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HomeMy Public PortalAboutA 2007-10-03 SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARDRECEIVED CITY OF LYNWOOD CITYOFLYNWOOD CITYQERKS nrriCE SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD SEP 2 6 2007 GENERAL MEETING LYNWOOD SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER A M -I P M CONFERENCE ROOM 719100 11329 ERNESTINE AVENUE oC �" LYNWOOD, CA 90262 AGENDA Wednesday, October 3, 2007 12:30 p.m. —1:30 p.m. 12.30 p.m. Call to Order President Lorene Reed Pledge of Allegiance Invocation Roll Call Certification of Agenda Posting Approval of Minutes 09/05/07 12:40 p.m. New Business President's Report Bylaws Committee Report — Second Reading of Articles 16 & 17 Fashion Show Update Gatsby Ball Floral Arrangements 1 p.m. Public Comments (2 minutes) 1 15 p.m. Board Orals (2 minutes) 1 30 p.m. Adjournment Next General Meeting on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 The Recreation Department, Senior Services Division does not discriminate on the basis of disability Persons with disabilities may request accommodation services by calling (310) 886 -0425 two -weeks in advance of the meeting. The facility providing this service is wheelchair accessible. Senior Citizen Advisory Board Meeting Minutes September 05, 2007 The meeting was called to order at 12:36 p.m. by President Lorene Reed. The agenda was duly posted as prescribed by the Brown Act. Pledge of Allegiance: Paulette Bradley Invocation: Member Marie Lindsey Roll Call: Cecilia Amezquita — Minutes Clerk Present: Absent: Willie McGill Irene Garcia Melziner H. Pierce Marie Lindsey Alfred Kilts Margaret Araujo Julio Mendoza Cecelia Dove D Joyce Edner Lien Stringfield Lorene Reed Approval of Minutes: Vice President Irene Garcia said 2 nd page to the last Vice President Lorene Reed should read Vice President Irene Garcia. Secretary Julio Mendoza made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected, seconded by Vice President Irene Garcia, motion passed. Homeowner & Renter Assistance Program — Nancy Landa, Field Representative Assembly Member Hector De La Torre: Nancy Landa — I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I joined staff with Assembly Member Hector De La Tone about a month ago. 1 am the field representative for the City of Lynwood. I hope to work with the community leaders and the City to address all their problems and concerns to make this community better I am also here to promote one of the services we have available for this community by sharing information about the Homeowners and Renters Assistance program that the state of California has available for seniors, the blind and disabled. I would like you to take a look at the flier and brochure. It gives you an overview of the requirements you have to meet to apply for the Renters and Homeowners Assistance program. Any senior or person that is qualified can come in to our office for assistance in filling and sending out the application to the Franchise Tai Board which is the state entity that provides the reimbursement. There is a list of items on the flier that you need to bring with you when filling out the application. I have three requests: 1) Please help us promote the program. 2) Inform us of any venues, groups or meetings that we can attend to promote the program. 3) If there are any groups or meetings where there are more than ten people, I can come in and do a workshop to assist in filling out applications for people that meet all the requirements. We want to make sure that every person that qualifies applies for the reimbursement. If there are any questions about the program or my role as the Assembly Member's staff 1 would be more than happy to answer your questions. Bet Tzedek Legal Services — Ilu Johnson: Ilu Johnson — It was brought to my attention about Legal Services not provided here in the City for seniors. I did a little research and the County of Los Angeles has a program that provides free Legal Services for seniors at the age of sixty These programs are offered through the City of Los Angeles and the County They have a budget on how many areas and different cities to which they can provide service in the County of Los Angeles. If you are a resident in the City of Los Angeles they have centers where you can go for assistance. The Los Angeles County area has one in Gardena and one at the Willowbrook Senior Center 1 spoke with the people that provide the services as well as Cynthia Banks the Director of the Senior Services Department of Los Angeles County I have not gotten a response from her office. As far as going to the next level which is Bet Tzedek, they are willing to come and have a workshop to address the services they offer at a future date. I want to get some feedback from the Senior Advisory Board so 1 can report back to my superiors. If we can get letters to Cynthia Banks and the supervisors in Los Angeles County, we can probably get them to open an office here for the Lynwood, South Gate, Compton and Watts area. If we open an office here it would be considered a Los Angeles