The Pine Bluff City Council Public Works Committee met last week to discuss significant amendments to contracts with Opportunity House and the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County.
The meeting aimed to ensure fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainability, with the primary focus of the discussion revolving around the Opportunity House.
Pine Bluff Mayor Vivian Flowers explained how the Opportunity House is a crucial facility providing short-term and long-term housing solutions, especially in the wake of the Salvation Army’s departure from providing overnight facilities. Flowers outlined five key changes to the resolution for the Opportunity House contract, emphasizing a shift toward greater accountability and self-sufficiency.
“We want to ensure that we do this in a way that is in keeping with the best fiscal standard and accountability, but also to ensure that the Opportunity House is able to grow their grant resources and other fundraising resources so that we’re not only helping to stand them up, but also helping them to be sustainable,” said Flowers.
The proposed changes include:
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Quarterly reports: Mandatory quarterly reports detailing expenditure of funds and activity, including the number of clients served and their housing outcomes. This aims to document the program’s efficacy and ensure transparency in spending. Flowers noted these reports would be crucial for regular payments, preventing a lump sum distribution.
Local bank account: A requirement for Opportunity House to open a local bank account, ensuring that funds remain within the community and are not commingled with the national organization’s finances.
No future regular city support: A clear stance that the city will not commit to future regular financial support after the current contract cycle. “The whole purpose of this is to get them in a position where they won’t need us anymore,” said Flowers.
Organizational fundraising plan: Opportunity House will be required to establish and report on their own organizational fundraising plan, encompassing local fundraisers, ongoing online giving efforts and grant writing. Flowers highlighted a previous lack of local fundraising efforts, suggesting an “open house fundraiser” to engage community support.
Partnership in grant writing: A critical item requiring Opportunity House to partner with the city in their grant writing activities. Flowers expressed concern about past grant applications lacking strong letters of support and elements of partnership, suggesting that the national organization’s template might not be suitable for local needs. Council member Bruce Lockett later emphasized providing Opportunity House with a “laundry list of potential grantors that we’ve been successful here in the city of Pine Bluff at getting grants from.”
Committee members raised concerns regarding the logistical evaluation of new funds and potential budget adjustments due to rising inflation costs. Flowers clarified that any changes would likely lower the city’s contribution, minimizing the need for budget adjustments. She also emphasized that the city’s support in grant writing and fundraising would help address unforeseen financial needs.
Lockett also suggested encouraging Opportunity House to create income-generating initiatives and partner with other granting entities. Council member Lanette Frazier echoed the need for accountability.
“I definitely would like to see what funds have been received by them and have some accountability that we can see,” she said.
Flowers indicated that these changes would be compiled into a resolution to be presented to the full council for action at the next meeting.
Also during the meeting, the committee addressed and recommended to the full council a proposed extension for the contract with the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County. The original contract was for three years, and the Boys & Girls Club has requested a five-year extension.
Tavante Calhoun, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County, explained the rationale for the longer term: “A five-year contract just puts us in a stronger position when we’re going out to seek additional grant funding … having those additional years added to the contract just shows trust and commitment for the long-term and just makes it a lot easier when we’re looking for long-term grants to support the programming,” he said.
Frazier supported the five-year term, as did Flowers.
Lockett expressed some initial reservations about a five-year contract extending into another potential mayoral administration, but ultimately stated he didn’t have a problem with a five-year contract.