As part of the 2019-2020 biennial budgeting process, City Council approved a funding allocation to conduct a Community Needs Assessment in 2019. During the April 8, 2019 Community Wellness Special Focus Area Study Session staff provided an overview of the CDBG Consolidated Plan update process.  This briefing highlighted the Needs Assessment as an important part of that process. At the June 10, 2019 Study Session, City Council received a presentation from Joel Warren and Julie McFarland, consultants from Cloudburst Consulting that were selected to assist the City in conducting the Assessment.  The Assessment effort is now in its final stages, and City Council will be receiving a briefing from Cloudburst on the Needs Assessment findings at the October, 14 2019 Study Session. 

The overall Assessment provides a picture of the existing state of human services within the City and an analysis on gaps in services. This information will support key Human Services and CDBG efforts in the coming year:

This Needs Assessment:

· Identifies how City Human Services goals could be better aligned to meet community needs,

· Provides funding priority recommendations for the City’s human services funding process, and

· Supports the strategic planning update to the City’s 2020-2024 Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Plan.

Cloudburst Consultants will present the information from their final report and answer questions about the process, findings, and recommendations.