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Home My WebLink AboutSenior Advisory Board - Minutes - 04/13/2022 1 City of Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board Minutes Wednesday April 13, 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: 11:30am call to order II. Guest introductions: No Guests III. Public Participation: None III. Administrative Items a. Attendance: Jeanne Hoag, Alan Kress, Alicia Durand, Gabby Rivera, Jullian, Nancy Luttropp, Susan Gutowsky, Deanna O’Connell, Myles Crane, Sarah Olear, Betsy Emond, David Kovach, Megan Demasters, Selina Lujan, Heidi O’Mara, Mary Roberts, Suzanne King b. Minutes: Approval of minutes - unanimous c. Correspondence d. Calendar IV. Today’s Guest Speakers Megan DeMasters, Air Quality Specialist, FC Environmental Services, Air Quality Team outdoor and indoor, Heidi O’Mara Project Coordinator for Environmental Justice Grant and Selina Lujan Environmental Services Department on Air Quality team, indoor. Overview of the Environmental Justice Grant received from the EPA Overview of the Sustainability Services Area which is organized around the triple bottom line and includes - Social sustainability, Environmental sustainability, and Economic health. Discussed the Air Quality program which includes both outdoor and indoor programs - today’s focus is on the indoor programs. Healthy Homes Program  Started 11 years ago, goal is to create healthier community by improving indoor air quality and promoting a safe home environment through volunteer-based education.  1 in 4 homes have a household member with respiratory ailment in Fort Collins  Colorado tests for higher levels of radon than other states  Email Selina for radon kit  Healthy Homes assessments include no cost or low-cost solutions to improve indoor air quality and are free and available to all community members  $10 discount for EPIC home assessment 2 EPIC homes  Program in the Utilities department that provides assessment for energy efficiency with recommendations on how to make home more energy efficient  Assessments cost $60 and participation is limited based on factors such as housing type (manufactured homes, attached dwelling, or apartment not eligible)  Technical and structural recommendations that usually have a cost associated for upgrades EJEPA Grant  $200,000 over 2 years funded by EPA as part of Environmental Justice initiatives through ARPA funding  4 objectives: ID air quality and energy needs, assess existing capabilities, update existing programs, develop and pilot new program and tools.  Currently engaging the community and conducting best practice research in other communities  Themes from previous engagement include: health affordability, equity inclusion and trust  New programs need to build trust with community, be more affordable and provide assessment options that meet needs  Currently recruiting community members for focus groups – Sarah will share flyer if interested email homara@fcgov.com or call 970.416.2832 (focus groups will conclude mid-May). Discussion with Board:  Are plans in place to combat air pollution? City is working with state and county government to create plan. City offers lawn and garden program, lawn mower rebate (exchange gas powered for electric), working with parks to move towards electric, education on idling  Focus on bigger institutions like indoor air quality of schools? Goal to see more partnerships. Working on monitoring issues.  Create signage for idling that drive throughs can use? Suggestions to put at railroad stops, schools, etc.  Are there standards that builders can implement for cleaner homes? Can reach out to EPIC homes, work yearly to update building code.  Recent Council work session regarding air quality. Impact of automobile emissions and new gas/oil wells within Larimer County, monitor, control new builds.  Open house windows 10 minutes a day For an over the phone home assessment, call Megan at 970.416.2832 or email mdemasters@fcgov.com. On May 5th from 6-7 pm OR May 7th from 10:30 to 11:30 am there are virtual healthy home workshops, email slujan@fcgov.com if interested Claudia Maria Menendez, Fort Collins First Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Claudia directly reports to Kyle Stannert, Deputy City Manager She was born in El Salvador, grew up in Alberta Canada, worked on several continents with various communities. The Diversity Equity and Inclusion team includes Rachel Johnson, Sr. Equity Specialist 3  Initiatives: Build relationships to accomplish common goals; Enhance community relations with indigenous communities; Serve as Staff Liaison to Human Relations Commission; Proactively engage with strategic plan in BFO cycle (implemented questions to make it more people centered); Focus on community engagement, education & training; Remove systemic barriers to all persons of all identities.  