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HomeMy Public PortalAboutA 2007-09-05 SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARDe i - ~~~ Efv~ CITS`4~F LbNW00f? CITY OF LYNWOOD CiTV~r F~u~ n~~IcE SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD AUC ~ 0 2007 GENERAL MEETING ~~ LYNWOOD SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER 718'19'IOell~]2s1~2~~i?II5tC CONFERENCE ROOM ~ ~~~ 11329 ERNESTINE AVENUE C L/ ~A r-.~ LYNWOOD, CA 90262 6~ C~~` ~~ t'S AGENDA Wednesday, September 5, 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 08/01/07 12:40 p.m. New Business Homeowner & Renter Assistance Program -Nancy Landa, Field Representative Assembly Member Hector De La Torre Bet Tzedek Legal Services - Ilu Johnson Facility Usage President's Report Bylaws Committee Report -First Reading of Articles Fashion Show Update New Member Application 1:05 p.m. Public Comments (2 minutes) 1:15 p.m. Board Orals (2 minutes) 1:30 p.m. Adjournment Next General Meeting on Wednesday, October 3, 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 August 1, 2007 The meeting was called to order at 12:38 p.m. by President Lorene Reed. The agenda was duly posted as prescribed by the Brown Act. Pledge of Allegiance: Lorene Reed Invocation: Marie Lindsey Roll Call: Cecilia Amezquita-Minutes Clerk Present: Absent: Margaret Araujo Irene Garcia Melziner H. Pierce Marie Lindsey Alfred Kilts Cecelia Dove Julio Mendoza D. Joyce Edner Willie McGill Lien Stringfield Lorene Reed Approval otMinutes: Corrections for 06/06/07 minutes Member Alfred Kilts said page 7 Alfred Kiltz should read Alfred Kilts. Member Margaret Araujo made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected, seconded by Member Alfred Kilts, motion passed. Senior Building Fund Report: President Lorene Reed -The total balance is $28,245.55. Interest earned for the month was $124.13. We all know that these figures are not current and most of the money has been used to purchase items for the Senior Center. Services for Seniors/Quality of Life -Natalia Medina: Quality of Life was implemented two years ago. The department consists of code enforcement, graffiti removal, clean up of alleys and streets in the City. We also do Block Watch, maintain the City landscape outside of the facilities and the maintenance of the trees in the City of Lynwood. A special program we offer for seniors is the disposing of bulky items instead of calling Consolidating Waste Removal and waiting a week for disposal. We will go to your home, remove the bulky items and transport them within 48-hours. There is a nonprofit organization called United We Paint. This organization helps seniors in the City and surrounding areas paint and maintain their homes. [will be working closely with them to find a way to incorporate the program in our City. Questions/Answers: Secretary Julio Mendoza- What do you have to do to get something cleaned up on Pernwood all the way to Alameda? Natalia Medina- We have been calling Caltrans and the State. Part of the property belongs to the State and part to the Redevelopment' Agency. We have contacted Redevelopment and they should be putting up a fence around that area to stop the dumping. The answer we get from Caltrans is that they are short on staff. Secretary Julio Mendoza -Who is in charge of Redevelopment'? Natalia Medina -Olivia Segura. Vice President Irene Garcia - I was told this was going to be cleaned up a week ago Wednesday and it's not true. The tumble weeds are about five feet high and they look good because they're green. Just behind the tumble weeds you have anything and everything people dump. It bothers me because every resident is paying $1.90 for Quality of Life. President Lorene Reed - I am going to cut you off. 1 invited Natalia to talk about services offered to seniors. This is a complaint that we are going to have to follow up and pursue. [s it Caltrans property? Natalia Medina - A portion of it is. President Lorene Reed -The portion that is Caltrans, I know for a fact that we have been trying to get something resolved through Caltrans. It's quite tedious. The Quality of Life portion we can pursue internally as far as getting the bodies out there. We might have to plan aclean-up day. The City joined in a Class Action Lawsuit against Caltrans for neglect in this City area. Natalia Medina - A year ago we took out sixty high school students. They cleaned it from the 710 Freeway to Martin Luther King. Member Marie Lindsey- I want to know if they have a schedule to clean up the alleys? Natalia Medina -It's on a first come first served basis. We have over 100 plus complaints just for Quality of Life daily. We are responsible for the cleaning but, public works is responsible for the repaving of the alleys. Patricia Martinez -You said you had sixty students out Chere. Are they working under unsafe conditions? Natalia Medina- We make sure that the students and parents are signing waivers that the City is not liable for anything that happens to them. Jose Trejo -City staff goes out there prior to this. This is certainly not labor that we are requesting. They are just picking up trash. City staff goes out there prior to remove bulky items. President Lorene Reed -These issues and complaints will be addressed by the Quality of Life Department. Member Margaret Araujo -Staff is very careful before they take young people out there. In order for students to enroll in College or a University, they must have completed community service. This is a way for them to earn their credits. President Lorene Reed -The United We Paint sounds like an outstanding program for