Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSenior Advisory Board - Minutes - 07/10/2002E CITY OF FORT COLLINS SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES: MEETING Of July 10, 2002 Chairperson — Mike Buderus — 223-0907 Staff Liaison — Barbara Schoenberger — 224-6026 City Council Liaison — Ray Martinez, Mayor — 221-6506 Attendance: Mike Buderus Jim Downey Dianne Heath John Roberts Darren Gunn Florence Williams Don Redabaugh Kristen Glenn Dean Miller Absent: Absent: (notified) Maxine Yankey Eileen Hendee Liaison: Ray Martinez, Mayor Staff: Barbara Schoenberger Karen Bryner Guests: Leighanna Grupp, Nutrition Program I. Call Meeting to Order: Meeting was called to order at 2:04 p.m. by Chair, Mike Buderus. II. Attendance III. Approval of Minutes: John made a motion to accept the minutes as read, Darren seconded the motion. Motion was passed. IV. Presentation by Leighanna Grupp, Volunteers of America: Volunteers of America sponsors four programs for seniors in Larimer County: Senior Nutrition, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, Handyman Program, and the Foster Grandparent Program. Leighanna Grupp is the manager for the Senior Nutrition Program in the Larimer County, which includes all congregate mealsites in the Fort Collins area. The Nutrition Program has eleven mealsites throughout the county. The suggested donation for this program is $2.00 for people 60 and older and $4.00 for those under 60. Meals for homebound are also provided. Blizzard boxes are delivered by the Fort Collins Jaycees to eligible seniors. There were 350 delivered last year. The main challenge for the Nutrition Program is to make people aware of the program. Research has been done to determine where additional mealsites are needed but there are no plans to expand at this time. A lot of funding for social programs have been cut which has hurt the program. Leighanna asked the Board to advocate with funders to help the program. The handyman program helps seniors make their home a safer place by doing small repairs, building ramps, and mounting bars and rails. There is no charge for labor. Materials usually have to be purchased by the senior. Some materials can be provided on a donation basis for those with limited incomes. There are approximately 10,000 RSVP volunteers (55 years of age and older) registered in Larimer County. The contributions made by these volunteers have a significant impact on our community. VOA is developing affordable housing in Fort Collins for senior citizens. The complex will be completed in 2003. The Senior Advisory Board members decided to attend the VOA Senior Nutrition Program for lunch prior to the August meeting. IV. Correspondence: ■ Copies of the conflict of interest form have been placed in SAB member folders. Anyone with conflict of interest needs to fill out form. • Bridging the Gap Luncheon notice was received by the Board. The luncheon will be held on September 27 at McKee from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. ■ Agenda and minutes were routed for the Human Relations Commission meeting held on Thursday, July 18. ■ Loveland Senior Advisory Board minutes were also routed. ■ Board was invited to attend the VOA Volunteer Celebration at the Fort Collins Senior Center, on Monday, July 22. The event will be a luau theme and promises to be great fun. V. New Business: ■ The Senior Advisory Board will participate in the Chili Cookoff that is scheduled for October 13. VI. Old Business: ■ Review work plan: Board members discussed personal involvement and responsibility to meeting the goals set by the Board. Outreach meetings will be discussed at the next meeting. Board will participate in the 9 Health Fair (Eileen Hendee and Mike Buderus, committee) and Chili Cookoff (John Roberts, chair). No comment on working with Los Ancianos. In order to met our goals for advocacy, all Board will review City Council meetings as they can. John Roberts will participate in meetings about City Plan, Mike Buderus will assume responsibility for affordable housing issues, Florence Williams will continue to monitor transportation issues, Maxine Yankey will report on Senior Center funding issues. To provide for communication, Dianne Heath will work with the Commission on the Status of Women to establish a relationship with the local print media. The Board will continue a schedule of speakers to inform the Board on local services, resources, and issues. Board reviewed liaison assignments. Communication with City Council was discussed. The Board members were unclear who was their Council representative. Barbara Schoenberger was asked to get information about the Council Districts and who the current representative was. Board members will make an effort to become acquainted with their Council representative and maintain a communication with them. Mike Buderus will set up regular meeting with Mayor Martinez to discuss issues pertinent to older adults. ■ Jim Downey and Dianne Heath reviewed by-laws. Recommended modifications to the by-laws were submitted to the Board. The review was precipitated by a directive from the City Clerk's office that Board by-laws must be consistent with the Boards and Commission guidelines set forth in the manual. Following discussion, it was apparent that consensus on the modifications could not be reached. Darren