the mayor's coming. Yeah. So,
okay.
Um, Mr. Mudar is running a little late,
so M, uh, Council President Porterfield
asked me to, uh, call the meeting to
order. So, I'd like to call finance to
order. Um, we have one item on this
evening's agenda and that is funding
support for Belmont Pop Warner program.
U Mr. Fley, would you like to speak to
that? Certainly. Um, so over the last
few times together um Belmont uh Pop
Warner program um has came forth to ask
of some institutional support to
continue the good work that they're
doing in the community. And um we
discussed it at length two separate
occasions. last time we uh got to a
point where there seemed to be some cons
consensus on the room that we wanted to
support Belmont. We were just waiting
for some information um to figure out
exactly how much money was identified in
the account and hopefully we'll get that
information be able to move this
forward.
Okay. So, who was going to get us that?
Oh, um our finance commissioner was
going to get that information for you.
Yes. Um, did did anyone else receive any
information from our finance
commissioner around what was left on
their account? No. Um, so I did I'm
sorry.
I'll let the finance commissioner speak
to you know directly they'll be back
directly. Is that what you said?
No, he said he let him speak to it
directly. Sorry. What was the question?
Well, so the question was weighing on
information around the account that was
identified um and to see how much money
was left in that account before we
decided how we were going to move
forward. information. I mean, I gave the
child myself and um had some
conversations, but um I believe that the
account um has no money has been spent
down account besides I think it's in the
area of $8,000 that are here marked for
um for uh some students to come to work
within city hall is my understanding. Is
that your understanding as well, Mr.
Mayor? Having trouble hearing you say
Teresa, which county talk about the
youth employment? Yes. And so there was
$108,000 that uh we that we took that
from us back. So that's the account I'm
talking about. Yeah. So the other um mention was my
understanding what the last thing was
that there would be here for was in the
county left over from the 150,000 for
youth employment as well as 108.
150
is 99%
commit some
point just got kids in the high
school
DC so it's going to be a robust
part so where are we Does anyone have
this information in terms of the funding
is available that number 8,000? I think
the finance commission
I think finance commissioner is he
coming? Are you pointing to him? No, I
was thinking maybe we should shut the
door but I mean thought all these people
were wanting to come to us. Yeah, I I'll
look out.
Yeah. So, we asked for information there
if they're in Did you get any
information? I never was
council. Did any of the council members
get
They're coming. They're coming into the
meeting.
Looks like Demani is actually going down
to his
office.
Excuse me. You can public
Oops. Not
Mr. Charlie, sorry. Sure. I was going to
just ask you. Yeah, I I went down I
didn't see our finance commissioner. Um,
however,
like I said, uh, based on that earlier
of Miss Carver that there is out of the
$108,000 that we're talking about,
there's only $8,000 that's been
earmarked for kids who work here in city
hall. So, I mean, I'm comfortable moving
forward with that information that I got
and moving that uh to a vote.
Well, I think that has anybody spoken to
Cocoa House to find out um the money was
earmarked for co Coco House um and the
programs that they run for it's not
right no the 108 no it oh it was
earmarked
for for the city but Coco House um was
housing it
Coco house and then we were going to use
it for the
Right. Okay. So, now we're not using it
for some reason.
Well, you're saying it's 8,000. I'm
saying out of the 180,000 8,000 has been
committed in
ear roughly $100,000.
No, some of it was allocated to to uh
work with what Mr. M was doing in the
park. So, there was a money that was
allocated there. Um my understanding is
um that was about 8,000 then there was
another 9,800 that is also allocated. So
other money I know there was a budget
that was submitted however there's no
work that I understand that really get
done to hire young people.
So Mr. So yeah, so it seems that there
so we wouldn't be abandoned. This is
money that talked about during the
budget period. What I was saying and I
asked for the council, I said the first
money that we bring back from the Arbor
should be going to our youth services
line. This is that pot of money and it's
in complete alignment with our youth
services that you see here. So I don't I
Well, I have to say that I still feel
very strongly that um I feel like that
we really need to be thinking about all
of these leagues. Um not just one partic
not just singling out one particular
league. We got another request since our
meeting last week from our youth hockey
um league. Uh also now that they're
feeling that the conversation has been
open that they also are asking for
money. Um, my guess is if other leagues
knew about that, they too would come
forward. I myself would like to see us
have a conversation with our parks
director and consider funding um con
consider whether we want to fund youth
sports as part of our 2026 budget. But
right now with this budget, I I just
feel like it's not really to me it's not
fair to be signaling out one one league
um in particular, Mr. Far.
