HomeMy WebLinkAboutSenior Advisory Board - Minutes - 04/11/2001FORT COLLINS
SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD
MINUTES: MEETING OF April 11, 2001
Chairperson — John Roberts, 223-9317
Staff Liaison — Barbara Schoenberger — 224-6026
City Council Liaison — Ray Martinez, Mayor — 221-6506
Chairperson — John Roberts
Attendance:
George Kress
Eileen Hendee
Florence Williams
Erik Margolis
Kristin Glenn
John Roberts
June Tucker
Staff: Barbara Schoenberger
Absent:
Darren Gunn
James Downey
Dorothy Miller
Guests:
Kay Rios
1. Call Meeting to Order: John Roberts called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m.
2. Citizen Participation — none
3. Correspondence:
A. Elder Care of Latimer County will have an open house at Home State Bank at 4pm
Tues April 24. John will represent the Senior Advisory Board.
B. Human Relations Commission: An invitation was received for breakfast. John will
represent the Senior Advisory Board.
C. Office on Aging — Meeting will be held April 12a' at the senior center for the State
OOA.
4. Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the last meeting were unanimously approved with
no additions or corrections.
5. New Business
A. NACC Development — Sent communication to Jean Helburg and Mike Powers.
Jean responded saying that no site has been selected and probably won't be until
2004. Senior Advisory Board will be included in planning.
B. OOA Board - Kay will be leaving in June. Kay feels it very important for
someone to attend meetings. George Kress agreed to attend the meetings.
C. Outreach Planning —
1. Loveland Senior Advisory Board - John believes that board members should
take turns and attend SAB Board meetings when invited.
2. Follow up from meeting with Los Ancianos — We have nominated Los
Ancianos for 2001 Human Relations award. Barbara feels that SAB should
follow up on concerns they expressed at the outreach meeting.
D. Nomination committee will have list of nominees at the next meeting.
6. Old Business/Reports:
A. 2001 Human Relations Award..."Las Ancianos" was nominated.
B. Response to City Council regarding Strategic Plan for Transfort. One person
should gather information and write letter to Council. John will prepare draft for
May 9`h consideration.
C. Prepare statement for City Manager regarding 2002 — 2003 City budgets. Barbara
handed out an organizational chart asking members to prioritize where they feel
money should go. Last year transportation & affordable housing were primary
issues. George will prepare a statement of concerns affecting seniors and we will
submit it by April 30, 2001.
D. Senior Network Lunch - George reported that the next planning meeting will be
8:30 pm May ls` at the Senior Center.
Liaison Reports
Transportation - Kay Rios met with Tom Frazier. The Mason Street Corridor federal
grant is $50 million and is anticipated to be awarded late 2002 or early 2003. It requires
a $15 million match, $7 million of which is already available. A request to fund the
additional $8 million will go to the voters probably in April 2003. Kay believes this
would be a good time to go back for a transit tax as well.
Flo Williams reported that she had information for the past two months since she had
been unable to attend the previous meeting. The roundabout is a no go because it is too
pricey. The old depot downtown is being considered for a transit center on the northeast
comer of Mason and Laporte. The feasibility study is likely to be completed late March
or early April per Tom Reiff, Transportation planner. Transfort reports the bus system is
due for an overhaul. Route and system changes are part of the long range plan which
includes an emphasis on productivity. Publication available furnishing information for
spring and summer called "How to Ride". Transfort also plans to purchase 6 buses with
carb level stops. They will also have art posters on display on the buses to make riding
more enjoyable. House Bill #1329 will go before House Finance Committee to help fund
alternative transportation. Colorado one of only five states that does not set aside funds
for this purpose. There continues to be a movement to garner support for a commuter rail
line between Fort Collins, Denver and other destinations. They want the right of way
preserved for the future. Recent open meeting held for the Front Range Transportation
and Air Quality Planning Council at the Foothills Fashion Mall, the participating public
suggested more bike lanes, widening of Harmony from I-25 to College Avenue, the
construction of the transportation corridor on Mason, improving the intersection of
College and Horsetooth, synchronization of the traffic lights and the railway along I-25.