Gunn made a motion that the issue be sent back to the committee for review and that they meet with John Roberts to discuss all pertinent issues. The motion was seconded by Don Redabaugh and approved by the Board. • Jim reported on the status of the plans for Bridging the Gap, Senior Network Luncheon. The event will be held on Friday September 27, 2002 at McKee Wellness Center. The first notice for the event was mailed out. A recognition award will be given to an individual or an agency at this event. All Senior Advisory Board members are expected to participate and will pay their own fee for the event. ■ Kristen Glenn reported on the information she had obtained regarding the Vehicle Repair Scholarship issue. There used to be a pilot program funded by both federal and local monies that gave lower income individuals up to $400 towards car maintenance. This program has run out of funds. Some options available now include the possibility that some garages will offer discounts on car maintenance. This is done on case by case basis. Emissions waivers are available for anyone who fails emissions test. Car owners can receive a waiver for the next emission cycle after $200 worth of valid repair is completed on the car. Kristen was asked to get more information by contacting the Air Quality Board, Natural Resources Board, and Front Range Community College to find more resources for senior auto repair. ■ Marcile Wood Award application will not be available until August. ■ It was noted that the 9 Health Fair sub -committee would establish a goal for participation as well as coordinating the function. VII. Liaison Reports: Larimer County Senior Network — Mike Buderus reported that the topic at the next meeting will be elder law issues. Commission on Status of Women — Dianne Heath reported that the Commission on the Status of Women will be working with the SAB to develop an outline for a series in the Coloradoan. ■ Dianne Heath also reported on a workshop that will be held on Saturday, Aug. 3 at McKee Conference Center. The event will be from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Jim Williams will be featured at this event sponsored by Mutual of Omaha. Call 674-9515 for information. ■ Transportation — Florence Williams reported that implementation efforts for I-25 corridor plan continue to move slowly. Weld County and Johnston have yet to vote, however, it has been more than seven months since Larimer, Loveland, Windsor & Berthoud have adopted the plan. Kathay Rennels stated "adopting plan was easy — taking an idea on paper to reality on the ground is a pain -staking process." City sponsored public survey indicated 62% of those who responded would support sales and use tax to tackle transportation problems that are Transportation Services biggest challenge. Council currently is considering November ballet proposal to create 20 year .25% sales & use tax and 1 % construction excise tax in addition to directing $1 million from city's general fund to go towards transportation capital projects. Dial -A -Ride users from Wellington, LaPorte now have their scheduled service replaced by an on - call method. Though this type of service is expensive, it is less expensive than running empty buses and is needed to get people to jobs in the City. Florence distributed a copy of the recent SAINT newsletter to members of the Board. ■ Elder Pet Care — John Roberts reported that he had read in the Coloradoan that Elder pet Care has closed down due to a zoning issue. He has had conversation with concerned seniors that the service is vital for them and they hope that something can be done. He requested that Barbara Schoenberger contact Tracy Thomas, DVM, to see what the Board can do to assist the practice. ■ Senior Center — Board members were asked to attend the dinner event scheduled at the Senior Center on Wednesday, July 17. Entertainment will be provided by Marla Jones, a singer from Los Angeles. The Fort Collins Senior Center will be closed Aug. 4ch through the I I1h for maintenance. ■ CCERAP - Jim Downey reported that the Colorado Coalition for Elder Rights and Adult Protection July 23, 2002 meeting will feature Julie Ireland, Educational Director for the Colorado Coalition against domestic violence. ■ Jim Downey also reported that resource lists were placed in packets. Jim has also ordered phone stickers for elder protection for the Board. ■ Senior Center bus — Don Redabaugh reported that the transmission on the Senior Center bus was repaired using money from the recreation travel budget. However, the bus continues to have limitations. • AARP — No meetings are held in the summer months. ■ TRIAD-. No meeting was reported. ■ Friends of the Senior Center — Board members are invited to become members of the Friends of the Senior Center and attend their summer social to be held on Thursday Aug 29, at the Senior Center. The event will be a potluck luncheon with dessert provided. Participants will get a lot of information about the work Friends are doing. The Executive meeting will be held July 30a' at 4:00 p.m. Next meeting is August 14`h at 1:00 p.m. with lunch at 12:00 p.m. with Senior Nutrition. All liaisons reports should be typed or written out and given to Karen before meeting. Meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m. Karen Bryner, Recording Secretary