So again, the way that you're framing
that is a little problematic for me. We
didn't single anyone out and any youth
program has the same opportunity to come
forth and request support the way that
Belmont did. So we're not singling them
out. They're not getting any special
treatment or have any special access
that any other youth program does not
have in the city. What's concerning to
me is that now it's being framed that
way almost in a way to almost pit
programs against each other. And I don't
want to do that. I'm actually I'm not
going to I'm not going to be a part of
that. But what I will say is we have
funded our youth service line advocately
when I did everything but beg to do so
in order to fund this line so our kids
and the community can get what they
need. We wouldn't even be having this
conversation. But being that we failed
to act
then, I can't accept that as an excuse
to fail to act now. The money is there.
Belmont has come
forward with a request. We need to
answer the request. And the thing is, we
cannot say we support youth and youth
programs. And then when someone does
what any other youth program could do,
then we say, well, I think everyone
should have an opportunity. They did
have an opportunity. And they do. And if
you take and if you and if you follow
what or or at least gave some serious
consideration to what I brought forth in
the beginning, we wouldn't be having
this conversation. And last time we were
at this table, I believe that there was
more there was an expression of support
for for this uh legislation to go
through and now I'm I'm I'm concerned
about where the hesitation is. I'm
sorry, Mr. Williams. I'll just say
there's also a grand difference between
this and what the hockey association was
looking at. I don't think has had a
chance to reach out to them, but it
appears that it's a county resource. Um,
and then I perceive that as them trying
to understand the increase in their ice
time. So, I didn't necessarily see that
as a funding request, but more of a can
you help us ensure what is the
additional ask of what will be normally
expended for speeding time due to having
college in transitioning arena. I've had a conversation part two with Miss
Porterfield where we designated use of
the ARP performance to the arena with
the specific understanding that there
would be a lot of community partnership.
So I think that is simply a conversation
that we can have but I saw those as two
separate asks. I will say up to this
point we have not heard other of the
youth programs that you're highlighting
which I would also like to point out to
Mr. Farley's point. Um we have this
program in front of us. Um I am all for
proceeding uh with their full ask. Um I
think if we're going to transition to a
conversation of what is your
comfortability as the only other member
of the finance
committee, but I I didn't want to take
any of the talk of anyone, but sincerely
the program speak for itself. Uh I think
these kids deserve it. So,
see, I guess the difference is that and
I think that all of our teams um have
some measure of need, have some measure
of um a desire for support from us. Yes,
this is the only one that has except for
hockey now um that has come forward this
year. I think we've in the past had
requests from youth soccer which we have
denied. Um, I just feel
that in the middle of our budget year is
not the time for us to be having this
conversation.
Um, Mr. So, we amend budgets and do and
make changes to what we initially scope
every time every every year since I've
been on the council. There's been some
sort of um
uh amendment, if you will, to how we're spending money. So, in the
thought of what future programs might
come forward, if we go by that
reasoning, then any programs that we did
support um like with uh uh the money
over $300,000 to the fields for the
Blues any we would just say,
well, let's wait to see who else comes
forward and then let's wait to see who
else comes forward. Belmont's here.
they've come forward and it's I mean
they quite
honestly either we're going to do what
we say and be who we say we are we're
not Mr. Williams and I would just say to
respond uh there are comments in the
paper talking about the responsibility
of the council I think it would be
irresponsible for us to not consider uh
this request and it is beyond
frustrating to hear that because their
problems don't align with how we review
our budget that we're not going to
consider their needs. I think this very
much speaks to a point that I've
singularly made of making sure city hall
is meeting people at their doorsteps.
Oftent times there's a connect between
people understanding how the city hall
functions and city hall understanding
how uh there may be some gaps to move
forward with addressing the needs of the
community. Uh so I think it is our
responsibility as advocates for them,
hear them out as they come forward to us
and in these types of considerations uh
make those concessions. I think on an
ongoing basis, yes, I can see the
confidence of continuing to make these
types of considerations mid budgetary
season, but to my point or to my tenure
on this, the first time I've heard of
such a request and sincerely, I think
that there is a bonafide need to respond
in time.
