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HomeMy Public PortalAboutA 2007-06-06 SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD~". ¢. CITY OF LYNWOOD SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD GENERAL MEETING LYNWOOD SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 11329 ERNESTINE AVENUE LYNWOOD, CA 90262 ii r~ P ~2ECEIVE[ CITY OF LYNWOOD CITYCLF~~<c nr.FirF M~IY 3 Z 2007 AM 71813110111;121112131415 6 AGENDA Wednesday, June 6, 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 05/02/07 Senior Building Fund Report 12:40 p.m. New Business Alma C. Vega - iCaminamos! UCLA Geriatrics Study Committee Report -Bylaws Appointment of Officers Discussion of Pageant/Fashion Show 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, July 11, 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. i Senior Citizen Advisory Board Meeting Minutes May 2, 2007 The meeting was called to order at 12:30 p.m. by President Loreno Reed. The agenda was duly posted as prescribed by the Brown Act. Pledge of Allegiance: Member Irene Garcia Invocation: Member D, Joyce Edner Roll Call: Cecilia Amezquita -Minutes Clerk Present: Margaret Araujo Cecelia Dove D. Joyce Edner Irene Garcia Alfred Kilts Marie Lindsey Willie McGill Julio Mendoza Lorene Reed Lien Stringfield Absent: Melziner H. Pierce Corrections: Member D. Joyce Edner -There was no response in public orals to Josephine in regazds to her water bill. Member Margazet Araujo - I did mention a$er talking with her that I did contact the Mayor. The mayor was going to take Gaze of it. I told her to meet me at the City Managers office and it was taken care of. Member D. Joyce Edner -For clarification on page 5 there is a response for member Aranjo "I misunderstand _ o~u" what did she misunderstand? President Lorene Reed -That was about the pageant and I thought that it took place after we adjourned the meeting. We started to discuss the pageant. It was not on the agenda, Member Araujo wanted to give a committee iepoit and my response was what committee'? I did not know that a committee had been formed. We want to show that she wanted to give a pageant committee report and I questioned the committee in its entirety. Cecilia Amezquita - I listened to the recording but I did not hear anything regarding that matter, but I will listen to the recording again. Vice-President Irene Gazcia Motioned, 2'"~ Member D. Joyce Edner, by unanimous consent minutes stand as Corrected. Senior Building Fund Report: President Lorene Reed -The current balance of the Senior Building Fund is $2,038.56. This shows a list of what was purchased: 5 plasma TV's, 5 mounts, 2 sewing machines, ballerina bar and mirrors, lockers for the senior exercise class, bingo machine. Dces it come with all the equipment that it's supposed to have? It's going to be delivered later this week and its going to go in the main room. Now that's going to be the big one right? Cecilia Amezquita - No, it is going to be a small console. h's a nice machine Member Margaret Araujo - We bought two sewing machines for $389.70, when we could have bought four for less than that. If they had gone and bought them when we had given the suggestion we wouldn't have spent so much money. I called and I had six brand new lockers sitting in my yard ready to be picked up and delivered here to the center. They were never picked up so they were given to someone else. Member Cecilia Dove -Who did you call to have them picked up and why were they not picked up? Ls that because of staff or what? Kenneth Khan -What you do is call staff and we try to come the same day. I never heard about the locker issue. I do not know exactly who you spoke to in terms of the locker issue. About the sewing machines, they were on clearance that time we talked, at Wal-Mart. The city process to get everything funded and get a check is not as simple as it sounds. We have to get finance approval, City Manager's signature and so forth but on the other hand we want to have commercial strength machines. The sewing machines we have now are good quality and we aze going to buy two more. At this point if there is anyone that wants to donate, give me a call directly and we will go from there. President Lorene Reed -All future donations go directly through Kenneth Khan. Crive him a call, let him arrange the pick-up and he can delegate it, but we need to speak directly to Mr. Khan. Member Atanjo -- I did tell Mr. Khan directly that I had lockers and he told me I will come by and look at them. My husband moved them from the backyazd into the front. I said if you like them just take them. I put them right where he can get them and I did mention that to him. I know I am not crazy or cynical or have dementia. When the lockers were gone I asked my husband what happened to the lockers because I thought they had come by to pick them up. He said no, they never came so [got rid of them. Kenneth Khan -You know I have a million things going on everyday. I think we talked about it yesterday Margaret, we had somebody ready to come by and pick up your donations. We will come and get