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County of Volusia
Children and Families Advisory Board
Minutes of the May 15, 2003 Meeting

Call to Order 5:15 p.m.

Attendance

Quorum: Yes

Chair’s Report: Chair recognized new CFAB Board member Marisa Shirley and gave brief history of CFAB.

New Business:

Mr. Williams gave overview of request from County Council on behalf of Volusia County League of Women Voters regarding licensure of home day cares. The County Council requested a response in approximately six months. There are four options available for consideration:

• By resolution or ordinance, mandate licensing of child day care homes and not designate an agency (This mandate would default to Department of Children and Families to fund and administer)

• By ordinance, designate a local agency or contract with Department of Children and Families. (The County must then fund at least 75% of cost to implement –402.315)

• By ordinance, take on the entire responsibility of funding and administering all child care facilities and child day care homes licensing functions

• Take no action

Mr. Williams explained that a resolution is statement of policy. An ordinance is a law that is enforceable that has enforcement actions attached to it. If Council passes a resolution, there is no enforcement mechanism because it is only a policy. An ordinance would require enforcement actions are built into the ordinance to ensure that the law is implemented appropriately.

Mr. Williams recommended the CFAB review and consider the following as it relates to the child day care homes:

• The issue of septic tanks which is goverened by the Health Department, and the potential impact of state health rules on child day care homes and if any barriers exist.

• Incidents that have occurred in Volusia County in licensed or unlicensed homes from the Department of Children and Families.

In 1990 the County Council renewed a resolution wherein the responsibility of licensing child day care homes on a voluntary basis, was delegated to United Child Care, now Child Care Resource Network. Approximately two years ago Department of Children and Families expressed concern regarding the resolution, because the resolution itself is not law. The Department of Children and Families worked with Child Care Resource Network to resolve the concerns.

A motion was made by Karen Bourbonnais and seconded by Dr. Henry Martin to schedule two sessions as information gathering sessions during the months of June and July. The Board directed staff to set up presentations from the Department of Children and Families, the League of Women Voters of Volusia County, Volusia County staff, Child Care Resource Network, Volusia County Health Department, and School Readiness (parental choice), with presentations not to exceed 20 minutes. The CFAB also directed staff to set up at least six meetings, in the evening, for public participation, as well as notifying currently licensed and registered child day care homes of public meetings. Because of the complexity of the issue, Mr. Williams noted that if, after information gathering sessions and the public meetings, the Board needs more than six months is needed to study the issue, Council will be advised. CFAB decided to meet on June 18 and July 23 for information gathering sessions. The Board also requested public meetings on Mondays or Thursdays to start at 6:00 pm, meeting not to exceed two hours, starting the second week of August through September.

Public Participation: None. Chair advised public of new procedure regarding request to address Board. Individuals will fill out request and give to County Staff who will provide to Board Chair.

Adjourned: 6:30 pm

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Volusia County, Florida.