So, and in terms of the ARPA funds,
because that's it seems like what's
boiled down to all the other line has
been spent that's in the budget, but the
ARPA funds that were uh we left under
the um control of Cocoa House, but still
for youth employment and as has been
said, there's still money on that line
that's not been expended. I think that's
a place that we can look and to make
sure because we have a deadline with our
we're facing that deadline very quickly.
So, in my mind, using this money from
that line
And as I said to Mr. Farley, I don't
know we be able to fund it entirely, but
that is the consideration that's being
asked and that money is there right now. So I'm not sure why we
didn't get the numbers from the um
finance commissioner that was asked of
him or that no one has seems to have
today. But uh in having a conversation
with u Miss Carver the director of
development in terms of the ARPA funds
because she is in control of that there
is funding there that cannot been
actually allocated to anything out of
that $108,000
in your conversation with Clint has been
allocated hasn't been focused
allocated to youth employment. Yes. So,
but no specific has been right for any
specific folk. That is my question
though. Um because we have it allocated
to youth employment and it's an awful
fund. Um, can
we change the designation? What do we
need to do to change a designation of an
ARPA funding?
We have to do a resolution that I mean
from what I'm hearing is the council
wishes to use that
funding and understanding that's grant
funding and not a gift. And as such,
Coco House would administer the grant as
the recipient of the grant that we gave them.
But the city still would have some as we
do the fall grants. It still has
something.
Yeah, we're Yes, we we get the money
from federal government.
They look at us to make sure it's
properly administered and our
subsal responsible for getting the grant
ated and also created a proper audit
trail for this kind of money and it's
not a gift at this point. No, I think
everyone understands it's not a gift and
that is a grant funded and the
individuals who uh work who run Pop One
would have to make sure that we have all
the receipts and everything that's
needed to do that. I think that's I
think resolution indicate
that you
so number one I don't want to put
any extra stipulation
um with this program that we wouldn't do
it with any with any other program. So I
think that we need to be consistent in
that way. Um the money is there. The
money uh is
available. The money will be going to a
program that has
survived I believe since the 70s in
Skenctity with no true institutional
support but a huge impact on our
community. I'm struggling to see why
we're not moving towards at this point.
I really am. I think again I know that
you've mentioned that you don't want to
pit sport against sport, but I think all
of our teams have a huge impact on the
youth that they're serving. They do. So
I think that's argument I'm not really
accepting. And then also the fact well
that statement the other piece about the
fact that we fund that we spent money on
our fields. Again I'm going to reiterate
that we own those fields. It's our
responsibility as a city to be properly
maintaining our parks and our fields.
This is different as would be any of the
teams. I mean, we would be having to
make um a considerable change. I guess
I'm just saying I don't want to keep
hearing about the fields and the money
that we're spending on the fields
because they're city of Skenctity
fields. Uh we own them. Um we don't own
GMA poper. So I again I'm just going to
discount that as well. I don't know if
we can completely discount that because
um the way the fields were constructed
were specifically working with Blue Jays
I believe they're called. So those
fields were created and done in such a
way that was specific to them. Uh the
cricket fields are being specific to
cricket because that's what's played
there. And I can also point out the fact
that many of the members of Blue Jays
are a traveling team. So there's a
significant amount of players there that
aren't actually disconnected res yet. We
still did that. So I just want to make
sure that that is part of the framing
when we talk about I proud of that. I
think that young people should have the
ability and the opportunity to be able
to play sports. It builds character. It
does all those things that we don't need
to continue to repeat. But I don't want
to say that we didn't do something
specific to the team when in fact we did
and we did to their specifications and
that's not a problem. That's what they
needed. Do they know what they need? Cuz
I don't play so well. Well, yeah. I
mean, I think it we probably turn to the
expert just like we turn to experts when
we are thinking about what we do with
our roads and our streets. I mean, we
don't have the knowledge to be able to
figure that out. We have to have
consultants and and the city engineer
looks to the partners that he has. Um,
but then he's making decisions. What I'm
trying to say, they they have input on
what it should look like. Okay. Mr.
