2005-02-18
CITY OF ENCINITAS
SENIOR CITIZEN COMMISSION
MINUTES
Regular Meeting Date: February 18, 2005; 1:10 p.m.
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Chairperson Vance called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.
Present: Chairperson Vance, Vice Chairperson King, Commissioners
De Vinne, Schorr and Pike.
Also
Present: Recreation Superintendent Miller, Senior Center Manager Goodsell
and Administrative Support Coordinator Dakovich.
Absent: Commissioners Tillotson and Harp.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
4. CHANGES TO AGENDA
None.
5. CLOSING AND ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Approval of minutes for Regular Meeting January 21, 2005.
COMMISSIONER DE VINNE MOVED, CHAIRPERSON VANCE SECONDED TO
APPROVE MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING, JANUARY 21, 2005. MOTION
CARRIED 5-0.
6. PRESENTATIONS
A. Update on North County Transit District Transportation Services by
Phyllis Hall, Community Outreach Specialist, NCTD.
Chairperson Vance introduced Phyllis Hall and welcomed her to the meeting.
Phyllis Hall, NCTD thanked the Commission for the invitation to present current
information on NCTD services. She distributed information packets and noted
her goal for the coming year was to work closer with senior groups to promote
user friendly information and services. She discussed Coaster, public bus
routes, FAST and LIFT Programs. She reviewed the information packet material
and noted that NCTD was working with the Downtown Encinitas Merchants
Association and the Highway 101 Association to establish an all day bus pass
that could also be used for discount shopping along Highway 101.
Commissioner Pike asked if there were upcoming plans to promote these
services to seniors.
Phyllis Hall advised that there would be a March/April ad campaign to promote
the all day pass. She requested that any suggestions to improve services be
addressed to her.
Recreation Superintendent Miller suggested a bus beach route as recommended
by various citizens.
Phyllis Hall advised that suggestions could also be submitted in written form to
Stefan Marks, Manager of Service Planning, NCTD.
A member of the audience asked for information on how to access the FAST
service. She noted that she resides at Seacrest Gardens (home to about 100
seniors) and there is no public transportation in the area.
Phyllis Hall advised that FAST service has dedicated stops and service areas,
and did not stop in that area of town, however, local cities are working with
NCTD to improve senior citizen transportation. She suggested writing the
NCTD Manager of Service Planning, Stefan Marks, with her concerns. She also
advised that Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos and Oceanside are working with
funding from SANDAG to provide transportation services for seniors. She noted
her contact telephone number is 760/96-6602 and her e-mail address is
.
phall@NCTD.org
Recreation Superintendent Miller requested a copy of senior transportation
proposal being prepared by the Transportation Task Force.
Phyllis Hall advised she would copy and mail. She noted as Chair of the
Transportation Task Force, she is working with grant administrators of various
cities.
Commissioner Pike asked what was the biggest obstacle to accomplish
transportation goals and the greatest need.
Phyllis Hall advised that at this point in time, funding and finding a dedicated,
committed staff person and enhancing the travel-training program for seniors.
She noted the travel-training program had been contracted out, but she is
making an effort to have program operated in-house, hopefully in July, with one
paid staff person.
She also noted two new innovative ideas available in the near future – use of a
transportation card for certain fee amounts can be swiped when boarding public
transportation instead of needing change, and ticket vending machines that talk
and answer questions.
Chairperson Vance thanked Phyllis Hall for her presentation and noted that the
Commission Transportation Subcommittee would be in touch with her for further
information.
7. OLD BUSINESS
A. Status Report on Project C.A.R.E.
Senior Center Manager Goodsell advised that this past month 509 Project
C.A.R.E. clients had been served. She also advised that the Project C.A.R.E.
Coordinator Gail Dupler had returned to work from medical leave.
B. Status Report on Senior Center at Oakcrest Park.
Senior Center Manager Goodsell noted new Spring programs at the Senior Center
including Gentle Pilates, Yoga, Functional Fitness, Music in Your Life, Diabetes
Support Group. She also advised the monthly dances are very successful with 75-
80 in attendance and noted the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day Dance to be held March
18. She further advised that a request to A.I.S. (Aging & Independence Services)
for funding for kitchen equipment was approved and the Senior Center received
$865, and a $5,000 request to A.I.S. allotted for transportation, which includes use
of the LIFT Bus, is to help with covering the cost/expenses of operating the program.
