and address.

Oh, Dr.

Ray Owens, the Church of Oakland.

Thank you.

So you're asking specifically about the COI and what are the thresholds?

Yes.

Okay, that'll be spelled out in the RP.

And I know people are probably getting tired of me saying that.

But again, one of the reasons that we have to articulate it that way is because there are certain people that aren't in this room.

And so we have to make sure it's equitable in the information they receive.

So when we start getting into the details of what the RP from the COIs and what and things of that nature, we have to make sure everybody gets equal access to that information.

That's fair.

Okay, thank you.

Done.

Uh good afternoon, everyone.

I'm Terry Harris, owner of TSH Capital Ventures.

I'm kind of lost in the mix of that just for nonprofits on two roller skating rinks in Jacksonville, and I have programs that we're instituting inside the roller rinks, STEM mentoring programs.

You know, we're looking at doing some uh black kids roller hockey specifically.

So uh I didn't know if it was just nonprofit based or for profit, and I'm already over that threshold as far as capital side of it.

So I don't I don't any clarification there if it's just for nonprofits or just programs.

Youth empowerment is for nonprofits.

Uh I think you can explore maybe some of the other areas uh as councilman Aris was talking about with our Jacksonville Small Emerging Businesses, maybe explore some other opportunities within the city to partner on the program side.

Yes, inside the facility.

Yes.

All right, thank you very much.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Good evening.

Um John's army.

Uh my um address is on file.

Um, my question really is um, and I love the collaboration aspects of everything that this is um involved in.

My question would be for the public works or the parked and rec.

Is there a list or is there somewhere we can go to find out what spaces are available and what size spaces those are?

You know, when we're talking about getting different groups together, it would help us write a proposal to help us figure out how many organizations we can get in those buildings.

Yeah, so as as it relates to the locations that we advertise typically, and hopefully everyone will follow Jack's Parks on social media.

We actually advertise it on Jack's Parks on social media when we actually have a building that comes about, but then it also goes to the city's procurement website when there's a facility that's out there.

Currently, we don't have any that are being advertised uh or available size-wise, typically these are our smaller locations, less than 3,000 square feet that would come available and that we would be doing a request for proposal for.

And the second follow-up question of that is um can any of the capital improvement funds or any of the funds be used to purchase distressed buildings uh as a purchase for an organization.

You know what I'm gonna say, Mr.

Star.

You are I think I don't want to sound like a broken record, but again, that'll be a detailed in the RFP.

Okay.

Um so we can't do that right now.

So John can't say it, but I'll say it if that's your proposal, that's your proposal.

Sure.

So to me, if if if you're looking to purchase a facility and the grant will allow for it, then yes, you can put that in there, but I'm not sure what the thresholds will be from a funding standpoint.

Um, but acquiring a facility, if that is what you're asking the granting agency to look at, that is something that you can put in.

Would the city come alongside to invest in a new space, public space?

Well, as a as an investor partner with a nonprofit that is looking to purchase a distressed property in an area of town that needs it.

All righty, we have hit our time.

I am so sorry.

Um, how many other people were in line?

One we had one more, uh, we've hit our time.

Come to the mic real quick.

Say your name, your uh Dr.

Nashawn Nick's address on file.

I just want to build some awareness that I've been working with some of our most at-risk youth, inner city youth, socially and economically disadvantaged youth in our city for the last decade.

Uh we have a great track record by using what we call a SEAL team curriculum in honor of the Navy SEALs.

There stands for sea, air and land.

Ours stands for social, emotional, and academic leadership through mentoring and martial arts.

Our mission is very simple.

It is to build character and leadership through mentoring and martial arts, and our vision is to strengthen America's future, one young leader at a time.

Uh, one of the biggest challenges in our city pertaining to crime, specifically when it comes to violent crime, children can only perform to the level that they've been prepared.

Uh, I believe that our nonprofit provides a solution when it comes to being able to prefix instead of suffix.

Uh prefix means if we get it right in the beginning, we don't have to see it on the news in the end.

Uh, I do believe that uh this is a great meeting.

Uh, thank you, Councilman uh Freeman for hosting.

Uh, but there was a ton of folks that weren't able to make it in.

Uh, so any type of distribution of information for those of us that weren't able to make it in at the beginning, we really want to be a part of the solution to making this a great city and the bold city of the South.

No, we greatly appreciate you, and our council president is watching as well.

He is so grateful and thankful for each of you all that were in attendance today.

You obviously know he is another person that's makes a career out of loving on our kids and serving them, and this is his brain child was to try to develop something like this that could be meaningful and impactful.

And as we close, I need you all to be advocates.

I mean, it there have been times when I felt like for years I was one of the few voices that was fighting for kids and raising more money.

Don't cut from KHA.

Do not cut funding here.

Well, listen, if you think this has been good, this funding was only one time this year.

Now I've got some ideas and and I'm working on them to get Mr.

Everett to be in a position where he goes between public service grants, which is 19 and over, and KHA, which is VPK and 18, and we create a workforce kind of initiative with dollars.

But if you all advocate for us, I believe they'll support us in trying to get more dollars to do this again next year.

With that being said, Councilman White, anything?

Councilman Ris.

Thank you so much.

And this has been recorded, so you can watch all of this.

Thank you all.

Please go back to that Facebook post and tell them I said thank you.

All right, have a great one.