County facility Vice President Irene Garcia — Some time back in a number of occasions 1 had made an attempt to contact them and no one would answer We have a lot of issues here in the City I think the workshop would be an excellent idea. Ilu Johnson — As far as seniors needing legal services they are spread very thin from the statistics they were giving me. There are probably five people in their office agency that offer services all over Los Angeles County That is why they go to one center one day out of the month from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The services they offer and they can assist you with are property, fraud and wills to be drawn up. Member Ceceila Dove — I just want to know if she will be bringing some literature so we can look at and ponder it. I want to know if they schedule people on an individual basis and if the) are cut -off by the income of that particular person that is seeking their service. Ilu Johnson — From what l was speaking to her about there are no limitations as far as services they can offer you. You don't have to be in a certain income bracket for anything that has to do with housing and family as long as you are a senior, 60 or older and live in the County of Los Angeles. She will definitely bring some literature. President Lorene Reed — How soon can we have a workshop? (flu, as soon as we can get something on the calendar to do a workshop.) Can seniors from this center go to another center? (flu, yes) It is available to us right now in Gardena or Willowbrook. (Ilu, Gardena and Willowbrook are considered Los Angeles County ) Ilu Johnson — From my understanding they would love to bring it to our center If we would like to have this as an area they can come. We would have to go through Cynthia Banks to try to get this to be a station. Facility Usage: President Lorene Reed — I noticed a planning meeting for an event being held outside of the City was being held in our conference room. There were so many people; they were sitting on top of the furniture. We are very possessive of this building. This is a senior building. I would like to get input and see how the rest of you feel about it. I received complaints about the building being taken over We know it's owned by the City but we would like to ask that it be used as a last resort. If there is no place else to meet then meet in the Senior Center Member Willie McGill — I would like to talk about the parking lot. They take up so much parking that the Senior Citizens can't park. I think the parking lot in the back should be for seniors. We have to park in the street then we get tickets out there. Will there be transportation for the town hall meeting? 7 Jose Trejo — If there is transportation needs we will certainly make provisions for that through the Recreation Department. We will have a sign -in sheet for seniors that are interested in being transported to the location. This way we can make appropriate accommodations whether it is through Marco A. Soto that has assisted us on previous occasions. Perhaps this can also be where he is of assistance. We will have an interest list for this particular trip /workshop. President Lorene Reed — There have been events at Bateman Hall during the day It is taking the parking away from the seniors to expect. The seniors are getting tickets over on the side and we are taking care of that. Deborah was here filling out forms from those that received tickets they are getting them reversed. Marco A. Soto, Vice President of Marketing Fiesta Taxi — I just wanted to offer our transportation service for the day of the town hall meeting. I will make some cabs available to transport the seniors back and forth from the parking lot to the town hall meeting. 1 just need all the details. President Lorene Reed — We are to ask staff to provide Fiesta Taxi with all the needed information so they will know how many seniors to expect. We need to get an interest list. Member Alfred Kilts — When the building was first proposed they said there would be eleven handicap parking spaces. Well I have only been able to find four President Lorene Reed —As far as the facility usage, was there any other discussion? Secretary Julio Mendoza — You mentioned this is for seniors. We worked on it, we went to other Senior Centers to get ideas for this center and it should be strictly for seniors unless in an emergency They have used the Community Center and Bateman Hall. All of a sudden we have a brand new building and they all want to use it for other things. Vice President Irene Garcia — 1 have noticed that the parking lot is taken because the City rents out Bateman Hall for exercise class that interferes and carries over into other meetings. They should park out on the street. Our parking should be strictly for seniors. I think the City should issue us a sticker or some type of identification that we can put on our windshield. Member Lien Stringfield —The Senior Center is only for seniors. President Lorene Reed — Our preference is that this building be used for seniors. Right now they are doing construction at City