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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