20261008 Notice Meeting CM Gaffney Jr. CM Peluso RE JEA Utility Assistance Program Brief

>> FRIENDLY FACES IN HERE. PEOPLE WHO CARE VERY DEEPLY TO WANT TO GO AROUND AND DO SOME COOKING OR INTRODUCTIONS STARTING FROM ARE LEFT. ALSO, BRIAN PARKS, YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE THING UP HERE. IF YOU WANT. I DON'T KNOW WHY BETWEEN 2 COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR HER. >> HE'S THERE TO OUR OF CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT. ONE BRYANT PARK'S COUNSELOR'S OFFICE. >> IT AFTERNOON TAVERN A CLIMBER REDISTRICTING OR GOOD AFTERNOON MONET HOLDER AND LARGE ONE AFTERNOON JIMMY PALOOZA DISTRICT 7. >> THAT'S A NO REGINALD GAFFNEY. ENJOY YOUR DISTRICT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. WHEN A GAUGE. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. THINK BEFORE WE EVEN REALLY GET STARTED, I'D LIKE TO DO. IT'S GREAT THAT LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO CO-CHAIR A REVIEW OF THE CHAIR. >> AND I APPRECIATE THAT. SO I GUESS THE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE, YOU KNOW, FOR ME LATELY I HAVE RECEIVED NO MAYOR HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS STATES EMAILS AND BOSSES ABOUT RELIEF. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU GUYS KNOW I'M NOT. WE COMPLETED A 2 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET A FEW WEEKS AGO AND AT THE END OF THE MEETING, OPERA POLLS AGAINST LEGISLATION, $200,000. AS FAR AS REALLY MY COLLEAGUES, THOSE OF COURSE, MANY THOUGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN DOING, I GUESS, CAME IN IN THE IN ON BUDGET NIGHT. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT REALLY, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT ALL THEY HAVE RECEIVED A COUNCILMAN GAFFNEY. YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW RAIN IS HIGH. GAS PRICES ARE $4.50 THING, YOU KNOW, FOOD IS HIGH. WE NEED RELIEF. AND I QUESTION MYSELF AND I ASKED MYSELF, IS CITY COUNCIL DOING ENOUGH? YOU KNOW, SO WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION HAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AT BUDGET ME. WE ALSO HAD THIS ME AND TRANSPORTATION UTILITIES, ME SO TONIGHT WHEN I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH OUR COLLEAGUES TO SEE, ARE WE DOING ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THIS JTA, WHETHER THAT'S A SOCIAL SERVICES, WHETHER THAT'S A CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE. SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. SO THANK YOU, JEN. >> NOTHING THINK. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER YOU. YEAH. I MEAN, WE WERE WE GOT SOME GREAT THINGS DONE BY TONIGHT. WITH THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS WE GOT A REAL FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IT WAS AT THAT TIME WE KIND OF STOOD UP AND IT WAS JUST WE'RE MIXING A LOT OF STREAMS AND THEY'RE HAVING TO BE SOME FRUSTRATED FACES AT THE MOMENT. SO WE SAID, ALL RIGHT, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO TO LITIJA ASSISTANCE, LET'S DO IT OUTSIDE THE BUDGET PROCESS. AND SO HERE WE ARE OUTSIDE THE BUDGET PROCESS. I MEAN, I WAS SAYING IT EARLIER WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY FUNDING OF ANY KIND IN MANEY. IT MAY MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR OUR RESERVES. AND THE REASON WE HAVE RESERVES IS IT'S KNOWN AS A RAINY DAY FUND. I THINK IF YOU LOOK OUTSIDE, IT'S POURING. WE GOT A LOT OF FAMILIES. WE GOT A LOT OF FOLKS IN ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS THAT ARE HURT AN AND AND THAT'S THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT, I BELIEVE A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN KIND OF RESEARCH ON THIS, THE DIFFERENT METHODS FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE WITHIN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, JTA AND OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS. AND AND SO IT WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I DO KIND OF WANT TO PASS IT OFF TO AS GOOD AND SEE KIND OF WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING JTA ABOUT UTILITY ASSISTANCE AND WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS THE YOU GUYS AND TO WORK WITH WHETHER BE THE CITY OR WITH YOUR OUTSIDE PARTNERS. >> SO THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS RENE AND WITH JAY AM AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS JTA. WE DO HAVE SOME CHALLENGES WITH OUR CUSTOMERS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE SEEING THAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING TROUBLE PAYING THEIR BILLS WHENEVER THEY HAVE TROUBLE PAYING THEIR BILLS. JTA IS TAKING IT A STEP FURTHER AND WE HAVE PROCESSES IN PLACE. WE HAVE PROGRAMS IN PLACE. PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH WITHIN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE LIKE COUNCILMAN PLUSA SAID. BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LIST OF AGENCIES. >> SO WE WORK WITH. >> THE UNITED WAY WE WORK WITH. AND IN OUR FOLDERS HERE, THERE'S A LIST OF AGENCIES THAT GAA PARTNERS WITH. WE HAVE SET UP PROCESSES WITH THESE AGENCIES. SO WHENEVER A CUSTOMER CALLS AND THEY SAY THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR BILL, WE HAVE A MANAGER WHO WAS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY AND WE HAVE OUR CHIEF CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE OFFICER WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY. THEY HAVE SET UP A PRO, THE PROCESS WHERE THEY CAN ASSIST OUR CUSTOMERS TO CALL THOSE AGENCIES AND GET THEM ASSISTANCE IF THEY QUALIFY FOR AN SO SOME OF THOSE AGENCIES THAT WE WORK WITH. THERE IS 2 PEOPLE. THERE'S 3 PEOPLE THAT WORK AT THOSE AGENCIES. SO WHEN COUNCIL INCLUSO CALLED ME AND WE TALKED, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND SHARE THE THE AMOUNT THAT YOU ARE THINKING, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT CONCERNING BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT THE AGENCIES THAT WE WORK WITH ARE ABLE TO FUNNEL ALL THAT MONEY TO THE CUSTOMERS THAT JAY IS IT NEEDED. SO THAT'S KIND OF A HIGH LEVEL. WE DO HAVE PROCESSES IN PLACE FOR JTA CUSTOMERS TO CALL. WE HAVE GOT IT ON RJ A WEBSITE. OUR CUSTOMER CARE. CONSULTANTS ARE VERY VERSED AND THE AGENCY PROCESS. AND AGAIN, WE HAVE A MANAGER THAT WORKS REALLY CLOSELY WITH OUR CUSTOMERS AS WELL. SO I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. >> IT DOES. I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING THAT AMOUNT FROM FOLKS IS, HEY, THERE MIGHT BE PAST DO A COUPLE MONTHS. AND I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE SOME KIND OF META PAYMENT PROGRAM STUFF LIKE THAT. HAS THERE EVER BEEN AND YOU GUYS DO INVESTIGATIONS TO SEE LIKE THAT NUMBER DOES SEEM RIDICULOUSLY HIGH. LET'S LET'S MAKE SURE THERE'S NOT A LEAPER. SOMETHING CAN GIVE YOU SORT OF BACK PAY FOR THAT. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER. SO JAY DOES HAVE ENERGY AUDITS AND WATER AUDITS AND THOSE ARE FREE SERVICE THAT WE HAVE WITH FOR CUSTOMERS. WE GO IN AND WE LOOK TO SEE IF YOUR IF YOUR METER IS REGISTERING A HIGH CONSUMPTION ON YOUR WATER IS THERE IS HIGH CONSUMPTION ON YOUR WATER. WE LOOK AT THAT FOR A MONTH. IF IT IS IF IT STAYS HIGH FOR A MONTH, WE WILL SEND YOU A LETTER AND SAY YOU HAVE EXCESSIVE WATER USE. LET'S LOOK AT YOUR BILL. LET'S LOOK AT YOUR TO SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY LEAKS IN YOUR AREA IN YOUR YARD. AND THEN IF YOU DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAN YOU CAN CALL US AND WE'LL COME OUT AND WE'LL DO AN AUDIT. SO OUR GUYS ARE ARE GENTLEMEN ARE VERY VERSED IN LOOKING AT THE PROBLEMS, THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE. IF THERE IS A HIGH CONSUMPTION ON THE WATER SIDE, WE ALSO HAVE AN ENERGY AUDIT SIDE. WHERE ARE OUR GENTLEMAN GO OUT AND THEY LOOK AT IF YOU HAVE WEATHER STRIPPING AROUND THE WINDOWS, IF YOU HAVE INSULATION IN YOUR ATTIC, THERE IS A BUNCH OF CONSERVATION THINGS THAT ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ON JTA DOT COM AS WELL. BUT THAT'S A SERVICE THAT WE HAVE THAT WE CAN GO OUT AND LOOK AT YOUR WATER METER, LOOK AT YOUR ELECTRIC METER AND THAT'S A FREE SERVICE THAT WE OFFER. >> UNDERSTOOD. WHY ARE THERE ANY OTHER KIND OF QUICK QUESTIONS JUST FOR TO IT GO? I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION. STUDENTS HURT IN THIS ROOM THAT WE HAVE LIKE A LIST OF INDIVIDUALS, NOT NAMES, BUT APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY PEOPLE THIS VAN ON A UTILITIES, NO NAYS. I MEAN, WHAT IS IT THAT THIS IS HUNDREDS? I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, AND IF WE SOMEHOW PROPOSED LEGISLATION WHEN WE GO, MATT, NOT COLLEAGUES, WE NEED TO LET THEM KNOW THIS A LITTLE. WE GOT 3040500 PEOPLE, FAMILIES THAT'S BEHIND ON THE UTILITY'S. >> THAT SAID THROUGH THE CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE CHARLES MOORE, DR. CHARLES MORELAND. HE IS OUR CHIEF CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE OFFICER. SO THIS PROGRAM FALLS UNDER HIS AREA AND I'LL LET DOCTOR MORELAND ADDRESS THEM. >> OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. AND LET ME JUST SIMPLY SAY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AROUND HOW WE CAN HELP OUR CUSTOMERS, OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR NEIGHBORS, AS WE ALL KNOW, THERE'S AN ALICE POPULATION THAT'S OUT THERE THAT TALKS ABOUT 39 TO 40% OF WORKING. PEOPLE HAVE DIFFICULTY PAN THEIR BILLS, RATHER, IT'S UTILITIES, RATHER, IS BUYING GROCERIES, RATHER IS HEALTH. AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. AND SO FOR US, JAY, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN HELP OUR FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDS, OUR NEIGHBORS, TO BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE NEEDS AND MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE. SO AS IT RELATES TO HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ARE ARE MAYBE STRUGGLING TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR UTILITY. BILL, I WANT TO GET BACK WITH YOU ON THAT JUST TO MAKE SURE I HAVE AN ACCURATE ANSWER FOR YOU. BUT WHAT I WILL TELL YOU, AND IT'S GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A GLIMPSE THAT THAT THERE IS A NUMBER AND THIS WILL GIVE YOU A GLIMPSE OF WHY THAT I DON'T WANT TO BE CAREFUL WITH THAT. