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2001-02-23 CITY OF ENCINITAS SENIOR CITIZEN COMMISSION MINUTES Meeting Date: February 23, 2001; 1 :00 p.m. 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chairperson Hartley called the meeting to order at 1 :00 p.m. Present: Chairperson Hartley, Vice Chairperson Vance, Commissioners Norling and Small. Also Present: Recreation Superintendent Alexander and Administrative Secretary Dakovich. Absent: Commissioner Mastro. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. ~ CHANGES TO AGENDA None. 5. CLOSING AND ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of minutes of regular meeting January 19, 2001. MSC VICE CHAIRPERSON LEE VANCE MOVED, COMMISSIONER SMALL SECONDED TO APPROVE MINUTES OF JANUARY 19, 2001 MEETING WITH CORRECTION (REMOVE EXTRA CESARE FROM AGENDA ITEM ONE). MOTION CARRIED. 4-0. 6. PRESENTATION A. Presentation on the Sheriff's Senior Volunteer Patrol Program by Grant Homer. Recreation Superintendent Alexander introduced Grant Homer, representing the Sheriff's Senior Volunteer Patrol Program. Grant Homer thanked the Commission for the opportunity to present information on the Senior Volunteer Patrol Program, gave a brief history on the Program and reviewed the services provided. He noted they currently have .thirty volunteers and would like more volunteers to apply. He introduced a representative from the Sheriff's Department/Crime Prevention who referred to the various patrol and SA-\ prevention materials on display today and invited Commissioners to take a minute and review them. Chairperson Hartley advised that he would contact the North County Times regarding an advertisement for Program recruits. Chairperson Hartley thanked the presenters and called a five minute break in the meeting to review displayed materials. 7. OLD BUSINESS A. Status Report on Project C.A.R.E. Recreation Superintendent Alexander reviewed the January report and noted that the form was being revised to include a line item on the number of discontinued clients. She also noted that Joyce Munro was currently working in the Project C.A.R.E. office and maintaining the program and is using volunteers to do outreach within the community. B. Status Report on Senior Facilities at Oakcrest Park. Recreation Superintendent Alexander noted she attends weekly construction meetings and the project is moving at a good pace. She is looking forward to inviting the Commission for an on-site visit soon, and also noted she had an opportunity to make Community/Senior Center presentations to both the Encinitas Senior Center and the San Dieguito Women's Club. C. Update Report on Ad Hoc Sub-Committees (Outreach Information Program, Senior Housing Review, New Senior Center Operations Review, Transportation Review), and Representative Reports. Outreach Information - Commissioner Small advised she is working on a presentation by the City Fire Department for the March meeting. New Senior Center Operations Review - Chairperson Hartley advised that he is scheduled to meet with Dee Larson, Manager of the current Encinitas Senior Center and Community Services staff to review the transition plan, and noted that Recreation Superintendent Alexander had met with Dee earlier and the plan should go smoothly. He also briefly discussed the proposed plan to have a Program Advisory Committee and a Nutrition Site Council at the new Center with a member of the Commission serving on each of the Committees. (He noted that currently Marie Mastro attends the Nutrition Site Council meetings.) He further advised that the Senior Center Manager would work with the Program Advisory Committee. The Senior Citizen Commission would continue to meet here at City Hall. Vice Chairperson Vance suggested that perhaps 1-2 meetings per year could be scheduled at the Center, during the lunch hour, to provide a forum for those who have an interest to serve. SA,1- Chairperson Hartley emphasized the importance of continuing strong ties between the City, the Center and the Nutrition Program. Transportation - Recreation Superintendent Alexander advised that she and Chairperson Hartley had discussed items with Cathy Brendel, City of Vista regarding van usage in connection with the Center and "Out & About" Vista Program. She further noted other contacts will be made with other Centers for their status on transportation. Recreation Superintendent Alexander advised that the previous City Council had directed staff to review the "Out & About" Transportation Program and bring information back to the next budget process (City Finance Department had recommended two year budgeting). She noted she had received more detailed information from Ms. Brendel regarding the travel reimbursement program and the senior shuttle, and reviewed the information on costs. She advised the only item not budgeted in the report was the actual purchase of the vehicle (van/bus). Chairperson Hartley asked when the recommendation would be presented to City Council. Recreation Superintendent Alexander responded in March or April. Vice Chairperson Vance asked if transportation services would coincide with the opening of the Center. Recreation Superintendent Alexander advised that