Hall. We know that they need our building for use of the restrooms and to have their lunch. Something like that on a temporary basis is understandable. For meetings and similar things we would like this building to be a last resort for usage. President's Report: President Lorene Reed — Zelda Hutcherson President of the Area Agency on Aging requested a meeting with the food provider H.S.A. We met with a representative because of questions on the contract about services they should be providing. I had received four complaints about food. It was too salty, not attractive, not balanced and too tough. What he said to us is that they have a representative for our center I believe it is Manny Perez that sits on a board. They have a quality assurance group so when we make complaints they already have the complaint. They had no way to give it back to us, we had no way of knowing that they were tracking the complaints. He asked me when 1 had received the complaints and they were all in July This is the month they try new food and deviate from their menu and try something new These were the months they got complaints from Cerritos, Long Beach and different centers they service. I also met with the Bylaws Committee and the Fashion Show Committee and you will be getting reports from them today We sent a plant to the Araujo family 1 don't know if you found out that Margaret Araujo 3 lost her husband. We sent a plant from the Senior Advisory Board to the Araujo Family I solicited and received 25 cases of water for the Senior Center from the Chamber of Commerce. The only thing they requested was a letter of receipt to show that we did receive it. I need to ask staff to prepare a letter for the Chamber We had the summer Cantata on August 27, 2007 where I represented the board as the Mistress of Ceremony Those were some of the things I did between the last and this meeting. I stay pretty busy I don't want you to think that the board doesn't do anything for the seniors in this community Bylaws Committee Report — First Reading of Articles: President Lorene Reed — The chair is Irene Garcia. We met and we have the first reading. Vice President Irene Garcia— First Reading of Article 16 Amendment. Member Alfred Kilts — May I say something about deleting the Roberts Rules of Order 1 have belonged to many organizations as far as 1 know everyone has gone by the Roberts Rules of Order When there is a conflict in your Bylaws they always refer back to the Roberts Rules of Order I was questioning why you want to delete that? President Lorene Reed — The reason to delete that from the Bylaws is because the meeting is going to be conducted under the Roberts Rules of Order There is really no reason to have it in the Bylaws, that's why it's being deleted. Alfred Kilts motioned, 2 nd Marie Lindsey, by unanimous consent motion passed. President Lorene Reed — The next one is the Conflict of Interest, Article 17 Vice President Irene Garcia— First Reading of Article 17 Amendment. Member Cecelia Dove — What would be an example of in conflict with another organization? Can anyone remember if that has happened in the past? President Lorene Reed — In the past we had members that belonged to the Area Agency on Aging. The Senior Advisory Board focuses on the same senior issues as that agency There was a definite issue on how things were handled. Secretary Julio Mendoza motioned, 2 "d Vice President Irene Garcia, by unanimous consent motion passed. Fashion Show Update: Paulette Bradley — We are planning a fashion show We are trying to get back on track with our activities. The theme will be "The Fall Fashion Fling Fest" We have about six gentlemen that want to participate. We will match them with six ladies. The ticket price for admission is $5.00 per person. We will be using our lovely Senior Center for this activity We will be using the large room, patio area and a couple of the activity rooms as dressing areas. As we get closer to the event we will need additional committee members for invitations, tickets, programs and fliers. How are we coming on stocking the kitchen? President Lorene Reed — We spoke to Mrs. Adams on stocking the kitchen because we don't have utensils. Jose Trejo — We are already placing an order Paulette Bradley — We will be calling on the Guys & Dolls and any other volunteers. Committees will be getting together for decorations and for discussion on the menu and refreshments. Mrs. Phyllis Lyons will be contacting Deborah Brandon for make -up or a Mary Kay consultant. Also we were thinking of contacting Glamour Shots Company to come to our event. We will have a photographer with a backdrop to take pictures of those attending this festivity We will be doing research on our entertainment. Member Cecelia Dove — When is the date for this event? Paulette Bradley — November 10, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. New Member Applications: President Lorene Reed — At last meeting I had asked for a News Release but 1 was incomplete on my request. What I would like to do is to publish that there is an opening on this board for thirty