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SCC 10-27-04 APPROVED Senior Citizens Commission CITY OF CUPERTINO REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2004 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Yap called the meeting to order at 2 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Commissioners present: Linda Walker, Mavis Smith, Frank Yap, Estelle Incociati, Christine Pierce None Julia Lamy, Supervisor; Therese Smith, Director; Marie Miller, Administrative Assistant Commissioners absent: Staff present: I. MINUTES A. Regular meeting of September 23, 2004. ACTION: Minutes of September 23, 2004, were unanimously approved as written. 2. ORAL COMMUNICA nONS - None 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Reconsideration of the Senior Center parking fee, membership fee increase, and funding plan for the case management program: At the last meeting, staff had been asked to consider alternatives for providing case management services and evaluate how the case management program might be funded absent a parking fee. Supervisor Lamy presented four options for the public's and Commissions' consideration. Public Comments Bernard Henschke, Santa Clara, agrees with getting rid ofthe parking fee and adding $5 to the nonresident rate. He does not like Option B; the nonresident fee should be $20 not $25 since they are not allowed to use the case manager. He believes that the statement that membership allows service is not true; if a nonresident is a member, they may not be eligible to get the service. He liked option A. Senior Citizens Commission October 27, 2004 Page 2 of6 Roberta Harold, Cupertino, would like to see the parking fee eliminated. She asked how many people take advantage of the case management services. Supervisor Lamy answered that there are 120 homebound clients with over 200 office-visit clients. Gina Norberg, Cupertino, stated that the matrix should have been made available ahead of the meeting to study the options. She supports eliminating the parking fee. She has discovered that there are many available resources for case management, and believes a booklet should be available with these resources listed. She supports a volunteer case management program. Norma Bradlyn, Cupertino, has been a Senior Center volunteer since 1977. She supports a volunteer case management program. Marlene Garcia, Sunnyvale, supports a volunteer case management program. Helena Chang, Cupertino, supports an affordable case management program. Susan Lee, San Jose, supports publishing a senior needs resource booklet. She does not understand why she should have to pay $5 more for case management services because she does not live in Cupertino. Philip Goldstein does not support Options A to D. He was pleased the parking fee had been eliminated. He proposed an annual fee for residents and nonresidents of $36/year. He believes that at $15/year, the Center will not be able stay open. Bob Vitro, Cupertino, believes a membership fee of $36/year would be a bargain. Don Moore stated that the last Senior Center member letter (about the case management program) upset him and made him angry. He has used the case management services and found it a valuable service. Gordon Frolich, Cupertino, suggested to change Option D to make membership a requirement and confirm the home address and age. If Option C is used, there is a way home income can be manipulated, which people will do. He supports increasing the membership fee by $5. Jack Peters does not like Option A because it doesn't include case management. He believes Option B is doable with the provision that instead of raising money, the fees should be raised a couple of dollars a year on both resident and nonresident rates. He supports allowing volunteering nonresidents to pay the resident fee if the volunteer at least 20 hours a year. Diane Snow spoke as a former case manager for the COA and as a person who has worked with the case management program at the Senior Center for 13 years. She stated that she was speaking for the people who were unable to attend the meeting due to illness Senior Citizens Commission October 27,2004 Page 3 of6 and needed help. She stated that a 40-hour position is not a volunteer position. She reported that the benefits of a case manager at the Senior Center go far beyond the 120 peop1e/caseload per year. Klare Whitman, Cupertino, supports the case management programs. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Pierce stated she was pleased with the number of people who came to the meeting. She supports Option B with the suggested increase of $2 to cover this year's case management program - $22R/$27 INR. She would also like to see a donation opportunity for people who cannot afford the increase. She would like to see two forces - one to look at fundraising and one to compile a roster of professional volunteers. Commissioner Incociati supports Option B and has no objection to raising the fee by $2. She would support a fundraising effort. Commissioner Walker supports Option B, but is not sure about the $2 increase. She strongly supports having a case manager at the Center. Commissioner Smith believes a case management program at the Senior Center is important. She has no objection to raising membership fees. She believes a sliding scale would be difficult to handle due to privacy issues. She believes fundraising may be difficult because many organizations are fundraising; she would rather raise the membership fees. She would like to see volunteerism encouraged. She is concerned about budget shortfalls in the near future. She summarized that she prefers Option B, raising fees, and not fundraising unless absolutely necessary. Chairman Yap stated that he was leaning toward Option B. He would entertain the idea offundraising, and would like to see the membership fee raised by $2 in Option B. Director Smith confirmed that there is $30,000 in the Center's budget for the case management