Day 1999.03.03CS Jt Mtg CS/Sr Ctr

Director Celestre asked if the Commission would add an item to the Agenda. The City Council is again reviewing the Strategic Plan. The Commission is asked to discuss the plan, and make any modification or input to that document. It would be added as Item 9h. A motion was made by Commissioner Silveria, seconded by Commissioner Lloyd-Butterfield, “ to accept the agenda as modified” . Motion carried.

Director Celestre stated that this item will be presented by Supervisor Christensen who has worked with a citizens committee to establish the Ride with Pride program. Supervisor Christensen stated that the Ride with Pride Committee is now a State and IRS sanctioned non-profit organization. A small number of volunteers have been strategizing fund-raising. Letters have been prepared but none have been distributed to the community.

Since the group is now formally a non-profit, the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee voted in February to disband the Transportation Sub-committee and end the City connection to this group. When the group provides insurance information to the City Risk Manager, a proposal will be presented to the Commission. Director Celestre stated that the Department will support the group in any way possible, and can provide space for fundraisers in order to get the program going. The City cannot issue the liability insurance, but will look at ways to help.

Director Celestre stated that the bids for the Senior Center expansion did come in about $300,000 short as far as funding the construction. Another $300,000 from community development block grant (CDBG) money is being added to this. There will be 1.5 million dollars of CDBG money being used in a capital way. The expansion is being funded with 1.2 million dollars from redevelopment loans, .8 million dollars from refinancing redevelopment bonds, and 1.5 million dollars from CDBG. The contract has been awarded to Albay Construction from Martinez. The company has a good reputation, completes projects on time, and works well with people. Furniture and equipment not funded in the budget will come from development impact fees (DIF). Brenda Clyma from Public Works will be contacting Commissioner Lloyd-Butterfield to see if the Task Force would like to reconvene to discuss the construction process. The timeline has not changed; completion is still planned for January 15. Director Celestre would like to see the Center completed ahead of schedule in order to allow the seniors to have New Year’ s Eve Party in the new center.

Coordinator Greene stated that Senior Center staff has been working on relocating, effective June 1, and will not move back into the Center until construction is complete. Staff and programs will be relocated to Three Oaks and the Mariposa Neighborhood Center with senior programs held at the Teen Center from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Some evening meetings will be held at the Ulatis Community Center. It is realized that closing the Center will be an inconvenience for everyone involved. Senior Center staff is also working on a new marketing package, and some new use policies to allow more users to come in and share activities with the community. A PAL (Police Activities League) van will take the seniors on field trips to Three Oaks to see what is going on there. Staff is looking for Commission and Advisory Committee support to keep a positive attitude until the new center opens.

Coordinator Greene stated that the City Coach will continue to stop in front of the Center. Para-Trans, Special Services, and the taxi cab company will be contacted to advise them that the doors at Three Oaks do not open automatically. Three Oaks staff will also be informed that some seniors may need assistance into that facility. There will be a City Coach flyer announcing the specific bus and route which seniors need to take to get to Three Oaks. Commissioner Lloyd-Butterfield stated that the Bus 5 schedule should be published in the Reporter.

Committee Chair Locke stated that public acknowledgement for Coordinator Greene is needed for all the hard work she has done, arranging and coordinating, and dealing with the problems and issues involved in the transition period. Coordinator Greene has handled these in a very professional and caring way, maintaining a positive attitude.

Committee Chair Locke stated that a newspaper article was submitted at the last Advisory meeting which talked about the City having a program at stoplights which would audibly tell pedestrians when they could safely cross the street. Commissioner Lloyd-Butterfield stated that Mr. Harry Dato is working with the Transportation Division to work on this issue. Director Celestre suggested that Laurie Decker who handles ADA Compliance within the City would be the person to contact. Supervisor Christensen will contact Laurie Decker regarding this issue.

Committee member L. Carlson has researched the idea of a City-wide calendar of events, and has contacted the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has created a web site on the Internet for their events. Ms. Carlson also talked with Earl Parker who has discussed this project with Chamber President Gary Tatum. The consensus is that this calendar would be advantageous, but no one seems to be willing to do this project.

Director Celestre stated that Todd Grames, Recreation Coordinator, will be working with special events programming beginning April 1. He will have a liaison role with the cultural arts groups, and one of his assignments will be putting together a community calendar working with the Chamber, school districts, service clubs, and arts groups.

Committee Chair Locke announced that this year’ s Tribute to Seniors will be October 6. April 30 will be the date of the next Spring Extravaganza. Committee Chair Locke stated that the Reporter needs to be involved in putting together a calendar. Helen Allen, a member of the Cultural Arts Advisory Committee, added that Earl Parker should be involved to coordinate information from the different groups.

