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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSenior Advisory Board - Minutes - 02/08/2006CITY OF FORT COLLINS SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES: Meeting held February 8, 2006 Chairperson — Bud Herin - 970-482-5060 Staff Liaison — Barbara Schoenberger — 970-224-6026 City Council Liaison — Doug Hutchinson, Mayor — 970-221-6506 Attendance: Marjorie McTaggart Bud Herin Kathy Schuster Don Wells Marcia Richards Peggy McGough Anita Basham Dianne Heath Excused Absence: Jim Downey Dennis Kaz Heather Heafer Unexcused Absence: Guest: Dennis Harrison, Police Chief for the City of Fort Collins Joan Black, Citizen Liaison: Douglas Hutchinson, Mayor Staff: Barbara Schoenberger I. Call Meeting to Order: Chair Bud Herin called the meeting to order at 1:34 p.m. II. Attendance A quorum was present. III. Presentation by Fort Collins Chief of Police, Dennis Harrison Chief Harrison presented an informal but informative update to the SAB on what's happening in Police Services. Construction of the new police services building will begin March 30. The location of the new building will be at the intersection of Drake and Timberline. Traffic law enforcement is happening and officers are ticketing. At the staff meeting two weeks ago the emphasis was to issue warnings before tickets. The news media had detailed the recent incidents of police assisted suicide. Two officers are dealing with it personally and two other officers are having problems with the situation although all officers have been exonerated in the events. The Citizen Ride Along Program is a very popular and successful program. The Chief suggested that citizens can see the web site for particulars. Don Wells stated that he is looking forward to participating. The Victim Assistance Program is a newer program and is very helpful to crime victims. SAB members indicated that most of the problems identified at the Senior Center Annual Membership Meeting have to do with traffic flow and management. The Chief suggested that the Board contact Traffic Operations with these comments. The Board also informed the Chief that seniors report that they like the neighborhood resource officer and the police presence in their neighborhood. We also appreciate police participation and support for the TRIAD program. IV. Public Participation Citizen Joan Black spoke to the Senior Advisory Board about health/transportation issues that she has experienced. When having out -patient surgery at Harmony, PVH requires patients to have someone to accompany the patient to hear exit instructions and drive the patient home. Sometimes the patient needs someone to stay with them for a period of time. Joan is a very private person and does not appreciate this policy. When she has accompanied others for surgery, she is uncomfortable hearing such private information and the patient is uncomfortable also. Joan does not want others to hear information about her private medical issues. Also, there is not a transportation provider in town that meets these guidelines. Don Wells will contact PVH concerning these issues and this policy. V. Approval of Minutes — January 11, 2006 The minutes for the meeting on January 11 were approved as corrected. Peggy McGough made the motion; Don seconded the motion. Motion passed. Corrections that were noted included VI. Correspondence section A. about correspondence from the Latimer County Office on Aging. The margin slipped and the word "on" was omitted in title of the office and in the sentence the word "he" was also not printed at the margin. In VII. Old Business section E. the appropriate department is the Human Rights not Human Fights. VI. Correspondence 1. Larimer County Department of Human Services - A letter was sent to inform the SAB board ther is a change in the Caregiver Support Program, effective on January 1, 2006. The Respite Assistance Grant has been changed to $300 per six months. In the past, eligible caregivers were able to receive a $500 grant per 12 months. 2. Letter from Heather Heafer resigning her position with the Senior Advisory Board. VII. Old Business A. Annual Report 2005 B. Review Action Plan C. Other - Marjorie McTaggart — As requested by the Board, Marjorie did obtain the results from the focus groups that we participated with the Human Rights Office. She presented "A Community Visioning Conference: Planning for the Future" document for review. The conference was held in November, 2005. VIII. New Business A. Plan for the outreach meeting to be held in March at Good Samaritan. Lunch for Board members will be at 12:00 noon and meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. NOTE: The meeting time has been changed to begin at 1:00 p.m. with a presentation to residents at Good Samaritan. Presentation plan: 1. Bud Herin will explain who we are, and what we are charged with doing in the community. He will also introduce Board members. 2. Don Wells will talk about outreach meetings — why they are held, where we have visited and other locations that are scheduled. The visibility in the community that the SAB tries to maintain will be discussed. Additionally, he will talk about relationships we maintain with other City boards and commissions when senior issues are involved. 