Memo-Community Outreach Coordinators
, I
. City of Hopkins
Memo
To: Honorable Mayor and Hopkins City Council
From: Kersten Elverum, Housing Coordinator ~
Date: 09/22/00
Re; Community Outreach Coordinators
Purpose of Memo
The purpose of this memo is to provide background infonnation regarding a cooperative effort to hire
Community Outreach Coordinators. The Coordinators would identify needs of residents in selected
apartment communities and develop relationships with community partners to meet the needs ofthe
residents.
. The purpose ofthe discussion at the September 26, 2000, work session is to detennine the Council's
interest in this concept and to receive diredion regarding this proposal.
Overview
The City of Minnetonka, the Hopkins and Minnetonka school districts, the Ridgedale YMCA. and
representatives of the Crown Ridge, Minnetonka Heights, and Elmbrooke apartment complexes in
Minnetonka have been meeting for the past several months in an effort to address needs, specifically
the academic and social perfonnance of the children and the economic self-sufficiency of the families in
the above mentioned apartment complexes.
The result of the discussions is a proposal to hire Community Outreach Coordinators, modeled after
three successful programs: the Connect program in Plymouth; the Meadowbrook program in St. Louis
Park; and Common Bond's program, called the Advantage Center.
The major components of the position are as follows:
. Developing relationships with residents, city, community, school, and health partners
. Assessing the needs of the residents for services
. Meeting with property management companies to discuss neighborhood problems and
plan activities
. Providing individual service/resource coordination for residents
The proposed project is based on the feeling that most of the services and resources that families need
. to maintain and improve their stability exist. What is lacking is the ability ofthese families to effedively
access these services and resources.
1
.
.
The budget for one full-time and one part-time coordinator is approximately $65,000. The City of
Minnetonka Economic Development Autholity has recommended to the Minnetonka City Council a
contribution of $20,000 toward this effort. Additional funding is being sought from Hennepin County, as
well as from the Hopkins and Minnetonka school districts, the apartment management finns, and
private foundations.
The Ridgedale YMCA has agreed to act as the fiscal agent and employer of the coordinators. The
activities of the coordinators would be directed by an advisol)' board consisting of representatives of the
cities, school districts, property management companies, and the YMCA.
Initially, the project was designed to focus on three rental properties in Minnetonka, with the possibility
of expanding to Hopkins properties in the future. The school district in particular, however, sees an
advantage in the City of Hopkins and Hopkins properties participation immediately. They have
identified needs at Westside Village Apartments, where there is a large number of children, many from
non-English speaking families. other possible outreach sites include Hopkins Village Apartments, Dow
Towers, Town Terrace, and the Westbrooke neighborhood. The Collaboration has asked that the City
consider participating in this effort at this time,
Primary Issues to Consider
The City of Hopkins will need to decide if this is a project that is beneficial to the City and appropriate for
City funding. Ifthe City Council would like to pursue involvement in the project, staff, including police
department representatives, would identify the areas of greatest need. Staff would also research
possible funding sources. The issue would be brought back for Council action in October.
. Conclusion
The City of Hopkins has seen an increase in the number of families with social and economic needs.
impacting the City's budget and selVice delivel)'. The proposed project represents an attempt to
address resident needs before the associated problems become significant.
.
. Page 2