Highway construction statewide is on the fast track.
Housing — Kay reported that Reflections JFK Blvd. only had 16 units left and already had
applications for some of those. The Housing Board has recommended that Council
amend the ordinance that exempts the Housing Authority from impact fees. The
amendment would offer the exemption to all non -profits.
The Affordable Housing Board reviewed CDBG applications and established the
following priorities: VOA Senior Housing, Care Housing and Home Program. The
recommendations went to CDBG last week and decisions will be made April 12.
Ombudsman — Flo Williams reported from the LCOOA Ombudsman program that
citations for neglect and abuse in Colorado nursing homes have soared since last
September when the audit found that State inspectors were too lenient. Mental health and
substance abuse disorders are the number one health burden. It is reported that these
disorders effect nearly 60,000 residents in Larimer County. Suicide is reported to be
40% higher in Colorado than nationwide. System too complex and confusing for
providers and consumers. After a nine month assessment by mental health and substance
abuse professionals, they report the system fragmented, overwhelmed and underfunded.
OOA —. The OOA Transportation Committee met with Dial A Ride staff. At this point,
there will be no attempt to exclude seniors from the service but Kay cautioned the SAB to
keep an eye on any move to require that everyone certify ADA.
Senior Center — Cemetery Crawl will be Saturday June 23`d at I Oa.m. and 2p.m. at
Grandview Cemetery. Golf Scramble April 215` at Mad Russian.
City Line no messages
Mental Health— Enlarging Mental Health Unit at Four Seasons in order to care for a
greater number of residents.
Reminder that the Centenarian Tea will be May 18`h from 1p.m. to 3p.m. All Board
members should attend from 12:30 pm to 3 pm. Please come early and feel free to bring
spouses/family/friends.
June meeting will meet at 2:30pm
Upcoming Events:
New West Fest — August 18' and 17th
Cemetery Crawl — June 23 at 10a.m. and 2p.m.
Centenarian Tea — May 18a' from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Larimer County Human Services Ruth Coberly will be making a presentation during the
8. Adjournment at 3:57pm
Karen Bryner, Recoiding Secretary
and Recreational
n Division / Fort Collins Senior C
Citv of Fort Collins
DATE: April 27, 2001
TO: John Fishbach, City Manager
FROM: John Roberts for the Senior Advisory Board
RE: Recommended Areas to Emphasize in 2002/03 City Budget
Following is a list of the issues our Board feels should receive high priority when the
Council prepares its budget for the fiscal years 2002 and 2003. We feel this list
represents the issues of most importance to the seniors of Fort Collins.
• A significant increase in the funds available for affordable housing units
designated for lower income seniors.
• Increased funding for SAINT and Dial -A -Ride as means of transportation for
the elderly. The proposed changes in Transfort to be phased in over the next
ten years will create some problems for those seniors with mobility problems;
thus the demand for this type of transportation will increase significantly.
• Expand parking facilities at the Fort Collins Senior Center. The Senior Center
parking lot is usually filled beyond capacity and many seniors are parking in
the shopping center. At least 100 spaces are needed — either directly east of
the center on Shields or directly west of the center on Raintree (the latter
option, however, would absorb city land ultimately planned for the Senior
Center expansion).
• Improve the timing of the current traffic light system. This will not only
enhance the flow of traffic, but will also make pedestrian crossings safer.
Our board realizes that there are numerous services and facilities the Council is asked to
fund, and that we are only one of many groups requesting your attention. But we also
feel that the needs of seniors (who now comprise twelve to thirteen percent of the City's
population) deserve strong consideration when allocating funds within the budget.
RECREATION -it's for life!
1200 Raintree Drive • Fort Collins, CO 80526 • (970) 221-6644