City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Mayor's Blue Ribbon COVID Response Task Force Committee, 9 Aug 2022

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8.9.2022 COVID Response Task Force

A

Oh, it's recording everybody. I'd like to call the meeting to order of the.

B

Coveted response task force blue ribbon committee.

B

Since some people are here today that weren't able to be at the first meeting, I thought we.

B

Would go around and do some real, quick introductions. um I will start I'm kathy.

B

Beebe, I'm the executive director of haven, which is domestic violence and sexual assault agency.

B

And live here in portsmouth hi, I'm linda bralett, I'm a retired, postmates teacher.

B

I'm abby frank: I'm a speech language pathologist at little harbor school.

C

Hi everybody I'm whitney brown, I'm the manager of steve harver recovery center and I'm also.

C

A resident of portsmouth- I am nancy brown, I am retired teacher and.

A

I'm involved in a number of different things: volunteering at school, looking at crossroads.

A

All kinds of stuff staying involved and active in community absolutely.

D

Janet lotz, ceo for greater seacoast community health.

E

Hi everyone, my name, is tania marino. I'm a program director at gather, new hampshire.

F

Molly wilson, I'm an occupational therapist in town and I'm a parent of two elementary school.

F

Students mimi wheeler, I'm the executive director of the chase hunt hi, I'm karen connard city.

G

Manager serving in an ex officio capacity, which means I get to attend but um not way.

G

In in the same way and I'll be the the resource that helps provide city staff to this group,.

C

I'm andrea ardito, I'm a former school teacher and I own uh nest in portsmouth. I live in portsmouth.

H

I'm will arbel, I'm the executive director of crossroads house will is also the co-chair of.

B

The committee um at the last meeting did the folks that weren't at the last meeting get the.

B

Information on the right to know and the public meetings I will make sure they did. I don't know.

G

That they should have come for me, so we'll we'll make sure that gets disseminated via email and.

G

You know what kathy the thing that's missing from the agenda is approval of the minutes from last.

B

Okay. Okay, um but um but not to lose sight of your request, I'll make sure that they all get those.

B

Do you want to give the same kind of overview that you were able to give last time just.

B

About what that means in terms of it were a public meeting, let's see if I can remember.

G

So we're a public body and as such we need to always meet with an in-person quorum. So if you got.

G

That sense from my email: that's what that's about! If there's an ability for you to meet but not be.

G

In person- and you have to be remote, just let the chairs know and kathy and will service the chairs.

G

And as long as they can manage, having an in-person quorum of at least eight people here.

G

That will that will work for the group and um in things like email, that this group should not.

G

Have a conversation that I've got an attorney in the room and I'm probably butchering this.

G

But as a public body, we behave differently and it we should not have policy or.

G

Discussions beyond things like time and place of a meeting with a with a group, because that.

G

Constitutes a meeting, and we have to be sensitive to conversations that we have inside and outside.

G

Of this, this room or the meeting confines so beyond that, I will be sure to email out.

G

The brochure on right to know and because, as you are, are all now, volunteering on a public.

G

Body read the right to no rules. Requ apply to you now so we'll send that out. Thank you. Thanks.

B

Okay, so um hopefully people had a chance to look at the meetings for the meeting minutes from the.

B

Last meeting is there a motion to approve those I make that motion. We have two yeah.

B

All right janet will um all in favor, aye.

B

Great somebody serving as secretary yes janet, I'm secretary, yes,.

B

Great, so um I think up next we'll hear from jane farini, with an update on the arpa eligible use.

G

While jane is coming to join us, you, some of you were kind enough to give me updated information on.

G

Your contact information and what your affiliation might be in some of your background, this one does.

G

Not appear to be the most updated, so I will be sure to get everyone that most updated and if.

I

You haven't had a chance to review this or make your changes to your own information feel free to.

G

Email me thanks: cheers and I've asked assistant city attorney, jane farini, who is our in-house.

G

Guru expert on arpa to join us and give you a condensed version of the presentation she's given.

G

To work sessions and council in the past about the american rescue plan act or arpa, so thank you, jane.

G

Thank you. So I have a um presentation. Hopefully we can get that up and I can make chat along with.

J

Her so most of you are obviously from familiar with the arpa american rescue plan act and.

J

The funds that were provided to basically every city in town in the country to respond to covet.

J

And the intent and purpose of the funds.

J

I think basically, I like to describe it as to make communities whole. You know caused by.

J

The the damage, frankly, that kova kovid caused to all of our communities and all of our citizens.

J

So when you're thinking of expending these funds, I think you always want to have that in your mind,.

J

What what's the purpose of this money? Who are we trying to help and and and what we're spending.

J

Does that actually address, uh you know the problems and the issues that were caused by.

J

By covid, um so if we could go to the next slide, um so here are some of the the the.

J

Stated purposes in various cles and and treasury publications that that have evolved over time.

J

Obviously uh stopped the virus right. That was really the first and imminent and still is.

J

A primary concern, so kim is going to I'm sure, explain more about what kinds of things address.

J

That, but that certainly is one of the purposes of these funds to replace lost public sector revenue.

J

And to you know, support public services um I'll go down and give some very specific examples of.

J

Of what that looks like, but that was one of the overarching purposes of these funds.

J

And then support households and businesses, you know struggling with the impact and that.

J

Also is institutional and individual, so it it runs. The gamut um from you know, small.

J

Businesses, non-profits and individuals: it's a really one of the most broadly described acts.

J

um Historically, it really has and it's evolving each time uh the we get guidance documents you.

J

Know, there's there's more uh more information from treasury as to what we can do with this money.

J

um And then um one of the lenses that we need to look at expenditure of covet funds is to certain.

J

um Certain populations were disproportionately affected by covet, and that is runs through all.

J

Of the act and all of the guidance documents, so that's particularly important to remember and.

J

Now we're forward looking right we're trying to spend money on things that hopefully will address.

J

Our ongoing covet, you know issues but also, I think, looking forward to preventing further.

