Present: Corky Gutierrez, (Collaborative Chair) VMC; Bonnie Reed, United Way; Ann Levine, Mental Health Advocacy Project; Jaclyn Fabre, Cupertino Community Services; Terry Applegate, Silicon Valley Independent Living Center; Leah Gronlund, Santa Clara Unified School District; Ray Allen, Community Technology Alliance; Margaret Gregg, County Office of Homeless Concerns; Francella Stevens; Denise Scovel, InnVision; Phyllis Ward, Affordable Housing Network; Christine Skeen, Second Start; Kathy Neidlinger; Sally Slyngstad, Sacred Heart; Tracey Chew, Catholic Charities; Trish Crowder, San Jose Family Shelter; Poncho Guevara, Emergency Housing Consortium; Kristie Kesel, Housing for Independent People

Community Members Present: Betsy Arroyo, Community Technology Alliance; Erin OÆBrien, Community Solutions; Kate McNichols, San Jose First; Nancy Noel, Community Services Agency; Verna Johnson, Social Services Agency; Christine Anders, San Jose State University; Lorea Russell, City of San Jose; Michael Pritchard, Pathways Society; Becky Lake, Silicon Valley Independent Living Center; Susan Miller, San Jose Unified School District; Darin Loudes, Corporation for Supportive Housing

Regrets Received: Kathy Espinoza-Howard, City of Palo Alto; Frank Motta, Social Services Agency; Vivian Frelix Hart, City of San Jose

Introductions were made.

Announcements: The SPN CPR Training scheduled for Friday is full. There is no training scheduled in December.

A presentation was scheduled for January 16, 2003 for all community members interested in 211, the three digit telephone number for access to information and referral on health and human services.

The Board of Supervisors would decide the thirty percent set-aside from Redevelopment for the Office of Affordable Housing in December. All Collaborative members were encouraged to attend. Details would be circulated when available.

By-Laws: Ann Levine, Bonnie Reed and Denise Scovel, the By-Laws Subcommittee, thanked all who had responded to their request for input. The Committee had attempted to keep the by-laws simple and put the details in a policies and procedures manual, a more flexible, proposed document. It was recommended that a Policies and Procedures Subcommittee be established in January. The Committee circulated suggested changes to the by-laws, along with suggested policies and procedures and forms.

There was much discussion about when action by written consent or email without a meeting would be allowed. It was recommended that the process only be used by the entire Steering Committee in time sensitive matters and not in lieu of attending meetings.

The proposed advocacy procedure was reviewed in detail. Ann felt the process would take no more than a month. Several people present stressed that the process described did not address the CollaborativeÆs own advocacy process, but set forth a process for endorsement of otherÆs advocacy issues.

There was discussion on grounds for removal of a Steering Committee member. Those present felt being declare of unsound mind and/or being convicted of a felony should not be grounds for removal as stated in the current By-Laws.

Suggested minor changes to by-laws regarding venue, notice of special meetings, special meetings, contents of notice, definition of quorum, officers vacancies, secretaryÆs duties and dues were also discussed.

A motion was made by Denise Scovel and seconded by Phyllis Ward that the Steering Committee approve presentation of the suggested by-laws as amended to the full Collaborative at the January General Meeting. The motion was approved.

Proposition 46: The Executive Committee provided cookies and cider in celebration of our communityÆs successful Proposition 46 campaign. Tracey reported that we had received 181 local endorsements and raised over $22,000 from 117 people. Darin reported that two NOFAs would be released by MHP in January, with $26 million, statewide, for supportive housing and $60 million for general MHP projects. MHP would offer trainings for these NOFAs that carried strict tax credit guidelines and leveraging requirements.

The Housing Committee had identified sixteen developers of very low-income housing and would support those developers through identifying tenants and supplying supportive services. The Committee would like to get media coverage for the two new Mid-Peninsula projects scheduled to open in January and March. The Committee had identified the need for senior supportive housing in our county.

The Nominating Committee had met and identified candidates for officers and steering committee members. The nominating ballot would be emailed to the full Collaborative before Thanksgiving. People were encouraged to nominate candidates, with their permission. Officers nominated by the committee were Jaclyn Fabre, Chair; Poncho Guevara, Vice Chair and Betsy Arroyo, Secretary. Steering Committee members from labor, business, higher education, training and development were direly needed.

Transportation Committee: Terry presented information proposed from VTA to limit paratransit eligibility. She reported that VTA had laid off union drivers and was now contracting with a non-union organization. Drivers were not trained on needs of their disabled passengers.

Technology Committee: Ray announced that there would be a demonstration of the ServicePoint HMIS software, the product chosen by our county, in San Mateo on December 5.

The Steering Committee would not meet in December.