HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-22-2009-13-1 Info BOCC Questions re Outside Agencies Funded �-Forry --jor, +-em
MEMORANDUM
TO: Laura Blackmon, County Manager
FROM: Gwen Harvey, Assistant County Manager
DATE: December 30, 2008
RE: BOCC Questions re: Outside Agencies Funded in 08-09 with Caveats
At the BOCC meeting on December 1, 2008, during discussion of proposed changes in the
allocation of funding for outside agencies in the FY09-10 budget process, questions were raised
about two agencies approved for funding in FY08-09 with caveats suggested by the Human
Services Advisory Commission(HSAC). This memorandum provides an update regarding the
status of the two agencies—the Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association and the Piedmont Wildlife
Center.
Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association (HYAA)
Incorporated in 1976,the mission of HYAA is to provide recreational baseball opportunities for the
children of northern Orange County. They strive to provide a fun, safe, and enjoyable program to
the children who play in the program through education in the game of baseball, teamwork, good
sportsmanship, and respect for others. The BOCC approved funding in the HYAA requested
amount of$23,625 in FY07-08. HSAC recommended funding in the amount of$10,000, a lesser
allocation given their concerns about the lack of evidence supporting outreach to and participation
by diverse youth.
The performance agreement with HYAA for FY08-09 included the following language to draw
attention to this concern, as was expressed orally to their leadership during the application review
process—"HYAA shall identify {in it's semi-annual and annual reports to the County} concrete
steps taken and verifiable results achieved through outreach, recruitment, and scholarship assistance
to increase participation among diverse ethnic minority, cultural, and socio-economic groups
residing in Orange County".
On December 17, 2008, County staff met with the Board leadership of HYAA to review the
contract caveat and brainstorm proposals for attaining success during the fiscal term. Various ideas
emerged for further exploration and implementation by HYAA—conducting a canned food drive to
benefit Orange Congregations in Mission(OCIM),using goodwill ambassadors and personal
influence to reach members of minority communities, enhancing ways and means for parents and
other partners to donate to the scholarship assistance fund and promoting the fund more widely, and
continuing to consult and collaborate with Orange County Recreation and Parks on mutual goals.
HYAA leadership will also attend a future HSAC meeting to provide a briefing about their on-
going work and clear commitment to diversity. They remain very open to ideas and suggestion
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from the County and were appreciative and in attendance at the 2008 Forum dedicated to
connecting outside agencies in Orange County with their non-profit peers.
Piedmont Wildlife Center(PWC)
The PWC was incorporated in 2002 and has been in operation since its rehabilitation hospital
opened in the spring of 2003. Their overall vision is to continue to strive for excellence in
wilderness protection, hoping to return as many injured, sick and orphaned wildlife as possible to
their native habitat as healthy animals. The BOCC granted the PWC funding in the amount of
$20,000 in FY07-08, the same as FY06-07. HSAC had recommended funding of$10,000 given
concerns that Orange County appeared to be carrying a disproportionate share of expenses to
benefits received in the Triangle community.
The performance agreement with PWC was modified in FY08-09 to include "Piedmont Wildlife
Center shall identify concrete steps and verifiable results achieved in seeking to diversify its
revenue stream to be less dependent upon the Orange County contribution, and garner financial
support from other towns and counties commensurate with the services they are provided."
Orange County staff has remained in contact with the PWC executive leadership since the HSAC
recommendation and BOCC authorization. Their Executive Director attended and participated
enthusiastically at Forum 2008. The County Manager's Office was also contacted directly before
news articles appeared mid-December referencing the agency's need for money driven by declines
in community donations. PWC is making due with less, changing its full time veterinarian position
to half time as a cost saving measure. As is the case with many charities across the state and
country, contributions are down substantially. PWC appears to be responding to the fiscal situation
with forthright, careful planning and assessing their means for continuing to serve the animals
brought to them. They remain cognizant of concerns conveyed by the County to seek to diversity
their revenue sources, especially among other Triangle governments.
Both HYAA and PWC are to provide performance progress reports to the County Budget Office in
January 2009 and September 2009 for their FY07-08 contract years. Copies of these reports will be
provided to the BOCC for your information. All performance progress reports for every outside
agency funded by the County are received by the HSAC as part of its application review process for
the next fiscal year.
If you have questions or concerns about the contents of this memorandum, please let me know and I
would be happy to provide further details or extend my review.
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