Agenda - 12-07-2020; 8-a - Minutes

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19 1 Commissioner Price asked if staff had spoken to Alliance about accepting the Orange 2 County service area, and if the services are comparable. She asked if the Alliance Board would 3 vote prior to the Secretary making her decision. 4 Travis Myren said staff did speak with the CEO, but the decision would be up to the 5 Alliance Board. He said the CEO was helpful. 6 Commissioner Price asked if there is a timeline on when the County would know if the 7 Alliance Board has accepted the change. 8 Travis Myren said the Alliance Board would have to agree prior to the Secretary making 9 her decision, and Alliance would vote within the next nine months. 10 Commissioner McKee asked if the start date for the four-year relationship would be 11 effective for July 1, 2022. 12 Travis Myren said that is correct. 13 Commissioner McKee asked if, given that date, the BOCC could delay its decision to 14 September 2021 instead of deciding now. 15 Travis Myren said there is some flexibility, but there is a lot of preliminary work that 16 needs to go into effect prior to those tailored plans going into effect. He said those receiving 17 services need time to transfer to new providers, etc. 18 Commissioner McKee asked if the number of disengagements that have occurred in the 19 past few years is known. 20 Travis Myren said he knew of one. 21 Commissioner McKee said the disengagement is not a given. 22 Travis Myren said no, it is not. 23 24 PUBLIC COMMENT: 25 Rosemary Waldorf, Club Nova Board, said the timing of this action could not be worse. 26 She said Club Nova has spent seven years raising money for a new clubhouse, and has fully 27 met all negotiations to receive the $500,000 pledge agreement from Cardinal Innovations (CI). 28 She said the funds have been raised within the required timeline, and Club Nova has secured a 29 bridge loan. She said it has been very difficult to raise funds, and she is unsure what Cardinal 30 will do if the County disengages. She said this could be severely detrimental to the success of 31 the project. 32 Karen Dunn, Club Nova Executive Director, said Club Nova was taken by surprise that 33 the possibility of disengagement is back on the table. She said losing the $500,000 pledge from 34 Cl would be highly detrimental. She said if the County chooses to disengage from Cl, it should 35 find the funds to cover the loan loss. She said the State already required the LME MCO to 36 remain the same through 2025, and she does not see that disengagement will be allowed. She 37 highlighted some of the negative impacts of using Alliance for services, including lowered 38 reimbursement rates, greater administrative demands, etc. 39 Alex Harrison said Club Nova saved his life, and his mental illness is self-destructive. 40 He said the plan to cut $500,000 gives him great anxiety. He said he does not know what he 41 would do without Club Nova. 42 Tanya Pace said the current pandemic has placed a greater burden on serving those 43 with mental health needs, and the services of Club Nova are vital. She said this potential 44 disengagement will negatively impact the building construction, and the Club itself. She said the 45 Club desperately needs more space to serve more members safely. 46 Matthew Cox said he is member of Club Nova, and a present Board member. He said 47 Club Nova is a life saving community that reduces isolation for those suffering with persistent 48 mental illness. He said these services save the County and community a great deal of money, 49 and Club Nova partners with local law enforcement to create positive and productive 50 relationships. He asked the BOCC to not disengage from Cl, but if it does, to cover the loss of 51 the $500,000.