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June 2006 Minutes

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SAN MATEO COUNTY COMMISSION ON AGING Health Department, 225 37thAvenue, Room 100, San Mateo MINUTES June 12, 2006 PRESENT:Suzanne Black, Dorothy Borbidge, Robert Collins, Arline Elliott, Sandra Lang, Ming Tak Leong, Jerry McCarthy, Sylvia Merkadeau, May Nichols, Mary C. Pappas, Aaron Straus, Fiona Wainwright, Leslie Wong and Kevin Worth EXCUSED: Andre Belarmino, Janet Galeno, Janet Hofmann, Rubelia Horton, Cheri Jackson, Claire Jun, Treva Ludy, Mary Pappas, and Annie Sadler ABSENT: GUESTS: Cara Schmaljohn, Senior Coastsiders; Vic Tigerman, Senior Coastsiders; Marshall Loring, MTC/EDAC; Marvin Goldman, California Senior Legislature; Deborah Owdom Mills-Peninsula Senior Focus; Lorraine Simmons, Supervisor Tissier’s office; and Wendy Goldberg, Human Services Agency STAFF: Lisa Mancini, Director, Aging and Adult Services; Marsha Fong, Health Services Manager 1. CALL TO ORDER: 9:03 a.m. by Chair Elliott 2. CORRESPONDENCE: None 3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: Marshal Loring, Metropolitan Transportation Commission/Elderly and Disabled Advisory Committee (MTC/EDAC) Coordinator reported the following: • Notice of proposed rule making for changing the way administration is handled on ADA items. This provides regulation requiring ADA Transportation to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices and procedures when necessary to avoid discrimination. MTC/EDAC is holding a meeting to discuss this notice on Wednesday, June 14, 2006, at the Board Center. • Under the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act government is now requiring that a Coordinated Transportation Human Services Plan be prepared by agencies that want to qualify under that act. MTC is working on completing a plan – the purpose of it is to provide unified comprehensive strategies for public transportation service delivery that identifies the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, older adults and individuals with limited income. It also lays out strategies for meeting those needs and prioritizes services. • Translink, a program devoted to unified fares for transit in the bay area, goes into effect July, 2006. The goal is to have one fare card per individual that would allow them to use every form of public transit in all counties in the bay area by 2009. Vic Tigerman, Senior Coastsiders, was asked by CoA to present the following: • Coastside Adult Day Health Care (CADHC) and Senior Coastsiders are creating a building to house both agencies. • Case statement was passed out for information on the project. • September 16, 2006 will be the grand community unveiling of the project, located at Lesley Gardens 701 Arnold way, Half Moon Bay. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: M/S/C –Nichols/Leong 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Approval of minutes from 5-8-06 with one correction: Triple-A Council of California (TACC) stated that chairs do not attend C4A meetings. Chairs do attend C4A but because the spring meeting was on transportation, Commissioner Nichols was given the Chair’s space. M/S/C – Black/Nichols (Four abstentions-Commissioners Black, Collins, Straus and Worth) 6. STAFF REPORT: Marsha Fong, Health Services Manager, reported on the following: Commission on Aging June 12, 2006 Page 2 • The Health Department had a management retreat on Friday, June 2, 2006, and discussed the following five key initiatives: -Health Disparities primarily regarding linguistic access (making sure we have language capacity for serving the community). We are in the final stages of a report regarding what is our capacity to provide other languages in the Health Department, Hospital and other collaborative agencies in the County of San Mateo. Marsha will share this report with the Commission when it is completed. -Blueprint for Prevention of Childhood Obesity -Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs. They are producing a report of how prevention should be rolled out. Marsha will share this report with the Commission when it is completed. -The Implementation of Mental Health Services Act. The Manager for the Older Adult Services for Mental Health will be coming in July, 2006 to speak with the Commission regarding information on how the Mental Health Services Act monies will be used for older adults. -Future aging population for San Mateo County. A consultant has been hired and a study is being conducted to determine what the aging population will look like in 2020. Health, Transportation and Housing are the three key issues that the consultant will be looking at in order to project out. • AdHoc Funding Meeting: -The Older American’s Act contracts are meeting expectations for General Program expenditures and performance. The two areas below contract goals are Meals on Wheels and Adult Day Health Care. -California Department of Aging came and informed AAS that the contracts could not be bundled. AAS is currently working under the new unbundled contracts. -The Executive Committee suggested charting how contracts are doing compared to their goals in bar graph format. AAS will be working on that and will have it by the next quarterly meeting. • Possible presentation on how the Linkages program is doing. Linkages is part of the Community Based Services Program funding from the state and is included in our Area Agency on Aging Budget. • Flyers on the Ride Free Program from SamTrans in June, 2006 were made available. The program is for adults 65 years of age or older who do not currently buy a monthly bus pass. 7. CHAIR AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT: Chair Elliott reported on the following: • Welcomed newly appointed Commissioner Lang. Newly appointed Commissioners Cruz and Pearsall were not in attendance since they had just been notified of their appointment. • Salute to our retiring Commissioners: Commissioners Leong and Ludy. Commissioner Leong has served the CoA for 10 years; Commissioner Ludy has served 8 years. • Card was sent to Mary Robblee. • Presented at the May Senior Roundtable meeting: Commissioner Elliot for CoA, Commissioner Nichols for Senior Forum and Commissioner Sadler for Minority Elders. The presentation was well received. • Attended the symposium on