Date: 01/19/2012
Final
Briefing by the Department of Local Affairs
COMMITTEE ON JOINT LOCAL GOVERNMENT
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07:51 AM -- Briefing by the Department of Local Affairs
Reeves Brown, Executive Director, Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), introduced himself and provided an overview of the department. Director Brown discussed the role of the department with communities in Colorado and distributed the department's Executive Overview of the FY 2012-13 Strategic Plan (Attachment A) and a handout titled Strengthening Colorado Communities(Attachment B). He discussed the five divisions of the department including the Board of Assessment Appeals, and the Emergency Management, Housing, Local Government, and Property Taxation divisions. He continued to discuss the importance of the department's responsibilities, which include: supervising local property tax collections, administering state and federal low-income housing programs, providing technical assistance to local governments, and assisting local governments in capital construction, community services, and emergency preparedness and response.
Executive Director Brown discussed the department's objective to promote regional collaboration through strategic grants offered by the department and described four major projects implemented by the department. He discussed the four grant projects including the Georgetown and Silver Plume Wastewater Treatment Facility, Region 9 Broadband Network Development, Mesa County and Grand Junction Road 29 Construction, and Garfield County and Parachute Construction of US 6 Bridge Interchange. Director Brown discussed the types of federal and state funds received by the department and described how these funds are allocated to assist local communities in Colorado. He also responded to questions concerning areas for improvement by DOLA. He explained the strategic implementation of Community Development Block Grants, discussed the LEAN Management initiative implemented by Governor Hickenlooper, and described improving efficiencies in housing grants distribution and other areas where the department can implement concepts of LEAN Management.
08:16 AM
Dave Hard, Director, Division of Emergency Management, responded to questions from the committee concerning the implementation of local hazard mitigation plans and he discussed the distribution of federal pre-disaster mitigation grants to implement local hazard mitigation plans in Colorado communities.
08:18 AM
Executive Director Brown addressed questions concerning the department's strategic plan and discussed the specific five-year goals for the department and specific five-year goals for each division within the strategic plan as required by the SMART Government Act (Section 2-7-201, et seq., C.R.S). Bruce Eisenhauer, Deputy Executive Director, responded to questions from the committee concerning the department's strategic plan.
08:23 AM
Pat Coyle, Director, Division of Housing responded to questions from the committee concerning housing assistance, discussed housing grants distributed by the department, discussed specific housing assistance available for Colorado veterans, and discussed methods aimed at eventually getting households off of housing assistance.
08:28 AM
Executive Director Brown and Director Hard, responded to questions concerning the disaster planning from the Division of Emergency Management to regional and local areas in the state.
08:35 AM
Director Coyle, addressed questions from the committee concerning affordable housing to low income populations and explained that the Division of Housing is working to prioritize assistance for affordable housing for rental assistance programs like the federal Section 8 housing program
08:39 AM
Tony Hernandez, Director, Division of Local Government, addressed questions from the committee concerning long-term sustainability for Colorado communities and discussed methods being implemented by the department to allow regions to be more sustainable.
08:41 AM
Executive Director Brown and Director Mike Beery, Board of Assessment Appeals, responded to questions concerning the workload of the Board of Assessment Appeals and described methods being implemented by the board to mitigate the increased number of appeals received by the board between 2006 through 2011.
08:46 AM
Dr. Elizabeth Hickman, representing Centennial Health Center, addressed the committee, discussed grant funding from the Division of Housing that allowed Centennial Health to implement a successful respite program, and submitted a letter to the committee from Centennial Mental Health Care, Inc. (Attachment C). Ms. Hickman discussed the costs saved through this program.
08:50 AM
Directors Hernandez and Coyle addressed questions about Medicaid and the relationship between the Department of Human Services and local governments for human services such as mental health and respite care facilities. Committee discussion ensued concerning local assistance for group homes for veterans and persons with mental illness.
08:58 AM
The committee adjourned.