program should additional funds be raised. She stated that Option B I, with a $2 increase in the membership fees ($22 and $27), would work with 3,300 members and would eliminate the need to fundraise. She believes that raising it more than that would create ill will among Senior Center members. ACTION: A motion was made and seconded to recommend to City Council Option Bl. The motion passed unanimously. · No parking fee · Resident membership rate at $22/year · Non-membership rate at $27/year · Optional newsletter mailing fee at $5/year · Retain the Council on Aging Grant in the amount of $19,750 · The City of Cupertino would contribute $30,000 Senior Citizens Commission October 27, 2004 Page 4 of6 · No fundraising would be necessary · There would be no charge for case management services · To be eligible to receive those services, you would need to be a member ofthe Senior Center, and reside in Cupertino or West San Jose). Commissioner Pierce asked staff to come back to the Commission, in the future, on some of the areas that were discussed, such as having a system to help those people who are not able to pay the membership fee. Supervisor Lamy explained that it has been a past practice and policy of the Center that scholarships be made available for seniors who are not able to pay the membership fee; no one is denied membership. There is a screening process for that scholarship program. She would also like staff to come back to the Commission and report on task forces that look at volunteerism and putting together a resource guide. Supervisor Lamy said these topics could be looked at in the Work Plan Program. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Select a quarterly meeting date: Supervisor Lamy reported that the 2004 meeting dates have expired. Per the resolution that formed the Commission, they are required to meet a minimum of four times a year. She offered dates for 2005. Looking at the fourth Thursday afternoon once a quarter, those dates would be: Thursday, January 27, Thursday, March 24, Thursday, June 23, and Thursday, September 22. She reported that the Commission has been meeting at 2 p.m. at the Senior Center and the only date where there is a time conflict is January 27; there is no room available. The only time on that day is II and I p.m. She also reminded the Commission that at the March meeting, a new chair and vice-chair would be selected. Public Comments - None ACTION: A motion was made and seconded to adopt the schedule as stated by staff with the meeting on January 27 to begin at 11:30 instead ofthe standard 2 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. · Thursday, January 27, II :30, Senior Center · Thursday, March 24, 2 p.m., Senior Center · Thursday, June 23, 2 p.m., Senior Center · Thursday, September 22, 2 p.m., Senior Center B. Selection of work plan meeting date: Supervisor Lamy explained that the work plan is the Commission's plan and statement for goals for the upcoming year. The purpose of the work plan is that it should reflect the goals and policies of the City Council. City Council meets in early Senior Citizens Commission October 27,2004 Page 5 of6 January to do their annual goal setting plan for the year, and their vision for the upcoming budget. The Commission's work plan would look at the different problems in the community that impact seniors, challenges, and opportunities. She asked the Commission if they would like to meet to discuss creating the work plan for 2005 at a special meeting or would they like to dedicate their January 27 meeting to developing their work plan? ACTION: A motion was made and seconded to meet on November 10, at 1 p.m. to have a brainstorming session that will be followed by a regular meeting. This motion passed unanimously. 5. MISCELLANEOUS - NO ACTION REQUIRED A. Written Communications: none B. Community Contacts: a. Commissioner Pierce reported that she attended the mayor's monthly meeting, she reminded people to come out to the Library Open House, she talked about a class she is giving "Baby Boomers, Your 25- Year Plan", and she announced that she is taking a group of teenagers to Europe and performing in Senior homes in France, Spain, and Italy. b. Chairman Yap discussed the Senior Center Volunteer Advisory Council, whose purpose is to be aware of and meet the needs of all members of the Center, plan and evaluate activities, sponsor projects, know other seniors in the community to create a friendly atmosphere, and promote the awareness ofthe positive contributions that seniors make to the community. He invited interested commissioners to these meetings on a rotational basis. Commissioner Pierce volunteered to attend the November 15 meeting. In January, his interview with the Better Part will be shown. Chairman Yap also reported that the Courier interviewed him regarding the case management program. C. Staff Oral Reports: a. Supervisor Lamy announced that the city received a donation of$500 from a resident to be put toward the caseworker for the Senior Center. She invited the Commissioners to attend the Hidden Treasures on October 28. It was reported that the Center raised $1,800 last year; this money went into the case management program to do holiday baskets for homebound seniors. Funds made this year will probably be put in the scholarship fund for seniors who are unable to pay their Senior Center membership. b. Recruitment for the case manager has been completed and there is an excellent candidate, if she is still available. The issue should go to City Council on Tuesday, November 16. Commissioner Pierce volunteered to attend this meeting on the Commission's behalf. Senior Citizens Commission October 27, 2004 Page 6 of6 6. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Yap adjourned the meeting to November 10, 1 p.m., at the Cupertino Senior Center, in the Bay Room. Respectfully submitted . ¿;,~ Mane Miller, Admirii trative Assistant Minutes approved at the Janaury 24, 2005, regular meeting.