So I think again when um you talk about
our those fields of belonging to the
city and it's our word you use is
responsibility. Um I also believe in
fact I know you can disagree that it's
our responsibility to provide
opportunities and access to
opportunities for our youth in the city.
It's our responsibility to make sure
that we are making the investments that
align with the pictures we take and the
things we say all the time. Now, here we
have a situation where we're able to do
that. We're able to meet the need of a
program that came
forward. When they came forward with
their ass, there was no other ask on the
table.
So for us to almost penalize them for
stepping up and saying, "Hey, our kids
in our community need some support here
to me is just it it it's unfound." I
just I don't understand that. Mr.
Williams. And I think all this needs to
be taken into context because just
challenging myself and my own biases
when we had the discussion about the
irrigation system with the golf course.
I initially was opposed to it not based
on its need based on a lot of $3 million
funding to that singular project. I can
guarantee you everyone in this room does
not golf. That is not an assumption.
That is me just putting it out there.
Now I would say at at this standpoint
it's understanding how do we ensure that
under considerations if we look at it
statistically it is not close but
sincerely how do we look at the need and
addressing the the interest of everyone
of our community and we're not even
talking about equally we're talking
about equitably and as of right now this
is the
request Mr.
F not trying to put you on the spot here
but I heard from everybody except Mr. I
was trying to get your thoughts on this.
Well, I appreciate you bringing it
forward and hearing from everyone. I
think this um kind of brings a larger
issue for us is looking at um our park
and Rex director and looking at how do
we make this as a long-term plan. We
have this asked now and my understanding
is we have that money. It's not
allocated the 108
now. It's not in Cumber. Okay. So, out
there allocated but not in Cumber.
Um, where is it? How is it allocated?
Like what what's the projection for
that? There's a little over
108,000 to Cocoa House
and Cocoa House has
administered we just heard to Belmont
that
108,000 is located
to house. So my understanding is that
the request here is to take it from that
link. So yes, it would be administered
by Coco House.
Does Coco House have that capacity? I
can't speak to that,
Miss. Well, when we allocated, we knew
that they had to have some of them. So
they have to because it was for youth
employment. So that was going to have to
be done. So in this case, excuse me.
what I'm understanding and looking at
the budget um some of it is purchasing
materials materials uniforms and that
kind of thing. So that's like creating
invoices and again the city um
department of development would make
sure that they're doing it
properly. So, we all have the budget
here.
Um, and they're all they're not for the
out of state things. They're not asking
the additional 30, but it's uniforms,
it's cheer uniforms, it's insurance and
leave fees. So, it's really just getting
those invoices and making sure that
they're paying based on on the budget
that they they've um presented to
us. Madam Chairman, um yes,
uh members of the committee have chimed
in on this and spoken to this. As of
right now, it's 141 against the
resolution would fail. Um, as of right
now, there's a rule under the city
council rules where if you get a
co-sponsor for a piece of legislation,
if you get a co-sponsor, you get two
people, two two council members, they
can bring it to the next council meeting
or subsequent council meeting. Um, also
the rules are that would require
unanimous consent. In other words, for
example, the resolution were to fail
tonight, you could ask for a co a
co-sponsor, then that piece of
legislation could be as placed on, you
know, unanimous consent because it
wasn't presented by the deadline last
Thursday. So, it's unanimous consent in
order for for you all to consider it.
That doesn't mean that everybody, you
know, if somebody could say, "Okay,
let's just deal with this and I don't
want to vote for it, but
let's doesn't, it just means
that it won't be on the consent agenda."
In other words, somebody can say, "I
want to have a poll vote on this item in
order to get couple of procedural
things. One is if it fails a committee,
the sponsor co-sponsor doesn't need to
be a member of the committee. You can
get two council members to ask it be
placed upon the committee agenda tonight
and then for you to consider it tonight
meeting upstairs at
7:00, you would require unanimous
consent members present.
So what I'm saying is at this point, you
know, if if if it's if it's going to
fail, but if the members want to push
the legislation forward for tonight for
at least get to the ask for unanimous
consent be placed on the agenda when we
have to draft a
draft resolution. So that I'm just for
time
purposes. Mr.