days. We want the release to state 1) That the application will be available at the Senior Center, 2) We have openings for seniors interested in working on issues that pertain to whatever verbiage staff uses. We want to open it up for new members. I am not sure if the Bylaws Committee has thought about revising that part where there is only thirteen members once they get to that we; will know As it stands we have two openings. Jose Trejo — The only comment on the Press Release is that the deadline for September has passed. President Lorene Reed — Ok, lets do it for the next month. When we do it, we want to open it for thirty days from date of the press release to collect applications. Last night at Council meeting, Fiesta Taxi was on the agenda and Marco A. Soto is the new Marketing Representative for Fiesta Taxi. 'they came to Council and asked for an increase on the fare. The seniors are familiar with what has been going on with Fiesta Taxi. We were like no, no don't do it. Not understanding that it's something that needed to be done due to increase in gas prices. There is a reason for wanting an increase in the ticket fare. Public Orals: Marco A. Soto — I am the Vice President of Marketing for Fiesta Taxi. I have been on board for about a month and a half. Yesterday I had my first City Council meeting. What we requested was a meter rate increase because the cost of living has gone up. The surrounding cities have already adopted this change, it was just as administrative matter we had to take care of for our drivers. The cost to you remains the same. You are still going to pay $1.50 for a booklet of six tickets. We take you all around the City of Lynwood and satellite points. If anything, the service can improve. I was concerned when 1 heard a few residents' in the back of the Council meeting protesting the meter rate increase. 1 spoke with Mrs. Reed and Mrs. Bradley to host a community meeting with you all. If you are interested in discussing all the issues you might have, we will bring our drivers to talk to you and definitely improve our service. So I am here to ask you for a possible meeting date. President Lorene Reed — I would like to establish a committee to work with Mr Soto. The committee will be Julio Mendoza, Paulette Bradley and if it's ok with you Jose, I would like to have Cecilia Amezquita involved. Member Alfred Kilts — In the books there is only ten tickets if you come to the center every day that takes up one week. How many tickets are allotted to Lynwood? Marco A. Soto — It's a booklet of six and you can get two booklets per month. President Lorene Reed — We need to work on revising this and work on something where we can do more for the seniors. We have a certain amount of dollars allocated per year for this taxi program. These are prop A and C funds from the government; $200,000 per year So what we have to do is look at how we offer it. We are offering it to people 55 and older Maybe we should change that to 62 and older Cecilia Amezquita — Also for disabled people. Member Alfred Kilts — I know there is a lot of people that are taking advantage of the situation and they are not handicapped and have means of public transportation. President Lorene Reed — We as a committee have to work to change that to make sure that the people who really need the services take advantage of them. We will put Marco A. Soto on the agenda for next month. We just established a committee that is going to look at all these issues. When we come back we will have some suggestions on how to improve what is happening. We want to thank him for providing the transportation for the town hall meeting. Member Cecelia Dove — When you get all of this done, is there anyone that can put out a brochure on the standards of what you do with your taxi services? Marco A. Soto — We will have a brochure after we talk to the City and restructure the program. Paulette Bradley — I want to start with the building. I was part of the research committee that went around to the Senior Centers. Glendale was an old center that was very well kept. All you saw were senior people enjoying the grounds, rooms, lunch program and the games. I didn't see any unauthorized people there. I have noticed since we opened, other departments find reasons to come here and have their meetings. In Culver City they have stickers for designated parking. All I am getting from Lynwood management are excuses about this facility and why we have to share it with everyone. On the good side I have shared with Trejo and others that our attendance is up. A lot of new faces, I have written down names and addresses for people to receive our news letter Earl Huberting — 1 got a ticket for parking on the street the other day because there was no parking in the center President Lorene Reed — There is a form you will need to fill out. I will have the form for you tomorrow Annette Johnson — How does one get on the food program list? I have tried and they always tell me it's closed. No one has ever given me an application. At one point when the seniors were across the street I belonged to