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE TALK ABOUT PAY ARRANGEMENTS A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE GET ON PAY ARRANGEMENTS. THAT'S BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SORT OF A DIFFICULTY OF MEETING THERE. THE NEED MONTHLY THEIR REGULAR JUST PAN THEIR THEIR BILL. WE HAVE PALE ARRANGEMENTS OF TO 6,719 ACTIVE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS RIGHT NOW. SO THAT'S A GOOD INDICATOR THAT A LITTLE BIT OF A RED FLY FOR US PAY PLANS. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON SHORT-TERM AGREEMENTS TATTOOING THE PAY PLAN. THAT'S 19,516 ACTIVE PAY PLANS THAT ARE OUT THERE NOW MY WAY WHERE PEOPLE ARE LEVERAGING THEIR THEIR LEFTOVER OF A BALANCE AND WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS. 21,627 CURRENT J CUSTOMERS ON ON MY WAY. AND SO AND THEN I CAN GO ON WITH THAT. BUT YOU SAY THAT THERE IS A HEALTHY NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT ARE HAVING SOME CHALLENGES PAYING THEIR BILLS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK IT'S VERY HELPFUL. OTHER ANOTHER GE RELATED QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. YEAH, MCLEMORE. THANK YOU, JACK. AND ONE OF THE FEW COMBAT. >> I JUST NEED YOU TO REPEAT THE NUMBER IN REGARDS TO THE PAY ARRANGEMENTS. >> THE PAIRING SCHMIDT NUMBER WAS 6,719. I TOOK PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND THEN THEIR PAY PLANS, WHICH IS A SHORT-TERM AGREEMENT THAT PROVIDES TERMS AND CONDITIONS MUTUALLY AGREED UPON BY THE CUSTOMER IN JAY TO PAY A PASS TO THAT. NO LATER THAN 51 DAYS OF THE BILL DAY AND THERE THERE ARE ABOUT 19,516 PAY PLANS FOR THAT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME TO IT THROUGH THE CHAIR. I KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A MYRIAD OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ASSIST WITH. >> UTILITY SERVICES. IS THIS LIZ, THIS GOOD IS IT? >> ON COCA SEE AS TO WHAT JTA NOSE OR? >> THROUGH THE CHAIR? THE COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK MURRAY, THAT IS A LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT GAA HAS A PROCESS SET UP WITH. OKAY. SO WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM. WE VETTED THEM. WE KNOW THAT THERE AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT CAN HELP OUR CUSTOMERS. >> AND WHEN YOU SAY PROCESS, DO YOU MEAN ANY OF THESE TYPE OF ARRANGEMENTS THAT DR MORE LIMITED? >> SO THE ARRANGEMENTS DR MORELAND MENTION IS INTERNAL TO JTA CUSTOMERS. SO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT CLINTON TYRANTS LIKE MURRAY IS IS ALL OF THE AGENCIES THAT JAY WORKS WITH WHEN OUR CUSTOMERS ARE BEHIND HIM PASS TO. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. AND THEN I KNOW THAT. >> THIS GOING ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, WE HAVE THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I THINK PARKS MAY HAVE. >> 2 SENIOR SHOW SAYS I'M LOOKING BACK AS I'VE BEEN STARING AT YOU AND EVEN WHEN WAS SHE STARED AT ME BECAUSE I KNOW. >> WOULD YOU DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA FOR US? CAN YOU COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THAT? IF YOU >> HAVE ANY DATA THROUGH THAT AREA, IF YOU DON'T MIND BECAUSE THE CITY DOES OFFER QUITE A FEW PROGRAMS AS WELL, MANY THINK IT'S JUST I'M SORRY GOING, PLEASE BUT ICE. AND ONCE AGAIN, BECAUSE THIS IS A LARGE CITY AND WE DO A LOT AT THE DISCONNECT IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THOSE PROGRAMS. IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT 2 THINGS AT THE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, YOUR DRESS, THE PROGRAM ITSELF AND HOW. >> IT'S COMMUNICATED TO THE THE TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO KNOW, BUT TO KNOW THAT THIS ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR THEM. >> IT'LL GET THERE WE GO. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. 3 ROBINSON CHIEF OF SENIOR SERVICES. MY ADDRESS IS ON AND THROUGH THE CHAIR. THE PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS OUR EMERGENCY HEATING ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ALSO KNOWN AS E HE IS SPECIFICALLY SERVICES, OLDER ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY INDIVIDUAL 60 YEARS AND OLDER. THOSE FUNDS WERE AVAILABLE TO US THROUGH JUNE 30TH OF THIS YEAR. OUR CONTRACT HAS SINCE EXPIRED AND WE ARE WAITING TO RENEW THAT CONTRACT WITH THE PROVIDER WAS ELDERSOURCE AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES FROM ELDERSOURCE HERE TODAY. WE DO ADVERTISE THAT A PROGRAM THROUGHOUT A MULTI MULTIPLE WAYS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY IN OUR SENIOR CENTERS. WE PROVIDE INFORMATION THE OUR SOCIAL MEDIA. IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE'S WEBSITE WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN REQUEST SUPPORT THE MY JAX. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA AS TO HOW MANY SENIORS YOU HAVE SERVED? >> SO IN TOTAL, FOR INSTANCE, THIS YEAR AT THE CONCLUSION OF OUR CONTRACT ON JUNE 30TH, WE HAD AWARDED APPROXIMATELY $114,000 IN CRISIS SUPPORT. WE WERE AVERAGING ABOUT IF THE SENIORS PER MONTH AND THAT CONTRACT RAN FROM JULY ONE OF 2025 TO JUNE 30TH OF 2026. >> THANK YOU. THEY HAD TO SAY. >> I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION. DO JUST FOR SENIOR CITIZENS, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. FOR THIS YEAR. 6 DEVICES UP ON ALL THE GUIDE US THROUGH THE CHAIR. 60 AND OLDER ARE 6 AND A LOOK LIKE I DON'T BELIEVE YOU'RE ELIGIBLE THAT WE HAVE. >> NOW TO THAT END, THOUGH, ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY THE COUNCIL HOLD OR DO YOU WANT TO CHIME IN ON THIS? >> I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU SAID THERE WERE 100 IN $14,000 AWARDED IN CRISIS SUPPORT. BUT HOW MANY AND FOLKS IN ELDERS AND THE ELDERLY POPULATION WOULD ACTUALLY SERVE IS DO WE KNOW THE NUMBER? >> I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER READILY AVAILABLE. >> FOR INSTANCE, I HAVE AN AVERAGE NUMBER. AND ON AVERAGE WE WERE ASSISTING 50 FAMILY OR 50 SENIORS PER MONTH. >> AND DO WE KNOW WHEN THAT CONTRACT ENDED WITH THOSE SENIORS ROLL INTO ANY OF THE EXISTING PROGRAMS WHERE THEY? >> AS THOSE AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ITSELF ELECT. WE DON'T AUTO ROLE INDIVIDUALS INTO ANY OF THE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT'S AVAILABLE. THERE ARE SOME CAPS AND LIMITS SO IT VARIES FROM INDIVIDUAL TO INDIVIDUAL. >> UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. AND I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR RENEE. SO ON THIS, SHE LISTS THERE'S A FEW HERE, ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU WILL WORK WITH THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BEFORE THE ONES THAT DON'T PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND YOU LIKE FOOD OR SHELTER AND HOUSING. HOW DO YOU ALL WORK WITH THEM TO JUST IDENTIFY THAT THERE IS A FINANCIAL NEED AND THEN TRY TO HELP THEM GET FOOD ASSISTANCE TO MAYBE SET WHY THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR UTILITY BILL. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THESE ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ON THE SHEET. >> THROUGH THE CHAIR TO COUNCILMEMBER HOLDER SAID THIS IS A SHEET THAT WE GIVE OUT WHENEVER WE HAVE OUR SENIOR DAY AT J. SO WE TRY TO INCORPORATE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN TO HELP OUR SENIORS. SO THIS IS A PAMPHLET THAT'S PASSED OUT AT OUR SENIOR DAY. >> OK AND DR. MICHAEL MORLEY, IF YOU HAVE AN EASY QUESTION BEFORE US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> THIS PAMPHLET IS TO JUST PROVIDE OUR SENIORS AND OTHERS THAT COME TO RJ A HEADQUARTERS WITH ALL THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT COULD BE POTENTIALLY AVAILABLE TO THEM IF THEY NEEDED NOT EVERYONE IS COMING FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE. SOME FOLKS MAY BE COMING TO HOME REPAIR OR FOOD ASSISTANCE OR SHELTERING OR VETERAN SERVICES. SO WE JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AND ONE LOCATION FOR OUR COLLEGE VISORS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO THE CITIZENS THAT COME IN OR FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ACTUALLY CALL HIM JTA AND LOOKING FOR AND REACHING OUT FOR INFORMATION. THE NEXT THING I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THIS ABOUT SENIORS SINCE WE WERE ON THAT CONVERSATION, WE DO SINGER DAY THE 3RD WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH OVER A J HEADQUARTERS. AND SO FOR FY, 26 SAID JUST SEND IT. WE HAD 658 SENIORS THAT ATTEND IT SENIOR DAY WITH APPROXIMATELY 70 ATTENDING FOR THE FIRST TIME AND 127 OF THOSE SENIORS RECEIVED 6, $67,233.72 AND DIRECT UTILITY ASSISTANCE AND FY. 26. SO THE CITY AND OTHERS. THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE CITY ON ON THIS LIST OF PARTNERS THAT ARE AT OUR SENIOR DAY ACTIVITIES AS WELL. SO WE ALL PARTNER TOGETHER TRYING TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR OUR COMMUNITY, AS BEST AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. >> THANK YOU, DOCTOR. AND IT MIGHT JUST A REAL QUICK QUESTION AT THE HEAP SURGERY. SO THOSE DOLLARS CAN JUST GO TO LIKE ONE MONTH'S WORTH OF ASSISTANCE. AND IS IT AN ENTIRE MONTH'S WORTH OF PAYMENT OR DO YOU GO TO A CERTAIN DOLLAR NUMBER? >> THAT THREW THE CHAIR. WHAT WE DO IS PAY THEIR PATHS DO FOR THE ELECTRICAL PORTION OF THEIR BILL. SO WHATEVER NUMBER THAT IS, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS, IS THAT IT IS THE PAST DUE AMOUNT PER CENT. THANK YOU MUCH. AND THAT CAN PLEASE. >> BUT BEFORE YOU THANK YOU FOR THAT TO ITS EMPLOYEE THAT I PUT ON RECORD AND I WANT TO EMBARRASS AND ONE. BUT QUITE OFTEN I GET CALLS FROM CONSTITUENTS. THAT'S 8 WHEN WE REACH OUT TO THESE PARDONS. WHAT IS JAY A 2, 1, 1, 6, ON THE CITY. PEOPLE NOT PICKING UP THE PHONE AND I KNOW HOW FUNDING ARE WE CALL AND THE DOORS ARE CLOSED. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED THAT THAT IS ME IN, BUT I THINK IS CRITICAL THAT WE COULD AT LEAST EVALUATE THE PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THESE SERVICES. BUT I PROMISE YOU IF I HAVE A CONSTITUENT CALL THEM ARE. AND IT IS 15 COMPANIES THAT THE TERM DOW BUT 13 OF 14 AND MOST WILLING TO BE ANYONE HERE THAT THEY HAPPENED TO BE THE COLUMN. I 9 O'CLOCK. IT'LL BE HARD FOR THEM TO GET ASSISTANCE AND THEN WHAT THEY DO IN THIS COLUMN OFFICE. AND THAT'S THE ISSUES THAT HERE THAT HEY, SO AND THAT MAY EXPLAIN, I'M DOING IS CALLED THE CEO OF HIS COMPANY, CALLING ITSELF, YOU KNOW, SAY, HEY, NO ONE AT PICKING UP. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT HALF AS WELL THAT THE PROCESS, THESE AUTOMATED DOW, 30 DUPREE'S FIND THE TOP THAT I IT'S NOT WORKING FOR ME. YOU KNOW, IT'S I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE COULD DO ABOUT THE PARTISAN EVALUATE THE PROCESS. BUT I THINK I NEED TO BE CHANGED TO ALSO WANT TO ADD ONE MORE THING THAT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. I GOT A LOT OF CALLS AND A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WHILE THE CHE GO UP ON A RATE AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT THAT OUR RECORD BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE MAJOR THINGS I GOT WIND NOW, COULD THEY HAVE WAITED? >> SO IT THROUGH THE CHAIR TO COUNCILMEMBER GAFFNEY. FIRST OF ALL, WE HEAR YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE AGENCY'S AND WHEN COUNCILMEMBER PALOU SO CALLED ME ABOUT THIS, I CALLED OUR MANAGER WHO WHO TAKES CARE OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND OUR CUSTOMERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. AND I WAS INFORMED THAT SOME OF THESE AGENCIES, THEY HAVE 2 PEOPLE, THEY HAVE 3 PEOPLE. SO THEY DON'T HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO ANSWER THE CALLS, TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENTS TO DO THE INTAKE, TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY SERVICE THESE CUSTOMERS. SO THAT'S THAT'S ALSO A CONCERN THAT THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO LOOK AT GOING FORWARD. IF I COULD. I BRING UP TED PHILLIPS, WHO IS OUR CF OF J. A TODD PHILLIPS IS THE ONE WHO MANAGES ALL OF OUR RATES, ALL OF OUR OUR FINANCIALS. HE'S THE ONE WHO'S ABLE TO ADDRESS THE REASON THAT J A HAD A RATE INCREASE. >> I DON'T KNOW IF I'M CALLING FOR THE GOVERNMENT. THIS TALK LOUD. HOW'S THAT? SO, YES, MY NAME IS TED PHILLIPS ON THE CFO. JAY. SO TO YOUR QUESTION, WHY NOW OR WRITE WHAT LIKE IT? WHY CAN'T WE WAIT A FEW YEARS, RIGHT? SO A COUPLE OF THINGS. SO ONE WE'RE SEEING THE SAME INCREASES THAT ARE OUR CONSUMER CUSTOMERS ARE RIGHT. YOU TALKED ABOUT FUEL GASOLINE, RIGHT? SO OUR TRUCKS DRIVE ABOUT 11 AND A HALF MILLION MILES EVERY YEAR TO SERVICE OUR CUSTOMERS. SO WE'RE HAVING TO PUT GASOLINE AND DIESEL INTO THOSE TRUCKS JUST LIKE OUR CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING TO PUT GASOLINE INTO THEIR CAR SO THEY CAN GET TO WORK EVERY DAY, TOO. SO THOSE ADDITIONAL COST WE HAVE TO PASS ALONG. ALSO THE FACT THAT WE ARE BUILDING A LOT OF NEW INFRASTRUCTURE. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A NEW COMBINED CYCLE PLANT, WHICH COST ABOUT 1.5 BILLION DOLLARS. AND SO THAT PLANT, THE BIGGEST THING THAT IS GOING TO DO IS IT'S GOING TO REPLACE ANOTHER NATURAL GAS PLANT WE HAVE THAT WENT INTO SERVICE IN 1977, SO THAT THAT PLAN IS ALMOST 50 YEARS OLD. WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF RELIABILITY ISSUES WITH THAT PLANT. AND SO IT IS TIME FOR US. IT'S WE'RE LATE. WE SHOULD HAVE ALREADY REPLACED PLANT. AND SO WE'RE HAVING TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE ON THAT PLAN AS WE BORROW MONEY TO BUILD IT. SO OUR RATE, IT'S A ARE THE WAY THAT WE HAVE TO COLLECT MONEY TO PAY FOR THAT. AND I KNOW THAT I MEAN, THAT'S NOT GOOD. BUT THAT ONE IS THAT I MEAN GOOD. SO I HOPE THAT HELPS. >> THANK YOU FOR ONE COACH. ARE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU JUST VOICED IS THE FRUSTRATIONS THAT I THINK WE'VE ALL HEARD CONSISTENTLY FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS AND YOU DID IN SUCH A WAY THAT I THINK WAS AS KIND AS IT COULD BE, BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL GET THOSE CALLS. AND I'VE HEARD THE SAME THING ABOUT LIKE ALL THIS PERSON CALL THAT PERSON. THERE'S NOTHING THERE, WHAT'S GOING ON. AND WE DID JUST PASSED THE BUDGET. SO A LOT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD HAVE SOME FUNDING RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, BUT FOR THE PURPOSES OF MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE LONG-TERM LONGEVITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO HELP THESE FAMILIES FOR A WHILE. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MEAN SOME WEIRD ECONOMIC TIMES FOR A WHILE. AND THE REASON WHY I THINK THIS IS NECESSARY NOW IS BECAUSE INFLATION IS HIGHER THAN IT SHOULD BE. GAS PRICES ARE $2 HIGHER. THEN THEY WERE A YEAR AGO, RIGHT? I'M GONNA BLAME TO SEE ON THIS ONE. I AM. YOU CAN YOU CAN NOT. THAT'S WHY WE'RE IN THE POSITION THAT WE'RE IN. THE ECONOMY IS IN A VERY POOR PLACE TO BUILD. THE DOLLAR THAT PEOPLE HAVE IN THEIR HAND IS WEAKER TODAY THAN IT WAS A WHILE AGO. AND NOW EVERYTHING ELSE IS GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE. SO I KNOW THAT WE AS A CITY GOVERNMENT CAN DO LIMITED STAFF, WE CAN DO UTILITY ASSISTANCE. GA NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ABLE TO DO POWER GENERATION. WE NEED TO GENERATE OUR ELECTRICITY IS THAT WE'RE NOT BEHOLDEN TO FPL. DUKE ENERGY, PRIVATE CORPORATIONS. THAT'S THAT'S WHY IT'S THAT'S WHY I'M I'M COMFORTABLE. THE GA IS MOVING FORWARD ON SOME THEIR ACTIVITIES BECAUSE THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD HAVE THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. WE HAD PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS PUT US IN THIS POSITION. I'M JUST GOING TO PUT THAT OUT OR WHAT I WILL SAY IS AS WE ARE SEEING FAMILY STRUGGLE NOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY OUT AND SPECIALLY AS WE WAIT OUT THIS BAD ECONOMY AND MAYBE OTHER THINGS IN DC I DO WANT TO BRING UP, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT'S OKAY. WE DO HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME IN HERE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DIGGING INTO THE OTHER PROGRAMS AND WHY. AND FRANKLY, I THINK, YOU KNOW, CREDIT IF YOU IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO THIS, SOME OF THE FRUSTRATION THAT COUNSELOR GAFFNEY BROUGHT UP LIKE, WHY IS IT THAT WHEN SOME PEOPLE CALL YOU WERE HAVING ISSUES? AND I THINK I THINK MAYBE YOU CAN HELP EXPLAIN SOME OF THAT AND HOPEFULLY HELP US WITH A SOLUTION. >> TO THE CHAIR, I'M PROBABLY THE SHORTEST ONE. SO I WAS STANDING