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City Council Meeting Minutes March 2, 2021 <br />Meeting. The general categories for the estimated $2M funding include: <br />• Comprehensive Homeless Needs Assessment <br />• Capacity Building <br />• Rent/Mortgage/Utilities <br />• Business Support <br />• Crisis Funding <br />Staff recommends the 20% ($400,000) funding for Capacity Building be <br />completed in step. The first step would be up to $30,000 to include the: <br />1) Comprehensive Assessment of gaps in services and coordination for <br />homeless and others ($15,000-$25,000) (Staff would like to explore a <br />partnership with Texas State University) <br />2) Set aside funding for Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) <br />licenses to assist with the coordination of services. The estimate is $5,000 <br />The second step, would occur after comprehensive study is complete, in the <br />$370,000 would include allocation of funding to close gaps. This could include <br />training, consultants, equipment, etc. <br />Council Member Baker expressed concerns with setting such a large amount <br />aside for the Comprehensive Needs Assessment. Mr. Baker asked about the <br />license fee for HMIS and how agencies would utilize. Ms. Griffith stated the <br />City would pay for the first year then each agency would be responsible to pay <br />for their own license through HUD. <br />Mayor Pro Tem Member Derrick would like us to use the Abilene Homeless <br />Needs Study that was completed in an effort to assist our non profits and those <br />that are experiencing homelessness in our community. Ms. Derrick shares the <br />same concerns as Council Member Baker regarding the large expense of the <br />study. <br />Mayor Hughson asked if the intent is to hold off on providing services until <br />the needs assessment is complete? Ms. Griffith stated the 80% funding is <br />proposed to be spent on immediate needs and we would not have to wait until <br />the assessment is complete to allocate funds. <br />Council Member Gleason found the Abilene Study informative, but would like <br />to see a needs assessment be completed because our numbers are not exactly <br />the same as Abilene and we have unique situations such as flooding. We need <br />to build up the capacity to handle this for years to come. <br />City of San Marcos Page 6 <br />