Community Action Board - March. 5, 2025

Agenda

The purpose of the Community Action Board (CAB) is to:

• advise the Community Action Agency (CAA) on ways to: mobilize human and financial resources at the local, state, and federal levels to benefit disadvantaged persons and maximize their opportunity for self-sufficiency;
• minimize the causes and conditions of poverty;
• cooperate with other persons and organizations interested in community betterment; and
• advocate for institutional change to reduce the conditions of poverty.

7:30 – Welcome - Adam

• Establishment of a quorum
• Introductions
• Adoption of minutes: February 2025

7:35 – Expanding transportation choice and access –

• Learn about the program
• Strategic Plan Goal II: Deliver accessible, equitable and culturally responsive services & County residents have greater awareness of services and service access points. Will help households achieve and maintain basic needs stability.

7:55 – Social Services Transportation Program Overview – Kristina Babcock 8:10 – Emergency Food and Shelter Program - Jennifer Much Grund

8:40 – New Meeting Time Discussion 8:45 – Recruitment Recommendation 8:50 – Member Updates

8:55 – Adjourn

Next Meeting: April 2, 2025

Minutes

FACILITATOR: Adam Khosroabadi

NOTE TAKER: Sean Wells

Present:

• Paul Edgar
• Richard Sheldon
• John Parker
• Adam Khosroabadi

Absent:

• Sonia Agnew

Guest:

• Scott Hoelscher
• Nathalie McCarvel
• Destree Bascos

Staff:

• Kristina Babcock
• Teresa Christopherson
• Tracy Garell
• Joey Johns
• Jennifer Much Grund
• R.E. Szego
• Sean Wells

Meeting Called to Order

Quorum is 50% +1

Adam called the meeting to order at 7:31 am. A quorum was present. 

Adoption of Meeting Minutes February 2025 minutes adopted as written. 

Expanding Transportation Choice and Access Project 

Scott Hoelscher introduced himself and the Expanding Transportation Choice and Access project. He explained that this project was in line with State goals regarding transportation. Part one of the project is focused on ways to get around without using a car such as public transportation, walking, biking, county provided shuttles, etc. The goal is to find the most popular transportation options and then recommend those to the county. Part two is implementing one of the strategies decided upon in part one. The project timeline was presented as was a survey that the board members were asked to share and fill out themselves. The board members then asked questions and brought up issues that they felt were important such as the lack of bike lanes and sidewalks in Milwaukie, non-car options not working with the schedule of working parents, and needing a shower at the workplace to make biking long distances viable. 

Social Services Transportation Program Overview 

Kristina Babcock introduced Social Services’ transportation programs. These include the last mile shuttle to get folks from a public transit stop to their homes, the Mt. Hood Express that provides transportation up and down Mt. Hood, and a collective of transit agencies in Clackamas County that work together to simplify traversing the county called Ride Clackamas. Kristina then fielded questions from the board about the various programs. 

Emergency Food and Shelter Program 

Teresa Christopherson provided a brief history and explanation of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. Part of the duty of the CAB is to advise Social Services on how to use these funds. Teresa explained some details of the program. These funds support existing programs, so the funds cannot be used for startups. Documentation for the program requires a fair amount of redundancy and can make the paperwork a bit cumbersome. The application process is managed by Clackamas County. In recent years the primary recipient has been the Oregon Food Bank. In the past some funds have been used for mass shelters, i.e. the Clackamas Women’s Shelter, but they haven’t been used that way in a few years. Funds can also be used for rent assistance. Teresa said that she would recommend a fifty/fifty split in funds between food and shelter. After some discussion and clarifications, the CAB voted to approve Teresa’s recommendation. 

Member Updates 

John reached out to Lynn Deschler but hasn’t heard back yet. He asked if staff could follow up with her to see about getting on the agenda. R.E. recommended reaching out again and cc’ing them. 

Meeting Adjourned 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00. 

Next Meeting: 

TBD