HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.KFAB.20191101.RegularKids First Mission: Prom ote the availability of quality, affordable early childhood care &
education, and provide access to early childhood information and resources.
Kids First Advisory Board Meeting
Friday, November 1, 2019 – 11:30 – 1:30
Kids First training room - Yellow Brick Building
215 North Garmisch, Aspen
Present: Chad Schmidt, Rebecca Pascal, Stefan Reveal, Lisa Flynn, Shirley Ritter, Nancy Nichols
Meeting Notes:
• Approve minutes from October 4th meeting – Rebecca moved to approve, Chad seconded, MPU.
• New member process – council appointment
Shirley discussed the current process for approving new board members to the Kids First Advisory
Board. She asked if board members were comfortable with this process or if they felt that there should
be a more formal process.
After discussion the board members suggested that Shirley follow up with Sara Ott (City Manager) and
make sure that she is comfortable with the current process or if she had recommendation for changes.
Shirley will share Sara’s thoughts with the group and then the board members will review and vote on
keeping or changing the process.
• Review Council Budget
Shirley shared information about the City Council budget work session – all items will be approved with
some additional discussion around capital replacement of the building boilers. At this time, City
Council would like information and numbers around replacing the current natural gas boilers with
electric boilers. Kids First is concerned that this could be very expensive for both the building
investment and/or expense and the cost of electricity would be passed onto the childcare tenants who
may not be able to afford this change. The City of Aspen Asset Management team will research the
comparative costs so that we can report back to council. There will be more information and discussion
as costs are determined in 2020.
• Review of Burlingame Commons and the option for short-term childcare
Shirley toured the building with Evan Pletcher from the city Asset department and Stefan, to determine
the feasibility of using the Burlingame Commons building for childcare. There were no serious physical
barriers identified from this perspective. To move forward Shirley will plan to talk with Burlingame
homeowners and HOA, then review planning with an Architect, Fire Marshal, licensing and City
Council.
• Review licensed home childcare barriers AH, HOA, Zoning
Shirley released the Affordable housing (AH), HOA and Zoning document with the information that was
collected at the Community Childcare meeting. One of the things that was on this was the inability to
have childcare in APCHA properties. After checking directly with APCHA it was determined that the
restrictions are not APCHA but instead the HOA covenant and guidelines. Many HOA agreements
prohibit operating a business. When an individual shows interest in having a Home Childcare program
Kids First staff directs them to talk first to their HOA, then to licensing to be sure they can move
forward. Kids First will support these individuals and help if they need additional support.
Shirley is also working on information to be shared in the media around interest in operating a home
childcare program.
• Mental Health Forum
Stefan attended a mental health forum and was asked about community efforts and his thoughts. He
shared that it was interesting that we do screening for many other areas of growth and development and
asked if there was a way to include some of this in the childcare programs. The board discussed the
need to support teachers and families in this area. Shirley will be attending some additional meetings
around this effort and will continue to keep young children and teaching staff as part of the discussion.
There will be more to come as this effort begins to develop into a system of care.
Next meetings: - Kids First Advisory Board
Friday, December 6
Friday, January 10
Friday, February 7
Friday, March 6
Friday, April 3
Friday, May 1