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1991-03-15 CITY OF ENCINITAS SENIOR CITIZEN COMMISSION MINUTES Meeting Date: March 15, 1991 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chairperson Wessel called the meeting to order at 1: 00 p.m. Present: Chairperson Wessel, vice Chairperson Ash, Commissioners Taaff, Motley, Reaves and Anderson Absent: Commissioner Hartley Also Present: James Ellis, Recreation Superintendent and Jacqueline Reynolds, Senior Office Specialist: 2 . PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3 . ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None 4 . CLOSING AND ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDARS Mayor Hano entered the Council Chambers. Chairperson Wessel acknowledged Mayor Hano and asked the Commission to allow the Mayor to address them before approval . of the minutes. There were no objections. 5A. PRESENTATION BY MAYOR NANO ON THE SENIOR CITIZEN COMMISSION' S ROLE AS IT RELATES TO ITEMS PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL Mayor Hano told the Commission that the Community and the City Council were very pleased with the accomplishments of the Senior Citizen Commission. She -encouraged the Commission to continue gathering information on the needs of senior citizens. She commented that the recent Needs Assessment Report was an excellent example of data gathering. Mayor Hano asked for questions. Commissioner Motley asked if the City was planning to appoint or hire someone to address the problems of disabled citizens. Mayor Hano responded that there are no plans at this time to appoint someone to address the problems of disabled citizens l� because money as not been budgeted for this task. She Y g explained that she would love to say yes to all of the new requests, but, there isn't enough revenue available in the City budget. She used the Taxi Voucher Program for seniors and the disabled as examples of services that are still being developed for funding. Mayor Hano reminded the Commission that every program requires staff and clerical support to function. Vice Chairperson Ash said that the North County Transit Authority has recently installed wheelchair lifts on some buses to accommodate wheelchair users. Chairperson Wessel thanked Mayor Hano for taking time from her busy schedule to address the Commission. -5B. PRESENTATION BY ATTORNEY JACK STEPHENS, PERTAINING TO ELDER LAW Superintendent Ellis gave a brief overview of the staff report and then introduced Attorney Jack Stephens. Mr. Stephens informed the Commission on legal issues which effect older Americans. He stated that the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act included specific provisions regarding spousal impoverishment, asset transfer rules and income rules. Mr. Stephens expressed a concern that more seniors need to be informed of legal issues and changes that effect their lives. Mr. Stephens also explained that here are planning alternatives available to assist t t seniors. He advised that an inventory of assets be made and that all estate documents be examined by competent legal counsel. Mr. Stephens asked if there were any questions. Commissioner Taaff asked if a "Living Trust" protects assets. Mr. Stephens said that a "Living Trust" on its own does not protect a persons assets. He explained that a "Living Trust" gives power to the trustee to direct income or property in or out of the estate. Chairperson Wessel asked Mr.. Stephens how she could have her name placed on his mailing list for seminars and the Elder Law Newsletter. Mr. Stephens said that any Commissioner who wishes to be added to his mailing list could fill out one of his information sheets or provide a business card. I - Superintendent Ellis suggested that to avoid prolonging the meeting, the Commissioners could complete the information sheet at the end of the meeting and submit the sheet to Senior Office Specialist Reynolds for mailing. The Commissioners agreed. Chairperson Wessel thanked Mr. Stephens for an excellent presentation. Discussion followed. Chairperson Wessel suggested that the Commission develop a "Senior Services Day" to assist in providing information on services which are available to seniors. Commissioner Reaves agreed that it would be an excellent idea to sponsor a "Senior Services Day" , however, he commented, it would be a great deal of work. Discussion followed. Chairperson Wessel said that a committee needs to be established to organize the "Senior Services Day" . Vice Chairperson Ash reminded the Commission that NOCOSIA will be holding a "Senior Fair" in May and suggested that the proposed "Senior Services Day" beheld in the Fall. Discussion followed. \ COMMISSIONER ANDERSON MOVED, TAAFF SECONDED THAT THE COMMISSION PURSUE A SENIOR SERVICES AND INFORMATION SEMINAR TO BE SCHEDULED TO TARE PLACE IN THE FALL. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. Discussion followed. COMMISSIONER REAVES MOVED, ANDERSON SECONDED THAT COMMISSIONER ASH SERVE AS CHAIRPERSON FOR THE WORKING COMMITTEE .FOR THE SENIOR SERVICES DAY. MOTION CARRIED 6-0 . Chairperson Wessel asked Commissioners Reaves. and Anderson if they would serve on the committee For the Senior Services Day. Commissioner Anderson said she would be happy to serve on this committee. Commissioner Reaves declined to serve on this committee. Chairperson Wessel asked Commissioner Taaff if he would be willing to serve on the committee For the Senior Services Day. Commissioner Taaff said he would be happy to serve on this committee. COMMISSIONER REAVES MOVED, WESSEL SECONDED THAT THE WORKING COMMITTEE FOR THE SENIOR SERVICES DAY BE COMPRISED OF COMMISSIONERS ASH, ANDERSON AND TAAFF. MOTION CARRIED 6-0 . At this time the meeting returned to the original order of the agenda beginning with agenda item number four. 4. CLOSING AND ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDARS A. Approval of Minutes for February 15, 1991. Commissioner Reaves presented to the Commission suggested corrections to the minutes. Discussion followed. COMMISSIONER REAVES MOVED, MOTLEY SECONDED TO ACCEPT THE CORRECTED MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 15, 1991. MOTION CARRIED 6-0 . 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 7 . NEW BUSINESS i 7A. AN UPDATE ON THE SENIOR CITIZEN TAXI VOUCHER PROGRAM Superintendent Ellis gave an overview of the staff report. He reminded the Commission that $2 , 600 had been taken out of the General Fund to subsidize the Taxi Voucher Program. Superintendent Ellis suggested that alternative funding sources should be considered. He suggested that the Community Block Grant Fund as well as the Transportation Development Act Fund are examples of alternative funding. Chairperson Wessel said that John Burnett had recently applied to receive Community Block Grant Funds. She suggested that a. letter be written to John Burnett supporting his application for Community Block Grant Funds. COMMISSIONER TAAFF MOVED, MOTLEY SECONDED THAT A LETTER BE WRITTEN TO JOHN BURNETT TO THE EFFECT THAT THE SENIOR CITIZEN COMMISSION SUPPORTS HIS EFFORTS TO GAIN FROM THE CITY OF ENCINITAS FUNDING FOR THE TAXI VOUCHER PROGRAM. MOTION CARRIED 6-0 . 8. COMMISSIONER'S CORNER Commissioner Taaff commented that it is unrealistic to spend 40 minutes at each Commission meeting correcting the minutes. He said that general governmental minutes are set up to serve as a reporting system of what happened during a meeting, not as a literary masterpiece. Commissioner Taaff added that general minutes are used to document the substance of a meeting. Commissioner Reaves said that he has a problem with the wording of the Agenda Reports. He asked for a clarification of the status of Agenda Reports and why they do not require Commission approval. Chairperson Wessel explained that the Senior Citizen Commission is composed of volunteers who must work with staff as an arm of the City. She said that it is Superintendent Ellis ' s responsibility to provide staff reports upon request by the- Commission. Superintendent Ellis said that the purpose of a staff report is to provide the Commission with background information. Commissioner Reaves said that he still did not understand the official status of Agenda Report sheets. Superintendent Ellis explained that staff researches the issue and provides background information to the Commission in the form of an Agenda Report. Commissioner Reaves said that he has a "need" he would like to discuss regarding the Agenda Reports. Chairperson Wessel suggested that Commissioner Reaves make an appointment with Superintendent Ellis to discuss Agenda Reports. Superintendent Ellis agreed to meet with Commissioner Reaves to discuss his concerns. Commissioner Anderson said that she met with Patricia Rudolph to discuss the projects that Ms. Rudolph had been working on as a Senior Citizen Commissioner. Vice Chairperson Ash gave a report on today' s NOCOSIA meeting. She said that today' s program was dedicated to Mental Health issues. She explained that major funding cuts in Mental Health Care have become a primary concern. She added that the Area Agency on Aging is seeking additional people to participate in the Ombudsman Program. She added that Jean Stein, Director of the Ombudsman Program can be reached in Escondido at 747-8566, Monday and Thursday from 9 : 00 a.m. until 4 : 00 p.m. r until 4 : 00 p.m. Vice Chairperson Ash told the Commission that Carlsbad-By-The- Sea is presenting "West Wind Brass" - March 17th at 2 : 00 p.m. and that this is a free concert which is being funded by the City of Carlsbad. 9 . ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 3 : 50 p.m. The next regular meeting will be Friday, April 19 , 1991 at 1: 00 p.m. b: \ra64