So thank you for that. I I
I'm not sure that it would fail based on
previous conversations that have
happened. I respect the fact that you're
asking questions. We all need to make
informed decisions. Um but again, this
is money earmarked for uh to support our
youth. We have one of the longest
standing uh youth serving agencies in
the city of Skenctity um with strong
demonstration of grassroots effort.
they've been surviving and and and and
doing things, you know, uh existing in a
space with zero to no institutional
support. So now we're in now we have an
opportunity to make sure that we support
them. So I don't again and I believe and
I don't want to speak for you um but I
believe in our our previous council
meetings that this um had your support
and I'm sure that in previous council
meeting that you said it had your
support as well, Mr.
So, I'm trying to figure out now. I
don't know if we just ask some questions
or are you saying that you're voting
against this? I'm just trying to get
what your position is and be clear about
that now. Well, I mean, I really have
put a lot of thought into this um over
the last week, and I really feel
strongly that if we're going to include
this type of activity in our budget, um
that we should be thinking about how we
support all of our I mean, again, as
chair of health and recreation, I think
it's important for us to be thinking
about if we're going to do this at all
with any of our teams, um how do we, you
know, do it so that we can support beach
recreation in general the same way that
we're supporting youth employment. Um,
so that's sort of my position and what
I've been thinking about, I think, in
terms of, you know, really being
stewards for the for the money and, you
know, for our for our city's finances.
um knowing you know what's going to be
coming
ahead you know I'm just I just feel I'm
not even sure you know where we should
end up on any of this um in terms of how
it compares to our infrastructure how it
compares to other things other needs of
the city um knowing that as you said I
think last week you know we had to
increase our our our fees for trash
collection we you know had to increase
our water fees we had to increase our
sewer fees I think all of that's going
to be worse in the next year's budget.
What I'm coming to the table with after
thinking about this for the last week is
should we be considering and I know I'm
stepping ahead here but in our 2026
budget how do we think about youth
programs? And I also just want to say
that I you know Mr. Barrett's meeting is
still uh underway uh so I'm not sure
he's going to make it uh tonight. So the money that we're talking about about
right now is here now. You're talking
about in the future and I understand
that. But this money or spending this
money will have no uh impact to our
budget as it stands right now as the
money has already been allocated to
support the program. So So the things
that you brought up though are are are
very good points, but they're completely
irrelevant to to the issue that's on the
table right now. So we are able to um
allocate this funding to this youth
program right now as it stands without
it making any difference to the budget
as it exists now and you still have the
time and the consideration to make
moving forward around what it can look
like for all our programs. So I'm
starting to hear the
different reasons as why not. And it
almost feels like we're fighting to find
reasons why we can't do it when it's the
money's here right now and it doesn't
impact us. Uh what our next year's
budget Mr. May but I submit to the
council for your consideration school
move down a path that provides some
support to do it. Uh it's an
organization that's for 50 years gotten
by with community support. All of a
sudden this year saying there's no
community support. I didn't say that. I
just looking for the total amount to
come from the city. So what you just
talk go through it. Sorry Mr. May
apologize.
Uh let's look to see what they would be
able to raise on their own and put
something together to support that to
allow still to be a uh first
class uh organization that goes forward
because a year from now if we give them
everything that takes the
uh fundraising mechanisms that they have
been using it creates a gap people
sometimes won't you know if you give to
an organization every year you that just
becomes part of the business plan for
businesses for other
organizations if you fund it and they
don't have to ask for
it a year from now I'll tell you we're
going to be in a much more difficult
budget process just you know the ARPA
money here has roughly $6 million
uh is the hole we're starting off with
and then so we then take some numbers,
see what they can raise realistically,
come back and take a number that fills
the gap and allows them to maintain
their program at a level that they have
in the past. He's part um I understand
that. I'd like to propose that we um
approach it differently though because
we've done this with other
organizations. I'd like to propose that
we give a specific amount. I'll just say
one thing you at least have and then
we've asked other organizations to if we
will allocate this and then you have to
have matching funds. So let's give a
number so that to say we will allocate
this much and then you have to have
matching funds and that way we can do
that tonight and then say in order to
get this you need to have matching funds
and then they have an opportunity to um
already go out there and get it. They
know that the city has made this
investment and they can kind of use it
to say the city has invested this amount
of money and would you now need this is
the number we need to get to and are you
willing to help us get there. So I would
propose it be handled with that that
yes I wouldn't disagree with everything
that the mayor entirely said but I would
say in its
uh in its framework isn't that in
essence what the community development
block grant does like annual repeat
funding to the same organizations year
in year out and I would say based on
that concept I would say if we are then
holding this organization to that
standard. Then we replicate across
entire operations across the city for
your various points. So I can respond to
that because for my career as a
fundraiser um I pretty much every year
applied for a CDBG grant and they're
very competitive and you don't always
get them. Um the same organizations
don't get them. There's a whole
selection process. Anybody can apply for
it. Well, I mean, I shouldn't say that.