J

Further um breaches in our wall so to speak, caused by covid. So anything that's going to shore up.

J

Some of our programs and institutions and um support long-term growth next slide. Please.

J

So there are four broad categories of funding and those fundings have particular criteria.

J

Attached to them and reporting criteria and standards, so the first and the the biggest.

J

Is the public sector revenue loss? When the act first came out, it was determined that you had.

J

To do this mathematical formula, truly, look at your look at your numbers. Look at you know your revenue.

J

Do a very complicated math problem, which I could not begin to explain.

J

That's what we have our andrew in our counting um to do that number, but.

J

Realizing that every city in town had to try to do this uh treasury made a very good amendment.

J

Or change between the interim rules and the final rules and said if you're, a city or a town.

J

You can declare up to 10 million dollars as lost revenue. Now, if you're awarded 5 million.

J

Dollars you certainly can't declare 10. You can only declare up to what you've been awarded.

J

But rather than do this challenging um calculation that in april of this year, they came out with the.

J

Fact that you can just you know, determine your one-time election of that 10 million.

J

Which the city of portsmouth did so we were, we gave we received what about 12 12.6, 12.88 12.8.

J

So 10 of that um is in the category one category of lost revenue, okay. The second is public health.

J

Negative economic impact, that's what I'm going to explain to most of you. That's really! I think.

J

Something that that you're all here, given your various backgrounds, you're intimately familiar.

J

With these uh impacts of covet, the third was premium pay and the fourth is water, sewer and.

J

Broadband and I have some dates up there, you know when, when you could use the funds.

J

And how long you have to expend and obligate those funds, so we have several years.

J

To do that, we need to obligate them by december 31st of 2024 and perform.

J

On december 31st 2026, and if you don't spend it, you have to send it back next slide um I'll.

G

Mention that in case you're scribbling, we will make this presentation available soon.

G

And the good news is, and the difference with portsmouth being the size city that it is, is.

G

We already have the funding in hand. Yes, it's not something we need to seek through the state. That's.

G

A big advantage as well: we were one of the few metro cities of a particular size that we got our.

J

Money straight from treasury, as opposed to most of the communities, have to go through the state of.

J

New hampshire and and it's a bit of a different um process by which to receive funds, could you.

J

Explain why that happened or why that took place um particular size of cities and, um and I believe.

J

That originally um we we had the way they analyzed uh qualified census, tracts back in the day.

J

You got certain weighted in the formula to figure out how much money you're going to get even.

J

Though the composition of our city has changed significantly, since that evaluation was done. I.

J

Think that's why we were got as much as we did and- and I think it's based on that kind of a formula.

J

Mostly size, big, big cities get determined x and middle cities.

J

Determined why and then cities and towns are are, are determined uh to be different.

J

So this is the um the public sector revenue loss. I've explained that pretty much and you.

J

Can expend it on government services so anything a government can do that can be lumped into the.

J

Public sector revenue loss and you can see a list there. You know schools, hospitals, roads,.

J

Health, environment, police, fire equipment, anything that takes the run of government next slide.

J

um And then this is the other category. That is much more nuanced and um there's.

J

Lots of examples of the public health response, so this is the second category.

J

And this is the one where you actually need to attribute. You know some effect by covid, whereas.

J

Obviously, uh revenue loss. You know, you know you don't have to buy a um an ambulance because of.

J

Because of covid, you know you would have done that as a part of your government services.

J

So you don't have to link so to speak or view it through the lens of kovitz impact.

J

So the anything that's in the guidance is not an exclusive list. I think that's important to.

J

Remember that if there are certain things that um are our ideas or or ways in which.

J

We think we can address covid that might not fit perfectly into one of these categories.

J

There is a possibility to still use money for covid and I have since learned that treasury.

J

Does not mind getting direct questions, so you know question before you, you act so to speak. I think.

J

There was a reluctance at first. Are we going to get in trouble? If we ask a question or we're not.

J

Sure something, but that doesn't seem to be the case and we have other resources as well. So if.

J

There's something that comes up and it doesn't fit neatly into a category. um It won't necessarily be.

J

um Prohibited- and these are you know the nuts and bolts of the coveted response you know, vaccines.

J

You know con contract, tracing um quarantine and ppe purchases um and then, like I said before,.

J

Improved support and outreach and communication with vulnerable populations and access to health.

J

Services, you know this is uh something that we all saw during the pandemic. There was a need.

J

That that's being addressed by these funds, one of the interesting thing that the final rules.

J

Did is you can actually make capital investments for public facilities to meet operation needs so.

J

That was very interesting as well. um Preventing and responding to violence was something that was.

J

Expanded between the original interim rules and the final rules, some of our communities.

J

The disadvantage in communities, it was an increase in violence, and so funds can be used to.

J

To respond to violence and staff who deal directly with covid related issues, next slide.

J

And there are various assumptions made for certain types of funds. So if uh you were a resident in a.

J

Qualified census track- or you were a non-profit or you were a business in a qualified census, track.

J

You could it's almost like automatically spend the money on you know for, for these types of.

J

um Uses for impact on public health: these are, we do not have a qualified census track anymore.

J

In the city of portsmouth, so there's two two types of households: one is the disproportionately.

J

Impacted households which are folks that live in a qualified census, tract particular income.

J

Qualifying folks and households that qualify for other federal programs and benefits, so you can.

J

You can spend for these types of things for those folks that are disproportionately impacted, so you.

J

Have to identify your community, you have to expend the types of funds and you can do different things.

J

um With those funds, if you're spending on on needs of that particular community.

J

So this is very broad. You can help healthcare workers, uh transportation costs, medical.

J

Equipment, um housing vouchers, relocation to neighbors with higher economic opportunities.

J

Physically, improve vacant properties, it's it's extremely broad. um The other uh income qualifying.

J

Category is impacted, households, it's so it's it's. The the uh income qualifying level is not the same.

J

As the qualified census tract but again, um you know folks: who've experienced housing, insecurity.