3. Jim Downey will talk about advocacy particularly with reference to attainable senior housing, current/future sites, their issues and future needs, and our support of BOB. He will also explain our process to be informed on existing senior programs, services and activities through speakers, liaison relationships and other reports. He will address our advocacy for senior transportation (and some of the current issues), healthcare access issues, and again senior housing. 4. Marjorie McTaggart will talk about media relations and communication interagency and with service providers 5. Peggy McGough will talk about coordinating activities such as Bridging the Gap Senior Network Luncheon and our liaison relationships in the community. 6. Dianne Heath will talk about community -wide positive aging ideas and possible plans. 7. Barbara Schoenberger will talk about work done by the Senior Advisory Board to support a good quality of life for seniors i.e. fair and equitable recreation fees and charges, the vet -pet program, and work with the City for pedestrian crossings, alternative transportation, etc. S. Bud Herin will conduct questions and answer period with attendees and close the presentation. B. Bridging the Gap, 2006 — Kathy Schuster, Jim Downey and Peggy McGough will attend the planning meeting next week in Loveland. C. Senior Law Day - There has not been a date set as of yet. D. 2006 Meeting with City Council — Dianne Heath, Don Wells and Anita Basham will be in charge of planning the event. Invitations will be sent to all guests. Board members will pay for the refreshments served. Some suggested topics for discussion include transportation, senior center name change, and fund raising for expansion. E. Committee for Matching Funds - Bud Herin, Dianne Heath, Don Wells, and Peggy McGough will create the committee. Board held discussion on grant writing possibilities. F. Transportation reports I . Crosswalk at Shields and Centre/Raintree and light - The light stays on seven seconds; however the flashing light stays on longer (maybe 15 - 20 seconds). Bud told Eric Bracke, City Traffic Engineer, that the Board recommends that the light stay on longer to accommodate the needs of older people and disabled people who attempt to cross the street. Don Wells will check on time needed to cross street for people with disabilities. 2. Crosswalk to Raintree Plaza — Bud also spoke with Eric Bracke concerning crosswalks across Raintree Drive between the Senior Center and Raintree Plaza. He reports that the City has all ready painted the crosswalk. Bud has asked about having a flashing light to increase safety at that crosswalk. VIII. Other Business/Announcements A. Liaison Reports Peggy McGough - Peggy has been in contact with senior care personnel at the First Presbyterian Church concerning the emergency blinking light home installation for seniors. The information was printed in the church bulletin. The church monthly newsletter is also beginning to feature items of interest to seniors such as Safety Day, workshops and seminars. The following traffic issues were expressed at the Annual Membership Meeting of the Senior Center. a. Concern expressed about traffic flow and parking in the Senior Center parking lot after the new bank opens. b. Suggestion was made to install speed bumps on Raintree to slow the traffic coming from The Preserve. c. Inability of drivers to see pedestrian traffic at the junction of Raintree Drive and entry to the Senior Center due to cars parking along Raintree too close to the crossing is a concern. d. Members indicated that there is a need for better markings for the pedestrian crossing: i.e., paint the street with message, more clearly identify the crosswalk, install a raised crosswalk and/or a punch light". e. There is a need longer pedestrian crossing light at Centre and Shields. 3. New senior housing development on Timberline between Harmony and Horsetooth built by Spanjer Homes features wide doors, elevated toilets and other amenities specifically designed to accommodate seniors. 4. TRIAD update given by Marjorie McTaggart: a. Senior Safety University postponed due to low enrollment. b. Trying to standardize status of DNR (do not resuscitate) in different jurisdictions of county. c. Planning has started for TRIAD's 10`h anniversary event in June. 5. VOA report by Marjorie McTaggart: a. Erik Kauthold's term is complete; new member, Janice, is onboard. b. Emergency bulb distribution is going well (thanks to Peggy for putting information in the Kiwanis newsletter). 6. OOA report by Marjorie McTaggart: a. OOA is very concerned about Medicare D, prescription program because it's not working and many seniors are desperate for their medication. Ten to twenty cases are coming in daily from poor and, usually, sick seniors. Foundation on Aging and OOA are giving emergency $$$ for meds on individual basis, twelve other states are having the same problems. 7. Library Board reported by Don Wells. He will be attending the first meeting. Election of officers will be held. 8. Transportation Board reported by Don Wells. He will be attending the Transportation Board meeting. 9. Commission on Disabilities reported by Don Wells. He will also be going to the Disability Board meeting. B. Suggestion made that the City Manager be invited to a meeting. C. Barbara asked Marjorie McTaggart to send a thank you note to the Police Chief. X. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned by proclamation of chair, Bud Herin. Submit is ' fk t�llJ'l� l G Marjop McTaggart, S cre