preparations for the flu pandemic and how we could make the county resilient. • In the process of forming a new Ad Hoc Nominating Committee. The slate will be presented in October and the voting will take place in November. • Dates to remember: Minority Elders Conference on June 29, 2006. CoA Executive Committee meeting will be on June 28, 2006, due to the July 4thholiday. • San Mateo County Times ran an article in the newspaper for the Photo & Poetry Contest that was incorrect. Another article will run at a later date to clarify the information. • Commissioner Leong received the first “Francis Scott Smyth” award. The award is given to a senior who has contributed countless time and effort to enhancing the lives of seniors in San Mateo County. • Plans for the Minority Elders Conference are underway and receiving good publicity. An article about the conference appeared in the South San Francisco Senior News. • Commissioner Horton’s mother and husband passed away, a card was sent. She is also not well. Commissioner Elliott will contact her to see how she is doing. Commission on Aging June 12, 2006 Page 3 8. PRESENTATION: “Overview of HOPE (Housing Our People Effectively) 10 Year-Plan to End Homlessness” Guest Presenter: Wendy Goldberg, Coordinator, Center on Homelessness, San Mateo County Human Services Agency Motion made to ask Wendy Goldberg and her committee to specifically look into the needs of homeless seniors and report back to us. M/S/C –Worth/Straus Discussion: Marsha stated - Wendy distributed a draft of the plan endorsement where concerns regarding the study could be included. Letter can be written instead of an endorsement. Further discussion will occur at CoA Executive Committee Meeting. 9. COMMITTEE REPORTS: A. Community-Based Continuum of Care – No Report • Presentation from Holly Brown-Williams at the Wellness Center in UC Berkeley. Holly reported on findings on Discharge Planning and she distributed an informational packet. B. Legislative/Advocacy – No Report • Distributed one page summary of Senate Bill 1609 (Simitian) regarding Reverse Mortgages. Motion made to accept this bill. M/S/C - Black/Worth C. Minority Elders – No Report • Conference is June 29, 2006, at the South San Francisco Conference Center. D. Nutrition Committee – No Report • Working on a food presentation at the Housing for seniors that Commissioner Nichols works at. E. Housing – No Report • Written report not submitted due to a family emergency. Public forum in July canceled because of low attendance. Commissioner Merkadeau and Commissioner Smith, CoD will meet before the next Housing Committee Meeting to discuss boosting attendance. F. Sunshine Committee – No Report • Card for Mary Robblee passed around for Commissioners to sign. Will get card for Youth Commissioner Wainwright, who graduated last week. 10. LIAISON AND AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS: Ad Hoc Arts Poetry –Commissioner Black read a poem that took 1stprize in the non-rhyme category titled Stove Lid Living by James Rowland. Ad Hoc Arts Photography – No Report Commission on Disabilities- Approved mission, vision and purpose statements. Extended the People Who Care Awards Nomination Period until June 29, 2006. Implementation Coordination Committee – No Report In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority – No Report Legal Aid – No Report Legal Aid’s Health Consumer Center   – No Report Meals on Wheels (MOW) – Attended MOW Coalition retreat on May 11, 2006. Hired a consultant on fund development for MOW, who gave a detailed and inspiring study and recommendations of what to do. The committee has approved one of the options, to hire part time employees to do in-home work. May be joining with Peninsula Community Foundation in doing part of the fiscal management. Adult Abuse Prevention Collaborative – Report Submitted New Beginning Coalition – No Report Paratransit Coordinating Council (PCC) – Report Submitted Commission on Aging June 12, 2006 Page 4 California Senior Legislature (CSL) – No Report • CSL will be meeting in Sacramento on October 16, 17 & 18, 2006 and are currently planning that meeting. • June 15, 2006 is World Elder Abuse Day Triple-A Council of California (TACC) – No Report Housing and Community Development Committee – No Report Youth Commission – Fiona Wainwright reported: • The Youth Commission is in the middle of a re-structure. Will be adding County staff and the Commissioners will be appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Commissioners and staff are meeting with Public Health for a structure model. Ombudsman – No Report • “Getting To Know” breakfast located at the Kohl Mansion in Burlingame will be held on June 22, 2006. Website – No Report 11. OTHER: None 12. ANNOUNCEMENTS: • Have been down staff in the Community Based Services Unit; An Extra-Help Office Specialist was hired to help out. • Opened the recruitment for two Community Program Specialists. If you know anyone who may be interested in these positions please have them visit the county jobs website where the information is posted. • Disaster Preparedness Day, September 30, 2006 at the San Mateo County Events Center • Supervisor Tissier’s Office informed us that Carole Groom at Mills Peninsula has agreed to do three or four more of the Older Driver Traffic Safety Seminars. • Home Owner’s or Renters Assistance Program from the California Franchise Tax Board starts from July 1, 2006 and runs until to October 15, 2006. There are 10 sites throughout San Mateo County where volunteers will help seniors fill out paperwork. Program allows seniors to get a rebate check from the Franchise Tax Board on the property taxes. The maximum household income this year is $40,811. • Commissioner Straus assumed the responsibility for Management and Volunteer Travelers Aid Program at San Francisco International Airport. The program needs volunteers on Saturday and Sunday. Commissioner Straus will not be here July and September due to traveling. His new position will not effect his participation on the Commission. • The Joint Rules Committee, who runs the California Senior Legislature, may appoint someone if do not get someone to serve on the California Senior Legislature. If you know anyone who may be interested please contact the CSL. ADJOURN: 10:55 a.m. M/S/C – Nichols/Black Next Meeting July 10, 2006 9-11:00 a.m.