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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010 - Senior Advisory Board - Annual Report1 CITY OF FORT COLLINS SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD Annual Report 2010 Mission Statement: As determined by the Fort Collins City Council, the Senior Advisory Board shall serve to help aging citizens live full and interesting lives so that they might continue to contribute, participate and share in the life of the community. Outreach • The Board held an outreach meeting in April with RSVP at the Sanctuary Apartments (in conjunction with a congregate meal sponsored by VOA) to offer a Power Point presentation providing information about the SAB and the resources available to seniors in our community • In September, the Board held a joint luncheon meeting with the Senior Center Council and a presentation to the members of the Senior Center. • Members of the Board were on the planning committee for the annual Bridging the Gap Networking Event, held in Loveland this year. It was well attended with 68 organizations represented. • Senior Advisory Board members participated in a host of area events for seniors: Grandparents Day at the Senior Center Holiday Market at the Senior Center Human Relations Commission Breakfast Long Term Care 2010 Neighborhood Night Out Senior Center Expansion Annual Meeting Salute to Seniors Senior Art Show Senior Law Day Summit on Aging Sundance Family Festival and Chili Cook-Off • Members of the Senior Advisory Board participated individually in a variety of ongoing activities in the community including: Alzheimer’s Association Aspen Club, Instructor for Strong Women Strong Bones Program Aspen Club, Presentation co-facilitator Bridging the Gap Planning Committee City Works 101 Columbine Health Systems ElderCare Network Foundation on Aging 2 Plan Fort Collins RSVP Grocery Delivery Program Senior Council First United Methodist Church Senior Center Member Senior Center Expansion Committee, Grant Writing Chair Seniors Helping Seniors Transit Task Force of UniverCity Connections Advocacy • Members of the Board were encouraged to attend at least one City Council meeting during the year in order to familiarize themselves with the procedures should they want to appear before the City Council. • The Mayor, who is the Liaison from City Council to the SAB, attended the joint luncheon with the Senior Center Council and spoke about Plan Fort Collins and the proposed sales tax increase. • One SAB member serves on the Senior Center Expansion Committee and has kept the Board abreast of ongoing progress of the Expansion Project. • The Board submitted letters to the City Council providing feedback on the proposed Fort Collins City budget as well as feedback to Plan Fort Collins. • The Board continued to highlight transportation issues relevant to seniors by working with the Transportation Board and transportation advocacy groups and by providing input to transit officials. This year Board members advocated for transportation directly from PVH to MCR. The Board also provided significant input to the City on the Pedestrian Plan and the Bicycle Safety Plan. • The SAB agreed to assume a significant role in the Senior Center Expansion Project. • Board members attended public presentations, workshops and focus groups for Plan Fort Collins, budget issues, and the Midtown Redevelopment Plan. Communication • The SAB Communications Committee developed a Power Point presentation and visited one senior group in order to provide information about the SAB and the resources available to seniors in our community. The Board sent a letter to area senior groups advising them of this presentation and our willingness to provide a program about the SAB. • The Board invited the Mayor and City Council members to attend the Art Show at the Senior Center to encourage interaction between elected officials and seniors in the community. 3 • The executive committee of the SAB met with the Mayor two times during the year to review the Board’s Work Plan and highlight senior issues. • Mary Warring, Mobility Coordinator for the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization, updated the Board on the purpose of her organization. • Steve Gilchrist from City of Fort Collins Traffic Department discussed the SAB’s concerns about pedestrian issues relevant to senior citizens living in a senior housing facility on W. Elizabeth. • Jennifer Petrik, representing Plan Fort Collins, updated the Board on the Transportation Master Plan with an emphasis on the Pedestrian Plan. Board members completed a survey regarding the Pedestrian Plan. . • Matt Wempe and David Kemp from City Transportation reviewed Bicycle Safety and Education Plan. After this presentation, the Board provided information to them listing locations for potential bicycle-senior pedestrian conflict. • The SAB collaborated with the Office on Aging and the Foundation on Aging to provide input to Plan Fort Collins and to address concerns over transportation between PVH and MCR. • Members of the Board attended an extra meeting to learn more about the history of the Senior Center and get an update on the Senior Center Expansion. • Senior Advisory Board members have served as liaisons to these boards, commissions, and groups: o Alzheimer’s Association o Aspen Club o Bicycle Advisory Committee o Bridging the Gap Networking Event o Columbine Health Systems o ElderCare Network o Foundation on Aging o Homeless Prevention Initiative o Long Term Care 2010 o Office on Aging o Pathways Hospice o RSVP/VOA o Senior Center Council o Senior Center Expansion Committee o Transportation Board o UniverCity Connections • The Senior Advisory Board recognized two outstanding seniors in the community by nominating the following: 4 o Kathy Schuster for the Senior Service Award at the BTG Networking Event. o Alan Beatty for the Human Relations Senior Volunteer Award. Both nominations were awarded.