J

And then there are these other types of monies that you can spend health insurance coverage.

J

Financial services, affordable housing, development.

J

Child care, early learning and you may identify yet a third population or group if you've done.

J

Your due diligence and you've made an assessment and you can support that. There is a particular.

J

Population that doesn't fit these other two definitions. If you have supporting information.

J

You can spend, um you know, use uh the monies for for assisting those particular groups. Next slide.

J

And it's not just people, it's businesses and nonprofits and particular industries that these.

J

Monies can be used for so um small business and non-profits that had a decrease in revenue or.

J

A sort of exponential increase in costs as a result of covid, you can do things like.

J

Give loans and grants technical assistance and small business planning for for businesses and.

J

Then there are disproportionately impacted small business again in a qualified census track, which.

J

We don't have here um in portsmouth, but the other interesting concept is, you can um provide money.

J

To a particular impacted industries, we all saw with hospitality, uh travel and tourism.

J

Some of the guidance doc documents that have come since the original act has come out.

J

Encourage that if you're going to.

J

Provide money to an industry, you want to try to do it broadly. You know you don't want to just pick.

J

Your favorite restaurant, you know what I mean you. You want to make sure that if you're expending on.

J

This sort of industry impacted that you do so in a in kind of a equal way. Next slide.

J

And so one of the aspects was to make governments whole again and to get.

J

Staffing levels back up and um so public sector uh employment, um a lot of folks had furloughs.

J

We were fortunate that we did not, um but there were monies. These monies could be used um to cover.

J

Payroll, particularly for our public health and um and our human services staff, but um you know again.

J

These these are things that are allowed um under that particular category of the of the response to.

J

uh Shoring up our public sector capacity next slide um and one of the things that was again.

J

Expanded and uh in april with the final rules, is the issue of what's a capital expenditure.

J

It was uncertain when the original rules came out. Can you do brick and mortar? You know what.

J

Can you spend, and so they clarified that for for this whole section, you can build stuff.

J

Basically and buy stuff, um but you have to support that with a particular documentation and.

J

It has to have a direct relationship to the programs and services, um and you need to make sure.

J

That you've quantified it and documented it, and if you're building something that's most economically.

J

um Not conservative but it's targeted to the the the problem that you're trying to fix.

J

So, in other words, I have examples of what you can't do.

J

You can't, you know, build a new jail because you might see an increase in crime in your.

J

Neighborhood that that just it doesn't connect right that that's a little bit beyond the scope of.

J

Of that or build a convention center or a stadium just to increase, you know tourism to to attract.

J

Tourism so, um but it is very interesting that that you can, um you know, hospitals and and other.

J

Types of um capital improvements can be spent now with these funds next slide and the third category.

J

Was essential worker, so this is a category where folks, who are on the front line so to.

J

Speak, you can actually fund money to those folks and it includes a broad list. People that work in.

J

Hospitals, nursing homes, people who grow food who sell food, janitors warehouse workers, truck drivers.

J

Child care workers, school and social service folks and the public health folks. So that's.

J

Very interesting that you can use this money to to to help with folks who are in the front line.

J

And have their have their pay? um You know either supplemented if they didn't get paid.

J

Or or augmented, if they need more money next slide and then water and sewer infrastructure.

J

Particular projects that are eligible for clean water state revolving fund.

J

Or drinking water state revolving fund, you can use your funds for for those types of.

J

Projects- and um these are, you know, pretty much what they sound like. You know, waste.

J

Water treatment plants and storm water management, all of that and then um water quality. So obviously.

J

Infrastructure is very important. We want to make sure people have healthy, clean water and.

J

Those kinds of funds that are eligible under those definitions are projects that you can use.

J

This fourth uh category of funding, um next yep and then broadband, so that was another category.

J

That you could use, um I think, we're we're pretty well wired up here in portsmouth, but certainly you.

J

Can imagine in some communities it was devastating their lack of broadband and still is, quite frankly,.

J

And so this was a very important area that many communities needed to address because of the.

J

Impacts of coving next slide. What you can't do: okay, ineligible uses premium pay for teleworkers.

J

Deposits into pension funds, debt service, rainy day funds, financial reserves, legal settlements,.

J

Infrastructure not directly related or described in the rules and federal matching requirements.

J

Next slide and then, of course, most of you are very well aware of federal funds have.

J

Federal strings, and so you need to do what what you are required to do under the.

J

Under the reporting requirements to treasury you have, we have to file quarterly reports on.

J

How we're expending these funds? The lost revenue category that category one I spoke with earlier.

J

That doesn't require as much documentation when you are filing with with treasury, because.

J

It's what you would have spent in your normal operations, but everything else. I've talked about.

J

Requires a particularly detailed reporting on the project itself, the ongoing status of the project.

J

Certain data is required depending upon how you are expending those funds. Certain.

J

Data is required if you give money to a sub recipient, so that would be an entity.

J

uh That would be performing whatever service that you've identified. That is important, so not only.

J

Would you have to make sure you're complying with with reporting and federal rules and regulations.

J

On expenditure funds, but that the sub recipient would also be complying, and that again is a more.

J

Complex and robust reporting that's required of the city. um We have to comply with with the awards.

J

And conditions associated with particular these arpa monies, and um we need to make sure that we.

J

Have information that connects our objectives to what we've expended and- and I think that's really.

J

The most important thing as far as uh data you know jane, I have a question just to be clear: that.

H

uh In terms of compliance, this, this body is not going to be responsible for no, not correct. No good.

J

Point that's an excellent question. So basically that's you know a 10 minute summary of a 400 page.

E

um Does the expenditure do we have the discretion to expend it as we see fit per these guidelines or.

E

Does it need to be actually approved? First, that's a great question. No there's no pre-approval at all.

J

So we we do our best to fit it into a category and provide that documentation and that explanation as.

J

To why we think it fits in the category, um but no there's no a lot of um other types of federal.

J

Funds that came out earlier there was some of this pre-approval and you would submit your proposal.

