Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_COA_07.16.2018Minutes of the Georgetown Commission on Aging City of Georgetown, Texas July 16, 2018 The City of Georgetown Commission on Aging met on July 16, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Facility, located at 3500 DB Wood Road, Georgetown, TX 78633. The City of Georgetown is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require assistance in participating at a public meeting due to a disability, as defined under the ADA, reasonable assistance, adaptations, or accommodations will be provided upon request. Please contact the City Secretary's Office, at least four (4) days prior to the scheduled meeting date, at (512) 930-3652 or City Hall at 113 East 811 Street for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. Regular Session (This Regular session may, at any time, be recessed to convene an Executive Session for any purpose authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code 551.) A. Call to Order Chairman Gene Jantzen called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Nine Board members were present, thus constituting a quorum. Also present were Fire Chief John Sullivan, Staff Support to the Commission, and Linda White, Staff Liaison Office Specialist. Legislative Regular Agenda B. Consideration and possible action to approve minutes of the meeting held on June 18,2018— Gene 8,2018— Gene Jantzen, Board Chair. Tiffany Enos moved to approve the minutes from the meeting held on June 18, 2018. Dan Bonner seconded the motion, which the Board approved unanimously. (9-0) C. Introductions of current and newly appointed Commission member - Gene Jantzen, Board Chair. The Commission welcomed Sandi Gordon as the newest appointed Commission member. Sandi replaces Bernie Farkas who resigned in May 2018. Chairman Jantzen asked all Commissioners present to spend a few minutes sharing about themselves in order for all to get to know each other better. D. Discussion and possible action on Georgetown Senior Expo — Virginia Lazenby, Commission on Aging. Gene Jantzen gave an overview of the purpose and charge from City Council to the Commission on Aging. The Commission on Aging is to advise the City Council on the needs and status of seniors living in Georgetown and recommend ways in which those needs may be met. Mr. Jantzen explained that it is very important that the Commission be very knowledgeable of the available resources provided in Georgetown and to inform the senior residents of community services in health, nutrition, recreation, housing, transportation and safety. Mr. Jantzen stated that the Commission on Aging began discussing a year ago about having a Senior Expo event in Georgetown. The role of the Commission in regards to the Senior Expo is to support/advise as needed, the Senior Expo Planning Committee in their plans to bring the event to fruition not only in 2019 but in making this a yearly event. The Commission will act as the liaison between the Planning Committee and City Management/City Council as to the progress of the Senior Expo. Commission on Aging July 16, 2018 Virginia Lazenby is the chair person for the Senior Expo. Members of the Senior Expo Planning Committee were present and Virginia introduced each member. Virginia shared that this committee is very active and involved in many aspects of planning the Senior Expo. It is the desire of the Commission on Aging as well as the Planning Committee that through the Senior Expo, there will be a strong educational awareness of resources and services made available not only to senior citizens, but also to families and care givers of these senior residents. It is not the intention of the Senior Expo to be a total healthcare only event. Seniors think about how best they can thrive during their later years of life. The Senior Expo will give them the opportunity to look at all there is at the front of senior healthcare: health, wellness, quality of life, care giving, planning, and education. Plans are in the making to have a key note speaker and that this speaker will set the tone for securing other speakers who will speak at various breakout sessions; there will be special topics for small group session discussions; as well as exhibits. It is the desire for Georgetown's Senior Expo to be done well, and done in such a way that sets Georgetown's Expo apart from other city expos. Discussions occurred. Gene Jantzen introduced David Morgan, Georgetown City Manager. The Commission on Aging invited Mr. Morgan to attend this particular meeting so he could share with the Commission and the Senior Expo Planning Committee the city's availability to support the Senior Expo. Mr. Morgan expressed that the City is in full support of the Georgetown Senior Expo. Mr. Morgan explained that the city is not in a position of being at the center of managing the expo, managing the accounts receivable/accounts payable, signing the various speaker and vendor contracts, event registration, etc., because with all of these aspects comes additional work loads and hours for city staff as well as additional city liabilities that the city simply cannot take on. Also, if the city accepts the responsibility of the Senior Expo, there are 5 or 6 other quality events that have asked the city to manage, and the city just cannot manage all functions. Mr. Morgan stated that the city can be involved as an advocate for the expo, can use the city's communication resources to promote the expo, and can provide some funding towards the event. Mr. Morgan suggested that the planning committee discuss finding