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October 2006 Minutes

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SAN MATEO COUNTY COMMISSION ON AGING Health Department, 225 37th Avenue, Room 100, San Mateo MINUTES October 23, 2006 PRESENT: Andre Belarmino, Suzanne Black, Dorothy Borbidge, Robert Collins, Aurea Cruz, Arline Elliott, Janet Hofmann, Claire Jun, Sandra Lang, Jerry McCarthy, Sylvia Merkadeau, May Nichols, Mary Pappas, Susie Pearsall, Aaron Straus, Leslie Wong, Kevin Worth EXCUSED: Cheri Jackson, Annie Sadler ABSENT: Rubelia Horton GUESTS: Lydia Church, Ombudsman; Elizabeth Furber, CoD Liaison; Marshall Loring, MTC/EDAC; Helen Loring; Ross Nakasone, County Manager’s Office; Allan Newlands, CoD; Lorraine Simmons, Supervisor Tissier’s Office; John Yap, Youth and Family Enrichment Services; STAFF: Marsha Fong, Health Services Manager, Shea Muller, Community Program Specialist; Mary Robblee, Administrative Secretary 1. CALL TO ORDER: 9:01 a.m. by Chair Elliott 2. CORRESPONDENCE: Vice-Chair Black read a thank-you note from Lori Sweeney who accepted another job in Mendocino County. 3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: Marshall Loring, San Mateo County Elderly Representative, Metropolitan Transportation Commission Elderly and Disabled Advisory Committee [MTC EDAC], 650/345-2654, marsh.l@rcn.com reported as follows: San Mateo United Homeowners meeting (10-19), a representative from California Alliance for Retired Americans told of a meeting on recent and possible future changes in State Laws that apply to Common Interest Development Home Owner Associations such as Harbortown. The meeting sponsored by the Center for California Homeowner Association Law will be held on 10/25 from 8 to 5p.m., at the San Jose Holiday Inn -more information available at http://calhomelaw.org or +1(510)272-9826. The October Santa Rosa Take Back the Streets Rally was attended by several hundred people. Same group is planning to repeat the event next spring. Interest has been expressed by staff of the CMEQ on behalf of the Pedestrian & Bicycle community to hold one in San Mateo County. October 5 EDAC actions Included: The MTC Emergency Response planning director reported on emergency response planning and training. Potential roles for Paratransit operators during a disaster were reviewed and operator training requirements considered. In particular, the desirability of providing authorization for drivers to cross police barriers to pick up at-risk clients was recognized and will start with Bay Area emergency responders. EDAC input was requested and will be provided. MTC Staff is nearing completion of a video based on the Older Driver Summit. The video is intended for use at pubic meetings and through the media and will be available in late October or November. Commission on Aging October 23, 2006 Page 2 The EDAC Transportation and Land Use Subcommittee Report on TOD housing guidelines to improve quality of life for senior and disabled residents will be presented to the MTC late this year or early next. Committee would like to present first to COA for comments/ suggestions. Translink program has been delayed from July 1 to November 1 because of technical difficulties. This will be a trial run based on about 1000 riders of Golden Gate Transit and Alameda County Transit. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: M/S/C –Nichols/Cruz 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of minutes from 9-11-06 with one correction: Under Correspondence, Item 2, add Chair Elliott read a resignation letter from Commissioner Galeno. M/S/C – Mary/Nichols (one abstention). 6. CHAIR AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT: Chair Elliott reported on the following: • Commissioner Pappas will be the representative for the Health Plan Advisory Board and Commissioner Black will be her back-up. • Commission Lang will be the representative on the “20/20 Study”. • Attended Ethics Training along with other CoA and CoD Commissioners. Next training is being held on 10/25 for any who still need to attend. • Attended the People Who Care Award Dinner on 10/6. The entertainment was provided by Wesla Whitfield a well known jazz singer. • Attended Seniors on the Move Conference on 10/16. I thanked Jackie Speier publicly in the name of San Mateo County seniors for all she has done for seniors over the last 19 years. • Commissioner interviews will be held at the end of the month. I will contact the Board of Supervisors about having Rubelia Horton removed from the Commission for personal reasons. This will give us three openings and there are seven applicants. • I will hand out the “Do’s & Don’ts” list that was distributed at the orientation for all Commissioners to read. TACC: Three excellent presentations were held: CA Service Corps, a volunteer matching network for all volunteer jobs. Effort to engage baby boomers and to train those who work with volunteers; Medi-Cal Review and Analysis, typical issues, use of waivers and where to improve system; Mental Health Service Act, presented by Peter Best on the new Mental Health Service Act which is supposed to be consumer driven, one in each county, new resources (will not fund ongoing programs). Program will work with needs assessment, priority population, strategies, budget, stakeholders, public hearings and the plan. Budget expected to go from $254 million in ’04 to $758 million in ’08. PSA Reports: A lot of disaster planning taking place along with ethics training classes. There are several counties doing trial runs for free transportation for seniors. In seven counties (Yolo, Sacramento, Nevada, Placer, Sierra, Sutter, Yuba) there are 11 vacancies on their Commission on Aging. California Commission on Aging (CCOA): A statewide forum is scheduled for November 29 as a follow-up to the White House Conference. Following this meeting, regional meetings will be organized entitled “Turning Ideas into Action”. Commission on Aging October 23, 2006 Page 3 7. STAFF REPORT: Marsha Fong, Health Services Manager, reported on the following: • Ethics Trainings – Second training will be held on Wednesday, October 25. Spoke with County Counsel to discuss another alternative for Commissioners who find it difficult to attend this night training in Redwood City. For Commissioners who did attend, please give your name to Marcia. • A Conflict of Interest Form (form 700) will have to be completed each year by CoA & CoD Commissioners due to a new State law – more information to follow. • The Do’s & Don’ts form will be distributed today to all Commissioners. The form was distributed to new Commissioners at orientation, and I felt that it was important that all Commissioners receive an updated copy. • Copies of the Flu Shot Schedule is on the back table. • We have three positions open in CBSU. Lori’s position, Community Services Coordinator, an unfilled Community Program Specialist and Zhanna’s position, Public Services Specialist. Interviews for all positions will take place within the next few weeks. • I will be attending the C4A conference in Los Angeles in November. 