J

Particularly in education, I'm sure right through the state. You know you've got your uh all your.

J

Various different funds and cares act funds. There were some grants that you would get pre-approval.

J

For but this this is not it it is, it is wide open. Let me jump in to say that anything that we've.

G

Previously expended or appropriated funds on has to go through a prescribed public hearing process.

G

That's a function of spending any arpa dollars and I can spend a minute on that when it's appropriate.

G

But every time we've asked the city council to expend monies, we have to hold a public.

G

Hearing explain what we're trying to do and how it fits with arpa guidelines and.

G

So things that we, we as a group tee up, would follow that track in the same way that.

G

One two three sets of other appropriations have to date: yeah that transparency is, is critical and.

J

It's it's woven into the whole act in the language of the act and so we're at a public meeting. We're.

J

Talking about this and public could attend and um any any expenditures that we do make go through.

J

The council and then are are reported, so it's it's part of the process of and requirement of the.

J

Funds and with regards to the funds she will email if the task force kind of in the course of this.

E

um Decides that some of these funds would be better allocated over um as multi-year grants.

E

Does that money have to actually physically be distributed by december 24th, or can it be say.

E

Put a you know allocated, but not physically, like everything has to be physically expended by the.

G

Calendar year end of 2026., oh okay, all right, you could obligate it before 2024, but expend before.

J

2020, okay, so you could gift over say three years. Yes, yes, and the act was written. That way, I think.

J

Contemplating the fact that different needs will arise and over the course of the years karen, I.

H

Have a question for you, because my understanding was that uh we would come up with recommendations.

H

Based on public hearings and so forth, and that that would ultimately go to the city council.

H

For their their discretion, correct, that's correct, yep! Okay, in the same way that other considerations.

G

Have been brought to the city council by the staff so far, so maybe it's it's a good time.

G

For me to explain that um a small portion of arpa funds were expended in the fy 22.

G

City uh budget to address hvac and storm water improvements, and then there were two trashes.

G

Of money that that had public hearings that really allowed for items that are on our capital.

G

Improvement plan items in our rolling stock items that are critical to our I.t infrastructure and, as.

G

A good segue to kim a small portion to tee up the community public health assessment.

G

So that's where we get to the total of funds expended appropriated, I should say appropriated.

G

Not all expended of 7.4 million, which leaves 5.467 to be distributed to be obligated and expended.

J

And 2.8 of that is in is is um not lost. Revenue correct. That is a good point of the 5.4 correct.

H

But at the last meeting uh there was a conversation about this 5.4 million.

H

That that number could go down right. That number could very likely go down that this group would be.

G

Focused on making recommendations that are brought as a as a set of priorities from this group.

G

There are other groups vying for the attention of these limited funds. There's a whole list of.

G

City um infrastructure needs that that exists and gets refined. There is a request, for example, of the.

G

Arts and nonprofit advisory group that they are seeking as much as 480 000 toward to help offset.

G

The losses in the arts and nonprofit industry, so, as I as I mentioned uh at the last meeting, this.

G

Money is already spent a bunch of times over, so our job here is to help educate the council.

G

To to help them understand the priorities and and your specific recommendations, because you all see.

G

You all see them in a way that they they don't, and they appreciate your your view and your expertise.

G

um Working as a collective and are decisions being made on a rolling basis as you get, these requests.

B

From various groups or recommendations it has evolved into a bit of that there have been times.

G

At various stages of the two budgeting processes over which we've had these funds available.

G

Where it's been sort of an obvious, how does arpa impact what we're talking about kim will have the.

G

Foresight to say to raise her hand and say it's time to do a public health needs assessment. I.

G

Need that money right now, and that was a that was a one-off, if you will, for which we had a hearing.

G

But it's rolling in nature and I think the council wants to see a holistic approach for how to spend.

G

What what remains of the funds? Okay! Thank you. You may have addressed this at the first meeting. We're.

G

Going to make you speak into the microphone. Oh sorry, those are good. um A number of us work for.

F

Non-Profits that I think, would be wanting to go for some of this money right and I'm wondering if.

F

That's considered enough uh conflict of interest or, if that's been addressed already, that's a good.

F

Question that's a good question. Obviously the application would be as a sub-recipient.

J

I suppose, when it comes to actually vote on your particular proposal, that's probably.

J

Something for you to consider if that actual vote's a conflict, but if the the group as a whole.

J

Made the recommendation, I don't think that would be a conflict, but right and this group is advisory.

G

In nature to the group that will ultimately make the decision right, so you won't be making.

J

The decision you'll just be making the decision of what to propose to the council, but that's a.

G

Great question, because I'm sure that will apply to to a lot of us here just another question to.

H

Follow up on kathy's question or comments around the the rolling process if we do come across.

H

Some emergency need that we, you know, as a body say that this is this- is something worthy of attention.

H

Right away, uh could we make a recommendation on a rolling basis for I, I certainly think.

G

That's an option and I think we it would be incumbent upon this group to determine that and.

G

Perhaps bring it to the to councillor bagley who's, um whose idea was to form.

G

This committee and have him bring forth such a request. I wouldn't want to rule it in or out.

B

There any other questions for jane jane doesn't go far. So if we need jane as a resource that was.

J

Great, thank you. So much good luck! Thank you. I have one question so we'll have time to really.

A

Look through this, you just gave us like a little overview of each section sure between now and the.

A

Next time we meet hopefully we'll get to study this, and I'm assuming we'll have some questions.

A

Here sure and we'll always be a resource, and when I get that presentation out to you all.

G

I'm sure it will jog additional questions. Yes, I can send two documents. I can send the.

J

The powerpoint and if, if you are interested the it's a it's an overview, it's it's from.

J

The treasury and it basically um goes into a little more depth on the four areas, and I can.

J

Attach that, along with my powerpoint and then this is uh you don't want to read the 400 page.

H

I think I'm nancy, that's! Okay, we'll make nancy our in-house expert we're going to read this.

A

First right, but this will really drill down and give you enough to springboard.

