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CITY OF FORT COLLINS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
City of Fort Collins
Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board
2022 Annual Report
Consistent with our Mission,the Senior Advisory Board (SAB)assumed responsibility to
serve as advisors to City Council on programs and policies that help older residents live
full and interesting lives,continuing to contribute and participate in our vibrant
community.The Board is involved in a network of various agencies and organizations
for older adults so that we may remain aware of issues,needs and occurrences that
may be relevant to SAB’s work for City Council.
Our primary focus was to provide education to our community about the aging process,
to advocate for a good quality of life and to encourage networking among the various
groups that deal with issues impacting older residents.
Our focus throughout the year was to be informed,as well as to update Council and our
city’s seniors regarding issues pertaining to their health,well-being,safety and
neighborhood livability.
In 2022 the Senior Advisory Board on balance achieved goals for our 2022 Work Plan as
indicated below.
1.EDUCATION
In 2022 the SAB hosted 22 speakers addressing matters of Neighborhood Livability,
Transportation,Safety and related well-being issues for older adults.Speakers focused
on the following topics with public participation and subsequent SAB deliberations:
o New member orientation:Councilmember Susan Gutowsky,Tammi Pusheck.
City Clerk’s Office and Ted Hewitt,Assistant Attorney.
o Elderhaus Adult Day Care:Dr.Tim McLemore
o Budgeting for Outcomes Updates:Lawrence Pollack,Budget Director
o Legislative Reform of Older Coloradoans Act:Kara Harvey,State of Colorado,
Director,Division of Aging and Adult Services
o Fort Collins Disposable Bag Ordinance:Holly Pummell,Senior Sustainability
Specialist,Fort Collins Environmental Services Bag Ordinance
o Fort Collins Award of EPA Environmental Justice Grant:Megan DeMasters,
Megan O’Hara and Selina Lujan de Albers,Environmental Services
o Diversity,Equity and Inclusion.Claudia Maria Menendez,City’s Chief DEl Officer
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o Missing Middle Homes:Sue Ballou and Katy Mason,Co-chairs PAFC Housing
Priority Group and member Ted Shepard
o Affordable Housing:Sue Beck Ferkiss,Social Policy and Housing Program Manager
Four Council Members attended the two aforementioned housing presentations.
o Fort Collins 15 Minute Project:Cortney Geary,FC Active Modes Manager,
o North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization:Fort Collins Walkability
Audit Cory Schmitt,NFRMPO Manager
o City Recreation Programs for 50+:Sarah Clear,Senior Supervisor of Recreation
o Improving B&C Recruitment and Retention Practices:Council Member Kelly
Ohlson moderated discussion at Senior Center with Loveland’s Mayor Jacki Marsh
and members of Loveland’s Senior Advisory Board
o Indoor Air Quality Concerns:Selina Lujan de Albers,Environmental Services
o Older Adult Demographics:Nancy Gedeon,State of Colorado Demography Office
o Scams on older adults:Barbara Bennett Larimer County Sherriff’s Office
o Vision Zero Action Plan:Rachel Ruhlen,Transportation Planner
2.OUTREACH
SAB coordinated its work with a network of City,Community,County,and State
departments,agencies and organizations boards,committees and so forth,including:
o Larimer County Office on Aging
o Colorado Center for Aging
o Colorado Commission on Aging
o Historic first Inter-Municipal SAB Joint Meeting with Loveland’s Board at
Fort Collins Senior Center
o Second Inter-Municipal SAB Joint Meeting at Council Chambers in Loveland.
o Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging:Future of Aging Conference
o Colorado State University Undergraduate Gerontology Class on Volunteerism
In Retirement
o Moderating CSU Panel on Aging Policy and Legislation:participants included:
Senator Joann Ginal,Jarett Hughes,Senior Policy Advisor on Aging to Governor,
Larimer County Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally,Erin Alt,Office on Aging
Program Manager and others
o PAFC Steering Committee and Priority Groups for Housing,Health and Wellness,
Transportation and Culture of Aging
o Fort Collins Housing Catalyst and Affordable Housing Board
o Fort Collins Transportation Board and Bicycle Advisory Committee
o Fort Collins Parks and Recreation
o Fort Collins Senior Center
o CSU Intergenerational Conversations Project
o CSU/Columbine Center for Healthy Aging
o Professionals for Seniors
o Senior Access Points
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o Interview Panel for City Manager Finalists
3.Advocacy
o SAB provided the Mayor,Council and City Management with communications
throughout the year including recommendations re:Boards and Commissions,
Affordable Housing,Transportation and Safe Neighborhood Livability.
o The SAB was consistently represented in City-sponsored events.
It is importantthat older adults are considered in decisions made by Council
regarding the community.The ‘norms’forthe older generation are changing (as
family dynamics change),older adults become an increasingly greater segment of
the workforce as retirementyears last longer.Older people contribute to the City’s
economy and in coming years will represent 20%of Colorado’s population.
The SAB recognizes the important elements of our work and we will inform
Council so thatthe City of Fort Collins remains a healthy,vibrant community for people of all
ages with active members from the entire population.
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