Um, you have to be a 501c3. You have to
fit within the parameters of the CDPG
grant program. Um, but the same
organizations are not funded every
single year. It also people have to keep
in mind that it's a competitive grant
program. It's not automatically awarded.
Um probably I probably got rejected uh
many more times than I got funding from
CDBG um at my various uh workplaces uh
whenever I applied. So I just want to
you know make sure people are well aware
of that.
So let me just I want to add a level of
clarity. There are some organizations
who consistently over the years and the
records will show that they've always
there may been some organizations that
maybe they were new maybe whatever
number of reasons but to Mr. Wayne's
point there have been there has been a
level of consistency actually it's come
into question that we're consistently
funding these organizations like if we
always give them they're never going to
have so there has been a level of
consistency when we funded the same
organizations over and over again I% and
so um I agree with Williams that that
maybe next year I'll learn uh should
look at CDBG funds but right now we're
looking at the ARP funds which have a
deadline they you know have an
expiration
And again, we could if we can't do the
entire thing, we could come to this
level of compromise where we're saying
this is what we can do and then then ask
for matching funds.
Did you have your hand up? Oh. Oh, I'm
sorry.
I generally agree with everything
everybody's saying, but should also be
cognizant of some of the changes in
Washington. If anybody at this table can
predict what's going to happen, you
shouldn't be at this table. You should
be on the national news service
guiding the country. But if council
president's outlined if you want to pick
a number
of 50% or 20,000 or
22,000 something of that level, make it
work.
Mr. Farley, Mr. Williams, and I keep
thinking you have your ar your hand up,
but I guess you don't. You do? Yeah.
Okay. No, I'm just Do we I'm still stuck
on the
um the the money. Is it possible some of
that can be covered and allocated? But
do we know if if there's been any um
programmatic advantage as there are some
restrictions on stuff and some of it's
to go through what the
actual expenditures they're looking to
do.
Mhm. Sometimes looking at
the clips on the list today, there are
sometimes like uniforms or helmets or
other things that they might buy. I
haven't looked into this, but there may
be some things where the city has
opportunity through state contracts that
we could buy those cheaper. So, we
wouldn't give them the money, just buy
the helmets and give it to them. And so
there would be a little bit more
negotiations of trying to manage the
best value for the outcome of the things
that they're attempting to achieve.
Yes. I'm I'm sorry. Oh, are you Mr.
Crowley? So Mil's not asking us to um
fully fund them. That's not that's not
what the request. Um the request what
they're the requested amount would get
them through this season. Um, and they
would still have to fund raise and do
the hard work that they've been doing, I
don't know, for the last 50 years. I'm
sure that's not going to change um, in
order to um, get them through like the
postseason if they get to the Super
Bowl, which they have, I think it was
like three out of the last five years.
I'm not sure about that, but I know. And
how I know is because every time they
make the Super Bowl, we bring them down
here and we smile and cheer for them and
take pictures with them again. So what
I'm saying is that right now
uh the ask would uh help them through the season until they um win uh
the and get enough wins and go on to the
postseason which I have confidence that
uh they'll be able to do that. Um but um
it's not asked and again they hadn't
come to us with a request uh prior to
this because they've been working so
extremely hard to provide these young
men and women in our community the
protective factors that they um that
they supply. You know, I was just on at
uh the uh YMCA over the weekend where
the lieutenant governor was speaking. Um
he's a Belmont uh alumni. Uh the
executive director is also a Belmont
alumni and it got me to thinking about
all of the people that have uh raised in
this community that has gone on to do
some pretty substantial things and you
know Belmont is a part of that pedigree.
