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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 - Senior Advisory Board - Annual ReportCity of Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board Annual Report 2006 The Board shall: ► Serve as a supporting agency for all senior citizen services and activities in Fort Collins; ► Publicize and support present senior citizen services and activities in the community; ► Investigate and make recommendations regarding new senior citizen programs ► Encourage and support widespread opportunities for more ,meaningful and usefi participation of seniors in community activities and programs, ►Establish and maintain communication with local, state, and national groups and agencic concerning seniors, ►Advocate for policies and practices within the community that respect and consider senic needs and interests; ► Work to dispel stereotypes about aging through education awareness activities Transportation: • Explored options and worked with Poudre Valley Hospital and Dial -A -Ride to accommodate the special transportation needs of seniors who need to access the Harmony campus. • Explored transportation options to the MCR. • Advocated for the maintenance of Dial -A -Ride to City Council during budget hearings and the possibility of reduction of para-transit services. • Worked with the Streets Department to install a senior pedestrian friendly cross walk at Raintree and Shields and across Raintree between the Senior Center and Raintree Plaza complete with hazard light. Also sent letters to Columbine facilities informing them of the new cross walk so that more residents might be encouraged to attend the Senior Center or walk in the area. Outreach: Four outreach meetings were held in 2006: Good Samaritan, Reflections, Fort Collins Senior Center cooperatively with the Senior Center Council, and DMA Plaza. Developed and implemented an evaluation tool for use at outreach meetings to measure effectiveness and areas of strengths and weaknesses. SAB systematically did follow up on issues and concerns expressed at the outreach meetings. Issues from these meetings included: • Dial -A -Ride • Cable TV costs and programs • Concerns about the elimination of senior trips • Appropriate programming available on TV for seniors • Transportation to hospitals, shopping, etc. • Lunches served five days a week at the Senior Center rather than four • Name of Senior Center • Traffic (heavy, fast, dangerous) in Fort Collins • Social Work students from CSU requested a project • Bikes and skateboards on downtown sidewalks • Concerns that new park fees are a disguised tax Senior Advisory Board members participated in the following: • Bridging the Gap at McKee conference center September 29, 2006 • Senior Law Day at 1" Presbyterian Church on August 18 , 2006 • Senior Day at the Capital • Community Homecoming parade • Sundance Bluegrass Festival and Chili Cook -off (fund raiser for the Fort Collins Senior Center) on October 14. Four members made up the cooking team. The SAB placed 2nd overall in the Chili Cook -off • Joint meeting with Loveland Senior Advisory Board meeting in Loveland on October 4 Advocacy: • Ad Hoc committee was developed to raise matching funds for Senior Center expansion • Liaisons- AARP, TRIAD, VOA, Women's Commission, Office on Aging, Commission on Disability, Affordable Housing, Youth Activity Center, Center on Aging at CSU, Senior Sports Club, Library Board, Foundation on Aging — among others • Members of Board acted as advocates for Dial -a -Ride and Building on Basics (BOB) as liaisons and with committee work Communication: • Soapbox written for publication in Coloradoan • Attended City Council meetings as needed • 2006 SAB hosted a social meeting with Mayor and City Council at the artists' reception at the Senior Art Show at the Senior Center on May 1 • Board developed an ad hoc committee to develop a proposal for a City policy on aging with former member Dean Miller as leader Coordination/ Education/ Facilitation: • Speakers from the community made presentations at meetings to keep Board members informed - Bob Moore (Coloradoan), Eric Kaufhold ( Ameri-Corps volunteer), Karen Schneiders (Planning specialist with Transportation services), Darin Atteberry( City Manager), Dennis Harrison(Chief of Police), Brenda McCoy- Manfredo (Senior Advocacy Foundation), Pam Brock (PVH) • Five Board members attended City Board member training • Developed 2007 work plan • Eight board members attended the City Council sponsored reception for Boards and Commissions • Three board members were featured on the tape that was made to assist with recruitment for City boards and commissions • Members participated in the North Front Range Regional Transportation Planning meetings to help identify and prioritize transportation needs • Members participated in focus groups sponsored by the City's Air Quality staff and groups studying downtown Fort Collins • Communications with local pastors through the Fort Collins Network • Participated in University Connections • Members asked to meet to help develop the art show for the disabled with the Commission on Disabilities • Supported the "Life Goes On" City cable show • Members participated in and helped to organize the Tax Day Golf Scramble, a fund raiser for the Fort Collins Senior Center Marjorie McTaggart was nominated by the Board for the Human Relations Award sponsored by the Human Relations Commission. Jim Downey was nominated by the Board and received the Senior Service Award at the annual Bridging the Gap Luncheon.