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12-07-2010 - Senior Citizens Commission - 08/26/10 - Item No. 3 (2).doc SUMMARY OF ACTIONS SENIOR CITIZENS COMMISSION MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF August 26, 2010 I. CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Glenn called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE / MOMENT OF SILENT MEDITATION Commissioner Taylor led the Pledge of Allegiance and a Moment of Silent Meditation. III. ROLL CALL Commissioners present: Glenn, Mason, Perryman and Taylor Commissioner absent: Hughes Staff present: McNeill, Smilowitz, Shore IV. CORRESPONDENCE AND ORAL COMMUNICATION Joanne Moses, 2009 Senior Volunteer, is back at the Senior Center after leg surgery. Director McNeill gave an update on Joanne’s continued recovery and her return to the Senior Center. V. MINUTES FOR APPROVAL A. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Senior Citizens Commission meeting held on Thursday, August 26, 2010. MOTION: Motion by Taylor, and seconded by Mason to approve the Minutes of Thursday, August 26, 2010. Motion carried by a vote of 4-0. Hughes was not present. VI. PRESENTATIONS Director McNeill stated that the City, with the help of Manager Smilowitz and Coordinator Yuasa, under the Commercial Recreation Program partnered with Westfield West Covina to put on a special Girls Night Out event. This successful event realized $26,600 in new revenue. ADMINISTRATION A. City Council Staff Reports 9/07 Presentation – American LL Major Division Champions Presentation – American LL Minor Division Champions 9/21 Public Hearing Amendments to the FY 10-11 CDBG Action Plan Director McNeill spoke about the upcoming Staff Reports and elaborated on the Cortez Park bridge repairs and the renovation of the Senior Center dry storage room adjacent to the kitchen. The Commission stopped the meeting long enough to go to the area being renovated to better understand what would be modified. OLD BUSINESS Replacement of California Flag at Senior Center Manager Smilowitz stated that the California Flag had been replaced. Follow up on Bus Stops and Shelters Near Senior Housing Facilities Vice Chair Glenn suggested the Commission carry over this Item till the next meeting, so he could check out the bus stops himself. Director McNeill stated that Foothill Transit recently reduced a number of transit lines that travel through West Covina due to budget cuts at their agency. Director McNeill spoke at a public meeting that Foothill Transit held, and had sent a letter of our concerns as a City. Partly due to her input, they made a few changes in the route in favor of West Covina. IX. NEW BUSINESS A. Volunteer of the Year Letters Sent Out Director McNeill stated that the Volunteer application letters had gone out to non-profit agencies and the Fire and Police Departments, and she requested that the Commission look for worthy candidates to submit. She reminded all that the submittal deadline is October 14, 2010, just two weeks before the next meeting. Vice Chair Glenn reminded everyone that we still have candidates from last year that may qualify if they volunteered during 2010 also. B. Review of Commissioner’s Responsibilities – Priority #2, Active Senior Programs Director McNeill refreshed everyone’s memory that the Commission is revisiting Commissioner’s Responsibilities with the purpose of bringing them up to date with current day interests. Priority #1 - Transportation was satisfied at a previous meeting, and it is now time to review Priority #2, Active Senior Programs. A discussion was held on Senior Center classes, prices, and different ideas for bringing a wider variety of activities to seniors at an economical price, through donations and high school students or other senior volunteers. Commissioner Mason had many ideas on how to accomplish this, and Vice Chair Glenn asked the Commission to write down their specific ideas and the Commission will discuss it at the next meeting. Other suggestions included requesting feedback from seniors via the Voice and Discover publications, on their interest in preferred activities, classes at the Shadow Oak facility and Galster Park Nature Center, a gym at the Senior Center, and redesigning an area to buy lunch tickets. With so many projects available, it was decided to prioritize the needs and wants of the seniors, and to recommend a budget to help clarify the options. MOTION: Motion by Glenn, and seconded by Mason to recommend to the City Council to earmark $150,000 for future Senior Center improvements to be outlined by February 2011. Motion carried by a vote of 4-0. Hughes was not present. C. Update Senior Computer Lab At the June 24th Senior Commission Meeting, Commissioner Mason asked staff to look into having West Covina High School students volunteer in the Senior Computer Lab. Staff sent out requests for student volunteers at the high school and at LA Works, but to date, there has not been a satisfactory response. D. Senior Center Food Service Volunteers Staff will continue to seek opportunities to secure food service volunteers through an ad in the senior publication the “Voice” and also make announcements at the Senior Center. INFORMATION City Events Director McNeill reminded the Commission to RSVP for the West Covina Day at the L.A. County Fair. She also mentioned that Dr. Sylvia Mann, conductor of the West Covina Symphony Orchestra, is being honored as the Fair’s Hometown Hero of the year. Vice Chair Glenn stated that West Covina Beautiful has put on a Lighting and Home Decorating contest for years, and that staff might want to look into managing the contest in conjunction with them, since it is the City’s first year. B. Upcoming / Ongoing Events 1. Upcoming Events 2. Ongoing Events XI. AD HOC REPORTS None. XII. COMMISSIONER REPORTS/COMMENTS A. Individual Reports/Comments on Activities Commissioner Perryman spoke about the upcoming Hurst Ranch’s annual Harvest Festival in October, and gave accolades to Dr. Sylvia Mann and her West Covina Symphony Orchestra. Vice Chair Glenn stated that he had not attended many events lately due to personal circumstances. B. Discussion on Future Agenda Topics/Interests 1. Further Review of Commissioner’s Responsibilities – Priority #2, Active Senior Programs (Glenn) 2. Follow up on Bus Stops and Shelters Near Senior Housing Facilities (Glenn) XIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Motion by Perryman, and seconded by Taylor to adjourn the meeting at 4:11 p.m. Motion carried by a vote of 4-0. Hughes was not present.