NAME FOR THE RECORD AND FOR THE RECORD SO THAT YOUR CAREER TO HEAL MY WITH AS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER WITH UNITED WAY OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA ADDRESSES ON FILE. THANK YOU FOR THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN INTO THE CHAIR. FIRST, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY AND SHARE AND THAT THIS IS A VERY BIG IN REAL CONCERN FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND I WILL ALSO SHOW THAT EVEN BEFORE THE RATE INCREASES, OUR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING. AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE WE'VE SHARE THAT OUR FAMILIES CAN HAVE STRUGGLED IN THE RATE INCREASE IS GOING TO EXACERBATE THAT. WHAT I LIKE TO GIVE YOU ARE A FEW DAYTON NUMBERS FROM US AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS AT 2, 1, 1, WHAT I CAN SHARE WITH YOU IS THAT SOMEONE AT 2, 1, 1, WILL EVENTUALLY ANSWER THE PHONE. HOWEVER, WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT DEPENDING ON THE TIMING OF THAT CALL ARE WAIT, TIMES ARE LONGER. AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE INSIGHT ON THE PROCESS. SO 2, 1, 1, WE HAVE A COMMUNITY OF COMMUNITY NAVIGATION NETWORK OF PARTNERS, PROBABLY SOME OF THOSE ON YOUR LIST. ONE OF THEM IS HERE TODAY. CATHOLIC CHARITIES TO HIS FAMILY, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND DESK ARE 3 OF OUR COMMUNITY NAVIGATION PARTNERS. RIGHT NOW. WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND THAT. WHAT 2, 1, 1, PROVIDES IS WE ARE THE HUB, WHICH ANSWERS THE CALLS. AND ALSO DOES THE PRIEST SCREENING FOR APPOINTMENTS THAT WE KNOW ARE AVAILABLE DURING A CURRENT WEEK. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS WEEK, MY COLLEAGUE IN MY A STAFF MEMBER WHO LEADS TO 1, 1, RECEIVED CONVERSE OR HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THESE PARTNERS, THEY INDICATED BASED ON THEIR FUNDING AVAILABILITY, HOW MANY APPOINTMENTS THEY AND ALSO HOW MANY APPOINTMENTS AND BASED ON THOSE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, EVERY FUNDING SOURCE ALSO HAS A DIFFERENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT. SO IT IS A VERY COMPLEX, WHAM, BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY IS IT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GETTING AN APPOINTMENT FOR A PERSON WHO IS IN NEED OF HELP, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THEY'RE ELIGIBLE. AND WE PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT BY THE TIME THEY REACH THE ORGANIZATION, IT HELPS CUT OUT SOME OF THE PORT, THE COMPLEX, RED TAPE AND PAPERWORK. AND THEY ALREADY KNOW THERE ARE AT LEAST LOOK AT LEAST ELIGIBLE AS LONG AS THEY SHOW UP WITH THEIR REQUIRED PAPERWORK. SO THAT IS WHAT WE DO. AND ONCE AT THE END OF THE H WEEK ON TUESDAY, THOSE ARE THE CALLS THAT WE GET FOR EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, PEOPLE WHO ARE AWARE THAT THEY ARE CALLING IN TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE SCALE OF THE VOLUME OF THOSE CALLS, WE RECEIVE AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 500 CALLS ON A TUESDAY AND WE HAVE 7 INDIVIDUALS FIELDING THOSE CALLS. SO THAT IS WHY I SAY WE WILL ANSWER THE CALL, BUT THERE IS A WAIT TIME AND THAT WAIT, TIME ON A TUESDAY CAN BE AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 30 TO 45 MINUTES. AND WHEN WE GET CALLS INTO 1, 1, INDIVIDUALS WHO CALLED TO 1, 1, THEY HAVE ALREADY LIKELY EXACERBATED MANY TIMES. THEY CALL TO ONE WIN FOR THE LAST RESORT BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, MANY OF THEM KNOW THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY MAY GO DIRECTLY TO THEM. BUT THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATION NETWORK THAT I MENTIONED, THEY PURPOSELY FIELD. THOSE CALLS ARE ASKED THEIR CLIENTS THE CALL TO WIN ONE FOR THE PURPOSES OF US BEING ABLE TO NOT ONLY COLLECT THE DATA, BUT ALSO TO HELP NAVIGATE THAT NETWORK A LITTLE MORE SUCCESSFULLY. THE OTHER DATA POINT THAT I'LL SHARE WITH YOU IS JUST ON UTILITY ASSISTANCE ALONE IN DUVAL COUNTY LAST FISCAL YEAR FOR U.S. BEGINNING JULY ONE THROUGH JUNE, 30TH, 5100 CALLS WERE CONNECTED IN APPOINTMENTS MADE TO ONE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO HAVE THE UTILITIES TAKING CARE OF. SO 5,100 PEOPLE PLUS DID GET THEIR NEEDS MET AT THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, THOUGH, WE ALSO TRACK UNMET NEEDS IN FOR 2, 1, 1, FOR US AND UNMET NEED MEANS EITHER THE FUNDING WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. SO WE DID HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO PROVIDE OR WE DIDN'T HAVE A RESOURCE TO GIVE. AND THAT NUMBER IS 1159 UNMET NEED SPECIFICALLY TO UTILITY ASSISTANCE. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE OTHER EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IS WE HEAR ABOUT UTILITIES OUT. GIVE YOU THAT NUMBER. THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THAT PARTNERSHIP IS IMPERATIVE AND THAT IS THE REASON THAT 2, 1, 1, UNITED WAY TO WIN ONE IS IN THIS BUSINESS BECAUSE WE CONNECT THE DOTS. OUR ROLE IS AT THAT AS A HUB IS TO CONNECT THOSE DOTS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH J A WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE THE APPOINTMENTS FOR THOSE SENIOR DAYS THROUGH 2, 1, 1, SO SENIORS CALL IN TO GET THEIR APPOINTMENTS FOR SENIOR DAY. THE OTHER THING THAT I WILL MENTION JUST IN YIELD THE FLOOR BACK IS THAT HOUR WAIT. TIMES ARE ARE ALSO INCREASING BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF OF COMMUNITY ISSUES THAT HAVE INCREASED, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN THROUGH OUR DATA BECAUSE WE CAPTURE EVERY DAY TO FROM EVERY ZIP CODE AND WE CAN SHARE WITH EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER HERE AND TRANSPORTATION NEEDS HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY OR EVEN MORE IN NEED. AND THAT HAS INCREASED ON WAIT TIMES AS WELL. ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. >> THIS IS THE LAST TIME TALKING. HOPEFULLY ONE OF THE THINGS I FORGOT TO MENTION, I THINK IT'S VERY ESSENTIAL THAT I MENTIONED IS THAT DECISIONS AND THEN MUCH OF THIS A QUESTION FOR YOU, MS ELBAGIR, IF YOU WANT TO TRUST, YOU CAN JUST TO CONSTITUENTS ARE TELLING ME COUNCILMAN GAFFNEY, THESE PROGRAMS. >> ONLY TO BE HALFWAY. IT BE BEFORE I GET HELP. YOU KNOW THE STUFF, YOU KNOW, LIE. SO THEY THEY TELL ME THAT WANTED TO GET ASSISTANCE. THEY HAVE TO ALREADY BE A 30 DAY NOTICE ON THE DOOR, RATHER THEY TIME AND YOU CALL ME PRIOR TO THEM GETTING THE BUT THEY CAN GET ASSISTANCE. SO WHEN THEY CALL THESE PROGRAMS, WELL, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A 30 DAY NOTICE ALREADY BEING EVICTED. SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S A QUESTION FOR YOU. I MEAN, IT'S JUST THE ISSUE IS A REAL ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU SOLVE IT, BUT THESE IS TYPICAL QUESTIONS. COMMENTS. CONCERNS LIKE THAT ABOUT IT. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE IT THE BUT I GOT A GOOD WAY TO GET HELP. YOU KNOW, AND I LOVE WHAT I DO. WHAT I CAN TELL THEM, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S NOT AS PART OF A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DISCUSS TODAY. BUT I THINK THAT. >> BUT TO THE CHAIR, WHAT I WILL SAY IN AND I THINK I HAVE OTHER COLLEAGUES HERE WHO COULD PROBABLY SPEAK FOR THEIR OWN AREAS OF BUSINESS. WHAT I WILL SAY TO THE CHAIR THAT THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS FLEXIBLE FUNDING BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME WHEN AN ORGANIZATION RECEIVES FUNDING A FUNDING SOURCE, IT IS VERY RESTRICTIVE. I CAN SPEAK TO MY COLLEAGUES IN THE ROOM. WE WOULD PREFER FLEXIBLE FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE RESOURCES BASED ON A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ELIGIBILITY. AND SO REALLY THAT IS THAT IS MY MY ANSWER AS I SPEAK FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS. I KNOW I REPRESENT. >> I'VE HEARD YOU SPEAK AS PASSIONATELY ABOUT THE NEED AS MUCH TODAY. I MR. HELP PLEASE STEP EVERY TIME. I WAS SO SORRY. I'M SURE THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO DO THAT AND GET YOUR PROGRAM RIGHT NOW OR THROUGH THE 2 ON PROGRAMMING THROUGH YOUR PROVIDERS THAT SO IT'S ONLY ONE MONTH THAT YOU GUYS ARE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE OR COULD YOU MULTIPLE MONTHS OF THE YEAR? >> NO. YOU MEAN THE PEOPLE CALLING TO TO 1, 1, CORRECT? KNOWS FORT FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE FOR UTILITY BILL ASSISTANCE. SO OUR >> CALLS COME IN EVERY DAY FOR EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. AND ONCE THE ONCE A WEEK, EVERY WEEK WE FUNNELED THE SPECIFIC COMMUNITY NAVIGATION NETWORK WHERE WE TAKE APPOINTMENTS. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE THE NEED IS SO HIGH EVEN ENVISION A FINAL THE NEED IS AT THE TOP OF THAT FUNNEL IN THE RESOURCES ARE AT THE END OF THE FINAL IN ORDER TO REALLY HELP NAVIGATE THE NETWORK IN THE SYSTEM. WE CREATED A PROCESS FOR ONCE A WEEK ON TUESDAYS EVERY TUESDAY WHERE EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CALLS COME IN MORE REGULARLY AND MORE OFTEN BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT THEY ARE LIKELY TO AT LEAST BE ELIGIBLE OR IF THEY GET THROUGH TO RECEIVE AN APPOINTMENT. IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FIRST FOR SALE IN DEPENDING ON HOW MANY APPOINTMENTS WE HAVE AVAILABLE. >> SO IF I WERE A PAIR, COULD I GET MULTIPLE THE TIMES A YEAR THAT I CAN GET ASSISTANCE? IF YOU ARE A RATE PAYER 5, I'M IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE. CAN I CALL YOU STILL AROUND? >> IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE MULTIPLE TIMES, IT DEPENDS ON THE REQUIREMENTS. MOST OF THEM DO NOT ALLOW YOU TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE BASED ON THE REQUIREMENTS MORE THAN ONCE A YEAR. THERE'S SOME THAT ACTUALLY REQUIRED ONCE EVERY 2 YEARS DEPENDS ON THE RESOURCE. >> SO IF IT WAS IF THE CITY WERE TO PROVIDE, I'M TRYING TO FIT A NEW THING. THIS BODY'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF WE IF WE WERE TO PUT CITY DOLLARS BEHIND SOME PROGRAM, WHAT THE UNITED WAY'S 2, 1, 1, PROGRAM WOULD BE THE COMMITTEE NAVIGATION NETWORK. WOULD IT BE THAT TO THE PROVIDERS WHO DO DIRECT SUPPORT? AND IF SO, CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT THEIR PROGRAM ALLOWS FOR A LITTLE MORE OPENNESS AND FLEXIBILITY? HOW DOES ONE DO THAT? >> SO WHAT YOU HAVE BOUGHT IT, CERTAINLY IF YOU WERE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THROUGH 2, 1, 1, RIGHT NOW, A UNITED WAY, OUR UNITED WAY TO 1, 1, THE COMMUNITY NAVIGATION THAT WERE THAT IS ONE AND THE SAME. I'M LOOKING AT MY COLLEAGUE ALI CENTER, WHO'S HERE FROM CATHOLIC CHARITIES. RIGHT NOW, CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS THE DIRECT RESOURCE AND PARTNER FOR THE CURRENT NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR DOLLARS FROM J A THEY RECEIVE THOSE DOLLARS DIRECTLY IN THERE ACTUALLY IS A MONTHLY PAYOUT THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES. OUR ROLE IS TO SCHEDULE THOSE APPOINTMENTS FOR THOSE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE CALLS. IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY REALLY LIGHT WOULD LIKE TO DO TO THAT SPAN, TO BE ABLE TO PRADA, DID PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR OUR DUVAL COUNTY RESIDENTS. AND WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO USE. WE WOULD USE A SIMILAR PROCESS, OF COURSE, WITH ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING. THERE WILL ALSO BE INCREASED VOLUME OF CALLS IN VOLUME OF NEED. AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, 7 IS VERY ALREADY PEOPLE NOT QUITE ENOUGH TO ANSWER THE CALL. SO WE WITH ABSOLUTELY LIKE TO ADVOCATE AS WELL FOR THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY FIELD THOSE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. SO >> I APPRECIATE THE TERMINOLOGY YOU'RE USING A THING COULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE STRICT WITH US. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF WE GAVE YOU SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY, I BELIEVE THE WORDS YESTERDAY SAID TO ME LIKE WE COULD WE WOULD IT WOULD ALMOST BE A LOSS FOR US TO TAKE ON THOSE DOLLARS AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE STAFF TO BE ABLE TO PROCESS. ABSOLUTELY. NO. I THINK YOU'RE SAYING YOU NEED MORE STAFF AT SOME OF THESE DOLLARS WOULD HAVE TO GO INSTEAD. THAT IS. AND WHAT YOU TOLD ME THAT I JUST YES, WE GOT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE FULLY UNDERSTANDS AND THE SUMMER. >> THAT IS GREAT CHANCE TO THE CHAIR. WE WE COULD NOT MANAGED AN ADDITIONAL VOLUME OF CALLS OR EVEN WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO PAY OUT TO THOSE WHO ARE BEING SUPPORTED BY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CATHOLIC CHARITIES WITHOUT ADDITIONAL STAFF SUPPORT? ABSOLUTELY NOT. NOT IN A VERY SUCCESSFUL WAY. WE'LL CONTINUE TO GET CALLS THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MEET. THEIR NEEDS ARE QUITE LITERALLY LIKE I THINK. >> I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE WALK OUT OF HERE. WE HAVE A GOOD IDEA THAT THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE HEARING THAT WE'RE ALL HEARING ARE GOING TO BE BETTER ADDRESSED BY OUR ACTIONS, RIGHT? LIKE IT CAN'T JUST BE YOU. THERE'S MORE MONEY. BUT YEAH, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP CALLING FOR THE NEXT 7 WEEKS. I KNOW THAT I'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE. THERE ARE SEVERAL MONTHS PAST DUE. >> BY NO, BY NO OTHER ISSUE THAN JUST WHERE WE ARE ON THE ECONOMY. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE. >> WE'RE ABLE TO HELP ADDRESS THOSE MONIES TO THE CHAIR. IF I ME ME, I YIELD SOME OF MY TIME WITH. I MEAN, REALLY, I JUST WANT HER TO SHARE BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO COME HERE AND THE U.S. AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE CATHOLIC CHARITIES, THEY ARE DOING THE WORK TO ACTUALLY A LAY CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAS BEEN NO, YOU CAN'T EITHER TO I LATER CATHOLIC CHARITIES TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE MULTIPLE MONTHS. >> SO IT IS TRUE THAT TYPICALLY WE WOULD ONLY SERVE SOMEBODY OR HOUSEHOLD EVERY 12 MONTHS TO CLARIFY IF THEY ARE SEVERAL MONTHS BEHIND ON THEIR UTILITY BILL. OUR GOAL IS TO ALWAYS MAKE THEM WHOLE. AND WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH JTA ON THAT. SO THEY MAY NOT HAVE PAID THEIR BILL FOR 3 MONTHS. SO IN EFFECT, THEY ARE GETTING 3 MONTHS OF ASSISTANCE WITH THAT ONE TIME PAYMENT. THERE'S WE WILL WORK, WHICH AS WELL ON THINGS LIKE LEAKS. AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY GREAT TO WORK WITH US ON THAT. SO IF WE GET A BILL THAT'S SIGNIFICANT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN KIND OF WORK WITH THEM ON THAT. BUT ALL CO AND WHAT UNITED WAY IS SAYING IF THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IT FOR FREE. WE NEED TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SERVE THESE PEOPLE. WE DO NEED TO SCREEN THE PEOPLE, MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE, THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY LEASING THE PLACE. THEY SAY THEY'RE LEASING AND THAT TAKES TIME AND PROFESSIONALS TO DO. >> AND IF FUNDING WERE AVAILABLE, WOULD YOU SAY THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE UNITED WAY, OR WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU GO TO THE INDIVIDUAL PROVIDERS AS WELL? OR? >> I THINK IF YOU WANT THE SYSTEM TO WORK WELL, IT WOULD NEED TO GO TO BOTH PLACES. 2, 1, 1, NEEDS THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO FEEL THE ADDITIONAL CALLS. AND THEN WHOEVER IS DISTRIBUTING THE MONEY WOULD BE CASE MANAGERS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE. RIGHT NOW, THE NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR PROGRAM IS ONLY ABOUT $190,000 A YEAR. AND THAT'S NOT VERY MUCH MONEY. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE PEOPLE WHOLE ON THEIR UTILITY BILLS. COUNCIL HEARD DR JOHNSON, THANKS FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A QUESTION. >> ACTIONS MORE AND A LOT MORE QUESTION COMMENT. I'VE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH IT. I WAS IN ANOTHER MEETING. THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. FIRST OF ALL, TO YOU GUYS BEEN GETTING COUNSELED HOLDER LIKE THIS IS THIS IS SO NECESSARY AND CAN SIGN IS IF THEY HAVE AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO I DO EVERY TIME SERIOUSLY. THIS IS A AN ISSUE THAT I KNOW ALL OF US HAVE HEARD ABOUT CONSISTENTLY. WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING OUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND GOING OTHER PLACES WHEN NAFTA DOES IT ALREADY? IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THERE IS THE LEE HAPP LOW INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. AND SO THEY HAVE LIKE HE TOOK A LIE. HE BUT I KNEW THAT NEVER DID. I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN DOING FOR DECADES. IF THEY'VE ALREADY GOT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAN DO IT AND THAT'S WHY WE GO AND TRY TO FIND OTHER PEOPLE TO DO THE THING THAT THEY ALREADY DO ON A REGULAR BASIS. WHAT IS NET NET BUT NEVER CUT THE NORTHEAST. FLORIDA COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY. LISTEN TO IT. THEY HAVE A MEMBER. JUST NATION COMES UP. I GUESS WE COULD AS YOU KNOW. OKAY WITH THAT. >> OKAY. SO THROUGH THE CHAIR TO COUNCILMAN JOHNSON MASK WAS THE THE MEDIATOR FOR THE LAW HE FUNDS ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THEN IT SHIFTED TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO THE PROMISE NETWORK, THE PROMISE NETWORK THROUGH THE STATE OF FLORIDA CAN ACTUALLY GET THE FUNDS OUT A WHOLE LOT QUICKER THAN NAFTA BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE GET A LOT OF HEAT FUND, CISCO, LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOWN TO THE STATE AND WHEN THOMAS