8. PRESENTATION: “How a Bill Becomes a Law” by CoA Legislative Advocacy Committee members Jerry McCarthy and Ross Nakasone. Presentation provided an overview of how the Committee processes a bill it wants to support through San Mateo County Board’s Legislative Committee and then how it is then processed through the House at the Assembly or Senate level to become a bill. 9. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS: Slate of Officers Presented by the Nominating Committee (Mary Pappas, Chair, May Nichols and Sylvia Merkadeau) – For Chair, Suzanne Black, for Co-Chair, May Nichols. Both Commissioners accepted the nomination. 10. COMMITTEE REPORTS: A. Community-Based Continuum of Care – Report Received In addition: Committee met on 10/11 and also reviewed the cards in the CBCC report of 9/13/06. Katy Rhoades will do the edits. At the next meeting, committee will try to finalize the cards and do a test-run at San Mateo Health Center. B. Legislative/Advocacy – (see Item 8, Presentation) C. Minority Elders – No Report D. Nutrition Committee – Committee presented a nutrition education presentation for low income senior residents of Edgewater Isle in Redwood City. It was a great success with 17 people attending. All kinds of nutritious foods were sampled. The Committee is discussing presenting at other senior housing facilities as well. E. Housing – Housing Leadership Conference will be held at Oracle next Friday. For more information, see Commissioner Nichols. Committee discussed holding a larger event to attract more people and possibly asking the San Mateo Board of Supervisors to co-sponsor. F. Sunshine Committee – Get Well card sent to Commissioner Pappas for her husband Ted who was ill. Commission on Aging October 23, 2006 Page 4 11. LIAISON AND AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS: Commission on Disabilities – • Presentation of Annual Report to the Board was held on 10/17. • People Who Care Awards Dinner was held on 10/7 with almost 300 people in attendance. • Warren Slocum’s office will start a 2-year campaign to get disabled citizens registered to vote in San Mateo County. This will begin after the election in November. Survey was done and showed a very small number of disabled voters. Implementation Coordination Committee – No Report In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority – • Instead of the monthly meeting, a Caregiver Appreciation Luncheon was held on Saturday, September 30, in Room 100. The theme was a Luau and was a great success. Committee will discuss the theme for next year at the November meeting. Legal Aid – No Report Legal Aid’s Health Consumer Center – • Committee meets twice a year due to demands on staff. • The Blue Ribbon Task Force was convened at the request of Supervisor Jerry Hill. It will look at the health care delivery system in the County and the financing of health care. • The new participants at the table were from the Interfaith Action Network, who also participate on the Blue Ribbon Task Force. • A referral agreement was reached between the Health Consumer Center and HICAP regarding the Medicare Modernization Act and Part D. These two agencies will collaborate in providing community education programs regarding Part D. • Concillo came and we reviewed statistics for the year. Meals on Wheels (MOW) – • On 9/13 Committee presented an overview of the program to providers. Committee is discussing doing more of these. • Committee presented “Q” MOW module to providers who decided it did not do enough to make it valuable to them. Adult Abuse Prevention Collaborative – No Report New Beginning Coalition – No Report Paratransit Coordinating Council (PCC) – Report Submitted California Senior Legislature (CSL) – • Discussed necessity for worker’s compensation insurance for its members. This was suggested because a member fell and filed a law suit. CSL collected $100 from each member to cover the cost of the $2,500 fee to insure its members. Triple-A Council of California (TACC) – Three excellent presentations were held: CA Service Corps, a volunteer matching network for all volunteer jobs. Effort to engage baby boomers and to train those who work with volunteers; Medi-Cal Review and Analysis, typical issues, use of waivers and where to improve system; Mental Health Service Act, presented by Peter Best on the new Mental Health Service Act which is supposed to be consumer driven, one in each county, new resources (will not fund ongoing programs). Program will work with needs assessment, priority population, strategies, budget, stakeholders, public hearings and plan. Budget expected to go from $254 million in ’04 to $758 million in ’08. Commission on Aging October 23, 2006 Page 4 Housing and Community Development Committee – No Report Youth Commission – Commission is working on structural changes which may include having a second youth commissioner on the Commission. Ombudsman – No Report In addition: Volunteer recruitment training will be held by Tippy Irwin from Ombudsman. Board members are looking at ways to strengthen and diverse the Board. Website – Has not been updated because Commissioner Black’s laptop connection is not compatible with the County’s. She still needs biographies written by the new Commissioners to include on the website. She has a form that will help new Commissioners write their biographies. See her if you would like a copy. 12. OTHER: More Older Driver Safety Traffic Safety Seminars are being held. Class at San Mateo Seniors Center on 10/26 is filled but additional classes at Burlingame Recreation Department on 11/9 and at Pacifica Senior Center on 12/7 are still open – flyers on back table. 13. ANNOUNCEMENTS: None ADJOURN: 10:55 a.m. Next Meeting November 13, 2006 9-11:00 a.m.