Equity Indicators report and dashboard www.fcgov.com/equity/ This highlights data previously collected from county, police, health, city to examine Disparities. Addresses Ten Domains: (criminal justice, public safety, economic health & opportunity, housing, civic engagement, public health, environmental justice, and transportation). The indicators are one tool the City can use to measure and track the experiences and disparities among community members and racial groups to proactively address systems that perpetuate racism and/or oppression. See Coloradoan article: March 25,2022: A Fort Collins report “pulled the veil back” on the community’s inequities. Now what? A community forum April 28th at the Senior Center from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm will focus on Criminal Justice and Housing. Chief Swoboda and staff will address programs and and FCPS work with community. Consider how the equity report is influencing FCPS work. Other outreach includes world café style, short presentations, and facilitated group discussions. The Dashboard provides a narrative for the community about what the city is doing to advance equity (timeline will be provided). Discussion with Board  Talk with Partnership for Age Friendly communities Sue Ballou regarding housing  Gender equity internally: policies such as maternity and paternity leave, each building has pump space, ERG groups working in conjunction to develop employee's needs. Changing tables in both m/f restrooms, gender inclusive and gender-neutral restrooms. Signage within facilities. Gender equity, no tax on menstrual products. Reviewing various city policies.  Gender equity externally: supporting community agencies like BIPOC and others.  Pay equity  Key consideration regards gender binary and how this can be best addressed.  Education within organizations  What initiatives can boards and commissions take to support underrepresented populations? Future discussion with Claudia on how the city can support the aging adult community? How can we work with the Hispanic community? Community engagement, we need people where they are at. V. New Business: Discussion of May 11th Meeting Sue Ballou and Katy Mason co-chairs of PAFC’s Housing Priority Group will lead a discussion on important housing issues. Sue Beck Ferkiss Social Policy and Housing Program Manager will provide an update to the City’s presentation last September to the Colorado Municipal League. The Board discussed a proposal for an in-person meeting at Senior Center in June. Motion to hold the in-person meeting was approved unanimously. 4 VI. Ongoing initiatives Council meeting attendance Affordable Housing Board - Mary: Affordable housing updates: Housing Catalyst is working to acquire more affordable housing to sell to community members Health and Wellness – Deanna Health & Wellness: Numbers at UCHealth with COVID hospitalizations and deaths were lower. PAFC Housing Priority Group/Missing Middle Homes – Alan/Nancy Housing initiatives survey and subcommittee in PAFC working on pamphlet to downsize, addressing resources on how to implement. Working with Neighbor to Neighbor to make houses safe to live in. Senior Center Fees for Seniors/Other Announcements Sarah/Jeanne Maternity Leave for Sarah and Betsy Esmond will work with SAB in interim. Discussed social membership availability at Senior Center. Transportation – Alicia - None SAB Member Bio – Jeanne Born in Utah, lived in NE, 4 sons (2 professors), 1 IT, and 1 is cabinet maker. Moved to Denver after high school. Business school Flight attendant at 19. Married a pilot. Could not be married and fly. Had 4 sons Worked for non- profits in Denver Planned and executed events Moved to Fort Collins 23 years ago, worked with CSU part time and surveyed people for medical purposes Taught Microsoft office at Education and Life Training Center Retired and is full time volunteer, Murphy center as navigator and coach, Senior Center volunteer VII. Neighborhood Livability Activities Community Outreach: Community members Gillian Boyd and Gabby Rivera are working with activity directors to create survey on how organizations can better communicate with individuals in residential facilities. Trying to reduce survey from 15 to about 6 questions. In May, Abigail (Activities Director at New Mercer facility) will meet with other activity directors at Columbine Health Systems to address the survey. Suggestion made to deliver some Recreators to residential facilities?  Share where class be held this summer with the group:  Add activity directors to email Recreator list  Include Senior Center Membership information  Try to determine how to share with groups who provide care in the home UPCOMING EVENTS and OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS Office on Aging Upcoming Forum at Senior Center Myles will attend Council Virtual Work Session on April 26th Dave: attending bicycle committee board Mary is teaching a class this Fall on personal story telling for OSHER. 1:31 pm meeting adjourned