J

And then you can go to the specific questions of the act. If you have it.

J

But this, I think, will be very helpful. Okay, great thank you jane. Thank you. Thank you, jane.

B

Next we'll hear from kim mcnamara health officer.

G

Welcome kim good afternoon.

K

Do you have my slides karen.

K

It says recover task force because I can't type there you go it's okay,.

K

Thank you good. Well, first, I'd like to say thank you to the city manager and the city council.

K

For supporting this really important group and effort, many of you have experienced first-hand.

K

The disproportionate effects on some of our most vulnerable citizens and I deeply appreciate the.

K

Work that you do so thank you for being here. Thank you for your time and I certainly hope.

K

It's not a conflict of interest, because this is a good group of people to be discussing this issue.

K

Thank you so I'd like to start with a definition of public health, of which.

K

There are many variations, but public health is a collective art and science performed.

K

By all of you and numerous others that we're so fortunate to have in portsmouth working for the.

K

Collective quality of life in portsmouth, one of the most important definitions is the first line.

K

In the preamble of the constitution to the world health organization, which states health is a state.

K

Of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

K

We often think about the science of health, particularly through coveting, all.

K

But we don't always consider that mental health and social.

K

Well-Being is a very important part of our overall community health. The second line of that.

K

Constitution says the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the.

K

Fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief,.

K

Economic or social condition- and I would add to that or different abilities next slide. Please.

K

So this is the opening statement of an rfp that was released yesterday, city of portsmouth.

K

I'll read mine because I can't see that one city of portsmouth is requesting proposals.

K

For community health profile needs assessment, with recommendations for the development.

K

Of a community health improvement plan.

K

So we're asking for two things and the city council has approved the expenditure of these.

K

Funds for these purposes, the community health profile is going to give us a picture of the.

K

Overall, health of the community of just a broad picture based on demographics and.

K

Leading health indicators, we're also asking for a community needs assessment and that's going.

K

To help us pinpoint gaps in services and unmet needs of the community, particularly with the.

K

Most vulnerable groups, those who have been most disproportionately disrupted by covin.

K

There are some significant challenges, I'm still on the other side. Karen sorry, there.

K

Are some significant challenges in undertaking a community health profile in new hampshire? Some.

K

Of you probably have tried to do this and have learned, but many of the databases that we rely on.

K

Such as the cancer registry, they can be very slow to access and they can be a few years behind. In.

K

Reporting so we're asking for the best available data to be used, but also that the data sources be.

K

Be clearly documented so that we can do future profiles and needs assessments and sort of.

K

Know that we're comparing apples to apples and and know where we stand, we can see.

K

Progress that way- and we can also see decline that way, if we're really careful about that.

K

So I'm really cautious not to over promise and under deliver, which is a little bit. What.

K

This feels like, but I'm certain that going through this process, which will take a lot.

K

Of stakeholder input, including from many people at this table, probably everybody at this table.

K

It will provide us really good information about the overall health status of our community. The.

K

Last health profile was completed in july of 2007 that the city had any sponsorship of, and that was.

K

Funded through a public health grant from the state, so it's long overdue.

K

Next slide, please so um both the community health profile and the community health needs assessment.

K

Will be available to the city council and associated committees such as this one.

K

Organizations, stakeholders and grant writers and with the goal of increasing increasing.

K

Community health through collective impact- which is what I think exactly is the point of this group.

K

Sorry, I already told you that so the community health needs assessment will serve as the.

K

Foundation for a future development of the city of portsmouth health improvement plan.

K

Which will identify and prioritize recommendations for investments.

K

And interventions to improve the city's health equity, wellness and resilience.

K

So that brings me to my first ask of this group already.

K

Here is the rfp timeline, and the rfp was specifically written to be so that the proposals.

K

Are the profile and the needs assessment is pretty much done before this group stops meeting.

K

Because it's very important that the city council have that information and that you, as a group.

K

Have that information going forward to make any recommendations? So I would ask that if you agree.

K

With that, one of the recommendations you could make to the city council is that once this process.

K

We're undertaking now is completed that the next step be a community health improvement plan.

K

Next slide, please.

K

Sorry there we go it's all right.

K

So jane brilliantly explained the arpa monies, but um there is one thing that I want to make clear.

K

To my knowledge, none of the opera funds have been spent on public health services in portsmouth.

K

We worked long hard hours for many months, but we did that using state resources. The.

K

Mobile vaccination van or state funds, which paid some of our counterparts, the health department.

K

Does not get overtime, we did not receive arpa funds, and so I just want to be clear that so.

K

Far on public health needs, I don't believe any has been spent not for our department. Anyhow.

K

um Could what just explain that a little bit more? That means the funds that are available. You.

A

Already did apply for some of them. No, I'm saying exactly. Oh, so I'm saying something different than.

K

What I think you are thinking of interpreting we. um It was mentioned by jane that some of these.

K

Could have been used for a public health workforce and paying a certain health care, uh public health.

K

Workers more money that didn't happen. We haven't touched any of these monies. We haven't asked.

K

For any of that, you haven't asked, we did ask for monies to fund this community health profile and.

K

Needs assessment which the city manager graciously bought brought to city council and they approved.

K

So that's how we were able to that's been approved, yeah, that's how we were able to put the rfp out.

K

Yesterday start the work on that. So what I want to point out here as jane already went over with.

K

You, but um one of the main uses of arpa funds is addressing systemic public health and economic.

K

Challenges that have contributed to the unequal impact of the pandemic on certain populations.

K

We we know that we have many disproportionately affected populations in portsmouth and you.

K

Probably know that better than um than I do, we know that we have child care.

K

And youth crisis, innovation, intervention programs that are running at half capacity.

K

Because this is there's not a workforce left to allow them to meet the required.

K

Ratios for state licensing and funding, this affects a number of local families as well.

K

They can't return to their jobs without safe and consistent child care. We know we have.

K

Senior and disabled residents that lost their home health care and social services throughout.

