04-14-2021 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL APRIL 14, 2021 PRESENTATION — TARA JEBENS-SINGH WITH NORTHEAST YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES Tara Jebens-Singh, President/CEO, reviewed who Northeast Youth and Family Services is and what they do. She explained they have clinics in Shoreview and White Bear Lake, and were able to use telehealth and modifications to their space in order to continue providing services during the pandemic. She stated they provide school -based mental health services in three school districts. She explained they have three community -based human service programs: a diversion program, senior chore program/assurance calls and a community advocate who is partnering with five police departments who make referrals of youth to NYFS. She stated that they hope to return to in - person services soon, but are working with insurance companies to keep telehealth as an option. Keis asked if there would be any fundraisers this year. Ms. Jebens-Singh stated that they have moved all of their fundraisers online until they feel comfortable bringing people back together since they have great attendance at their annual events. Torkelson stated that NYFS is the finger on how people are doing and was wondering if there are any mental health trends from the last year. Ms. Jebens-Singh stated they are seeing an increase in critical clients, overdose deaths and waiting lists for in -patient mental health care. Fischer thanked Northeast Youth and Family Services for the great work they do. He stated the City has received some bigger increases in our contributions in the last couple of year, and noted that the contract states they are planning to reach $2.00 per capita and wondered if that would then sustain NYFS. Ms. Jebens-Singh stated that many of their clients have high insurance deductibles and pay thousands out of their pockets which is not sustainable, and she knows that if NYFS wants to continue to provide services to clients no matter if they can pay, they will need many partners in order to do that. Torkelson asked if any of the Federal funds the city received can be used for mental health services. The City Administrator stated that the new funds the city is receiving do not have clear guidelines set yet, but it is a possibility. Ms. Jebens-Singh stated that they did receive some CARES Act funds from other municipalities. PUBLIC HEARING — CONDUIT DEBT FINANCING FOR THE NEW HARMONY CARE CENTER Catherine Courtney, attorney with Taft, gave an overview of conduit financing to answer questions the City Council had. The City Administrator explained that the city received a request from New Harmony Care Center, Inc., a Minnesota non-profit corporation, that the City of Little Canada act as the conduit debt issuer of 501(c)(3) revenue obligations not to exceed $8,000,000. He stated that the proceeds of the bonds would be used to partly finance the acquisition, construction and equipping of a new senior healthcare and housing facility in Maplewood. He explained that the City of Little Canada would not be responsible for the repayment of any of the bonds and will receive an administrative fee in exchange for issuing the bonds. 2