Committee Chair Locke stated that wheelchair availability at Solano Mall is a need which has been brought to the attention of the Advisory Committee. Committee member Yoder stated that she contacted Solano Mall to see if they would get electric wheelchairs, but the mall is concerned that the chairs would be stolen. Currently, you have to bring your own chair. It was then brought to the Commission and Committee’ s attention that businesses need only provide ADA accessibility or accommodation, they are not required to provide equipment such as wheelchairs. Some suggestions were to contact specific health organizations, the Marketing Manager of Solano Mall, or an editorial in the newspaper with a contact person’ s name and number to rally support. The Commissioners felt that it was not appropriate for them as a Commission to send a letter to the Mall requesting that the Mall provide electric wheelchairs for anyone who may need them and not have their own. Coordinator Greene stated a future idea may be that the Senior Center be a source for wheelchairs for downtown businesses, but these would not be electric.

Committee member Willson stated that this new subcommittee met in January. The idea is to bring seniors, children and teenagers together. The January meeting was a brainstorming session with ideas of seniors in schools giving living history presentations, reading and tutor programs, and teens could help seniors with household chores or establish a job bank at the teen center. A TASK (Teens Assisting Seniors and Kids) group already exists. Travis airmen and employees could assist seniors with car maintenance and computer expertise. Travis has a grandparents program that sponsors a family, whereby children of a deported airman would have adoptive grandparents. The next meeting will be March 10 at 10 a.m. at Ulatis Community Center.

Coordinator Green stated that a couple of schools have contacted the Center for seniors to read to the kids. Kris Lofthus, Teen Coordinator, has suggested a spaghetti feed for the seniors in which the teens would prepare the meal. In April, there will be the third Intergenerational Entertainment Afternoon, which is usually comprised of grandparents and grandchildren. There will also be a blood drive for senior recipients in May. Commissioner Thurmond stated that she is working on a possible Challenge Day for teens and seniors.

Committee Chair Locke distributed an outline proposal for a Commission on Aging. Chair Locke feels that Solano County is not adequately represented on the AAA. The next meeting to discuss this will be March 16 at 12 noon at the Solano County Board of Education Office. In looking over the outline proposal, Committee Chair Locke stated that Solano County needs a Commission on Aging. Solano County’ s population is double that of Napa, and Solano should have more services available. The next census will be taken in the year 2000, and the needs of Solano County are growing and the Community Services Commission needs to be aware of this.

Commissioner Lloyd-Butterfield stated that there is a Commission on Aging in Napa. The County Board of Supervisors nominates representatives to the Board of Directors of the AAA, who are responsible for seeing that the needs of the community are met. The Board of Directors is comprised of seniors from both counties. The Elder Abuse Task Force was charged with getting an elder abuse council established, and by-laws were developed. The Board meetings are held in Vallejo, however, there are a lot of seniors who do not want to go to Vallejo to the meetings. Supervisor Christensen stated that AAA is soliciting for more membership from Solano County and/or Vacaville.

Director Celestre stated that the location of the Town Square would be adjacent to the Senior Center. At this time, it is only a concept. Kendal Street would become a driveway and the parking lot would be redone with 10+ new spaces. There would be a small plaza area, and the Harbison House may be relocated to this area. Some existing buildings would be rehabbed, and there would be some new buildings. The Vacaville Museum would move the Harbison House, which was given to them.

Director Celestre stated that the City Council is revisiting the plan. There are six goals in the plan, and in each goal were several action plan items assigned to various City departments. Under Goal #2, Enhance Community Pride and Enjoyment, the Department has the Lagoon Valley Master Planning process. This was to be completed in June, but now has been expanded to include the Lake Management Plan to improve the lake. One idea from the lake consultants is to create 10 to 20 acres of wetlands on the southern part of the lake. It is hoped to have this process done by October.

The other action plan item was under Goal #4 – Promoting the Health, Safety and Future of Our Youth. The Department is studying the availability of child care in the community, looking at the welfare to work situation, and day care for low income families. The Department has been successful in putting together a collaborative with City and County agencies to work on the needs and request grants for these programs.

The Council is asking for feedback from the Commission on the Strategic Plan on items that were left out, or issues that need to be included. Commissioner Lloyd-Butterfield requested that under Goal #5— Maintain Effective and Efficient City Services, that #5 be added. Ms. Lloyd-Butterfield would like to add a Cultural Arts Coordinator position to address cultural arts policies. Chair Kidder stated that he would like additional time to review the Strategic Plan before making comments. Director Celestre informed the Commission that there would be a special Council Study Session on March 16 to discuss the Strategic Plan. Commissioners will review the distributed copies of the strategic plan and make submittals if they have any changes or additions.

Senior Supervisor Fox stated she has been working with Markham School to submit a grant for an after school program. Coordinator Greene has agreed to send a designee from the Senior Center to assist in that program. Supervisor Fox is also working on another grant with Markham School called the 21^st Century Learning Grant. This grant would allow for additional programs to take place at the Markham location.