Informational Meeting

MINUTES Informational Meeting Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at 4:00 PM Carnegie Town Hall, 235 West 10th St., Sioux Falls, SD 57104 1. Call To Order Council Chair Marshall Selberg called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. 2. Committee/Commission Reports A. Siouxland Heritage Museum Board: Thursday, June 1, 2023 (Council Member Starr) No report was given. The meeting was being held on Thursday, June 8th. 3. Councilor Remarks Councilor Rich Merkouris reported, on behalf of the ad hoc hiring committee, that a recommendation would be made tonight's City Council Meeting to appoint Jermery Washington as City Clerk. Councilor Greg Neitzert spoke about the grand opening of the Hayward Park improvements. 4. Presentations A. Call to Freedom by Becky Simmons, Executive Director of Call to Freedom Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion Becky Rasmussen Simmons began by providing background on the agency and their partnership with the City, which began in June 2022. Call to Freedom, an anti human trafficking organization was established in 2016; and began hiring full-time staff in November 2017. They currently have 27 staff members. She said their mission is to "bring wholeness to all individuals impacted by sex and labor trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation". They are able to do this through partnerships with the City, domestic violence shelters, and emergency services. Rasmussen Simmons said the first federal statute, regarding human trafficking, was in 2010. She then spoke about the agency's Continuum of Care, which was created with the help of survivors. Since its inception, Call to Freedom has served 1,037 clients, of which 93% are under the poverty line per federal poverty guidelines. 2022 Referrals reflect that 71% of clients were from Minnehaha County; of the 386 clients (278 adults and 100 youth) there were 17 from out of state. They also worked with inmates from Hughes County. 2023 Referrals, from January to April, reflect 211  clients (165 adults and 46 youth), with 72% of them came from Minnehaha County; 11% from Hughes County; and three from out of state. In the past two years, 12 youth were served by funds from a City grant. She spoke about youth and community training, which were funded by a City grant. They have created three video training modules to incorporate into Harrisburg High School classrooms later this year. Sioux Falls School District Counselors and School Resource Officers have received training. In 2022, the number of clients served in jail was 115, with 29 through April 2023. Clients served in prison was 82. Rasmussen Simmons spoke about why they are so passionate about their mission and thanked the City Council for their continued support. Discussion followed regarding: the important work of Call to Freedom; appreciation for statistics and for showing that they make a difference; relationships with School Resource Officers; how the City can help with future needs; how are elementary and middle school students educated; educating parents; and staff members. B. 2022 Housing Report and 2023 Action Plan by Logan Penfield, Housing Development Manager Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion Penfield began by informing the Council that he would be returning in a few weeks to discuss the 2024 Budget. He said accessible housing continues to be a focus for the City and community; and thanked the Council for their continued support to bring necessary resources to this challenge. Collaboration is their key to maximizing Federal, State and local funding. This is done through Housing Division programs and strategic partnerships. Penfield said they collaborate to: increase access to safe, affordable, and sanitary housing for Sioux Falls residents; balance City's growth needs and reinvestment in core neighborhoods; and use funding to create long-term, financially sustainable programs. He said that their partners are good at what they do and that they try not to be all things to everyone. Penfield spoke about a chart showcasing the Sioux Falls Housing Programs, Partnerships and Tools. He presented highlights from the 2022 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER). They received $3.6M in various funding to address the housing needs in the city. The annual report shows how they stay in HUD compliance. Penfield spoke about partnerships that received funding and how they spent it on spent. Before and after photos were shown of the City's programs for Single Family Rehabilitation, Rental Rehabilitation, Neighborhood Revitalization, and the Public Safety Downpayment Assistance. Penfield also spoke about the South Eastern Development Foundation, which is not a part of the CAPER. He said that when engineering moves a house they first see what can be used and rehabbed. Their 2023 HUD Action Plan is to: expand and maintain affordable housing; connect people to resources to stabilize Housing; and to assist special needs clientele. Next steps for the department include attending the South Dakota Housing - Annual Conference in June; attending the Accessible Housing Advisory Board - Housing Tour in August; and presenting at the 2024 City Budget hearings. Discussion followed regarding: funding for projects; State matched funding; being shovel ready for projects; the Public Safety homeownership program and the possibility of including teacher. 5. Public Comment  There was none. 6. Adjournment Council Chair Marshall Selberg adjourned the meeting at 4:48 p.m. Denise D. Tucker, MMC, Assistant City Clerk