seniors. I would like you to come back and inform us as soon as the services become available. Member Margaret Araujo - I have noticed there have been some Neighbor to Neighbor events. I thought this was Block Watch. The neighbors don't know who is setting up the meetings or who is inviting Chem. Natalia Medina -These Neighbor to Neighbor meetings have been requested by Council Members that have been directed towards me. These are not Block Watch related events. President Lorene Reed -Originally the meetings where hosted by Block Watch Captains. The purpose is to inform the community of the services the City provides. A lot of members of the community are not able to attend the Council Meetings. Member Margaret Araujo -The City is spending too much money on these meetings for the amount of people that are attending. They should be sending the information through the Water- billing Department in the mail. Member Alfred Kilts - I would like to know if there is an ordinance for trash can containers to be removed from the curbside. Natalie Medina - 1 will call Code Enforcement for that. Can 1 have your address? 1 will take care of the matter. Recruitment of New Members: President Lorene Reed - We have vacancies on our Advisory Board. It is time to fill the vacancies. If you know anyone who is interested in becoming a member please have them submit an application. We will do a press release to inform the seniors in the community of the openings on the Senior Advisory Board. The press release will include the deadline, contact person and where to pick up the application. Format of Agenda: President Lorene Reed - I want to remove the senior building fund report from the agenda. Member Margaret Araujo made a motion for removal of senior building fund report from agenda, seconded by Julio Mendoza, motion passed. Bylaws Committee Report: President Lorene Reed -Has the Bylaws Committee had a chance to meet? Lets schedule the meeting for committee to review bylaws article by article. We will meet Monday, August 6, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. We will go through the bylaws and start making changes. You will pick a chairman. Once we get through the bylaws we will get a draft for input and approval from the members of the board. Staff Report: Phyllis Lyons - [ am here briefly to invite you to the first informational meeting on excursions which will be held at Bateman Hall Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. in room #2. Please bring family, neighbors and friends. If you have traveled on excursions before you will receive a letter in the mail. The first trip will be a 13 day [rip to the Panama Canal. We will leave from Los Angeles and we would travel until we reach our destination which would be Miami. During the informational meeting we will tell you all the different stops and ports we will be making. The Panama Canal prices with airfare range from $1,724.56 to $2,124.46. We will also talk about a seven-day trip to the Caribbean. The trip sales for the Panama Canal cruise will start in February and the Caribbean cruise will be in May. Motion was made to move agenda item (fashion show update) along with staff report by Member Marie Lindsey, seconded by Member D. Joyce Edner, motion passed. Fashion Show Update: Phyllis Lyons - I was asked by several seniors to help assist in planning a fashion show. We are looking at the month of September or early October. 'two dates were suggested: September 8"' and 15°i they are Saturdays. If you would have your event at Bateman Hall on a Saturday it would not be a good day. On the other hand if you would have it at the Senior Center it would be perfect. t have contacted a couple of clothing stores to provide clothing for the fashion show. The participants would have to be measured for the clothing. 1 would need to know the participants by next meeting or before. Would you like to form a committee to work on that? President Lorene Reed -Are there any volunteers that would like to work with Mrs. Lyons on the fashion show? We have Member Margaret Araujo, Member D. Joyce Edner and Paulette Bradley. Phyllis can you set a date for the meeting and inform us when you want to meet? Can you tell us about the Color Purple? Phyllis Lyons -The Color Purple is a musical play. It started in Atlanta and went to Chicago and it's currently playing in New York. I had about 10 people who were interested in doing a trip to New York to see the play. It was a bit expensive so 1 told the people to hold off. Finally I received news from the Ahmanson Theater that it's coming here soon. We have ordered forty tickets and it sounds like at least 30 of them are gone and 1 still haven't put them on sale. They go on sale today. You will be able to purchase a ticket at $85.00. The trip will be departing from Bateman Hall Auditorium on Thursday the 10`h. Member D. Joyce Edner - Is this the first public announcement? I overheard someone making an announcement to another person regarding this affair. Phyllis Lyons -Well no, I announced it at a senior leadership meeting. There has not been anything put out. A lot of people know about it and they are anxious to hear about it. I can guarantee you that no tickets have been sold because I haven't given out the list to sell or to do anything. If you are worried because it's on a first come first served basis. The tickets are not ready yet until 1 set up the new forms. No one has purchased a ticket. Member Margaret Araujo - We need to make sure that our seniors have first priority Member Alfred kilts - May I be excused? President Lorene Reed -Yes, is there anything