your donations as soon as possible. As far as the lockers, I don't know what kind of lockers they were but we need kind of built in lockers. It's a very small azea that we aze going to have for you guys. I will take responsibility for the lockers. I don't recall the conversation but I apologize on our behalf. ff there is anything else you want to donate just let us know. President Lorene Reed - I know Mr. Mendoza is donating a piano, have we arranged a pick up ott that? Kenneth Khan -Yes, we are actually having public works contact him on that this week President Lorene Reed - Mr. Kilts has books so we will need to contact Mr. Kilts. Member Alfred Kilts - I also have a set of two or three crutches that might be a good idea to have. President Lorene Reed -Now believe it or not two or three sets of crutches. The other day Mrs. Bradley we finally get to use the wheelchair. Believe it or not you know we may need those things and it's good to have them on hand. So now we know to call Mr. Khan directly. Your number is (310) 603-0220 ext. 225. Mr. Khan, so this is the announcement to the public of what happened to the money in the building fund. So please everyone there was no misappropriation we are looking at it. Member Cecelia Dove - I know you said there was a difference but in looking at the form that was sent to us from the bank statement as of March 23`d it was $27,666.62 and the form that we just gat, the beginning balance was $24,141.17. You mean they went in and got something before we got the balance? President Lorene Reed -This came from finance. Cecilia Amezquita -The bank statement we received from finance. The total that you have is done through the purchasing department and that is what has been spent up to now and the remaining balance. President Lorene Reed -Let me make a comment to get it corrected because we should have $5,563.91. We also had a few donations from the grand opening that we aze working on currently We had a couple of letters that were faxed out yesterday. Let me ask staffto check with finance. Kenneth Khan - We will reseazch that and get back to you in the neat Senior Advisory Board Meeting. President Lorene Reed - So that way our balance will go up. I talked to the City Manager yesterday about hard money charges. The charges aze some type of service fees and he is reseazching to find exactly what they are for. The City Manager said it could have been because we didn't maintain a certain amount, within the next year we are going to try to change the type of account that we have. Senior Empowerment Luncheon: President Lorene Reed -Last yeaz we had the Senior Empowerment Luncheon. We invited Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, Area Agency on Aging and we want to do that again this month. Short notice, but it can be done because we have the people in place. Phyllis Cooper-Lyons is out ill and she was going to give us a report._The Senior Empowerment Luncheon involves Hector De La Tone's Office, State Assembly Member and Congresswoman Linda Sanchez. The Area Agency on Aging which is County and they get together with members ofthe City to put together information for the seniors on knowledge is empowerment so they can share all this information. We don't have a date yet on when it will be held because this is also Older Americans Month. We have a lot that we are going to be working on for the month of May. Thankfully we have staffto work on it for us. Questions & Answers: Member D. Joyce Edner -What date aze we looking at? President Lorene Reed - h will be toward the end of the month. Last year it was around the ha-enty something of the month and now it primarily depends on when marketing can put it together. Hopefully we won't have to cancel it. Senior Pageant Discussion: President Lorene Reed - We really need to talk about the Senior Pageant because somehow there was a misunderstanding. I asked member Araujo to meet with staff to determine weather or not a committee would be needed. I wanted to know if the last pageant had any problems. I don't feel that an individual should do it. So what I asked member Araujo to do was to meet with staffto find out what role they wanted us to play as board members since we sponsored the event. The pageant is a fundraiser and funds that we raise will go into the building fund. The fiords aze used for every senior on this committee; it's not used for this board. It's just something that this board established. Member Lien Stringfield -This yeaz I would like to have a fashion show just like we had a couple of yeazs ago. The pageant is too many problems. h would be more fun to have a fashion show with no problems. Member Willie McGill -That wouldn't be raising any money though. President Lorene Reed - We could chazge. h was free the last time but we are getting away from free. We aze going to start chazging and making money. We have to help maintain this building and we can do that by chazging for various things. Vice-President Irene Garcia - Irr regazds to a fashion show being materialized. Arn men as well as women going to be a part of it? Fresident