the program. Due to illness I was not consistent with the program nor was I in the state. I would just like some information on how I can go about that. Jose Trejo — We are going to have our recreation coordinator provide you with an application by the end of the day We will also post the time frame for application distributions. Cecilia Amezquita — You would have to apply through the Los Angeles Food Bank Program on the day of the food distribution. They are allotted a certain amount. If they are at their full capacity they can't take any applications until they increase the number of applicants being accepted. Annette Johnson — I have not heard about a food give -away in six months Cecilia Amezquita — The food giveaway is every forth Thursday of the month. They have been doing it since the beginning of the year and it's located here in the Senior Center The requirements you need are proof of income and your California ID Board Orals: Member Alfred Kilts — I think everything is going pretty good. I am satisfied on how the meetings are going. Member Cecelia Dove — I am glad to be back Member Willie McGill —No comment. Vice President Irene Garcia — No comment Secretary Julio Mendoza — No one member of the Board or any Senior can come in and take it upon themselves and use the room for a private thing without the approval of the Board. President Lorene Reed — You're saying that no one member can come in and use the room without the Boards approval? Vice President Irene Garcia — Without mentioning names, someone used the center and we were not informed. 1 believe that anything that takes place should come before the Senior Advisory Board and receive approval. No one on the Senior Advisory Board has the ability to utilize this room without prior approval of the Board. President Lorene Reed — I am going to ask you to be a bit more specific because we are not aware of any member using any rooms in the Senior Center If anyone used it they did not use it as a member of this Board. They would have asked staff. What member of this Board used the facility? Was it a rental? Jose Trejo — No. I think the Department will develop a policy-for criteria by which the facility will be utilized. That has not happened. I am sure the Department will work with the Board in developing these criteria. That has not been a past practice for any facilities taken before any Board prior to usage. However there is a criteria for example through the Parks & Recreation Commission that we utilize in developing this policy I am pretty sure that would be the same case here. We have not gotten to that point here. Our current policy on all facility usage goes through the Interim Department Head. Whether it is in -house use, other departments or a Board Member it goes through the Interim Department Head for approval. It is certainly based on whether it's available and if it can be accommodated. Member Marie Lindsey — Thank you madam President for your report. I also want to thank Mrs. Bradley She got these entire excursions and she is working on the fashion show and all the things she is doing for the center I want to thank llu. I didn't know Jose Trejo until we had a situation on one of our excursions that we were not too happy about and I asked who was in charge and now I know who he is. As far as other people using the facility, it's called a senior center so 1 believe only seniors should be using it. Adjournment: Secretary Julio Mendoza made a motion to adjourn, by unanimous consent the meeting adjourned at 1:56 p.m. 7 Cit of TYNWOOD CEO= �.. �_A City Aceting Chdhoiges 11330 BULLIS ROAD LYNWOOD, CALIFORNIA 90262 (310) 603 -0220 Date To Subject: September 26, 2007 Senior Citizen Advisory Board Amendment to Senior Citizen Advisory Board By -Laws Article 17 Conflict of Interest - Second Reading Per Article 14 (Amendments) to the Senior Citizen Advisory Board By -Laws the following Amendments is being submitted as Article 17 , Article 17 Conflict of Interest Relationship with other organizations. 1 Holding office or membership in another organization whose objectives and purposes are similar to those of the Senior Citizens Advisory Board may lead to conflict with responsibilities to the Board. To avoid such conflict, the President of the Board shall follow the General Rules regarding safety and conduct as outlined in items A —C of Article 15 of the Senior Advisory Board By -Laws. Date To City of LYNWOOD c_A City I-Meeting C6aPPengeg 11330 BULLIS ROAD LYNWOOD, CALIFORNIA 90262 (310) 603 -0220 September 26, 2007 Senior Citizen Advisory Board /.4.1MEIIIC.A CITY II Subject: Amendment to Senior Citizen Advisory Board By -Laws Article 16 Board Member and Citizen Input - Second Reading Per Article 14 (Amendments) to the Senior Citizen Advisory Board By -Laws the following Amendments is being submitted as Article 16 Article 16 Board Member and Citizen Input 1 All meetings of the Senior Citizen Advisory Board are to be open to the public. 2. Provisions will be made for both citizen as well as Board Member input on agenda items of either written or verbal input or both.