else on the Color Purple? Phyllis Lyons - In all fairness we want to offer this to everybody. That is why we are more Citywide. The seniors are my heart but this opportunity is open for the entire City. Even if they are eighteen years old, they qualify. Member Margaret Araujo -Phyllis is offering it citywide and I heard a lot of the seniors would like to go on this trip. I would like to suggest since its one of the trips on our list here That the seniors from this center have first priority. Sometimes seniors can only tolerate children for a certain amount of time. President Lorene Reed - We will put your suggestion on the record, this is a citywide excursion, something we have been doing for years. If the seniors really want to go they are here in the center. They will come to the front, pay their money and they will be the first ones to take up the forty slots. Should someone come from another City or program they are welcome to go on the trip. A senior is a senior no matter where they come from. This center is open to all seniors. Senior Center Patio: President Lorene Reed - We received a request several months ago from one of the seniors regarding the stopping of the planning of the fountain for the patio. We want to continue with the landscaping and enhancement of the patio. Secretary Julio Mendoza - We would like to have the fountain instead of the sculpture. Vice President Irene Garcia -1 want to know if there is a cap on the amount of money that can be used. President Lorene Reed - I believe it was $10,000 or less. What we need to do Member Margaret Araujo is if you have all that information you can bring it. What we are going to do is start charging for events to get more stuff for the center. Member Margaret Araujo -Are we getting a retractable cover for the patio? Autra C. Adams - W e are looking at umbrella type covers that are not permanent. President Lorene Reed - I need a committee to work on that. Any volunteers to start working on the patio fountain? I am going to ask Member Margaret Araujo, Mrs. Bradley and I. Public Orals: Mr. Gibbons -Who is in charge of the cafeteria meals? President Lorene Reed -Human Services Association. Mr. Gibbons - Ts that part oP the City of Lynwood? (Response by President Lorene Reed, No) Two or three weeks ago somehow I was invited to eat I noticed that some of the food was not really well done, not tasty and moldy. I would not eat any of that I call it junk food. Why not provide wholesome nutritional food for all the senior citizens? Better then junk food, cookies, cakes everything full of sugar. What do you think? 1 have some information here about that. All these things here are good nutritional fresh fruit, dairy, cheese, beans. Fat items and sweets should be used sparingly. Someone in charge of the kitchen should provide wholesome food. When I see junk food 1 say no way. President Lorene Reed - I think you're absolutely correct. We have been receiving complaints about the food. We are lucky today, because the food is provided for the seniors by the County of I,os Angeles. It's from the Area Agency on Aging and the President of the Area Agency on Aging just happens to be here Zelda Hutcherson. I am going to have her respond to the complaint. Zelda Hutcherson -The nutrition program is funded under contract through the County. The purpose of the program is to provide nutritious meals and to prevent social isolation. We have a nutrition committee that is part of the Advisory Council. They go around periodically and talk to seniors at various nutrition sites to find out if they are being treated well, the food is tasty and if they are enjoying their experience. We have had various responses. The members have a report that they fill out and bring back to the Nutrition Committee and Advisory Council. This is given to the senior staff person who is paid to run the nutrition program. The contract requires that a balanced meal be served at each location. If this is not happening then it's a violation of the contract that they have signed to provide services to the community. This particular issue has not come to our attention. To my knowledge the food is balanced in nutrition. Whatever the menu is, it is supposed to be a balanced meal. A recommendation was made that a suggestion box be provided at the site for seniors to put in their recommendations. Member Margaret Araujo - 1 eat here quite a bit and talk to the seniors. I eat at different tables. The seniors used to go to other cities for lunch, but now that we have the same food service program as other cities they come here. Vice President Lorene Reed -How qualified are the people that are on that committee visiting the senior center? Did they take a written test? How competent are they in regards to nutrition to judge accordingly? Zelda Hutcherson -The questionnaire is made up by paid and trained staff. The people that go to the sites are volunteers. They are just like you. No special training is required except to fill out the questionnaire as they go out. Paulette Bradley -The program is supposed to be for sixty and older. How are you supposed to know if they are a senior? Are they supposed to show an ID card every time they come? Zelda Hutcherson -When you first come in you're supposed to fill out an eligibility application. It's not only used for programs. It's used also to asses the need for a variety of other services that you may need such as housing, transportation, health services and legal services. President Lorene Reed - We need to make sure because we have a lot of new people. If they are under sixty years of age they should be paying $3.25. Even if they have leftovers they cannot give them away to the student workers unless they pay. Zelda Hutcherson -The coupons for the fresh fruit and vegetables now has a new requirement that il's really for the lowest income seniors. That means $18,000 dollars which is the cost to get the coupons. Member Margaret Araujo -Who gives the coupons? Zelda Hutcherson -The food service program Human Services Association Teresa Marti -They will be giving out the coupons tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. They f Il out the application for the food program and that's how they are able to receive the coupons. Mr. Gibbons -You're in the Los Angeles County correct? If you need help I would be glad to volunteer my services to advise. That's up to yo,u. Zelda Hutcherson -Yes, 1 am sure there is a need for volunteers. 