AND PROMISE GET THAT, WE CAN GET THOSE FUNDS OUT THROUGH THEM 30 TO 45 DAYS. WE HAVE OF THE VOUCHER, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN NEED OF THE UTILITY ASSISTANCE TO DO NOT GET THERE DISCONNECT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE BOUCHER IS THERE AND THE DOLLARS ARE THERE AND IT GETS MOVE QUICKER. GIVE YOU A GREAT EXAMPLE AND I WON'T HOLD IT TOO LONG. BUT AND THEY HAD SOME SOME DOLLARS THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPURPOSE SPURLOCK E FOR. 23 FY. 23 24 25. IT RAN THROUGH TO PROMISE NETWORK THEY PROVIDED SOME FUNDING FOR FOR FOOD, FOR FOR US AT J A TO BE ABLE TO GET IT OUT. WE WERE ABLE TO HELP OVER 14,600 OF OUR HER NEIGHBORS THAT NEED SOME SUPPORT. THAT'S BECAUSE PROMISE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THOSE DOLLARS. QUICK US ON OFFENSE STILL DOES THEIR THING AS FOR US TRYING TO MANAGE AND, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PROCESSES. BUT THE LOCKHEED DOLLARS COME DIRECTLY THROUGH PROMISED TO US. >> AND BUT TO ADMINISTER THEM AND STARTED TO TAKE IT OVER. BUT TO ADMINISTER THOSE FUNDS, YOU WAS STILL DR. MARTIN NEED ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WHAT? YOU KNOW, WE DON'T ADMINISTER ANY OF THOSE FUNDS. WE DO NOT BRING MONEY INTO US. THE MONEY COMES THROUGH THE PROCESS TO PROMISE AND THEY PUT THE DOLLARS ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S BILLS LIKE THEY'RE JUST KIND OF PAYING THE BILL FOR THE RIGHT. WE DO NOT TAKE IN ANYTHING OR WE UTILIZE OUR PARTNERS THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT HAVE THE GET THOSE RESOURCES LIKE OUR NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR PROGRAM. THAT'S OUR INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES GIVEN CITIZENS GIVEN ON THEIR BILL, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THOSE DOLLARS GO DIRECTLY TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES. THAT'S WHY SHE WAS MENTIONING HAS ABOUT 190,000 A YEAR. THOSE ARE DONATED DOLLARS TO VARIOUS MEANS GO STRAIGHT THERE TO HELP OUR THAT HELP OUR CUSTOMERS AND THOSE DOLLARS ARE GENERALLY USE DOING THE SENIOR DAY FOR NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR. THANK YOU, DOT COUNCILMEMBER. I WOULD I I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE DISCOVERED WERE NOT DISCOVERED, BUT I NOTICED I THINK ALL OF US CAN SAY THEY CAN DO YOU NOT TALKED ABOUT BEFORE WE'RE IN SO MANY SILOS AND EVERYBODY THIS PERSON'S OVER HERE IN THIS PERSON'S IN TALKING TO THIS GROUP AND VICE VERSA. SO I THINK ONCE WE DO GET THIS LEGISLATION READY, WE NEED TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WOULD BE TO 1, 1, WOULD BE ON THIS MORE AND THE CITY'S ORGANIZATION NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR THE PROMISE NETWORK WHERE THERE WAS A NEED TO SIT IN A ROOM WITH THEM AND SAY, GUYS, YOU GOT TO TALK TO EACH OTHER. IT IS ADDITIONAL FUNDS BECAUSE THE ONE THING THIS IS AS CONCERNING WHICH I'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER AND DR MORELAND, YOU JUST SAID A MOMENT AGO, THERE'S LIKE A 30 45 DAY PERIOD TO THOSE FUNDS GETTING THERE. AND IF IF THEIR ENERGY ASSISTANCE NEEDS, THEY'RE USUALLY NEEDED WITHIN THE 10 DAY PERIOD, IF NOT SOONER. SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. WE WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. >> UNDERSTAND AND THANK YOU FOR FOR THE BRINGING ALL THAT UP. THE IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH JTA WITH UNITED WAY WITH PARKS DEPARTMENT IS PARKS, RECREATION, COMMUNITY SERVICES. COMMITTEE SERVICES ALSO PROVIDES LIKE THE FUNDING AS WELL. AND SO I INITIALLY THOUGHT, OK, WELL, WE HAVE THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE. LET'S PUT THE MONEY IN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE. BUT UNDER COMMUNITY SERVICE IS THE ONLY DO ONE PAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S 10 MONTHS OR 18 MONTHS. IT'S ONLY ONE WAS LIKE, OKAY. WELL, WE ALREADY DO PROVIDE SOME FUNDS FOR THAT. SO CITY JAX, FLORIDA HAS SOME DOLLARS TO DO THAT FOR ONE-TIME ASSISTANCE. SO THEN WHAT DO WE GO NEXT? WHAT WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH 2, 1, 1, ALREADY, RIGHT, THAT A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF JACKSON HAS BEEN LONGSTANDING AND THEY HAVE THE NETWORK HAS AFTER TALKING WITH JTA AND PARKS. THAT'S WHERE THEY SAID, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE WE KIND ALREADY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP IN TALKING WITH 2 ON ONE AND OBVIOUSLY GOING THROUGH CATHOLIC CHARITIES, JUDICIAL SERVICES AND DESK. THE CONVERSATION WAS MORE ABOUT HOW THE DOLLAR'S GET THE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING TO PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY GETTING THE CALLS. RIGHT? I THINK THAT WAS THE POINT IS LIKE YOU JUST HEARD FROM CATHOLIC CHARITIES. THEY'RE GETTING CALLS RIGHT NOW. AND SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO SAY, WELL, WE'RE OUT OF MONEY ARE RESTRICTED FUNDS AND HOW TO USE THEM. I THINK WHAT MY GOAL IS HERE IS TO GET SOME CONSENSUS FROM FOLKS ON THAT. WE WANT TO DO THIS. I I KNOW THAT THAT I BELIEVE MYSELF AND COUNSEL KATHY CERTAINLY DO WHAT THE DOLLAR NUMBER LOOKS LIKE IF THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS TO BE BUILT BECAUSE TO THE POINT OF WHAT COUNCILMAN GAFFNEY IT SAID AND WHAT WE HEARD FROM FOLKS IN THE PAST, PEOPLE ARE CALLING PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET ASSISTANCE, BUT IT TAKES DAYS IF NOT WEEKS TO GET A RETURN, SEE NEED TO ANOTHER STAFFER. TO THAT. YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE MORE FUNDS TO ADMINISTER. YOU NEED TO HIRE ANOTHER PERSON OR 2. AND IF THE CITY DID IT, THAT'S AN FDA AND IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. SO IT'S EVEN BETTER THAT WE GO THROUGH A 3RD PARTY IN THIS CASE, POSSIBLY, YOU KNOW, UNITED WAY AND THEIR NETWORK, THE COMMUNITY AVIGATION AT WORK. SO THAT'S THAT'S WHY I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GOING DOWN THAT ROUTE IS HOW WE MAKE SURE THE DOLLAR'S GET OUT THE FASTEST AND MAKE SURE THAT THE PROGRAMS ARE ADMINISTERED IN SUCH A WAY THAT LIKE THERE ISN'T A RESTRICTION THAT WE CAN AND CAN'T GET THE FLEXIBILITY AS WAS SAID EARLIER. THAT'S THAT'S WHERE I HOPE TO BE IN THIS. AND SO I JUST DID A LOT OF TALKING. IT'S MY DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM FROM OUR COLLEAGUES, YOUTH COACH AIR FIRST FOR MY CHAIR. >> CHAIR THAT MR. PFIZER TIME IN REGARDS TO FUNDING BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DUMPING AHEAD. >> AND YOU HAVE LESS IS ON TO THE LOOKOUTS. >> COUNCILMAN, LARRY, YOU AND NOT YOUR IN MY MIND AT ALL TIMES YOU ARE TO DO YOU KNOW, WE ARE WE ARE. BUT PLEASE, IF YOU I MEAN, THEY'RE COUNCILMEMBER PARKS HERE IN A JUST SENTENCE IN A PAIR LIKE IS APPEALING HIS OWN. AND I THINK NOW THIS IS LIKE A DAY OF THE AND THIS MORNING ALL OF THE YEAR AND HE'S THE MONEY. AND SO GUY HAD A SPARK TO TELL US WHERE WE'RE GOING AT THIS CATCH. >> AT THIS POINT TIME AS WE TALK TO OUR MEETING, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE FROM OPERATING RESERVES. THERE'S NOT A SPOT. YOU KNOW, WE JUST APPROVED THE BUDGET. YOU'RE NOT SEEING WEATHER A VARIANCE THAT YOU CAN TAKE THROUGH. SO AT THIS POINT, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A RATINGS OR REVIEWS. AND IT DEPENDS ON, YOU KNOW, IS THIS GOING TO BE A RECURRING IS IT'S GOING TO BE A ONE-TIME KIND OF, YOU KNOW, TO GET THINGS GOING. SO I KIND OF HANDED OVER TO YOU ON THAT BEATS. >> AND THANK YOU FOR THE MOST PART. AND THAT WAS THE CONVERSATION I HAVE WITH ME TODAY WAS THEY WOULD BE ABOUT 2 MILLION. THAT'S MY THAT'S MY NUMBER THAT I BELIEVE IS GOING TO LOOK AT HIM AT WORK IS A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM. SO IT'S A ONE-TIME PAYMENT 2 YEARS, AN ADDITIONAL 300,000 FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO HELP A PAPER STAFFING TO TO GET THESE DOLLARS OUT PATH. AND EVERY 6 MONTHS WE GET A REPORT AND WE SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE BEING SERVICE. I MEAN, IF WE'RE SEEING THAT THERE WAS 5100 CALLS LAST YEAR LAST YEAR WAS BEFORE GAS PRICES WENT UP TO THE LEVEL THAT THEY'RE AT IT WAS BEFORE INFLATION WHEN I THINK IT WAS ALI 3 AND NOW IT'S AT 3, 4, 3, 5, AND THEN WE JUST SAW THE RIGHT HEIGHT. SO I THINK IF WE SAW 5100 CALLS LAST YEAR, ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT'S REALLY BEING WELL ADMINISTERED, THIS IS GOING TO GO WELL INTO THE 8 TO 10,000 RANGE. I WOULD THINK CONSERVATIVELY, FRANKLY. AND IF THAT'S HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES THAT NEED HELP AND WE COULD DO IT, LET'S DO IT. MS ELLEN BELIEVE YOU'RE AT THAT. >> SO SORRY, CHAIR I JUST WANTED TO. THE CALLS WERE ACTUALLY SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER. THE CALLS OF THE 5100 WHERE WHERE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE SUPPORT WHO ACTUALLY GOT. YEAH, THAT ACTUALLY CORRECT. THE NUMBER OF CALLS WEEK HAVE GOTTEN FROM DUVAL COUNTY IS OVER 46,000 EACH YEAR, ANDERSON. THAT'S THAT INCLUDES ALL EMERGES. THE CALLS, YOU KNOW, REGARDING THE ISSUE, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT. >> AND JUST VERY SHOWS THAT 515100 CALLS THAT WERE JUST FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE AND GOT THAT OR WAS AT 46,000 CALLS FOR IS AS GOES FOR EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING THAT. >> YES, SIR, THE TO THE CHAIR. 