April 15, 2025 Minutes

Weld Regional Opioid Council Meeting

Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, Room 103
1555 North 17th Avenue, Greeley CO 80631
April 15, 2025 @ 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Voting Council Members in Attendance:  Gabriel Riemer (Evans); Kim Mihm (Windsor); Scott James (Weld County Commission); Amy Anderson (Ault); Bob McDonald (WCDPHE); Mike Knee (WCSO); John Gates (Greeley); Scott Smith (delegate for Michael Zeller, Weld County Drug Task Force/Greeley PD); Zo Hubbard (Fort Lupton); Julie Witkoski (Weld County Dept. of Human Services)

Advisory and Non-Council Members in Attendance:  Cathy Hoover (WCDPHE); Firestone Police Department (City of Firestone); Joanna Martinson (Northeast Health Partners); Danielle Willis (Colorado Health Network); Eric Barker (Colorado Consortium on Prescription Drug Abuse); Robyn Winters (Stout Street); Heidi Christiansen (YOLO Foundation); Anessa Minner-Lee (Antelope Recovery); Amber Delay-O’Connor PorchLight Health; Adria Schiel (Weld County); Giovanna Castro (WCDPHE); MJ Jorgensen (North Colorado Health Alliance); Calandra Lindstadt (Behavioral Health Administration); Cari Ladd (Northeast Health Partners); Maya Swanson (WCDPHE); Kelley McCandless (WCDPHE)

Minutes

1. Introductions and Opening Remarks: Chair Bob McDonald
   • The bylaws have been updated to reflect prior vote on electronic voting. Encouraged electronic voting for limited operations only, and suggested that electronic votes be acknowledged in the meeting following the vote.
   • The coordinator will provide a list of proposed RFP changes to voting members prior to release to the public.
   • Based on the structure of the 2-year plan, applicants and councils encouraged to focus efforts on new and expanded services rather than supplanting existing funding.
2. Vote: Approve Minutes from January Meeting
   • Motion to approve by Mayor Hubbard, seconded by Mayor Gates, approved unanimously.
3. Discussion and Vote: Appointment of Co-Chair
   • Bob McDonald- Discussed importance of having a co-chair. Suggested that Cathy Hoover may be a good choice as they work closely together.
   • Asked that if anybody else would like to do it they speak up.
   • Cathy Hoover nominated by Mayor Hubbard, seconded by Mayor Gates, unanimously approved. • Bob McDonald affirmed that the voting would not change, and that Cathy would only vote if Bob is gone.
4. Fiscal Agent Updates: Bill Fritz
   • From the invoices thus far, about $1.8 million has been distributed for the 2024 grant cycle. 
   • Expenditure report is available for review and will also be reflected on the COAC dashboard. 
   • A new invoice template has been created which is customizable for grantees.
5. Coordinator Updates: Kelley McCandless
   • Shared that most organizations that had leftover funds in 2024 opted to try and spend them. These organizations have until the end of April to spend the funds and until the end of May to invoice.
   • Grantees have been sending in their Q1 reporting.
   • Program staff attended a virtual conference on preventing problematic substance use in youth. Program staff have also been involved in community projects and schools.
6. Regional Data Presentation: WCDPHE Data Team
   • Presentation primarily discussed rates of fatal and non-fatal overdoses in Weld County and Colorado at large.
   • Council members were curious about what kinds of strategies led to a decline in OD deaths in Weld County and wondered what specific things caused a spike in 2020-2021.
   • Commissioner James: Asked if legislative decisions statewide relating to policing and fentanyl could have contributed to the spike.
   • MJ Jorgensen emphasized that isolation, mental health issues, and limited access to in-person services during the pandemic are often considered contributing factors. 
   • Additionally, changes in how drug charges were classified meant that people with lesser charges were not given as much support as people with greater charges.
7. Hub & Spoke, Evidence-Based Strategies Presentation and Discussion
   • MJ Jorgensen provided context for the COAC hub and spoke report. Hubs and spokes were defined in the context of medication assisted treatment (MAT). MJ outlined the role of NCHA as Weld County’s Hub.
   • Partners that act as spokes and the role of the criminal justice system were described.
   • Kelley McCandless offered comparisons of barriers to care and workforce concerns between Weld County and Colorado at large. Encouraged council to keep these issues in mind in upcoming grant cycle.
   • Kelley McCandless gave an overview of the structure of evidence-based strategies and why they are important when time and resources are limited.
   • Kelley emphasized the importance of integrating research, resources, and population information into decision making. Expressed importance of encouraging evidence-based strategies in upcoming grant cycle.
8. Presentation of 2024 Grant Cycle Projects: 2024 Grantees
   • Brief overview of WCDPHE’s outreach and education efforts in 2024.
   • More organizations will present on their work in the July meeting.
9. RFP Scoring Introduction and Discussion
   
   • Working group vs. whole-council scoring, other aspects of scoring discussed.
   • Bylaws require only voting members to participate in work groups.
   • Council expressed desire to see the scoring models of other regions.
   • Topic of offering applicants the option to present their proposal came up.
   • Council discussed pros and cons of allowing presentations, with some members expressing concerns that requiring presentations would not be equitable. This discussion included accessibility/recorded presentations, time limits, and how much presentations should be weighted. Ensuring that the presentation happens on a different day than the scoring was suggested. 
   • Individuals in attendance who plan on applying this cycle expressed that they would be interested in presenting.
   • Council members considered whether it would be fairer to allow presentations or to give written questions to applicants.
   • Kelley McCandless proposed that the ‘intent to apply’ include a question asking if they would be interested in applying.
   • Mayor Hubbard moves to approve this approach, Mayor Gates seconds, unanimous approval. Intent to apply form will solicit feedback from prospective applicants.
   • Bob McDonald stated that support staff will begin creating a timeline for the application process.
10.  Closing Remarks
    • Bob McDonald asked if any participants had anything they’d like to share.
    • Mayor Hubbard shared that Ft. Lupton PD has been successfully using the device purchased using WROC funds (used to identify substances). They demonstrated at a city council meeting and have been able to loan the device to other jurisdictions.
    • MJ Jorgensen shared the Overdose Awareness Day events will be taking place on August 23rd and 24th. The COAC and Rethinking Addiction conferences will be on August 27th and 28th.
    • Lieutenant Knee shared that MAT numbers in the county jail are holding steady, and that fentanyl, methamphetamines, and cocaine are prevalent. He expressed concerns about the changing landscape of substances and new substances entering the market.
    • Calandra Lindstadt shared that the Behavioral Health Administration is looking for advisory committee members and said that this region is underrepresented. Also encouraged members to consider the CAAMP program as a resource for people in their community that are involved in agriculture.
11. Adjourn
    • Motion by Mayor Hubbard to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by Mayor Gates. Meeting adjourned at 10:30 AM.
    • Link to recorded meeting available by request: kmccandless@weld.gov

Next Meeting:  July 15th, 2025 at 9:00am at 1555 N 17th Avenue, Greeley, CO (Room 103 or via Microsoft Teams)