2022.01.11 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

supported the City collecting data in order to reach those who were in need, versus doing the same thing that is already being done. Councilmember Axberg stated she supported the broad infrastructure expenditures being proposed by staff. She anticipated staff could figure out how to stage these ARPA fund purchases. Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas thanked the Council for all of their discussion on this topic. Discuss New Contract for Community Partners with Youth (CPY) Massopust stated CPY has had a longstanding relationship with the City of New Brighton. CPY provides after school services and programming for youth in our community. In recent years, there have been changes made to the structure of the contract that the City has with CPY. Until June of 2018, the City of New Brighton paid $12,500 annually. At that time, the City increased their payment as CPY was in need of further investment to continue operations effectively. The City then approved a three year contra ct covering 2019, 2020, and 2021. The cost for services each of those years was $77,500. Council heard from CPY in October on their services and programming as well as how they are doing as an organization. Generally, the contract and agreement work well for both parties. CPY provides a valuable service to the community that the City of New Brighton alone could not provide for the cost of the contract. Massopust explained the City’s intent when the contract amount went from $12,500 to $77,500 annually was to maintain that level for three years and then drop it down to $67,500 for the next three years as CPY built their fundraising capacity through a third party. CPY is requesting that the City maintains the $77,500 annual contribution for 2022-2024 and then decrease funding levels to $67,500 to “meet increasing costs and rising needs in the community” especially considering the financial impacts COVID-19 has had on the organization. Councilmember Allen stated he served on the CPY board for the last several years. He explained this organization had a lot of volunteers that served. He discussed how the additional funding that was offered several years ago really helped CPY to improve its fundraising efforts. He noted giving to non-profits and giving in general has gone down over the past few years. He reported the City’s contribution has kept them afloat and has allowed them to stay active in the community. He believed the return on investment was substantial, especially from a public safety standpoint. He discussed how the City’s youth and their families benefited from CPY. He supported the City continuing the contract with CPY for the next three years. Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas explained she fully supported the City continuing a three year contract with CPY at the original funding level. She noted a three year contract would provide CPY with a better idea on where their funding was coming from going forward. She agreed with Councilmember Allen that CPY was doing a great job for the community. Councilmember Axberg stated she supported the three year contract as well. She asked what was in the budget plan for 2022. Massopust indicated staff had left the amount at $77,500. Councilmember Axberg commented she feels better that there was funding in the budget at the higher amount, but noted she could have supported the $67,500. She questioned what had changed on the plan for CPY. Massopust stated it was his understanding that CPY would like to continue to maintain the current funding levels due to the pandemic and because fewer people were giving at this time. Councilmember Allen commented further on CPY’s annual budget and noted the City’s contribution was roughly 20% of the budget. He noted JMA has done a good job identifying new avenues for funding that have been lost.