The meeting convened at 5:08. Hawkins moved to approve the agenda as submitted; seconded by Pulliam; carried by unanimous vote. Pulliam moved to approve the minutes as amended; seconded by Hawkins; carried by unanimous vote.

OFFICER'S REPORT/CITY COUNCIL INFORMATION. Kahoun reported on recent Council actions, including approving the 108 loan and this year's weatherization contract.

Overman read the Board's letter to the Manager asking for a status report on last May's recommendations regarding neighborhood evaluation.

Overman said he had heard the Mayor wanted to talk to neighborhood groups regarding his plan to consolidate the City and County governments. Overman moved to invite the Mayor to one of the Board's meetings to discuss his plan; seconded by Volm; carried by unanimous vote.

COMMUNITY SERVICE DIVISION – COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM. Ashton gave a presentation on the services provided by the Community Services Division.

COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (CSBG) FIRST QUARTER REPORT. Ashton presented the CSBG first quarter report. Overman moved to approve the report; seconded by Hawkins.

CSBG BUDGET AMENDMENT. Ashton said the CSBG allocation this year was going to be more than anticipated, and the Community Services Division would like to use the excess along with I-CARE funds to provide utility subsidies for low income people after April 1. Ashton said staff is concerned that this winter's extremely high utility bills plus high cooling bills this summer will add up into an amount that people cannot pay down. They might get disconnected and start next fall's heating season without utilities. Being able to increase the subsidy may help this situation.

Jasso moved to approve the budget amendment; seconded by Overman.

HUD CONSOLIDATED PLAN – YEAR 2000 PROGRAM RESULTS. Minks presented a preview of the CAPER, the annual report on the Consolidated Plan. Minks said this report will be more user-friendly than previous years and the Board should be able to clearly see what goals the Consolidated Plan set, which agencies were funded to fulfill them, and what has been accomplished so far in the five-year plan. The final report will be available for public review in March.

COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CHDC) – REQUEST TO USE FUNDING FROM 2001 AWARD FOR YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM. Carol Bower presented a request from CHDC to use $20,000 of 2001 CDBG funds which were allocated for a bilingual job training program for the Youthbuild Program instead. Bower said matching funds for the bilingual program didn't come through, but the Youthbuild program was going very well, with ten nonprofits collaborating on the program. Bower said she believed this program could become a model for other cities. Utilizing the funds this way will get them through this year and put the program in a better position to apply for funds next year. They may also receive funding from Target.

Jasso asked if PACE couldn't do the program instead; Bower said they were part of the collaboration, but they did not have the houses and job sites that CHDC had. CHDC will be the lead agency; PACE, Prism, and Youth Homes of Mid America will do enrollment and qualifying of candidates; Spectrum Resources will do the classroom training, and the local trade unions will take graduates into apprenticeship programs if they choose to go on. Participants can also earn credits toward their GEDs. Hawkins asked what ages the participants will be; Bower said they will be 16-20. The program participants will be primarily "in the system." Volm asked if the bilingual program would continue; Bower said CHDC will continue it on a small scale until IFA gets their program going.

Jasso moved to approve the request; seconded by Pulliam.

NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT. Kahoun distributed the final copy of the ordinance changes regarding Boards and Commissions, and said Overman's appointment would be on the Council agenda on February 26. Kahoun said the NRB subcommittee on contract sales' meeting would be delayed until March 14. Kahoun said the Board had worked through the list of presentations they requested her to set up, and she asked that the Board let her know if there were any more they wanted. Volm asked if there could be a presentation by the Polk County Housing Trust Fund.

Kahoun asked the Board to let her know if they still wanted to have a meeting with all the neighborhood associations; the Board asked her to arrange it. Nixon said she would like to have a presentation on what the NRB is created so it could be shown at neighborhood meetings. Pulliam said he would like to have a copy of the new neighborhood listing; Kahoun said it is on the web now. Pulliam said there should be an annual meeting when all neighborhood association officers, particularly the newly-elected ones, are invited to meet and get to know the NRB. Kahoun said NCDA week would be a good time.

COMMITTEE/REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS. Nixon said Roy Bradshaw, director of the Neighborhood Development Corporation, was resigning. The NDC does not know if they will stay at United Way – they may move back to the NFC. Regarding Hiskey-owned property in Nixon's neighborhood, the NDC has a right of first refusal agreement with Hiskey.

OTHER BUSINESS. Overman reminded the Board that if one less person had come to the meeting, they would have been without quorum, and he thanked the members for attending. Pulliam asked if the Board would like a presentation on the Iowa Events Center, and asked the Board for its support. King asked Pulliam and Kahoun to arrange the presentation.

The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.

Jerry Overman, Secretary