Lorene Reed -Yes, everyone. Member Cecilia Dove - I have a question about the Fashion Show. We need the money to maintain the building, how would that work? I thought the building was taken caze of regarding the purchasing and a11. What else do we need? Where would the money be going? President Lorene Reed - We have a long list of things that we need: clocks, outside tables, furnishings, plants. There is so much that the City is not going to buy for us. Member Alfred Kilts - Is the building arranged for a library? I have books that I would like to donate that are first addition. We can arrange to have the books brought over here. President Lorene Reed - The_pageant has been bad news since 2004. So are we all in agreement that we want to do a Fashion Show or try something easier or simpler and something where we can raise money? Member Julio Mendoza - Is the Fashion show much easier? President Lorene Reed -It's much easier because you have a casual part and an evening part. You don't have to have sponsors, there is a lot involved in the pageant verses playing music and showing some clothing. We can get a store to let us have clothing on loan. Some ofthese seniors have nice clothing they can model. So what we will do on the next agenda, we will start to plan our Fashion Show. Member Lien Stringfield - I make a motion to approve the Fashion Show. Motion died for lack of second motion. Member Julio Mendoza -Has anyone done this before? Member Mazgazet Araujo - I would like to make a motion that a committee is set-up and given the opportunity to do the pageant because what is in the past is In the past. I would like to suggest that other people be given an opportunity with it. President Lorene Reed -Margaret Araujo motioned to set-up a committee for a pageant, can I get a second on the motion? Member Cecilia Dove - I think two things aze running at the same time. President Lorene Reed -The Fashion Show died because we couldn't get a second. Now I am trying to get a second on the pageant. Member Cecelia Dove - I didn't know the fashion show had died. I would have seconded it and made a motion. Member Julio Mendoza -What is the difference between a fashion show and a pageant? Member Lien Stringfield - A fashion show is easier and a pageant is very difficult. You have to get people to sponsor you. A couple of ycazs ago I had to go around to businesses to ask people to sponsor me. I also had to sell tickets for the pageant. I believe it's more difficult. President Lorene Reed -The one thing that we need to understand is whether or not we do the fashion show or the pageant. Staff will be doing all the work. It's up to the board to make a decision. The best way to do this is to vote by a show of hands. Member Julio Mendoza - I still don't understand how do you start a fashion show? Who participates? Who aze the models with the clothes? President Lorene Reed -What ever senior wants to participate. Member Julio Mendoza - It doesn't cost anything to put on a fashion show. President Lorene Reed - No, you could put on your own clothes or we can get a store to let us use the clothes on consignment. Member.Mazgazet Araujo -Madam Chair I withdraw my motion. President Lorene Reed -Your motion died. You didn't get a second. Perhaps what we need to do is put it on the agenda for the next meeting. We will all have an opportunity to think about what we would like to see. We will think about it and wme with ideas at next month's meeting. Member Alfred Kilts - My idea is that a pageant is much more complicated then a Fashion Show. I think the Fashion Show would be the easiest to handle. President Lorene Recd - It would be easier, enjoyable and it would be more inclusive. We would be able to include more people but we have to have a consensus against board members. We will hold off and have it agendized. Bylaw Amendment Discussion: President Lorene Reed -Our Bylaws are in desperate need of amendment. We still have our Council members receiving letters from former members about the Bylaws and our violation of the Brown Act. We need to also put that on the agenda. We need to address the removal of the two members that were recently voted off the boazd, Council recently received a letter stating that we were in violation of the Brown Act. When we signed the totters we were not all in the same place. We all have to be in the same room at the time of signing. We need to put it on next month's agenda and we will have a draft letter and we will address it then. Vice-President Irene Garcia -Would you agree to make an amendment in regards that anyone member or members who have been removed in the past shall not have the opportunity to return. Member Cecelia Dove -The comment that Mrs. Garcia made is almost like a rule. That is a powerful statement that they won't be able to return again. You might want to consider a lead way. President Lorene Reed - I need to get this on the agenda for next month. Right now we need to review and amend all of our Bylaws. What we need to do is have a Bylaws committee. Member Julio Mendoza -Reading Article 15 in regazds to