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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 - Senior Advisory Board - Work PlanFort Collins Senior Advisory Board 2019 Work Plan Summary Statement: Consistent with our Mission and the City of Fort Collins’ Strategic Budgeting for Outcomes, the Senior Advisory Board will serve in an advisory capacity to the Fort Collins City Council on programs and policies that help older residents live full and interesting lives and continue to contribute, participate, and share in the life of the community. [Suggested changes in orange] Summary Statement: Consistent with our Mission and the City of Fort Collins’ Strategic Budgeting for Outcomes, the Senior Advisory Board serves as advisors to the Fort Collins City Council on programs and policies that help older residents live full and interesting lives continuing to contribute and participate in our vibrant community. Primary Functions of the Senior Advisory Board: Engaging with other organizations and/or relevant organizations pursuing similar goals by attending meetings and keeping the board apprised of their activities. Larimer County Office on Aging Advisory Council (LCOA) Partnership for Age Friendly Communities (PAFC) Transportation and Housing (staff and boards Communicating information describing the Senior population and its value and benefits to the community. Communicating information describing our ever-changing senior population - as different generations re-invent what it’s like to be a senior – and highlighting the value and benefits of our seniors to the community. Keeping current on critical issues so that we can inform council and community members of programs and activities occurring which are of benefit to seniors. [change to put the word ‘informing’ first] Informing city council and community members of programs, activities and issues that involve seniors or benefit our senior population. Participating in events within the community (Senior Law Day, Elder Care Resource Day and Bridging the Gap) Participating in special events important to seniors throughout the year within the community. Senior Law Day Elder Care Resource Day Bridging the Gap Work Areas for 2019 Prioritization 1. Neighborhood Livability and Social Health a. Education: We will learn and engage in discussion to help the council towards solutions for the senior community’s housing needs by attending the Affordable Housing Board’s and the Partnership for Age Friends Community’s Housing Priority Group’s meetings. We will also remain open and receptive to the general voice of seniors in the community and their thoughts and opinions on local housing needs. We will actively seek out speakers from various industries, non- profits, health and lifestyle advocates and others to give us a broad perspective in this and other areas regarding Seniors. b. Advocacy: We will work on ways to educate all members of the housing needs of seniors. We will share with council our consideration regarding improvement to senior housing options on a timely basis. c. Outreach: We will share with other boards what we know and have learned regarding the housing needs of seniors. 2. Transportation a. Education: We will learn and engage in discussion to help the council towards solutions for the senior community’s transportation needs by attending the Transportation Board’s meetings. We will also remain open and receptive to the general voice of seniors in the community and their thoughts and opinions on local transportation needs. b. Advocacy: We will share our concerns and thoughts with the Transportation Board and City Council on ways the city can improve transportation for seniors and ways the city has made great strides in providing seniors with reliable transportation. c. Outreach: We will compile and disseminate what we have learned about the senior community’s transportation needs and we will share that with the Transportation Board and City Council. 3. Safety a. Education: We will learn and engage in discussion to help the council towards solutions for key safety issues Fort Collins seniors encounter. We will remain an open and receptive group where the community can voice their concerns and encourage citizen attendance of our meetings. b. Advocacy: We will voice any safety concerns we have with City Council and we will suggest areas of improvement and the potential pros and cons of our suggestions based on our research and knowledge. c. Outreach: We will share potential safety issues with the community and, when necessary, we will request that the City make major safety issues known to our senior population. [proposed new section below] Timely Information to Assist with Council’s Strategic Budgeting for Outcomes Focus Senior Board Members will provide information more frequently to City Council regarding upcoming agenda items for council meetings as per council request and our observance of important items approaching deliberations that may involve our senior population. For example: any new city broadband changes, decisions on adding new requirements to older dwellings that might affect seniors and more. We have implemented a bi-annual review of our activities for Council due to new changes happening in this area of our population. It’s important that seniors are considered in decisions regarding our community. The ‘norms’ for this older generation are changing (as family dynamics change) and retirement years last longer. We recognize the important elements of our work and will inform the council so that the City of Fort Collins remains a healthy, vibrant community with active members from our entire population.