46,000 CALLS FOR IN DUVAL COUNTY. THAT TOTAL 5100 OF THOSE CALLS WERE ABLE TO REAP BECAUSE THE SENSE REALLY CONNECTED TO GET THEIR UTILITIES ASSISTANCE, EMERGENCY SAYS. >> OKAY. AND TO THE TO THE POINT EARLIER ABOUT OKAY, WHAT IF DOLLARS ARE APPROPRIATE? AND I JUST GAVE A NUMBER OF LIKE EVERYONE NOT JUST IN SHOWING THAT IF IF IF YOU KNOW 2 MILLION IN PUBLIC FUNDS WAS A CONTRACT THAT OUT, WOULD IT BE JUST TO TO 1, 1, TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PROVIDERS? THAT WOULD BE THE 2, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN NUMBER 2, 1, 1, ESPECIALLY ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THE CALLS GET OUT AND THEN A COUPLE EXTRA AND THEN EXTRA DOLLARS TO THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. IS THAT HOW THAT WOULD WORK? >> SO TO THE CHAIR, IT IS THERE. THERE ARE 2 OPTIONS REALLY UNITED WAY, OF COURSE, AS A AS A AN ORGANIZATION THAT HIS PARTNER, WE HAVE A GRANT MAKING, OBVIOUSLY INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY BUILT. SO WE ABSOLUTELY CAN DISTRIBUTE THE FUNDS TO THE PARTNERS. I WOULD ALSO AGREE WITH EILEEN THAT IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY, I THINK IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE TO THE BEGINNINGS OF OF RECEIVING SUPPORT SO THAT IF THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE IN THIS NETWORK, WHICH THERE ARE MANY OF US, AS WE MENTIONED SEVERAL IN THIS ROOM, IF THEY WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE DIRECT SUPPORT ALONG WITH THE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO HELP US EXPAND THE ABILITY TO TAKE THOSE PRE SCREENING CALLS. AND THAT WOULD ALSO BE A RESOURCE TO MAKE IT SIMPLE. THE SIMPLER WAYS CERTAINLY WOULD BE TO PARTNER WITH UNITED WAY. AND WE WOULD BE THAT CO GRANTEE OR SOME GRANTEE FOR IT FOR YOU ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. WE COULD ALSO DO THE OPPOSITE BECAUSE I DO. OUR PARTNERS WOULD APPRECIATE THE DIRECT SUPPORT IMMEDIATELY AS WELL. >> I WANT THESE DOLLARS TO HIT THE STREETS AS SOON AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. AND I THINK WE JUST I THINK I WANT TO BE COMFORTABLE. I THINK MY COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. WHERE THEN? ALL RIGHT, FOOT. I ALSO NOW QUESTION A CASE. WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE PROVIDERS THAT DO TO DO ALL THE PROVIDERS. A SENSE IT IS ANYTHING LIKE WAS DES 2 DIFFERENT THAN CATHOLIC CHARITIES THAT USUAL SERVICES OR NAFTA OR NAFTA, RIGHT? LIKE WHATEVER IT IS A CONVERSE BECAUSE THEY GOT THERE. >> TO THE CHAIR. SO WHAT I WILL I WILL SAVE IN TERMS OF OUR PARTNERS WHO ONLY MAKE APPOINTMENTS FOR WHICH INCLUDES THE 3 THAT I MENTIONED. THAT IS EXPANDING. WE WILL BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THOSE OTHER PARTNER SHORTLY. BUT FOR THOSE WE MAKE FREE SCREENING APPOINTMENTS FOR EVERY PARTNER DOES DO EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, BOTH HOUSING RENTAL KIND OF HOUSING, STABILITY, RELATED UTILITIES, AND EVERY PARTNER GENERALLY SPEAKING PROVIDES THAT ASSISTANCE BASED ON PSG DOLLARS. ALL MOST OF THE RECEIVE PSG DOLLARS AND OTHER FUNDING. THE MAJORITY OF THE UTILITY ASSISTANCE THAT'S PROVIDED IS DONE THROUGH CATHOLIC CHARITIES. MAINLY, OF COURSE, IS THE NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR PARTNER AND ALSO BECAUSE OF ADDITIONAL DOLLARS. BUT THE OTHERS DO PROVIDE UTILITY ASSISTANCE AS WELL. NAFTA, THEY ARE ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WE HAVE REFERRED CALLERS TO THAT THEY ARE NOT ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WE FREE SCREEN FOR. THEY TO YOUR POINT, COUNCILMEMBER COUNT COUNCILMAN, THEY ARE RECEIVING THOSE CARS DIRECTLY IN SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY INSIGHT TO THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE. >> IT'S BECAUSE UNITED WAY DOES UNDER THE 2 IN ONE PROCESS. THEY DO ALL THE PRE SCREENING BEFORE IT GOES TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE FERDAUS BEFORE IT COMES TO THE TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PUT IT OUT TO GO AHEAD. >> AND THAT'S WHERE IT GETS CONFUSING. YOU GOT ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS DOING THE SAME THING IN A VICE TALKING TO ANYBODY. AND SO NOW YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW WHETHER TO CALL IF WE'RE GOING TO SAY IT'S BEEN THE MONEY IS A 2, 1, 1, IS IT INTO ONE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH ALL OF THE AGENCIES, NOT JUST ONE OR 2 AGENCIES OR NOT JUST US PRESET LIST THE PARTNERS, BUT EVERYBODY WHO WAS DOING THIS WORK OR WE NEED TO BE DOING DIRECT CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY. BUT I DIGRESS. LET ME ASK BOARD, MR. PARTS TO THE CHAIR. I'M THINKING ABOUT THOSE THAT SERVE THE REASON I'M A LITTLE BIT RETICENT FOR WHEN IT COMES TO THE MONEY THAT COUNCIL CAN DO SO IS IS TALKING ABOUT GOING TO USE HIM GO INTO THE RESERVES. OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A HIGHER THRESHOLD TO REACH TO GET THE FUNDS OUT OF THE RESERVES. THE DEBT SERVICE FUND. THERE WERE SOME FUNDS THAT WOULD PUT ARE WE ABLE TO TOUCH THOSE FUNDS WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE SAME 13? >> WE'RE PAST OCTOBER, SEPTEMBER 30. SO WE'RE IN THE NEW YEAR. THERE ARE NO DEBT SAVINGS THAT EXISTED IN AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. WE CHANGED UP HOW THAT'S. >> I GET IT. I GET MY QUESTION WAS I CERTAIN UNDERSTAND THAT THE QUESTION WAS OUT OF THE DEBT SAVINGS FUND, THOSE FUNDS THAT WERE THERE AND UNDERSTAND WHEN A NEW FISCAL YEAR DID THOSE FUNDS GO BACK INTO THE RESERVE, GO INTO THE RESERVES, ANYTHING THAT WAS LEFT FALLS TO THE OPERATING USERS AT THE END OF IT, I WAS TRYING TO FIND TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE COULD FIND. IT REALLY DID THINK ABOUT THAT. YEAH, THAT'S THE PROBLEM WHERE YOU'RE AT ON OCTOBER 8TH, WE ARE 8 DAYS AND YOU DON'T HAVE THAT LIKE WHERE IN SEPTEMBER WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT IS AVAILABLE WITH THAT. YOU HAD SOME OF THOSE SEPARATE BILLS THAT CAME THROUGH AND YOU SOME OF THAT AT THE END OF THE YEAR. BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, YOU'RE BASICALLY LEFT WITH OPERATING SERVES UNLESS YOU'RE GOING IN AND SAYING, I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS OTHER PREVIEWING TYPE OF PROGRAMS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. ONE OF THE LAST THINGS I WANT TO SAY, COUNCILMEMBER, IF I MAY QUICKLY, I APPRECIATE YOU GIVE ME THAT INSIGHT. WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, LET'S MAKE SURE. WELL, I DO UNDERSTAND THERE ARE MULTIPLE PROVIDERS IN MULTIPLE PEOPLE DOING THINGS IN DIFFERENT WAYS. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT WE DO NOT USE ENOUGH IS TECHNOLOGY. I'VE SAID BEFORE OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THEIR PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY GO TO THE LIBRARY'S WITH THEIR ON THEIR PHONES, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. BUT SOME OF THOSE SOME OF THE RESERVE RESERVATIONS CAN BE DONE IN THAT WAY. IN MANY WAYS. I CAN TELL YOU HOW MANY CALLS THEY'VE GOTTEN. AND AS MORE DOES AN AMAZING JOB AND HER AND HER TEAM THERE, PEOPLE ARE CALLING IN LITERALLY WITHIN 2 MINUTES OF THE MORNING OPENING OF THE LINES, THEIR APPOINTMENTS OR FIELD. SO IF WE ARE ABLE TO USE TECHNOLOGY SO PEOPLE CAN BOOK APPOINTMENTS MAY BE WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE TO DO IT WITHOUT TALKING TO A PERSON. I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT SO WE CAN GET THOSE FUNDS. >> WE WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS AS A PRECAUTION. >> WHEN I WAS NOT A QUESTION THAT WE NEED TO DO IT, IT'S NOT A QUESTION THAT SOMETHING ANSWER. AND THIS MORNING I RIGHT, THAT'S WE NEED TO WHETHER IT'S ALLOCATING THE RESOURCES, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT JUST SOMEONE CALLING IN ON THE PHONE SAYING IT TO GET MY LIGHT BILL PAID AND THEY'RE CALLING A LINE THAT DOESN'T GET ANSWERED FOR A WEEK OR 2 BECAUSE LIKE I SAID IT AFTER A 10 DAY PERIOD, THE LIGHTS ARE OFF. >> THANK YOU. THAT THIS YEAR JUST WANT TO SAY I HAVE TO STEP OUT FOR ANOTHER MEETING, BUT IT DID GET A CHANCE TO DIGEST THE 2 MILLION DOLLARS AND IN SUPPORT OF IT AND WANT TO WRECK. YOU WANT TO SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE A COAL INTRODUCE WHATEVER LEGISLATION COMES OUT OF THIS BECAUSE AS AN AT-LARGE COUNCILMEMBER, I DO GET ALL THE CALLS. THE SAME CALLS A COUNCIL MEMBER. GAFFNEY IS MENTION LOOKING TO ME NEWLY ELECTED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FIXED OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME. SO I AM IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT EXPRESSING YOUR CONCERNS AND THANK YOU TO BOTH CHANCE FOR THIS MEETING. >> THANK COUNCILMAN. