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SCC 01-26-06 ........\ i'~.A J . I CUPEIUINO Senior Citizens Commission CITY OF CUPERTINO REGULAR MEETING THURSDAY, JANUARY 26,2006 CALL TO ORDER Chairwoman Walker called the meeting to order at 2 p.m. ROLL CALL Commissioners present: Commissioners absent: Staff present: Linda Walker Frank Yap, Estelle Incociati, Christine Kennedy Pierce Mavis Smith Julia Lamy, Supervisor; Marie Miller, Administrative Assistant 1. MINUTES A. The minutes of September 22,2005, were unanimously approved as written. 2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - none 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Subcommittee Reports: a. Day Programs - Karen Lorenz, Program Director, Live Oak Adult Day Services, spoke about programs provided by Live Oak (a nonprofit organization). Services includes: Care and supervision of approximately 21 customers a day (licensed for 30), raised garden beds for planting activities, entertainment, exercise programs, videos, bingo, and other programs that stimulate customers both physically and mentally. The programs are set between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., five days a week, Monday through Friday. Referrals are by word of mouth. Population is aged 60+ and as frail elderly, they can't completely take care ofthemselves. The purpose of the program is to give customers a social outing and to provide respite to their care providers. There is no nurse on staff, but medication will be administered upon request. The program also provides contact information about support groups in the county. There is an admission process where the customer fills out paperwork, obtains physician permission, gets a TB test, and receives from the Printed on Recycled Paper Senior Citizens Commission January 26, 2006 Page 2 of 5 center an assessment ofthe clients'. They also discuss the customer's ability to pay. Costs are based on the customer's ability to pay and ranges from $14 to $52 a day. Cost includes lunch. Some costs of the program may be covered by individual long term insurance plans. Many customers use Outreach for transportation. The center receives contributions from a variety of community sources: Cupertino, Sunnyvale, San Jose, Santa Clara County, fund raisers, churches, United Way, and other charitable organizations. At this particular site, there are currently 4 to 5 people on the waiting list. Vacancies are filled on a first come, first serve basis. Supervisor Lamy reported that funds from Cupertino comes from the Community Block Grant Program, which is a federal program. The federal government will give a set amount of money that is spread equally through different service organizations; CCS receives Block Grant money, Live Oak, Senior Adult Legal Services, health insurance counseling, and many other agencies receive funds. The city does not provide a match. The city's Community Development Department oversees these funds. Ms. Lorenz stated that they receive a lot of support from community service volunteers, including bringing in food from Cupertino Community Services. She brought samples of a St. Josephs School project where students interviewed customers at the day care center and then wrote biographies with photos for them. The Cupertino Senior Center case manager, Karen Du Goss, has visited Live Oak and made referrals to Cupertino seniors. In reverse, Ms. Lorenz stated she regularly makes referrals to the Cupertino Senior Center. b. Wrap-up Work - Supervisor Lamy distributed an outline of the November 10, 2004, meeting where the work plan was established. She stated that the intent of the work plan was to discover what kind of services were available to Cupertino residents and report to the City Council on the findings. She distributed a Council on Aging resource book that is distributed throughout the county. Commissioner Pierce recommended to send City Council a report of the work done in the last year and looking forward. The Commission would like to be able to discover any other needs for Cupertino. She also recommended that in the next year, the Commission continue work on demographics and trends. Senior Citizens Commission January 26, 2006 Page 3 of 5 Commissioner Yap believes that it would be a major undertaking and the Commission may not have the expertise, funds and staff support to accomplish this goal. Commissioner Incociati volunteered to work toward this goal. Commissioner Pierce stated that perhaps a request for funds to do an analysis could be done, but she was unclear as to how to make the request. Commissioner Pierce asked if it was appropriate for the Commission to request funding. Supervisor Lamy stated that her understanding is that commissions who receive funding are those that are issuing grants and that that is a part of their formation resolution. She does not believe this is a part of the Commission's resolution. Commissioner Pierce then asked if they could recommend to the City Council to add an item to staff's work plan. Supervisor Lamy stated that they could make a recommendation. Commissioner Yap recommended making a summary of the findings and placing it on the city's website. ACTION: A motion was made, seconded that Commissioners Incociati and Pierce draft a report of Commission accomplishments for the year, list those items that need continued analysis, ask staff to prepare, and present it to the City Council. An amendment by Commissioner Pierce added: Looking toward the coming year, with the help of city staff, is to create an easily accessible summary of services specifically available to Cupertino citizens in web and print form, and then to examine the best way to look forward to the future trends, and examine, from a senior's perspective, how we are meeting those needs. The amended motion was seconded and unanimously passed. Supervisor Lamy recommended that that report get to City Council for one of their February meetings. She stated that there is no assurance that City Council will act on their recommendations. ACTION: A motion was made, seconded and passed that Commissioner Pierce would summarize a report to City Council. 4. MISCELLANEOUS - NO ACTION REQUIRED Senior Citizens Commission January 26, 2006 Page 4 of 5 A. Written communications - Supervisor Lamy reported that items from Council on Aging, regarding the California Senior Legislature nominations, and VT A, regarding VT A program for seniors, were in their packet. B. Staff updates: Supervisor Lamy announced Mayor Lowenthal will be holding monthly meetings with commission chairs on the first Wednesday of every month, 7:30 a.m., at city hall. Chairwoman Walker asked if she could be excused from those meetings for a couple a months as she recovers. Commissioner Incociati agreed to attend those meetings in her place. C. Commission updates: a. Commissioner lncociati will not be attending the March 23 meeting. b. Commissioner Pierce requested that the commission hold a special meeting to review the current Toll Brothers project, near Vallco, as it pertains to senior housing needs. The Planning Commission is hearing the item this evening. If it passes, it will go to the City Council for their review on February 7. If the commission has a recommendation to City Council, a verbal recommendation by a commissioner could be made at the City Council's meeting on February 7. Commissioner Yap believes there is not enough time to learn about the project to be able to make an informed recommendation to City Council ACTION: A motion was made, seconded and passed to hold a meeting whereby the Commission could learn more about and discuss the senior elements of the Toll Brothers project. ACTION: A motion was made, seconded and passed to hold a special meeting on Thursday, February 2, at 2 p.m., to discuss the senior elements of the Toll Bros. project. c. Commissioner Pierce also reported on her attendance at the mayor's meeting. d. Commissioner Yap requested a member of the Commission participate in the Senior Center Advisory Council meetings. The next meeting is April 17. Commissioner Walker agreed to do this. 5. ADJOURNMENT Chairwoman Walker adjourned the meeting at 3:40 p.m. Senior Citizens Commission January 26,2006 Page 5 of 5 R€fIf~~fully submitted, '\Jv\11~~w f..{1\\tj) Mafle lJiller, Administrativ~ Atstant Minutes approved at the 'Z- 1 , 2006, regular meeting.