Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 121095

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 121095

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-584-12

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: STROLLER RE: KRISTI HOUSE

Introduced: 5/29/2012

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 7/3/2012

Agenda Date: 7/3/2012

Agenda Item Number: 11A4

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ALLOCATION OF FEES COLLECTED FOR ISSUING PARKING PERMITS FOR PERSONS TRANSPORTING YOUNG CHILDREN AND STROLLERS TO KRISTI HOUSE IN THE AMOUNT OF $152,086

Indexes:

STROLLERS

Sponsors:	Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Prime Sponsor
	Sally A. Heyman, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	7/3/2012	11A4	Adopted				P

Public Safety & Healthcare Admin Cmte	6/12/2012	2B	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Valda Christian read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Chairman Diaz relinquished the chair to Vice-Chairwoman Heyman. Chairman Diaz recognized Kristi House representatives to make their presentation today and explained that the funding was generated from fees collected for stroller parking permits. Mr. Nelson Diaz, President, Kristi House Board of Directors, 121 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables, appeared before the Committee and expressed his appreciation for the Commission support. After giving a brief overview of the services Kristi House provided to sexually exploited children, Mr. Diaz introduced Executive Director Trudy Novicki and client, Ms. Stephania Chavez (phonetic). Ms. Stephania Chavez appeared before the Committee and provided a testimonial on how the services at Kristi House had empowered her to be a survivor and achieve her dream. She noted support for Kristi House was support for others with stories like hers. Ms. Trudy Novicki, Executive Director, Kristi House, 1265 NW 12 Avenue, Miami, appeared before the Committee and noted over the ten years she has served as executive director, the County’s funding had continuously decreased. She stated this proposed funding allocation would help serve a portion of the 800 children seen each year. Ms. Novicki asked that the Committee support this resolution to help Kristi House achieve its objectives, which included opening the shelter next year to help commercially sexually exploited children; continuing its airport and seaport training for victims of human trafficking; and continuing to serve the more than 800 children of child sexual abuse. In response to Commissioner Heyman’s question regarding the total amount currently in that account, Ms. Jennifer Glazer-Moon, Office of Management and Budget Director, noted the current amount was $297,000. She further noted the recurring revenue generated on an annual basis ranged from $40,000 to $60,000. Chairman Diaz provided closing remarks, commending Ms. Chavez and the representatives of Kristi House for their hard work and accomplishments. Hearing no further questions or comments, the Committee proceeded to vote.

County Attorney	5/29/2012		Assigned	Gerald K. Sanchez

County Attorney	5/29/2012		Referred	Public Safety & Healthcare Admin Cmte	6/12/2012

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ALLOCATION OF FEES COLLECTED FOR ISSUING PARKING PERMITS FOR PERSONS TRANSPORTING YOUNG CHILDREN AND STROLLERS TO KRISTI HOUSE IN THE AMOUNT OF $152,086

BODY

WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 94-104 provides that one-third of fees collected for issuing parking permits for persons transporting young children and strollers shall be distributed to private not-for-profit, non-denominational agencies providing services for severely abused or neglected children; and
WHEREAS, Kristi House, Inc. is a private 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, non-denominational entity whose mission is to provide a healing environment for all child victims of sexual abuse and their families, regardless of income, through prevention, treatment and coordination of services with community partners; and
WHEREAS, Kristi House strives to end the epidemic of child sexual abuse in Miami-Dade County by healing those who have been victims and breaking the cycle of abuse for future generations; and
WHEREAS, Kristi House is the State-designated Children�s Advocacy Center, making it the single entity responsible for coordinating cases of child sexual abuse for all of Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, Kristi House has continually grown its program to meet the needs of the community, and has provided uninterrupted, services, based upon best practice, for 16 years without turning any children away; and
WHEREAS, due to budget cuts, Kristi House is currently receiving only 1% of its annual budget, $43,750, in funding from Miami-Dade County despite having received the highest score in its category in the last RFP competition (July 2010) and being recommended in February 2011 for 95% funding at $195,836; and
WHEREAS, Kristi House brings positive national and international attention to Miami-Dade County through distinguished awards and support for its model programs, including its initiative for child-victims of sex trafficking; and
WHEREAS, Kristi House has assisted Miami-Dade County and its personnel at Miami International Airport and PortMiami with a first-of-its-kind human trafficking awareness and identification training program with zero funding support from the County; and
WHEREAS, Kristi House devotes considerable resources to raising awareness of the epidemic of child sexual abuse, and keeping our community�s children safe, despite extremely limited public funding for healing these young victims of the hideous crime of sexual abuse; and
WHEREAS, national research has shown the serious social and health costs to the individual and community are associated with untreated child sexual abuse trauma; and
WHEREAS, the Commission believes that it is in the best interest of the citizens of Miami-Dade County to provide funding to Kristi House whose services are unduplicated by any other agency in our county,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that the County Mayor or Mayor�s designee is hereby directed to distribute funds collected from the issuance of parking permits for persons transporting young children and strollers as follows:

Kritsi House $152,086.