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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.KFAB.20210806 Kids First Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Friday, August 6th, 2021 – 11:30 AM Attendees: Beth Cashdan, Stefan Reveal, Rebecca Paschal, Chad Schmit, Sue Way, Shirley Ritter and Nancy Nichols Approved Minutes from July 9th meeting: Beth moved, Sue seconded, MPU Desired Outcomes: Yellow Brick Lease change: The Early Learning Center requested a modification/clarification in the lease under effective use of space. The current paragraph addresses compliance and non-compliance resulting in leased premises may be made available they are requesting that it be restated as the classroom not the whole leased premises. The Leased Premises may be made available to another childcare provider at the sole discretion of Kids First Advisory Board at any time after the 60-day period of non-compliance, if a plan is not acceptable to the Board. In such a case, the failure to maintain the minimums shall constitute an event of default under Article XVI of the Lease Agreement and the Lease Agreement shall be terminated, and the Tenant required to vacate the premises. The Kids First Advisory Board discussed the intent of the lease and that non-compliance would result in the classroom being made available to another provider not all the leased classrooms. It was agreed by members of The Kids First Advisory Board that a change in wording to classroom(s) is the intent of the paragraph. The Kids First Advisory Board agreed to a change in the lease wording for the Early Learning Center. It reads as follows: The leased classroom(s) may be made available to another childcare provider at the sole discretion of Kids First Advisory Board at any time after the 60-day period of non-compliance, if a plan is not acceptable to the Board. In such a case, the failure to maintain the minimums shall constitute an event of default under Article XVI of the Lease Agreement and the Lease Agreement shall be amended, and the Tenant required to vacate the classroom (s). Revised Aspen School District Grant request: The Aspen School District resubmitted its revised grant application as requested by the Kids First Advisory Board. Changes were made to their grant application with the help of Kids First Coaches and Shirley. The Kids First staff recommendation included $3,350 for Workforce and $2,707 for Learning Environment.  Rebecca moved to fund $6,057 for Aspen School District quality improvement funding, Chad seconded, MPU. City Council Childcare goal: Shirley reviewed information about the Aspen City Council childcare capacity goal. This goal included the physical space for a childcare program, support for the childcare workforce, and funding. City Council wants to focus on a new childcare facility in Burlingame III with the design to include 6 to 7 classrooms. This building would be built during the next 2 to 2.5 years. At this time the first steps are being taken to move forward with development and planning of a childcare facility in Burlingame III housing project. Some other first steps will include: • Working with Jen in City Asset Department to begin an RFP process for design work and entitlements for the property. • Asking City Council to be involved in communicating to the public around support, needs and plans of the facility. • Working with Mitzi at the City of Aspen to engage the Burlingame neighborhood, • Kids First Advisory Board being involved in communication and participating in public information events like an open house with the Burlingame community • Development of a timeline – revisit the GANT chart that was previously provided to Kids First. • Reconvene the Capacity Task Force in September. • Kids First Advisory Board is very interested in moving the project forward. Funding for the building is still up in the air with the Wheeler RETT funds off the table but perhaps other internal funding, private partnerships, and a request to Pitkin County Healthy Community Fund. The hope is for funding to be a collaborative effort. Members would like to reconvene the capacity work group. Aspen City staff and council is not opposed to participating in renovation of the current Burlingame Commons with operation becoming a separate agreement with someone operating the childcare program and having a lease agreement with the Burlingame HOA directly. Members would like to see a timeline for all projects and approvals. 2022 Budgeting, Operational Subsidies, Infant/Toddler funding: Shirley reviewed the 2022 budget with the Kids First Advisory Board. Of note the Operational Subsidy account which has been used for infant-toddler funding, is also being used to hold funds that will be programmed to support the early childhood workforce (recruitment and retention). Excess funds from other Kids First budget areas were moved to this fund. Infant/Toddler funding is another item that the Kids First Advisory Board is discussing for the 2022 budget. Shirley previously presented information around potential changes to the Infant/Toddler funding, intended to provide a higher level of support for infant care. The Kids First Advisory Board was asked to review the Infant/Toddler funding options and to be prepared to decide on the Infant/Toddler funding at the next meeting in September. Kids First Advisory Board Meeting Schedule Friday, September 3rd Friday October 1st Friday, November 5th Friday, December 3rd