1 will meet with you after the meeting. Teresa Marti - As the new people come in they're supposed to be filling out the forms. Vicky who was in charge of the food program is on maternity leave. 1 have to ask the new person to continue with the applications. Cecilia Amezquita -Human Services Association is in charge of the applications. President Lorene Reed - So it's not staff that completes the applications, it's the food provider? Teresa Marti - To correct Mrs. Hutcherson, lunch is actually $4.00 for non-seniors and $1.75 for seniors. Zelda Hutcherson - 1 am not familiar with the Lynwood contract. A lot of the stuff doesn't make sense. I am going by what 1 am being told 1 would like to see what is in writing. Jose Trejo - We can arrange a meeting for tomorrow and we can review it. President Lorene Reed - We will report this at the next meeting. We also need to have Darren from Human Services Association meet with us. Percy Brown - I would like to see extended hours for the Senior Center for everyone to be able to participate. President Lorene Reed - I spoke with the Interim Director on having extended hours. Jose Trejo - We should have something on that by August 13, 2007. Paulette Bradley - We used to have senior dances when we were at the old senior building. We are used to the old hours of the other facility. I observed that seniors went to the game room, saw children in the room and turned around and left. President Lorene Reed -The students that were in the computer room using the computers, those children are not grandchildren they are student workers. We have to post the time of the computer room. Jose Trejo -It is not feasible to have an instructor there at all times. Mr. Gibbons - In regards to the computers, do senior citizens use them? Jose Trejo - It is open to the public for personal use. Board Orals: Member D. Joyce Edner - We need to stick to the agenda. Member Marie Lindsey-No comment. Secretary Julio Mendoza - We need to stick to the agenda. Vice-President Irene Garcia - No comment. Member Margaret Araujo -Plaza Mexico is donating the food for the Newport Beach Trip. The concert was beautiful. 1 went to the Board of Supervisors meeting and Lynwood was on the Agenda. President Lorene Reed - I apologize for the length of the meeting. We had an opportunity to hear from the Area Agency on Aging. 1 feel it was a good meeting. Adjournment: Member Margaret Araujo made a motion to adjourn, by unanimous consent the meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m. Date: To: Subject: city o~ ~YNWOOD L~ City ~tAeeting ChaQPenges 11330 BULLIS ROAD LYNWOOD, CALIFORNIA 90262 (310) 603-0220 August 30, 2007 Senior Citizen Advisory Board Amendment to Senior Citizen Advisory Board By-Laws Article 16: Board Member and Citizen Input -First Reading As discussed at the August 6, 2007 By-Law Committee meeting. The Committee is proposing an amendment to Article 16. Article 16 reads as follows: '~II~' Article 16 Board Member and Citizen Input 1. All meetings of the Senior Citizen Advisory Board are to be open to the 2. Board Meetings are to be governed by Roberts Rules of Order. 3. Provisions will be made for both citizen as well as Board Member agenda items of either written or verbal input or both. public. input on The Committee is proposing to delete item number (2) of Article 16. Per Article 14 (Amendments) to the Senior Citizen Advisory Board By-Laws the following Amendment 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. The second reading of the proposed amendment shall require atwo-third vote of all Board members present at the meeting. The Advisory Board membership shall approve all amendments to the By-Laws. _, Date: To: Subject: city of ~YN~VOOD L~ Ctty uLteeting C6aQQenges 11330 BULLIS ROAD LYNWOOD, CALIFORNIA 90262 (310) 603-0220 August 30, 2007 Senior Citizen Advisory Board Amendment to Senior Citizen Advisory Board By-Laws Article 17: Conflict of Interest -First Reading As discussed at the August 6, 2007 By-Law Committee meeting. The Committee is proposing an amendment to Article 17. Article 17 currently reads as follows: , '~II~' Article 17 Conflict- f Int=rest Relationship with other organizations. 1. Holding office or membership in another organiz5tion 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 conduct a silent voting procedure during a regular scheduled meeting, which will determine a members continued membership on the Board. foelow nlg Amendment s being submstted as Art cleAdvisory Board By-Laws the Article 17 Conflict~r?st 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. The second reading of the proposed amendment shall require atwo-third vote of all Board members present at the meeting. The Advisory Board membership shall approve all amendments to the By-Laws.