K

Covid and we've intervened with some that were in very dire situations and had been for months.

K

We know we have intellectually and developmentally disabled residents that need daily instruction.

K

And reinforcement to maintain those to maintain skills that have taken them years to master and.

K

They've been set back severely and are going to have to regain those skills we have children and.

K

Youth youth that have lost instruction inclusion and rewarding accomplishments, such as learning.

K

uh An instrument developing their artistic talents or their performing arts sports.

K

And physical fitness opportunities and life saving skills such as swim, lessons.

K

I'm sure many of you in your field of ex expertise could probably add greatly to that list. The needs.

K

Assessment should help us to gather in a comprehensive manner those different parts.

K

Of the community health status and give us a clearer picture.

K

um When our funds were first announced, uh the health department started gathering.

K

Some information from local nonprofits that serve these vulnerable populations and.

K

To karen's point, as of yesterday, the health department has been notified of.

K

Needs in excess of 2.6 million dollars from many local nonprofits, but there's also many other.

K

Local human service organization, nonprofits that we haven't heard from.

K

So in looking at the commonalities between what people have submitted, there are a lot.

K

Of overlapping need and I think that a comprehensive review of what is needed.

K

And then some good planning and you could probably get um the outcomes. People need for much more cost.

K

Effectively than every uh non-profit individually, putting in you know, transportation, for example, is.

K

A big theme that has come: you know that we even have available services that people can't access.

K

Because people can't get to them, so um I don't know how much into those discussions this group.

K

Is going to get, but um I think that a coordinated look at those things is a very important thing.

K

In addition, I was just going to ask a question about um so this survey is going to go out to.

H

Every resident of of portsmouth or house house in the community health profiles. No, um but there are.

K

Very there are various legs of it and it it would probably take quite a bit of time to describe it.

K

But the things that will happen is there will be stakeholder meetings. There will be interviews with.

K

um People that play prominent roles we do want to hear from actually the people receiving services.

K

Or needing services, so we don't want it to be completely agency based. You know what they tell us.

K

The need is, we do want to hear, like some parents groups of different individuals about that. I've.

G

Just put that slide back up just to give a sense of what kim is talking about? Yes, so this this is.

K

The outline for how they're going to respond to us and and tell us what's going to be done so we're.

K

Going to have the stakeholder meetings to begin within 30 days of when we get a proposal finalized.

K

Within 60 days, we're hoping that they will submit this community health profile needs assessment to.

K

The city health department, so that we can begin looking at it. We've asked for monthly feedback so.

K

If they look at a segment of data and they say, listen, we've completed the information.

K

We're concerned about your developmentally disabled residents. They can submit that to us.

K

Prior to the final report, so that we can then start maybe doing some work on that or.

K

So be coming in in bits and pieces, but the final profile and needs assessment. We're asking for.

K

Them to give back to us in 90 days of when the proposal or the contract starts, that's a very.

K

Quick turnaround but we've been very pleased to see many quite capable agencies.

K

That said, they were interested in receiving the rfp to see what they could do and we can break it.

K

Down we can do a community health profile. If one agency has those skills a little bit more than the.

K

Needs assessment, the needs assessment, we really want to be local and we want it to be focused on.

K

What we've already seen and we already kind of know and then hard data behind it.

K

That's you know it's going to be a little bit of art because we don't have great data in some.

K

Arenas, but how did you distribute the rfp? Did you identify local non-profits or did it? How did it.

E

Go out through this city, the rfp is for um public health agencies that know how to do these profiles.

K

And so what we did was we asked people on our former blue mayor's blue ribbon committee for.

K

Public health, they have some very good connections. We talked to unh, we talked to the manchester.

K

Health department, the nashua health department, we talked to some people in boston and dartmouth.

K

And we just gathered names of people who were doing this work and people who.

K

Came with recommendations and for every name that we received, we sent out the rfp okay, so.

K

So um forward, I'm sorry, I went backward on you. No that's that's fine!.

K

um We can stay right here um because, in addition to the 2.6 million that people have already.

K

Identified as needs, the health department has asked for three million dollars of arpa funds.

K

To be set aside until the completion of this community health profile and needs assessment,.

K

And then decide on that I mean the this is one of four uses for this, but it's really.

K

Important to understand that public health needs almost never get funding like this.

K

The last infusion of federal dollars, of of any real magnitude that we saw, I believe, was after.

K

9 11 and that's kind of typical, so we do have a variety of needs, but this might be an opportunity.

K

To really look at systemic public health issues here and so that's the second ask I have of this.

K

Group is that I would ask you to make public health a priority. I realize that I'm beating the.

K

Public health drum, but that's my job, but it's also just what's fair, and so I would. I would like it if.

K

This group would consider the recommendation that public health would be a priority for these funds.

K

um That's the next slide, please, and that is my email address. um I want to thank you very much for.

K

This opportunity to be here and to speak to you again, I any any questions or comments or anything.

K

That I can do for this group, please email me and I'm happy to to do so. I will be out uh or away.

K

For a couple of weeks, but um when I get back I'm quite eager to help, if I can, I just have a quick.

D

Question greater seacoast, greater portsmouth is that just portsmouth that was the 2007.

K

Profile was greater portsmouth, but that's a great question because we might need to go.

K

To that, because there just isn't great data or if your numbers are too small, you can't report things.

K

If they're identifiable, but if we say listen, rockingham county has this public health issue and.

K

We do have portsmouth residents that fit into that category, so I assume that there's going to be some.

K

Data that comes in that cannot be broken out from the county level, so it's data driven, not.

D

By I thought there might be other communities well, this is this is as portsmouth specific as possible.

K

Because portsmouth is paying for it. Thank you. It makes sense to me that um having you come back.

H

And as as this needs, assessment begins to get out into the community, and you start to see data.

H

To your point about us at least having a conversation about making public health a priority.

H

That you come back and report out what you're seeing because I think ultimately, that's going.

H

To help us come to some conclusions, so your input will be really critical.

