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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSenior Advisory Board - Minutes - 03/09/2022 1 City of Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board Minutes Wednesday March 9, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. Virtual Meeting on Zoom Fort Collins, Colorado Mission: The Senior Advisory Board shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Fort Collins City Council on programs and policies that help aging citizens live full and interesting lives and continue to contribute, participate, and share in the life of the community. I. Call to Order a. 11:30 am start time II. Guest introductions Holly Pummell Kara Harvey III. Public Participation Kelly Kappus, Pattie O’Connor, Jennifer Lynn, Suzanne King, Bob Larson, Jim Fellion, Gabby Rivera, Janet Seeley, Sharon Courtney, Anita Basham IV. Administrative Items a. Attendance: Councilmember Susan Gutowski, Myles Crane, David Kovach, Nancy Luttropp, Alicia Durand, Alan Kress, Jeanne Hoag, Deanna O’Connell, Mary Roberts, and Staff Liaison Sarah Olear b. Approval of Minutes: Motion: Alicia Durand; Seconded: David Kovach c. Correspondence: SAB spoke with the City Attorney’s office regarding SAB board structure. SAB is allowed to structure multiple vice chairs. i. Motion for Senior Advisory Board to have two Vice Chairs until such time in the future when two are no longer needed; Nancy Luttropp; Seconded: David Kovach. Unanimously approved. d. Calendar i. Apr. 26, Boards and Commissions: Myles ii. May 10, Improve Transportation Safety: Alicia iii. Aug. 23, Housing Strategic Plan: Alan e. Officer Elections i. Vice Chair: Nominated David Kovach. Other nominations: No All in Favor (8); No opposed. ii. Vice Chair: Nominate Alicia Durand. Other nominations: No All in F avor (8); No opposed. iii. Chair: Nominated Myles Crane. Other nominations: No All in Favor (8); No opposed. V. Today’s Guest Speakers 2 Kara Harvey, State of Colorado, Director, Division of Aging and Adult Services shared with the board an overview of the structure of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). She discussed how each division within the department supported inclusivity of all older Coloradoans with special concerns for underrepresented populations and individuals at lower income levels and those with developmental and other disabilities. In addition to the various divisions of CDHS, Kara shared information about 3 initiatives within CDHS: The Colorado Commission on Aging (CCOA), the Strategic Action Planning group on Aging (SAPGA), and the Modernization of Older Coloradoans Act. The CCOA is currently seeking candidates for commissioner positions. The Modernization of the Older Coloradoans Act was approved by the full House and is awaiting Senate approval. The Bill’s revisions include focus areas related to changes in legislation on equity, diversity, and inclusivity as well as a restructured CCOA including a technical advisory committee. Once passed, it will be submitted to the Governor for approval. Interested community members in participating on State Boards and Commissions or providing community feedback can contact Kara at Kara.harvey@state.co.us. Holly Pummell, Senior Sustainability Specialist, Fort Collins Environmental Services, shared updates on the Disposable Bag Ordinance. Large grocers have a May 1 st deadline. After May 1st, it will be ten cents for community members to purchase paper bags. That ten cent fee will be split between grocers (.04 cents and the City, .06 cents). Exemptions will be made for income qualified community members who show proof of qualification, there will be no fee. Typical households need anywhere from 5 to 10 reusable bags. Throughout the summer and fall, Environmental Services will be at various locations around town providing bags. In January of 2023 all retailers will have a fee on paper or plastic bags and in 2024 the state will place a ban on all plastic bags with a fee on paper bags. For questions, email Holly at Hpummell@fcgov.com. VI. New Business: a. Outreach survey drafted by community members Gabby Rivera and Jillian Boyd. Gabby and Jillian shared the survey they created to learn more about how socially isolated older adults in the community learn about programs and activities available to them. The survey will be reviewed by various members and feedback will be provided before the survey is shared with Activity Directors at residential living facilities. Some additional recommendations from board members included sharing the survey with Service Coordinators for HUD housing and presenting to different facilities in a lunch and learn format, then having groups complete the survey. b. Memo recognizing proactive community members who do not sit on the Board but who attend meetings regularly and wish to support the Board’s mission by helping to promote SAB meetings. Additionally for those individuals who support SAB’s work to help aging citizens live full and interesting lives and continue to contribute, participate, and share in the life of the community, the Senior Advisory Board approved the appointment of such volunteers as a “Designated Community Representative” to Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board. The first community member appointed as a Designated Community Representative is Suzanne King. Motion to approve: Alicia Durand; Seconded: David Kovach; Approved Unanimously. VII Ongoing initiatives : Council meeting attendance – David Attended the March 1st Meeting which discussed the equity indicator dashboard which tracks systems that perpetuate racism in communities. Current cost of living and cost of 3 homes have limited BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities from being able to afford homes. The medium home price has doubled while wages have only increased by 25%. The Housing Strategic Plan is trying to address this. Council also discussed the transient community within Fort Collins, Connections, and City Council approved resolution #11 which relates to federal Medicare for all. PAFC Housing Priority Group/Missing Middle Homes – Alan/Nancy Nancy attended a subcommittee of PAFC’s Housing Priority group that worked on developing a pamphlet for older adults. The pamphlet provides information on what individuals should look to improve or change within their home so they can age within their home. It also lists some resources to support this like the Environmental Services Healthy Home Assessment. Housing Catalyst/Affordable Housing Board - Mary Learned about various affordable housing options like the new development, Cadence, on Drake and Timberline. It is being spearheaded by VOA for individuals with low income. Saunders is another neighborhood that is age restricted but not income restricted. Neighbor to Neighbor’s program, HomeShare, is active again. The board is currently working on creating a bill to cap rent on mobile home parks at 3%. Senior Center – Sarah, Jeanne Winter of your Life program will occur on the 2nd and 4rth Monday of June, July, and August. FRIENDS of the Senior Center has not been active since COVID but the board is working on filling positions of board members who are planning to leave or have resigned. Transportation – Alicia There is a proposal for a local amendment that will require infrastructure for electric vehicle hook ups at affordable housing locations. Transportation is also working with various other city groups on a 20 year plan to re-envision East Mulberry. The plan will include adding storm water, transportation, natural resources, and will work with local businesses to improve the area. They are also working on improvements to 287 and the intersections of Columbia Road, Pitkin, and Harvard. Some Master Plan high lights include 2 electric buses and having money allocated for a study to collaborate between Transfort and PAS. Health and Wellness – Deanna SAB Bio – Mary Mary Roberts attended school in New York and moved to Colorado. She raised 2 children. One is now a doctor, and the other is a lawyer. Both are excellent athletes. Mary has a passion for dogs and has written a book called, 14 Dogs and Me: One woman’s story of never saying, “no”. It will be available in June. Mary has worked in real estate since 1999 and now owns her own agency. In her spare time, she teaches story telling with OSHER and likes to participate in story slams. VIII. Neighborhood Livability Activities Community Outreach: PAFC updates - Lunch and Learn IX UPCOMING EVENTS and OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS David Kovach volunteered to represent SAB on the Bicycle Advisory committee. Meeting adjourned at 1:18 pm.