4.8. SR 10-20-1997.y of
iver
MEMORANDUM
Item #4.8.
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor & City Council
Pat Klaers, City Administrator
October 20, 1997
Rivers of Hope Request for Financial
Contribution
This agenda item will need to be heard by the City Council out of its normal
agenda order. Representatives of the Rivers of Hope organization cannot be
in attendance at the October 20, 1997, City Council meeting until after 8:00
Attached for your information is some material from the Rivers of Hope
organization which helps explain the organization's request for municipal
financial assistance. In February 1997 a similar request came forward and
the City Council, on a 4-1 vote, approved giving this organization $5,000 out
of its 1997 City Council Contingency Fund.
The background material notes that the City of Buffalo has budgeted to
support this organization and also that it is believed that the City of
Monticello will do the same. In discussing this issue with the City of
Monticello city administrator it was noted that they have no policy regarding
contributions. This request is in the Monticello draft budget, but due to tax
levy concerns the administrator plans to recommend to the City Council that
this contribution not be included in the 1998 budget. Regarding the City of
Buffalo, it contributed $2,000 in 1997 and plans to contribute $2,000 in 1998.
Buffalo is dealing with the same issues as Elk River in that it is seeing more
and more worthy requests come forward and it anticipates even more
requests in the future as federal, state, and county funding for these services
are reduced. Buffalo has no local policy on contributions and, like Monticello
and Elk River, uses the state law as its guidance.
As we have previously discussed, the state law is somewhat "fuzzy" and
depends on the local elected officials judgment as to what is an appropriate
local contribution for specific programs. Buffalo, like Elk River, is concerned
that if a city policy is approved, then this policy will most likely severely limit
the City Council flexibility in what it can contribute towards. By this I mean
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
it will be very difficult for City Councils (for contribution purposes) to
distinguish between the Rivers of Hope and other organizations such as the
Arts Council, Chamber of Commerce, local theater group, Central Minnesota
Initiative Fund, Boys' and Girls' Club, Historical Society, Boy and Girl Scout
organizations, CAER, etc.
As noted in February, it is very beneficial to Elk River to have the Rivers of
Hope organization operate in our community and that regardless if the city
contributes again, we hope that it can continue to provide services. Whether
or not Elk River should contribute again and how much it should contribute
if it does will be discussed by the City Council at its October 27, 1997, budget
worksession. At this time I am not recommending financial support for this
organization as we have already given some funds and I believe it is more
appropriate for this organization to get funding from county social services
budgets, United Way programs, the state, and contributions from non-
government entities.
It is recommended that the City Council receive information at this October
20 meeting on the Rivers of Hope organization and their needs, ask questions
about this operation, and then indicate that this issue will be discussed by
the Council at a later date. The Council may also want to indicate that it is
uncertain as to what level of funding, if any, can be provided due to tax levy
concerns. Additionally it can be noted that the municipal budget has a public
hearing on December 1, 1997, for calendar year 1998, and that the city
budget will be approved in December after this December 1, 1997, public
hearing.
\\elkriver\sys\shrdoc\council\rvrshope.doc
(612) 441-0792 (612) 682-6424 1-800-439-2642
Elk River Office Buffalo Office Outside the Metro
Shcrburne County Wright County dialing area
October 14, 1997
Mayor Duitsman and City Council Members
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway P.O. Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330
Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
Earlier this year representatives of Rivers of Hope came before you to explain the services
we provide to this city and the surrounding communities and our need for funding for operational
expenses. We received $5000 from the City of Elk River to be used towards our Youth Advocacy
Program which provides violence prevention and early intervention services for Junior and Senior
High students. That funding was most helpful. We have been asked this year to expand our
services to the Elk River Area Learning Center. We are coming to you now in order for you to
take our services and our needs into consideration during your process of budget setting for 1998.
The work we do at Rivers of Hope is unique in that we provide a myriad of services at no
charge to victims of domestic violence. The basic service we offer is advocacy which requires
qualified and specifically trained staff to work one on one with the hundreds of people who come to
us for help every quarter. We also work with law enforcement, social services, the Sherburne
County Attorney's office, local schools and others to coordinate this community's response to
domestic violence.