a partner to be the logistical support to take charge of the expo. Dan Bonner moved that the Commission on Aging endorses and affirms a Senior Expo with the planning and execution to be the responsibility of an independent organization to be formed to lead the planning of the Senior Expo. Tiffany Enos seconded the motion, which the Commission on Aging unanimously approved the motion. (9-0) Discussion occurred mentioning the following agencies to contract with as sponsors: The Wesleyan, St. David's Hospital, Georgetown Health Foundation, The Delaney, Faith in Action along with the Georgetown Aging Initiative, Sun City and Georgetown Chamber of Commerce. Discussions occurred. Gene Jantzen thanked Mr. Morgan for spending time with the Commission and the Planning Committee. Mr. Morgan shared that as progress is being made and the time comes that a resource of support is needed from the city that states that the city does indeed supports this event and its initiative, then please revisit with him again. Commission on Aging July 16, 2018 E. Discussion and possible action of Priority Initiatives: Communication, Transportation, Affordable Dental Care, Affordable Housing, Mental Health, Legal Aid — Gene Jantzen, Board Chair. Gene explained to our visitors in attendance that the Commission chose the above mentioned items because these are of utmost concerns to our senior residents. The Commission conducts research and reports back to the Commission on these initiatives. The Commission invites Georgetown staff managers as well as representatives from the various city agencies to come speak on these initiatives to not only educate the Commission, but give each agency the opportunity to explain their services provided to the senior residents of Georgetown. Communications — Tiffany Enos explained that communications will be active and continue through the Georgetown Senior Expo. Transportation — Dennis Dalrymple explained as far as Faith in Action, the agency continues to look at the growth of the city and the increase of transportation needs of the senior residents. The agency currently working on their 5 -year strategic plan, seeing the increased growth particularly with the senior residents. Currently they have 300 volunteers providing 700 clients who are requesting rides. Due to Georgetown's expected growth in 5 years, Faith in Action is expecting the number of clients requesting rides to increase to 1,600. A van was recently acquired to provide more efficient group rides traveling to the grocery stores, pharmacies, and various other stores for shopping. Faith in Action is working on the overall structure of the organization, creating committee's to study and make recommendations, in hopes of restructuring so they can meet the challenges that they are facing now and will be facing in the future. Neighbor Programs — Ginny Hahn explained this would involve a variety of programs that run through the neighborhoods in Sun City in order to keep the community more cohesive and engaged. Currently this program is undergoing restructuring in order to define what is most successful in Sun City, then can be incorporated within all of Georgetown. Age -Friendly Community Designation — Fire Chief John Sullivan. Chief Sullivan explained that for several months now he has been reading information pertaining to cities now being evaluated for their age friendliness. Chief Sullivan has spoken to City Management regarding the information that is being published. AARP is the major sponsor of this program and now The World Health Organization has joined with AARP as a sponsor. AARP has a templet that they have put together to help cities identify eight areas of an age -friendly community in order to help model themselves as an age -friendly community. The eight areas are: Outdoor Spaces and Buildings; Housing Features; Transportation and Streets; Job Opportunities; Community Information; Volunteering and Civic Engagement; Social Participation, Inclusion, and Education Opportunities; and Health and Wellness. Chief Sullivan was suggesting that this could be something the Commission might be interested in pursuing, see what all it entails, and what steps need to be taken to make this happen here in Georgetown. Texas cities who have already joined the AARP network of adapting plans towards becoming and Age -Friendly Community are: Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Chairman Gene Jantzen stated that he will review various published information regarding becoming an age -friendly community and report to the Commission at a future meeting. F. Discussion of future agendas and priorities — Gene Jantzen, Board Chair. Tiffany Enos shared that Merritt Senior Living welcomed the invitation to speak at the August Commission on Aging meeting. Patrick Lloyd, Library Community Resources Coordinator, will give an update in August of the various needs among older adult patrons he visits with. Virginia Lazenby will give an update on the Senior Expo. Nat Waggoner, Long Range Planning Manager and Susan Watkins, Housing Coordinator, will provide updates in September on Affordable Housing. Commission on Aging July 16, 2018 Adjournment The next Commission meeting will be Monday, August 20, 2018 at 6:00 p.m., at the Public Safety Facility, 3500 DB Wood Road, Georgetown, Texas. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. on a motion by Dennis Dalrymple, seconded by Virginia Lazenby, which the Board approved unanimously. (9-0) L t, ehairm,6 Tiffans, Seer Commission on Aging George own Commission on Aging Commission on Aging July 16, 2018 4