Regulatory Oversight Committee Meeting

MINUTES Regulatory Oversight Committee Meeting Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 2:00 PM Carnegie Town Hall, 235 West 10th St., Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104 1. Call To Order Present: Committee Member Rich Merkouris, Committee Member Greg Neitzert, Committee Member David Barranco Absent: Committee Chair Alex Jensen Council Vice Chair Rich Merkouris called the meeting to order at 2 p.m. 2. Approval of Minutes A. Tuesday, January 23, 2024 A motion was made by Committee Member Neitzert and seconded by Committee Member Barranco to approve the Tuesday, January 23, 2024 Regulatory Oversight Committee Meeting Minutes. Voice vote to approve. 3 Yes: Merkouris, Neitzert, Barranco; 0 No: (None). Motion Passed. 3. Topics A. Downtown Development Opportunities Update by Jeff Eckhoff, Planning & Development Services Director; Dustin Powers, Business Development Coordinator Presentation: Approximately 25 minutes followed by discussion Jeff Eckhoff, Planning & Development Services Director, gave an introduction to presentation and introduced Dustin Powers, Business Development Coordinator. Powers gave an update on the downtown development opportunities in the City (presentation attached to the agenda). There was some discussion from, the committee and answers, were provided by Powers. B. Childcare Provider and Parent Mobile App by Janet Kittams, Helpline Center CEO Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion  Janet Kittams, Helpline Center CEO, gave an update on their mobile app. She mentioned that they've reviewed some software providers and may have found one that meets their needs. She explained the next step will be to enlist the help of a technology consultant. She explained the following: the software is about $70K for the first year, and roughly $54K/year each year after, and hopes that the GOED Implementation Grant will cover the initial cost, and that the Helpline Center would have to find a way to pay the ongoing costs; the name of the software is "Bridge Care"; and the benefits are that parents can quickly use it to locate care options, easy to navigate platform, directly message the providers through the platform, create a "favorite provider", providers can easily update their provider portal, the Helpline Center personnel can also update the platform, and providers can attach applications for enrollment and employment to the platform. Following the presentation, there was some discussion and questions were answered by Kittams. C. Childcare Coordinator Staff Position Discussion by Councilor Rich Merkouris; Councilor Greg Neitzert Presentation: Approximately 25 minutes followed by discussion Merkouris spoke on the Childcare Coordinator staff position and conversations had with other committee members and members of the community. He commented on six objectives that the committee could consider and bring forward to Council as priorities. There was some discussion from the committee in regard to the staff position and priorities. D. Mayor’s Office Updates by Jenna Harris, Policy Advisor Presentation: Approximately 15 minutes followed by discussion Jenna Harris, Policy Advisor, gave updates from the Mayor's Office that included: engaging partners in the community to design a program that increases the supply and access to quality and safe childcare places, and entrepreneurship opportunities for anyone interested in providing childcare; equipping the Helpline Center with technology improvements to help parents locate childcare; awarded funding through the GOED community-based childcare planning grant last fall; and continuing to seek funding for an implementation grant from the GOED. She explained that it should be recognized that while the process started quickly, it will take some time before results are seen. She added that the first cohort for the childcare entrepreneurship training program will launch this summer through Startup Sioux Falls. Following the update, there was some discussion, and questions were answered by Harris and Laura Smith-Hill (Center for New Americans of Lutheran Services). 4. Open Discussion on Next Steps  The committee discussed the next steps, and Barranco spoke on shared services being added to the other six discussion points. 5. Public Comment There was none. 6. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 2:55 p.m. Jermery J. Washington, City Clerk