We know this city is committed to improving the quality of life for its young people,
especially in the light of the alarming rise in youth violence. We know also that violence breeds
violence and all the parks, teen centers, sports arenas, and special activities in the world cannot
undo the violence perpetrated on family members within too many homes in Elk River. Children
who witness domestic violence within their homes are at a higher risk of juvenile delinquency,
including crimes such as burglary, arson, prostitution, running away, drug use and assaults. They
also experience a 6 times greater likelihood of attempted suicide, a 24% greater likelihood of
committing sexual assault crimes, they are 74% more likely to commit crimes against a person and
have a 50% greater likelihood of drug and alcohol abuse. Rivers of Hope can and does have an
effect on these kinds of statistics in Elk River. We can only carry on this important work however,
with the support of our communities. Continued support from the cities we serve will assist our
organization in continuing to provide quality services to community residents who have been
victimized by domestic violence.
To Build a Community Free of Domestic Violence
Through Advocacy and Education
Please find attached our current budget, a chart with the number of individuals served by
Rivers of Hope in the last three years, and a letter of reference from the Sherburne County
Attorney
The budget indicates our funders. You may be interested to know that the City of Buffalo
has budgeted to support us in the coming year and we believe the City of Monticello will do the
same. We will be visiting other cities in the next month.
Thank you once again for past support and please consider favorably a resolution to
support this important and effective organization on a regular basis.
Sincerely,
Margaret Ostman,
Executive Director
RECEIPTS:
RIVERS OF HOPE
PROPOSED STATEMENT OF INCOME & EXPENSE FOR FISCAL 1998
JULY 1, 1997 -JUNE 30, 1998
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY PROGRAM
SHERBURNECO.
WRIGHT CO.
United Way $ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00
Social/Human Services 27,500.00 22,250.00
MN Dept. of Corrections 38,000.00 38,000.00
MN Dept. of Economic Security --.- _._
County Fine Money 3,000.00
Area Churches 750.00 750.00
Community/Service Organizations 500.00 1,875.00
Businesses 300.00 3,750.00
Individuals 365.00 2,000.00
Other Foundations/Grants --.- 8,250.00
TOTAL RECEIPTS: $ 75,415.00 $ 81,875.00
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
INTERVENTION PROGRAM
YOUTH ADVOCACY
PROGRAM
DISBURSEMENTS:
Salaries $ 54,275.00 $ 56,875.00
Payroll Taxes/Workmen's Comp 5,125.00 5,370.00
Health Insurance 1,010.00 500.00
Travel 1,975.00 1,875.00
Publicity/Advertising 125.00 125.00
Office Expenses 580.00 580.00
Legal & Accounting Services 1,495.00 1,495.00
Contracted Services 125.00 125.00
Conference & Education 250.00 250.00
Dues & Subscriptions 70.00 70.00
Equipment Lease 300.00 320.00
Equipment Purchase 250.00 250.00
Meals 70.00 70.00
Insurance 1,375.00 1,375.00
Maintenance - Eqpt. 65.00 65.00
Resource Materials 245.00 245.00
Postage 400.00 400.00
Printing 300.00 300.00
Rent 5,235.00 8,715.00
Telephone 2,080.00 2,805.00
Misc. Expenses 65.00 65.00
SHERBURNECO.
