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