ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE

Joint Legislative Committee on DES Block Grants

Minutes of the Meeting

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

10:00 a.m., Senate Hearing Room 109

Members Present:

Senator Karen Johnson, Co-Chair	Representative Pete Hershberger, Co-Chair
Senator Rebecca Rios	Representative Mark Anderson
Senator Victor Soltero	Representative Jonathan Paton
Senator Thayer Verschoor	Representative Pete Rios

Members Absent:

Senator Jack Harper

Representative Manuel Alvarez

Staff:

Amber O’Dell, Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee Analyst

Eden Rolland, House Human Services Committee Analyst

Chairman Johnson called the meeting to order at 10:14 a.m. and attendance was noted.

OVERVIEW

Sandra Mendez, Arizona Department of Economic Security, provided an overview of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) State Plan, referring to a handout entitled “State of Arizona Community Services Block Grant Program Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2009” (Attachment A).  Ms. Mendez also answered questions posed by the Committee members.

Margarita Leyvas, President, Arizona Community Action Association, provided the Committee with information regarding community action committees in Arizona, referring to a handout entitled “Arizona’s Community Action Agencies” (Attachment B).  Ms. Leyvas also answered questions posed by the Committee members.

COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY SERVICES

Sylvia Sheffield, Social Services Manager, City of Avondale, discussed services the City of Avondale offers through the use of CSBG money and answered questions posed by the Committee members.

COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

Miquelle Scheier, Senior Manager, Coconino County Community Services, provided information how CSBG money is used to develop community initiatives in Coconino County and answered questions posed by the Committee members.

Malissa Buzan, Gila County Community Action/Housing Services, explained how the CSBG grants are being used to help weatherize houses in Gila County, referring to a handout entitled “Gila County Division of Health and Community Services, Housing Services Department Repair Programs” (Attachment C).      Ms. Buzan also answered questions posed by the Committee members.

COMMUNITY PARTERSHIPS

Jon Katov, Open Table, provided an overview of the Open Table program, referring to a handout entitled “Open Table” (Attachment D).  Mr. Katov also answered questions posed by the Committee members.

Bonnie Temme, SRP, provided information regarding Salt River Project’s (SRP) community partnership programs and answered questions posed by the Committee members.

NATIONAL AND STATE PERSPECTIVE

Cynthia Zwick, Executive Director, Arizona Community Action Association, commented on the importance of community action agencies throughout the State and country.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:07 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Ritz

Committee Secretary

(Audio recordings and attachments on file in the Secretary of Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115).

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           Joint Legislative Committee on

DES Block Grants

August 26, 2008

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