general rules of safety and conduct. Vice-President Irene Garcia - All that was carried out was with much tolerance before this came too. President Lorene Reed -The Bylaws were followed to a tee on that article. The letter was sent as a courtesy and the letter had everyone's signature that I could contact. A couple of people were out of town or away. Sometimes people aze so persistent you have to actin order to stop them. We still have letters being sent to City Council. We still have comments being made at every Council meeting regazding the Senior Advisory Board. The Senior Advisory Boazd follows the $ylaws. We still have picketers, picketing the board members. I as President of the Senior Advisory have been turned in to the District Attorney for violating the Brown Act. I have been investigated for misappropriation of funds. The funds that I do not have access to but all ofthis is a direct attack for being removed from this Boazd, when the Bylaws were followed. At this point I would like to ask for volunteers to be on the committee to review and amend the Bylaws and then bring the matter back to the body for approval. Do I have any volunteers? Bylaws Committee -Members Cecelia Dove, Lien Stringfield, Irene Garcia & Julio Mendoza President Lorene Reed - I am going to ask you to get together, choose a chairperson and review the Bylaws Article by Article. When you have a finished drab you will bring it back to the body. It takes three readings for us to approve amendments to the Bylaws. We are looking at a process that will take some time. Member Alfred Kilts -When we met with the City Manager a couple of yeazs ago if there was a mistake at that time the City Manager or someone should have caught it. President Lorene Reed -There aze some parts as far as the voting that needs to be tweaked it is different Articles that need to be clarified. if the committee goes through Article by Article they will have them at a point we can really work with them. Public Orals: Bob Nelson - I am a Line Dance Instructor and I have been here previously. We are starting a class next Tuesday May 8"' from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. so please tell all your friends to join us. Paulette Bradley -Good afternoon, I hope you have a copy of the letter I have written. This letter is addressed to Waterworks for the Senior Center patio. I realized some of you aze new members and are not aware of a very arduous schedule that we kept of many meetings to decide on a water works for our center. I am proposing today that we go back to that point. Where we had a design artist come out and look at our court yard. We went through several brochures and it was a rock gazden or rock fountain that we decided because of our building being modern. I still have the brochures. I can bring them back to the current board to review them and see where we were at the time and reinitiate the project. We have had communication problems. We lost a very fine pool table. Now it was in San Diego that would have been one day for a couple of staff to go in a truck and get it. I j ust sold it in January because I couldn't get anyone to pick it up. I have other items and I still don't have a date for pickup. I don't know what the problem is, it seems like we have to go through too many people to get things approved. Mazy - 1n regard to dre Senior Empowerment Luncheon how are the seniors going to get the information. Will we get it in the mail? Presidem Lorene Reed - We will do a press release, pass out flyers and put it in the Senior News letter. Kenneth Khan -This is the first meding held in the New Senior Center. I just warned to give you guys a hand for working hazd in getting this together. h's a beautiful building and I know we have some challenges but we aze going to get through this as long as we stick together. President Lorene Reed - We will strive to improve on everything. Everyone's input is important to the boazd. Paulette we aze going to get that fountain definitely. What I need you ladies to do is, think of anyone that will give us a donation. I am going to Home Depot to see about getting a donation of tables, umbrellas and benches for the patio. If you can think of anyone that will make a donation we have a letter. They aze also working on getting a patio cover. Board Orals: Member Lien Stringfield - I just want to say we need clocks. Member D. Joyce Edner - It's a pleasure to be here in this new building. I was at the grand opening ceremony and it was well attended. Walking through the building I did see a lot of concerns. I am not a negative person. I sec a lot yet to be desired. In the dining room there needs to be a decal or something on those windows. I walked into one. You mentioned about the covering over the patio that is something that has to be addressed. I am not too fond of this purple color. I don't know why it couldn't have been a softer color. The conference room is fine but I believe there needs to be a bit more privacy in there. The high chairs in the billiards room, that's not a segregated room it's male and female. I heazd someone say I liked it or we liked it. T think it should be a friendly environment for everyone. If we don't keep up with the carpet in the dining room it will look horrible. We have not had installation for the new officers. We should be done with that because it's part of the procedures. 