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<br /> . . . -, <br /> <br /> Councilman Leipzig said, "Once a year I get to give my stump speech against this <br /> process, not against the Committee nor the agencies. The Committee does a lot of work, <br /> believe me, I served on this Committee, and 99.9% of the agencies do a heck of lot of <br /> - work and a lot of good for our community. What bothers me is the process where we as <br /> tax payers send millions of dollars every year to Washington D.C., and for those millions, <br /> we get back maybe $1 million and we have to go through this entire process, this massive <br /> amount of paperwork and applications to get some of our money back, maybe ten cents on <br /> the dollar. There is something wrong with that process. Pastor Logie spoke earlier this <br /> evening that the best way to spend money, is locally, and we know best. You, us, all of us <br /> here, so it just fries me that we have to go through this process every year, but until we <br /> have another tea party, we have to put up with it." Councilman Leipzig said he had known <br /> Eddie May Spiller for a long time, and described a high school project he started that <br /> raised funds for the Emergency Hunger Fund and continues every year. He expressed <br /> strong support for Mrs. Spiller who didn't spend money on a staff or overhead, but "just <br /> helped people." <br /> MIS: LEIPZIG/CLAIRE TO SUPPORT THE HUNGER FUND WITH $10,000 FOR THE <br /> FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR, AND A SECOND $10,000 CONTINGENT <br /> UPON APPROPRIATE BUDGETING AND REPORTING STANDARDS TO BE <br /> ESTABLISHED BY STAFF <br /> Councilman Claire said a Planning Commissioner had "resigned tonight because for the <br /> first time in ten years that I can remember, we disagreed with the Planning Commission on <br /> a major issue, and I find that unfortunate, because he was an excellent Planning <br /> ~ Commissioner." Councilman Claire said he hoped the HHCC would understand if the <br /> Council chose to approve different funding. He said the HHCC does an outstanding job, <br /> works very hard and "we give them very little advice... (The HSFA funds) do not come <br /> from the federal govemment, but from the Redwood City General Fund. The requirements <br /> are the City's requirements not the federal govemment's." Councilman Claire said <br /> although he agreed that the Emergency Hunger Fund application was inadequate, he said if <br /> Council or staff worked with the fine Board of Directors he was sure any insufficiencies <br /> could be cleared up, and he felt it was incumbent upon staff to work with the Fund to <br /> resolve this situation. Councilman Claire said the Council had discretion to add additional <br /> monies to the HSF A budget at any time. <br /> Councilman Ruskin thanked everyone who works in non-profit organizations, and who <br /> tend to be "unsung" heroes, not only in the community but in society as a whole. He <br /> described just how appreciated and valued they were in Redwood City. Councilman <br /> Ruskin said he had served on the HHCC and understood how difficult these decisions were <br /> to make, and why the members felt in a bind when they examined all the applications. <br /> Councilman Ruskin said he agreed with Councilman Claire that the Council could help the <br /> HHCC meet its obligations, yet allocate funds to the Emergency Hunger Fund in <br /> appreciation of the work it is doing and has done, and gain assurances that the Board <br /> Members will do whatever is necessary to avoid this situation in the future. Councilman <br /> L. Ruskin said he was concemed about the amount of money in the motion. He said he also <br /> REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 55 MAY 19, 1997 <br /> MINUTES Page No. 339 PAGE II <br />