K

Thank you. um Thank you. So we already have a master list of issues and populations that we.

K

Want these applicants um to to look at you know and it's fairly comprehensive, but I expect that.

K

You all and people that are on the community care team, which we have an extensive contact list for.

K

Will be, we will be asking them like? Are there any groups that that we've missed.

K

In this you know, are there any types of data that you're looking for? Are there any.

K

Public health issues that may not be tied to a specific group, you know, such as gun, violence or.

K

Or eating disorders, or whatever, that you would like to see as part of this we're going to ask.

K

For everything that we can and we'll see what we can afford and what we get back for answers.

B

All right any other questions. Thank you, ken thanks. Thank you. Thank you. So much.

B

So is this meeting supposed to stop at one? I think the intent is to try to manage people's.

G

Time as effectively as possible and give people a sense that if we can stick to an hour, yep, okay, so.

B

Given that um we are a little behind on our agenda so um and we need time for the public comments.

G

So far we have no members of the public. If that changes I'll, let you know oh okay,.

G

Great, um so what we were hoping to do was kind of look at next steps. You know today was.

B

Really about getting some information about the use of the funds and the public health.

B

Survey, that's being done and to kind of brainstorm what might be helpful for other people? We might.

B

Need to hear from or other information that this group could have before we kind of dive into.

B

The conversations and the strategy around what are those things that are there.

B

And pressing and needs that of the community that we're trying to address.

B

So we also at the last meeting set this meeting and one in two weeks from now, and I I don't know.

B

If the plan was to revisit, if that's going to continue to be the schedule- or um I don't know.

B

If you remember, I'm not remembering, um I think we had less critical mass at the last meeting, so the.

G

Idea was if we have more warm committee members or task force members here. Okay, you could weigh.

G

In on the deal like every two weeks, do you like tuesdays at noon? Things like that? Okay? So maybe.

B

In our short amount of time left, we can talk about what makes sense for meeting times and.

B

Then maybe some ideas for what we want to see at the meeting, that's scheduled in two weeks.

E

Kathy you mentioned possibly breaking into subcommittees that could meet outside of.

E

These meetings, I think a lot of this seems to be pretty time sensitive, especially if we're perhaps.

E

Competing for funds- and we want a lot of these funds to stay within this public health sector, so.

E

Perhaps like subcommittees might be effective way. That was something that was brought up at the last.

B

Meeting- and I think we wanted to get to the point where we were trying to figure out kind of what.

B

Our focus areas were, and if we narrowed that down to then see if there was more work, that could be.

B

More effective, how does that work karen if there's subcommittees for public? um That's a good question.

G

And subcommittees can work as a working group and bring back what they discussed to this group.

G

Okay, so it just needs to be noted that there are subcommittees and that they right back out. I think.

G

To be super safe, the subcommittee would never want to be more than a quorum of the entire body.

G

So if so, if a subcommittee has a couple people, two or three that would never be considered as.

G

Tripping a quorum, we keep the subcommittee small and they act as a working group that.

G

Reports back to the public body that it that is safe from a right to know on public records. Okay,.

G

But I do agree that we're probably going to get to that point because of our timeline and all of.

B

The different pieces, I think what we should also mention, is for those who weren't here last time.

G

That uh there will be a report to the council in december to talk about um the progress the group.

G

Has made and any recommendations they'd like to make at that time and and I think baked into that.

G

Would be consideration of whether the group should continue on or sunset, depending on how the work of.

G

The group is going okay. What date is september? Yeah I don't know. There are two council meetings.

G

One on the fifth of december and one on the 19th december: okay, oh gosh, right, let's meet every day.

A

I have a couple of questions, just learning about or trying to kind of understand everything that.

A

Might we might participate in or what we should be doing or making like? I would.

A

Like to learn more about what kim has to say about public health issues, that's my background.

A

So can I'm just being open um about that? So do we each choose or work together I mean what what are.

A

You asking: what are we supposed to be doing? um No, besides learning all about this stuff, then.

A

Making recommendations yeah well, and I think that that's the conversation I think we have to have.

B

And our question was: do we need more information before we dive into that conversation of.

B

You know like one of the things that talking about kind of the overlapping needs, my takeaway from the.

B

Last meeting was that there's these overlapping needs and if we can look at some of those and.

B

Come up with some ideas that will have a greater impact across across the board that that's kind.

B

Of what we're tasked with is figuring out those, so those could be looking at all the different things.

B

Whether we focus on you know, seniors children, mental health, transportation, all the different.

B

Pieces, given that we have the wealth of knowledge and information in this room about what we're all.

B

Seeing um among the folks that we're in contact with the other thing to keep in mind is that.

H

We will, in addition to all of the expertise in this room. I mean we're being asked to have.

H

Public hearings um and at those public hearings we will hear from folks who have you know their.

H

Their take on where they would like to see this money spent, which is which is great uh to see that.

H

um Karen, I I think I I would benefit from having somebody like sean clancy. Come.

H

And do a little bit of uh report out on economic development and.

H

Because all of to me, in my mind, all of this is tied together. You know public health.

H

You need to have a healthy community and part of that is uh employment, jobs and all that goes. You.

H

Know, business development and so forth, and um I really think that certainly I would benefit from.

H

Some sort of a presentation and where the city is related to its success or challenges sure with.

H

Economic development and how that plays a part into public health happy to make that happen.

H

And then I think I mean that's, I don't know who else we would want to see come and talk to us. I.

B

Mean I don't know if people have any where you can say something, um I'm interested in who's on the.

C

Community care team that kim mentioned is that a public body I don't know I can ask her to provide.

G

That to us community care team. I think that's for complex patients that we share amongst each other.

D

To coordinate the care, that's my understanding! That's what we do.

B

Yeah, so there's multiple agencies that are part of that: the cct meetings, yeah, okay, cct meetings.

C

Great okay: um are there other folks that people feel like we need to get more information from.

B

Or do we want to, you know, will mention sean clancy? Do we want to get see if sean can join us at one.