Um, so outside of the 50-year track
record, which I, you know, I I think
speaks for itself, I think supporting
them that money will be in good hands
and put to good use. I think they've
already proven that with their actions
more so than what uh what we're talking
about, Miss Porterfield and Mr.
Williams. Okay. I just wanted to bring a
time to attention to that we had a 7
o'clock meeting. So when we have a
resolution to this meeting, we have
probably about 15 more minutes to make
that happen. Thank you, Mr. Williams. Uh
so sincerely I was here ready to fully
meet the uh requested amount for their
regular season seems as though that is
not something that we're going to
consider. Um it's put out 50%. Is there
a number that we work with with um us uh
us having a motion on that allows for
there to be additional funds in the
intent that we hear from other programs.
And I say that in a caution of I still
want to have this conversation if we
hear from no other program because I
still heartfully feel that we should
fully meet their ask. I would be happy
to um I would be willing to uh look at a
different number. I do you know I think
that you all know that I since we have
so many people here who don't know me um
they probably know I think they know
you. Um, I just need to say that I
really have to say that yes, we have
photo opportunities uh when we bring
people here, but I find it insulting
that you're acting like that's the only
reason that we do it. And I need people
that don't know me to know that uh and
I'm speaking personally here, not
necessarily my city council hat on, but
I do do a lot of work in this community
for youth and for other folks in this
community. So, I just have to honestly
say that it it is somewhat insulting for
you to say that we do things just for
photo opportunities. Excuse me. Excuse.
So, so I just I just really needed you
know that I I tend to be let's
all the conversation please to the I
needed to confront and but but I have to
say this he sent it to everybody in the
council so everybody could have felt
that way but you know
I was the person that did do the
resolution for the Belmont children when
they went so I was taking it a little
personally. Let's redirect the
conversation please to whether or not
funding that we're going to have. We are
time limited so we have to do that. And
so Mr. um I'm sorry it's your it's your
committee Mr. O'Brien has his hand up. I
would just say if if one if one of the
members of the comm Mr. Williams is the
member wishes to make a motion for an
amount um to authorize Cocoa House to
disperse previously allocated ARPA funds
up to a figure. I don't know what that
number is. the Belmont Pop Warner
football program upon the presentation
of documented budgeting requests for
uniforms equipment
transportation participant registration
fees by the Belmont pop football program
to the cocoa house that's dealing with
it's just put the number in I think
that's encapsulating everything also
it's grant money we have to be make sure
there's a paper audit trail
so and substance That's what I'm hearing
is a motion. It's a it's a it's a figure
a number for me to put in there.
Mr. The question is what do you feel
comfortable because my number would be
47,000.
Oh yeah. Hence what number figure I
think that we were I think was it Miss
Porterfield or the mayor um were
suggesting a compromise perhaps of half
FEMA. Did you just say that? I I did say
50% but I rounded it up to 25,000 in my
head.
So, is that a number that you'd be
comfortable with? Mr. Fley,
I want to be clear that I definitely
like to see um the funded and filled,
but also part of our job here is to make
concessions and and work with each other
to do what we think is best um for the
community. And if that's a number that
you would uh that you're comfortable
with, um then I would support that if we
could move that out.
So with this whole conversation in mind,
I would like to make a motion that we
everything you just said.
Could you repeat it for us?
But you said to put a little flexibility
in there because there's still accounts
where you may be able to nickel and
dime,000
bucks, 500 bucks.