the services could begin at the first of the year following the opening of the Center in the Fall. Chairperson Hartley further suggested addressing the new City Council, by letter, regarding transportation services and the Senior Commission process in researching information. IN CONSENSUS, THE COMMISSION AGREED THAT CHAIRPERSON HARTLEY SHOULD CREATE AND SEND SUCH A LETTER. Recreation Superintendent Alexander stated that Cathy Brendel had been a good resource of information on available transportation grants. Vice Chairperson Vance asked how many vehicles would be needed for the Center and suggested the possibility of contacting local car dealerships for used vehicles. Recreation Superintendent Alexander advised that in discussion with the current Senior Center Manager, two vehicles are used now. An old Volvo station wagon to pick up daily nutrition lunches from Vista and run errands and a passenger van for shuttling seniors to daily lunch and appointments. Recreation Superintendent Alexander also advised that the Risk Manager was reviewing risk issues regarding van use operated by the City. SA, ?:> Recreation Superintendent Alexander referred to the van to be donated by the Senior Center Foundation, reviewed the policy on donations and noted that donations over a certain amount can only be accepted by City Council. Chairperson Hartley advised that the Senior Center Foundation and the Senior Citizen Commission would present the recommendation to City Council on the acceptance of the van to be used at the new Senior Center. Senior Housing Review - Vice Chairperson Vance stated there is no information to report at this time. Recreation Superintendent Alexander noted that a goal of this Ad Hoc Sub- Committee was to prepare a listing of available senior housing in Encinitas. Vice Chairperson Vance mentioned he would provide this information at the April meeting. Chairperson Hartley emphasized the importance of having this information available for our local senior citizens and encouraged the Sub-Committee to research and prepare such a listing. Council Contact Review - Vice Chairperson Va_nce and Commissioner Norling gave a brief speech to the City Council on February 14th, regarding re- appointment to the Senior Citizen Commission. Recreation Superintendent Alexander advised that both the Commission for the Arts and the Youth Commission were requesting, as part of the budget process, a discretionary trust fund to be used for particular programs. A recommendation was made for the Senior Citizen Commission to have a discretionary trust fund of $20,000 to be used at the new Center and include this recommendation as part of the budget process for New Programs. IN CONSENSUS,THE COMMISSION AGREED TO RECOMMEND THAT A DISCRETIONARY TRUST FUND OF $20,000 BE ESTABLISHED FOR THE SENIOR CITIZEN COMMISSION TO BE USED AT THE NEW CENTER. New Senior Center Foundation - Chairperson Hartley advised that the third annual Senior Follies was a great success, with several new groups performing. He further advised that the event operated under budget. He also noted that a piano had been donated to the new Center, which would require City acceptance via the donation policy. Recreation Superintendent Alexander requested that interested donors be referred to her so proper donation procedures and forms are completed, and an inventory can be kept of various items, (to avoid duplication), as well as determining what donations are suitable for the Center. 5A-1- D. Status Report on the 2001 Senior Information Fair. Recreation Superintendent Alexander referred to the staff report and noted staff was not able to add additional color to the flyer (flyer will be red, white, and blue). She further advised staff was contacting various companies/organizations for sponsorships and distributed a sponsorship letter to Commissioners for their one- on-one contacts. She noted that Commissioner Norling will review the Commissioner participation listing. Commissioner Norling encouraged the Commission to work on securing raffle prizes and noted he would need help with flyer distribution. He also noted there was interest in providing a flyer/interest sheet in Spanish. IN CONSENSUS, THE COMMISSION AGREED TO PRODUCE A SENIOR INFORMATION FAIR FLYER IN SPANISH. Vice Chairperson Vance suggested local churches as a flyer distribution site for the flyer and advised he could help locate the name and telephone number of translator who could prepare the flyer in Spanish. 8. NEW BUSINESS None. 9. COMMISSIONER'S CORNER/ANNOUNCEMENTS A. Commissioners Commissioner Norling noted various free lectures available at the Carlsbad Library. Chairperson Hartley reviewed San Diego Gas & Electric suggestions for saving energy. B. Staff Recreation Superintendent Alexander noted the March Commission meeting will be held March 23 rather than March 16. She also noted the upcoming ChairNice Chair/City Manager quarterly breakfast April 24, 7:30 a.m. She referred to the new Eldercare Directory and noted if ordered the cost was $10, however, free copies were available at Costco Pharmacy and the San Diego Union Tribune office in Carlsbad. 10. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 2:50 p.m. 5AS