B

Of our meetings, but then also kind of are ready to dive right in um in looking at what, where we.

B

Want to go, have we decided of those four groups that we're just going to focus on public health.

H

No, we haven't decided the charge. The charge is broad, sorry well to cut you off, but I'm.

G

Reading from the email that essentially uh paraphrases the vote of the council and.

G

The idea would be for this group to evaluate challenges and identify low-cost, high-impact.

G

Recovery solutions that could utilize arpa monies, so the idea is what does that mean to this group.

I

Really yep so should we maybe become prepared to what does it mean too? That's not a bad idea. It.

D

Says the group you know each of us individually as to what we see in the field, I'll recirculate.

G

To the group, um the mission and the charge that little paragraph but kelly barnaby.

G

Sent it to most of you, I know we have a new email for andrea and I know we didn't include nancy in.

G

That first go around because you were a late um appointment, so oh you mean talking with each other.

G

Yeah, we'll recirculate the mission charge so that you, when you're having that conversation.

G

You have the language in front of you. Can I just caution us that I know we all have our.

H

Specific interests and that that's that's great, but but I think that.

H

Body like this really requires us to think much more globally beyond our own immediate.

H

Organizations and needs because, ultimately for me, it is about how do we set? How do we.

H

Identify the big picture issue that or issues that really need to be addressed with this.

H

Bucket of money as much as possible in as efficient and effective a way as possible.

H

So that's obviously going to have an impact I mean, I think, if we think about it that way,.

H

It will have an impact on uh probably all of our organizations in some way or other.

B

Yeah and when janet brought up, you know coming to the table with our thoughts.

B

I was really thinking of it as those overlapping needs. You know what what.

B

Are we seeing out there that are overlapping needs of all of the community that we're serving.

C

Would it be good for us to review the master plan for the city, probably before our next meeting, so.

C

That we also know where the city is investing tens of millions of dollars so that maybe, if there's an.

C

Opportunity to, like you said, overlap and integrate um expenditures that could be more impactful.

C

Or is there someone that can speak to the master plan and an overview, the master plan could take up.

G

You know so much broad bandwidth. The last time the city did, a 10-year master plan was 2015, so we'll.

G

Be gearing up in the next year or two for the next update to that the other. So that's a great thing.

G

To look at and at least read the executive summary for it's on our website. The other thing to look at.

G

Is the most recent capital improvement plan that that's where you see a six-year set of priorities.

G

Across city departments- and that includes school, fire and police.

G

On how the city sees its investments and and how to parse those out over time, so.

G

um It will make sense to you, as you peruse that document how it made sense for us to use some of.

G

The opera monies to offset some of those costs, which then in turn, was the most equitable way.

G

To share the benefit to the residents, so we didn't have to raise taxes and we could.

G

Make those across the board considerations? Okay, thank you. We talked last meeting about focusing.

F

On children and families with this money right, we heard that from councillor bagley.

F

That that was the charge of this group, and I know we talked about numbers around- that like.

F

Maybe not all of it, but a majority of it like. I just want to make sure that people who weren't.

F

Here last time knew heard that from him well, there's a way to shape that kathy and will put the.

G

Agenda together, so maybe that that consideration gets um wrapped into an agenda item for for.

G

For the next meeting yeah, and can I offer that if people have agenda items to email, the two of you.

G

Mm-Hmm that'd be okay; okay! Yes, so um we will wrap that into the next agenda meeting, um which.

G

We do have scheduled for next week, two weeks from now on the 23rd. Do we want to move forward with.

B

This time frame for some september meeting.

I

Yeah that works for me, I'm just thinking knowing how busy we all are, that we want to get some stuff.

B

On our calendars, yes, so with the second and the fourth tuesday work, we talked last time about.

B

For now, we wanted to have some frequent meetings to just get things going and then again determine.

B

Subcommittees or whatever else we might be doing so that would mean the 13th and the 27th. Yes,.

A

That's so we're agreeing to the second and fourth tuesdays of next month.

G

I think it's a discussion item yeah. It's a discussion item; okay, discuss; okay; well, one.

B

Thing we could do is if it would be helpful to get the 13th on the schedule and then also make a.

B

Kind of plan out at our next meeting, some several other dates that might work also.

H

Karen in terms of public hearings or stakeholder here uh meetings, how do we.

H

Arrange those at some point we're gonna have to do some of those assuming later um so that the.

G

Group would decide when and where you'd like to do that we could. We can identify a a series of.

G

City facilities that can handle a production of this type, where we could allow people to zoom.

G

And there's enough people to space for people to attend in person. So if you all agreed on a a.

G

Cadence, for that or a number of places and times you'd want to meet, we could we could find them.

G

In locations that move us around the city and so we're not just always at city hall, we have.

G

The community campus as an option fire station, two, the library, I'm sure the school, the schools.

G

Would be um supportive of this as well great? We want to put that on as an agenda item for next.

I

Next meeting just to start to discuss: okay, will we have access to jane's um presentation on.

A

Arpa yes I'll, be sending that along and thanks for making that point time. There look at the four.

H

Hundred pages- well, I just would at least presented today and then we could look at the other. There.

G

Are two folks in my office, jessica, griffin and joanna diemer they'll be the ones sending out.

G

Information, so if you see an email from them, it's it's on behalf of the group they're working to.

G

Stand up the admin portion of this great so before we do a motion to adjourn just to recap that we.

B

Have two meetings scheduled one in two weeks on the 23rd and then another one on september, 13th.

B

um Sean mayer, sean clancy may or may not be at one of those meetings, um but we'll be revisiting dates.

B

And um kind of the process of where we want to go from here at the next meeting.

D

I just have a quick question: should I email the two of you, the minutes.

D

The first to look at, of course: okay: do you want to see them too, karen? No! No. Thank you.

B

All right any other questions before we do a motion to adjourn.

B

Do we have a motion to adjourn motion to adjourn, let's say good night.

B

All in favor aye aye. Thank you. Everybody.

B