Seniors use LIFT to attend the Senior Nutrition Program.
Commission Schorr asked what the attendance was at the daily Senior Center
lunches.
Senior Center Manager Goodsell advised about 60 seniors attend the daily lunches
with greater attendance up to 120 on special celebration days.
Recreation Superintendent Miller advised the Center opens the room divider
whenever possible to create greater ambiance during the lunches. Senior Center
Manager Goodsell also noted that Pat Britt, a Senior Center volunteer driver had
recently won $500 for a story she submitted to the Beverly Foundation on her
experience as an “Out and About” driver.
C. Update Report on Ad Hoc Sub-Committees (Outreach Information,
Transportation Review, Senior Housing Review and Representative
Reports).
Outreach –
Commissioner De Vinne advised that Commissioner Harp is preparing
a script for presentation on the Senior Service Video and programs promoting senior
activities and services in Encinitas.
Transportation –
Vice Chairperson King advised that the Subcommittee (King, Pike
and Schorr) held a brief meeting earlier today to review goals and work plan, and set
as their first goal surveying existing transportation services in the area.
Commissioner Pike noted that providing public transportation travel training was a
good idea.
Senior Housing –
Chairperson Vance advised that he had attended the recent
City Housing Ad Hoc Advisory Committee meeting and this forum will be able to
accomplish a great deal. He also advised that the Via Cantebria Low Income
Housing Project has opened and rented 24 of the 44 units available. He noted
parking could become a problem as there are only 19 parking spaces for the 44
rental units.
Council Contact –
No report.
Senior Foundation Review –
In Commission Harp’s absence, Recreation
Superintendent Miller advised that the Foundation Follies was sold and a great
success with many new acts.
A.I.S. Meetings Review –
Commissioner Pike distributed copies of a recent A.I.S.
meeting and advised he had plans to meet with the Board Assistant Chair regarding
his participation on a regular basis.
D. Status Report on 2005 Senior Information Fair.
Recreation Superintendent Miller advised that Senior Information Fair exhibitor
notices had been mailed with a deadline return of April 11. She also displayed the
exhibitor notice for the event. She further noted the Fire Department’s new exhibit –
the Smoke House may participate this year and suggested two options pending: a
shuttle service from the Center to the Fire Station to access the exhibit or possibly
displaying the exhibit in the Center parking lot.
Commissioner Pike suggested a presentation on disaster prevention at the
Information Fair.
Recreation Superintendent Miller noted a presentation on disaster prevention as
well as health issues would be informative for seniors.
Commission Schorr suggested that drug stores, Henry’s Market, Jimbo’s Market and
Trader Joe’s be contacted to participate in the Senior Information Fair.
Recreation Superintendent Miller advised that after evaluating lunches at the Fair, it
was determined that lunches would not be sold. The current Senior Lunch Program
can accommodate this need. The Commission concurred. She also distributed a
breakdown on Senior Information Fair exhibitors.
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. Review and Input on Senior Issues – Transportation, Housing, Outreach
Services, Senior Center Program.
Chairperson Vance noted the low attendance at today’s Commission meeting and
suggested that more promotion may be necessary, if the Commission continues to
meet at the Center.
Recreation Superintendent Miller advised that a disaster preparedness presentation
had been planned for the June Commission meeting to be held at the Senior Center
and suggested that flyers promoting the presentation could be distributed during the
Senior Information Fair, possibly from the Senior Citizen Commission booth.
9. COMMISSIONER’S CORNER/ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Commissioners
Commissioner Schorr suggested the complimentary bus passes included in the
packets from NCTD be passed on to local seniors for their use.
Recreation Superintendent Miller noted the bus passes could be used as raffle
prizes at the Senior Dance at the Senior Fair.
Commissioner Pike distributed additional information from the California Governor’s
Office of Emergency Services on disaster preparedness.
Commissioner De Vinne distributed information on an upcoming presentation on
Durable Power of Attorney, to be presented at Seaside Church on February 27 at
1:00 p.m.
B. Staff
Recreation Superintendent Miller distributed information on an upcoming A.I.S.
meeting – “Visions from the Summit”, to be held March 9, at the Balboa Park War
Memorial Building from 9:30 a.m. to Noon.
10. ADJOURNMENT
A. The meeting adjourned at 2:35 p.m.
NEXT MEETING FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2005 AT 1:00 P.M.
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
505 South Vulcan Avenue
Encinitas, CA 92
024