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. AND WE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO END THIS AT 5 MILE OUT OF CONTINUE TO GO FURTHER. RELIED TO PUBLIC COMMENT. EVERYTHING GOES OKAY. EXCELLENT. THAT'S GONNA MAKE SURE THE NEXT THING I JUST TO THE POINT OF WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER DON'T TALK TO JOHNSON WAS BRINGING UP WITH SOMEBODY CREDIT. YOU CAN COME BACK UP OR OR ANYONE ELSE EVEN EILEEN AS WELL. >> YEAH. WANT WHY IS THAT THE METHOD IN WHICH WE GET GET RECIPIENTS ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE APPLYING? WHY IS THAT THE METHOD IN WHICH WE USE? I JUST GOT A CALL ONE DAY, A CALL AT ONE TIME AS OPPOSED TO USING A MORE AUTOMATED SYSTEM. >> TO THE CHAIR, THAT IS A METHOD THAT ALSO IS USE AND HAS VENUES BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY, OF COURSE, IS ABSOLUTELY AN INVESTMENT THAT REQUIRES FUNDING TO DO SO. WHAT I WILL SAY TO FIRST I WANTED TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE. >> KUZMA DOCTOR JOHNSON, YOUR COMMENT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE DO A UNITED WAY, OUR NETWORK. AND ACTUALLY WE HAVE QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE PART OF THAT NETWORK IN ALSO, THE REALITY IS NOT EVERY ORGANIZATION EITHER. >> ALSO WANTS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE DAY AT THE DATABASE OR SOME REFER PREFER NOT TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNION AVIGATION NETWORK BECAUSE IT DOES REQUIRE ONGOING COMMUNICATION COLLABORATION. IN ADDITION TO WE CLOSE THE LOOP. SO NOT ONLY DO WE I PARTNERS HELP THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WE'RE SENDING APPOINTMENTS TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO PUTTING THAT DATA BACK INTO SPEAKING OF TECHNOLOGY BACK INTO A SYSTEM THAT LETS US KNOW THEY WERE SUCCESSFULLY HELPED. AND THAT ALLOWS FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS DATA. AND THIS IS A SYSTEM, BY THE WAY, A SYSTEM ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN A SYSTEM ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME AND ARE ALICE COMMUNITY. AND THANK YOU, DR MORELAND FOR YOUR COMMENT THERE BECAUSE I ALICE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE OFTEN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT BILLS EVEN PAY. THEY'RE MAKING DAY-TO-DAY DECISIONS. DO I PAY UTILITIES FIRST OR DO I KEEP A ROOF OVER MY HEAD IN? SO THAT IS A SYSTEMIC CHANGE THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE COORDINATION. AND THAT IS WHY UNITED WAY IS ACTUALLY PART OF A STRATEGY TO STRENGTHEN THAT SYSTEM. IT IS A A LOT OF HARD WORK BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE ARE A LOT OF PARTNERS AND IT IS DISJOINTED AT TIMES AND IT REQUIRES IS TO REALLY BE ON ALIGNED. BUT THE REALITY IS THERE WILL BE A NETWORK THAT DOES WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION. AND THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME WHO PREFERRED TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT. AND THAT'S THAT IS WHY IT CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE. BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO SOLVING THAT PROBLEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. >> FIRST AND I APPRECIATE THAT FOR ONE. WE JUST GOT ONE FINAL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT WOULD LET ME ASK. AND ONE OF THE THINGS AND I TRIED TO CHINA, YOU KNOW, WATCH AND BE A PART OF THIS. I WANT AS SENIOR CITIZENS 2 RIGHT NOW AS I SEE MISS HOLLY MISSES HOLLY IN THE FRONT ROW. I SEE HIM AS ROBINSON A DAY WHEN SENIORS ARE IN THIS SPACE MS ROBISON. WHAT ARE YOU SEEING THEM IS HOW YOU'RE DEALING WITH THAT EVERY DAY WHEN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT WE'RE DOING TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THAT FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. AND THE QUESTION IS, CAN ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE I KNOW AS ROBERTSON, YOU'RE DEALING WITH THIS EVERY DAY WITH SENIORS? WE'RE IN OUR SENIOR SITES AROUND THE CITY. WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO SENIOR CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE IN YOUR PROGRAM? CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT OR WHAT ISN'T NEEDED? WHAT COULD YOU DO IN YOUR PROGRAM? >> AS SHE WALKS ABOUT THE THE STATE STATE HASN'T GIVEN THE MONEY SINCE JUNE. YEAH. YEAH. >> IT'S SO WE ARE HEARING THROUGH THIS YEAR WE ARE HEARING COUNCILMAN JOHNSON. THE NEED IS SIGNIFICANT. WE RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY ANYWHERE FROM 40 TO 50 CALLS A DAY FROM SENIORS WHO ARE EXPRESSING A NEED TO HAVE SUPPORT FOR THEIR UTILITY BILL. AS I SHARED EARLIER, WE ARE AWAITING A CONTRACT WITH ELDERSOURCE TO BE ABLE TO RESUME OUR HEAT PROGRAM. AND SO THEN WE ARE REFERRING ANY INDIVIDUAL CALLS OUT TO ONE OF THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS. >> IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER OF ELDERSOURCE. CHRIS, THANK YOU ALL FOR HOSTING US AND BRINGING ATTENTION TO THIS PREVALENT ISSUE. AS OUR COLLEAGUE MS ROBISON STATED, WE ARE RECEIVING THOSE CALLS. WE'RE LIKELY THE ELDEST L THE HELPLINE. SO WE GET ALL OF THE SENIOR ELDER CALLS THAT WOULD GO TO TO 1, 1, I BUILD A HOTLINE, GETS THOSE. AND ONE THING WE CAN SAY ABOUT THE SENIOR POPULATION AS WELL. WE HAVE THE WORKING CLASS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES. SENIORS, UNLIKE THEM, HAVE FIXED INCOMES. SO AS THINGS GO UP, THEIR INCOME STAYS THE SAME. SO THE EFFECTS AND IMPACTS OF THESE CHALLENGES HIT THEM REALLY, REALLY HARD. AND SO THE CHOICE BECOMES WHETHER I PAY UTILITY BILL OR WHERE THEY GET MY MEDICATION. AND SO WE'RE SEEING THAT SO MUCH SO THAT WE DESIGNED OUTSIDE OF THE STATE FUNDING BECAUSE WE PROVIDE THE FUNDING TO THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE FOR THESE THE HEAP SERVICES. AND AS ROB SON STATED, THAT CONTRACT IS BEING STILL NEGOTIATED WITH THE STATES. THESE SERVICES ARE NOT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW FOR SENIORS. SO THERE IS A WAY TO GET THESE PARTICULAR FUNDS TO SENIORS RIGHT NOW. IT WOULD BE CRITICAL. AND WE ALSO AS ILLNESS OR SAW THIS BEING AN ISSUE FOR YEARS. WE DESIGNED INTERNAL PROGRAM WHERE WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE UTILITY ASSISTANCE OUTSIDE OF THE STATE FUNDING THAT WE GET. SO THAT'S TRUE. ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDING HAS BEEN A DROP IN AN EFFORT. AND OUTSIDE OF THAT, WE ALSO SERVICE IN ADDITIONAL POPULATION THAT DON'T GO TO THROUGH THE SAME SCRUTINY AS A STATE DOLLARS. SO BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU POINTED OUT EARLIER. >> AND I AT LEAST WANT TO SAY IT'S MY INTENTION THAT THERE WOULD BE NO, THIS WILL NOT BE INCOME RESTRICTED OR A DISTRICT IN $20 FOR FOR THOSE WHO NEED HELP, THAT THAT WOULD BE MIND BEFORE IVAN UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT. CUSTOMER AMERICA. >> YEAH, THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR. I'M SITTING HERE IN IN EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN STATED MY PREVIOUS CAREER OF EXPERIENCE. AND SO THE CRY I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH A FEW NIGHTS AGO, WE WERE OPEN ARMS AND IT WASN'T AN APPEAL FOR RESIDENTS WHO ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY, TOO TO BE THERE, IF YOU WILL. IN MY OPINION, I THOUGHT THE ATTENDANCE OF SUPPORT IF THE CRY ISRAEL HE ATTENDED SINCE POOR. BUT WHAT I DISCOVERED WITH THAT EXPERIENCE IS THAT THE JTA HAS HAS MADE A DILIGENT EFFORT TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ITS RATE BUT REPAIRS AND SO AND THAT EXPERIENCE, THEY WERE ADDRESSING HUMAN BEHAVIOR, WHICH IS A BIG CONTRIBUTOR TO HIGH BILLS, NOT JUST THE RATE INCREASE AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO ASSIST SOME INDIVIDUALS, LOOK AT THEIR BILLS IN REAL TIME AND GUIDE THEM AS TO HOW THEY TOO, CAN BEGIN SAVING SOME MONEY, IF YOU WILL. I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DEBBIE DOWNER HERE. I THINK THIS IS A VERY AMBITIOUS EFFORT. I THINK THERE ARE SOME REALITIES IF YOU'RE ABLE TO GET 2 MILLION OUT OF OPERATING RESERVES, HOW DO YOU PERSUADE 10 VOTES WHEN YOU'RE SAYING THAT 300,000 IS GOING TO GO TO ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS VERSUS HELPING TO PAY BILL THIS? IF YOU DON'T CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS, ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES WHERE FOLKS HAVE TO JUMP THESE THRESHOLDS TO BE ABLE TO GET HELP ONCE A YEAR OR 3 TIMES A YEAR OR 2 TIMES A YEAR HOW YOU'RE GOING TO MAXIMIZE THE USE OF THESE DOLLARS. IF YOU CAN'T HAVE CROSSED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT SERVICE PROVIDERS BECAUSE AS YOU HEARD UNITED WAY, THEY JUST NAVIGATE, THEY'RE NOT DISTRIBUTING FUNDS, THEN HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HELP THOSE FOLKS? WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING IS THE RESULT OF AN EXTREMELY