1 do believe that we progressed in making the corrections and that this building will be friendly for all the seniors and all the needs that we had on the wish list. We were supposed to have a stage or raiser in there for performances. Member Margaret Araujo - I have a cousin who has cerebral palsy she is actually what they call a handicap disabled advocate. She works for a program that does workshops to show people where they can get services. The organization where she works is a program of introduction to peer counseling Wednesday, May 9`h from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m, at Centro Maravilla Auditorium. She brought me these fliers last night. I am going to ask madam chair if we can get a van to take the seniors to this very informative meeting. Some of our senior center committee members didn't get to cut the ribbon. I spoke with Laura about it. She said she would do another ribbon-cutting ceremony. These flowers you see here were made by a senior with the ribbon that was used for the ceremony. Fiesta Taxi is trying to get a contract with the City of South Gate. I would like to know if anyone would like to speak at the Council meeting because people that are handicapped do not want Fiesta Taxi in their City. Member Willie McGill - I want to say I am glad to be here in the building. As far as the carpet on the floor, it's safer for the older people instead of the slippery floor. I have another concern about the bus stop, some of them don't have benches. It's not fun standing up waiting for the bus to arrive. Sometimes it doesn't come by for an hour. Vice-President Irene Garcia - In regard to the taxi I have had several experiences. A lady driver that picked me up at Kaiser in Bellflower was lost. I had to call the number twice. When she picked me up she got on the 105 FWY on tamp she never put her signal on, she just cut in and almost hit another car. When we arrived at my house she said you owe me four dollars. I spoke with the supervisor and she said I hope you didn't give her any money. Member Julio Mendoza - I want to know how many staffmembers we have working the senior center. My belief is that some of the seniors can volunteer their services. I don't believe any senior should get paid if they're not an employee here. They should be volunteers. Member Marie Lindsey - I would like to commend the opening of the center. I have a comment for staff. I was here with the golden voices and we were in the billiards room and it was freezing we asked Ilu to turn down the air. We eventually moved to the library because it was warmer. Please have them check the air-conditioning. Member Alfred Kilts - A few months ago at one of our meetings somebody asked me what my ambition was and I said to see the Senior Center Snished and I did. Member Cecelia Dove - I am really glad to be here today. I am happy that we are all united and agreeing on things and making progress. I would like to make a formal apology for not attending the grand opening. I am glad everyone had a happy time and God bless you all. President Lorene Reed - ht the next meeting I would like to have a list of programs and services presented to the board from staff. We already know that we want the letter regarding the previous members, so that we can all sign it or decide we have to do it all in one place in order to satisfy that complaint. The grand opening was fantastic In the next meeting 1 will be appointing a secretary and a treasurer, I will cont<1ct these people prior to appointment. We want to do a press release to solicit volunteers for our senior center. I would_like to have a meeting set-up with_a representative from each senior organization. If possible staff can get a representative from the Red Hat Society, Bingo Club, Golden Voices and any club that we have to meet. We want to form a coalition in order to take care of this senior center. The last thing I want to review the trolley route so it can stop right in front of the senior center. Cecilia reminded me that our meeting in July is on the 4's do we want to meet that day or do we want to meet the following Wednesday or the day before or after. We will meet the following Wednesday. Also on this handout we show that Thursday and Friday hours of operation aze 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. That is not going to work we want every day to go to at least 5 o'clock. The seniors want to have their movie day. The other thing Mr. Mendoza said we are going to have plenty of senior volunteers. Just call us. We will man the place. You don't have to pay anybody. We evill be here. Member Alfred Kilts - I would like to thank madam President for this little donation. Adjournment: Member Alfred Kilts made a motion to adjourn, by unanimous consent the meeting was adjourned at 1:45 p.m.