So just a lot of part get mad at me for
that. So just to be clear, are we saying
25,000 here? But there's other accounts
of other places that you could
if you're taking it. So I had sent the
message
to Willis who said nobody has talked to
him. So Mark had to have a conversation
with him and we're taking the whole
amount of money from him. he might not
be happy with it. So if I nickel and
dime other accounts
to minimize that and I'm not saying
there's money sitting
around huge amounts
but just a little flexibility in order
up to so in other words up to in other
words if there's other funding sources
there'll be flex flexibility from other
funding sources up to
So there's there's a firm figure, but
it's up to here. So as the mayor just
indicated, there could be other sources
of that. So
go ahead. Well, I was just
So was there a plan still for Cocoa
House to be using the money? I don't
know. Oh, okay. I misunderstood what you
were saying. So I'll speak to that. So
if we did say summer employment, it is
June 9th and so I would thought by now
we would be hearing what that is going
to look like and to my knowledge we have
not heard that and so uh I don't first
of all it's it's it's actually city
money. We just asked Coco House to
administer it. So it is city money. Uh
so I don't um want to make sure that
we're doing our due diligence and
spending the money first and foremost
and we're doing it. We I know they're
saying is employment but you see the
level of flexibility. We're we're still
making sure that we are supporting young
people in our community and in terms of
the amount I say up to 25,000 and um
that's not taking the whole 47 that was
the ask um from from this organization
um doing a summer youth program and and
still an opportunity to do the summer
youth program. In addition to that, in
the past that that particular program
has used summer youth from the county as
well. So we could look at all the
different ways to make sure they're
still supporting their summer employment
with some of this funding as well as the
funding that um the employees the young
people that they're getting employed
through the county.
Mr.
So, this money that uh that we're
talking about um is part of the money
from the legislation that I brought
forth um to to fund to make sure that uh
the Cocoa House uh got the funding and
support that they needed. Um so, the
last thing that will do is allow us to
turn into something that we're taking
from one organization's ability to serve
youth. the money that was came back into
the city um from the Cocoa House was
money that they were unable to spend um
within the required deadline. So I
advocated for that money to still serve
the same purpose, the ultimate purpose,
which would be serving the youth of said
community. So I think that's a really
important distinction to make and it's
something that that uh I just want to
make sure that we put on record. we're
not taking from this organization um
with their capacity uh to serve the
youth. Um I see this as very uh close
alignment. And again, moving forward, I
would just think that we would um talk
about funding our youth services budget
line. Um I asked for it to be up to
300,000 this year. It was only
$150,000. And maybe this will be a good
point of reflection for us moving
forward to make sure that we don't have
to make those type of distinctions. Mr.
And just my closing statement because I
do believe that there is a motion on the
table. I would say if the youth of the
community are benefiting, who should it
truly matter where that money comes
from? We're all destined to be here to
improve at least in this setting uh the
quality of life and living conditions
for them. We're able to do that through
any means or mechanism that is within
our I feel personally responsible to do
that. But sincerely, I believe there is
a motion. Yes. Um I'll end the whole
resolution. I'm going to read the
resolution to the council here. So
unless it gets printed
up says, "Whereas the city council has
reviewed the financial needs of the
successful youth recreational activities
of the Belmont Pop
Warner football program and whereas the
city council finds that a grant
allocating funds to the grant to the
Belmont Pop Warner football program to
assist with the cost of uniforms,
equipment, transportation, registration
fees in keeping with the public purposes
in the legislative intent of the 2025
operating budget for allocation for
youth and recreational
activities. And now therefore being
resolved, the city council does hereby
authorize Cocoa House to disperse
previously allocated federal ARPA grant
funding up to
$25,000 to the Belmont Pop Warner
football program upon the presentation
of documented budget requests for
uniforms, equipment, transportation, and
particip participant registration fees
by the Belmont Pop Warner football
program to Coco
House. Is everybody okay with that
language?
Oh, sorry that you were raising your
hand. You raising your hand. Okay. Um,
the motion needs a second. Oh, second.
In favor.
You have to call.
Sorry, I'm I'm not usually in the role
as chair of this committee, but um, all
in favor? I I and Madame President, just
to save time this because we have to
draft this. Does the council have an
endless consent to put this piece of
legislation on Kent agenda tonight?
Well, we have it on for unanimous
consent, but we didn't know if it's
going to happen, but we were prepared,
right? It's on there for unanimous
consent. And uh so we're we don't have
Are you going to be able to type that
up? I have to you have to go type that
up. Okay. But it is on the listed on the
agenda in anticipation that would happen
and if when things don't move forward on
the agenda we can always remove it but
thankfully we won't have to do that
tonight. Okay. Thank you.
So I ask for a motion to Is there
anything else that needs to come before
the finance committee? Okay. Um then I
ask for a motion second. All in favor?
Thank you. We have nine
minutes. How
do you
feel good?