$ 1,000.00
1,880.00
27,000.00
750.00
1,875.00
3,750.00
2,000.00
$ 38,255.00
SHERBURNE & WRIGHT
$ 6,500.00
870.00
43,000.00
750.00
3,250.00
7,200.00
3,635.00
12,670.00
$ 77,875.00
$ 25,925.00
2,450.00
1,275.00
125.00
260.00
1,495.00
125.00
250.00
70.00
300.00
250.00
70.00
1,375.00
65.00
245.00
400.00
300.00
2,245.00
965.00
65.00
$ 51,960.00
4,900.00
990.00
3,575.00
125.00
580.00
1,495.00
125.00
250.00
70.00
620.00
250.00
70.00
1,375.00
65.00
245.00
400.00
300.00
7,695.00
2,720.00
65.00
TOTAL BUDGET
ALL PROGRAMS
$ 17,500.00
52,500.00
103,000.00
43,000.00
3.000.00
3,000.00
7,500.00
15,000.00
8,000.00
20.920.00
$273,420,00
$189,035.00
17,845.00
2.500.00
8,700.00
500.00
2,000.00
5,980.00
500.00
1,000.00
280.00
1,540.00
1,000.00
280.00
5,500.00
260.00
980.00
1,600.00
1,200.00
23,890.00
8,570.00
260.00
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS: $ 75,415.00 $ 81,875.00 $ 38,255.00 $ 77,875.00 $273,420.00
ADULTS
AnokaCounty
Benton County
Hennepin County
Isanti County
Meeker County
Mille Lacs County
Ramsey County
Scott County
Sherburne County
Stearns County
Wright County
Miscellaneous Counties
NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS SERVED BY RIVERS OF HOPE
(Denoted by Counties)
Jan I -Dec 31,1994
Jan 1-Dec 31,1995
Jan I - Dec 31, 1996
10 9 18
2 0 1
7 12 25
3 1 4
0 0 4
0 5 4
0 0 4
0 3 1
217 332 384
2 2 2
273 316 378
3 1 2
JUVENILES
Anoka County
Hennepin County
McLeod County
Meeker County
Morrison County
Sherburne County
Stearns County
Wright County
1 4 5
1 3 4
0 1 3
0 9 28
0 0 1
35 158 134
0 1 4
2 49 116
TOTAL INDIVIDUALS SERVED
556 906 1122
(**These figures do not include those individuals who remained anonymous when requesting referral
services/information or attending support group)
Sherburne County
Walter M. Kaminsky
County Attorney
As,_ =nt County
Attorneys:
Thomas N. Pdce
Nancy J. Logedng
Thomas C, McNinch
Kathleen A. Heaney
Christopher J. Johnson
Dean E. Emanuel
Rosita Serrano
Investigator:
Gary E. Poslusny
Victim Services
Coordinators:
Mary Bender
Chris Meland
Government Center 13880 Highway 10 · Elk River, MN 55330-4601
January 14, 1997
(612) 241-2565
Fax (612) 241-2575
1-800-433-5244
RE: Rivers of Hope Funding
Dear Funding Provider:
Every year, more domestic violence cases require our review and prosecution.
These cases are especially difficult because victims feel depressed, frustrated,
powerless, and dependent on the abuser for economic and emotional survival.
Your serious consideration of Rivers of Hope funding request will help these
victims.
Over the last ten years in Sherburne and Wright Counties, I have witnessed
Rivers of Hope play a vital role in helping victims wade through our criminal
justice system. Whether they be responding to a victim's after midnight crisis,
explaining an Order for Protection, waiting with a victim and her baby for hours
before the Court hears their case, assisting our staff, counseling teenagers, or
educating a local police department, Rivers of Hope remains dedicated in the
assistance of domestic abuse victims.
In short, Rivers of Hope needs and deserves your support.
without re~ ,rvation R~yers of Hope's funding request.
\ /
WMK:Ic
I recommend
~.,y of
iver
MEMORANDUM
Item #4.9.
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor & City Council
Pat Klaers, City Ad~
October 20, 1997
County Attorney Discussion on
Upcoming Legislation Regarding
Personal Property Tax
Assistant County Attorney Kathleen Heaney has requested to be on this City
Council agenda to present information to the City Council regarding personal
property tax legislative issues. As the Council knows, this was a hot issue at
the legislature last year and affects us as the proposals relate to the power
plants in Elk River and Sherburne County. The personal property tax issue
is certain to come forward again in the 1998 legislative session. A municipal
group and a county group are both working independently and together on
this legislative issue.
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425