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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOB 2 SR CTZ COUNCIL 10-06-80DATE: TO: FROH: SUBJECT: October l, 1980 OLD BUSINESS Inter-Corn Honorable MaYor and Citv Council ~~ I ' Royleen A. White, Directer of Community Servic SENIOR CITIZENS COORDINATING COUNCIL BACKGROUND: At the Council meeting of September 15, 1980, Ruby May requested Council set up a Senior Citizen Advisory Commission. Ruby May is a member of the Tustin Senior Citizens Club and is an alternate representative to the Orange County Senior Citizens Advisory Council. (In order to explain the function of the Advisory Council, and to show how it fits into overall Senior Citizen funding and service provision, a separate report is attached for your information.) Ms. May was agreeable to the concept of an advisory committee rather than a formal Commission, and staff was directed to report back regarding the advisability of such a committee. A telephone survey was conducted to ascertain the number of Orange County cities having an advisory Commission or committee Of the 24 cities (other than Tustin) offerin§ some type of service to senior adults, the breakdown is as follows: Senior Commission or Advisory Council Appointed by City Council Senior Concerns Handled by Park and Recreation Commission Senior Center Advisory Board Not Appointed by City Council Senior Citizens Club Acts as Advocacy Group/Liaison 9 Other Task Force, Council or Non-Profit Support Group Not Appointed by Council TOTAL 4 24* (*CitY of Villa Park provides no Senior Citizens services.) DISCUSSION: Staff feels that the Senior Citizens Recreation Leader, Isabelle McClements, provides an effective means of one-on-one communication for the community's senior population. Ms. McClements is available to assist these individuals with problems in every imaginable area, and she provides a "personal touch" which is not available in most agencies our size. However, in an organizational context, a senior citizens advisory group would provide the senior population SENIOR CITIZENS COORDINATING COUNCIL Page Two October l, 1980 with an advocacy vehicle which they presently do not have. Also, senior __~e~yices_i~Tus~in are.p~ovided~by several o~ganizations and~such a ~commit.tee . could serve to coordinate their efforts. Staff feels that a Senior Citizens Coordinating Council would best serve the - interests of thearea'sSenior population,.for the following reasons: 1. The Council's primary purpose would be to coordinate service provided to the community's seniors by the various organizations. These providers include the T.L.C. site, the Assistance League, the Senior Citizens Club, the Tustin Community Hospital, and the Tustin Community Services Department. Council members would consist of senior clients and agency staff. 2. As a secondary purpose, the Council could act as an advocacy group for unmet senior needs. The Community Services Department is formulating a senior citizens needs assessment survey which we plan to complete within the next six months. As a result of this survey, the Coordinating Council may wish to delve further into the one or two most important unmet needs. In this manner, the Coordinating Council will remain task oriented. Additionally, the presence of an advocacy group would assist the City in obtaining any grant funds that may become available. Members of this Coordinating Council could attend the important County Committee meetings which carry out most of the Senior Citizens Advisory Council's activities. Attendance and advocacy at these meetings are necessary to know what funding is available, and it is not humanly possible for City staff to attend all the meetings. 4. Since the Coordinating Council would represent all the various service providers, no one group could become powerful at the expense of others. In the event funding is not available for certain needs, it is a future possibility that this group could incorporate and become a fundraising vehicle for senior citizen projects. Non-profit corporations are an attractive fundraising vehicle, as donors receive certain tax advantages. This is just a future possibility, but one that should not be overlooked in the long run. The Coordinating Council's main purpose would be to coordinate the services provided to the area's senior population; however, the Coordinating Council could come before the City Council on an as-needed basis. The concept is to keep the group task-oriented and~' to avoid the pitfalls of an ongoing, nondirected group. Should Council be agreeable to this concept, staff will develop a detailed implementation plan for action at the next Council meeting. Staff foresees the process entailing a call for applications from the various groups, a screening by staff to assure representation from all affected groups, and final appointment by City Council. Representatives have been contacted, and all are supportive of this concept. Those who expressed positive reactions include Nick Ogden of the T.L.C. site, SENIOR CITIZENS COORDINATING COUNCIL Page Three October l, 1980 Ann Trumbo of the Assistance League, and Fay Clay and Ruby May of the Tustin Senior Citizens Club. At deadline, we were unable to reach representatives of Tu~tin CommUnity Hospital; howeVer'we anticip~te~their support~ ' '~ RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. To approve the concept of a Senior Citizens Coordinating Council. 2. To direct staff to develop a detailed implementation plan for Council review and approval at the meeting of October 20. RAW:ss Attachments: 1. Informational Report on Orange County Senior Citizens Council. 2. Informational Report on Violet Banks' Resignation. DATE: TO: FROH: SUBJECT: OctOber l, 1980 Honorable Mayor and City Council Royteen A. White, Director of Cormunity Services~.~. Attachment ~.~ Inter Corn INFORMATIONAL REPORT ON ORANGE COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL DEFINITIONS: Older Americans Act (OAA): This is the Federal legislation which funds the majority of senior citizens services in the United States, and mandates provisions for use of such funds. Area Agency on Aging (AAA): This agency is mandated by the Older Americans Act; each agency covers a geographic region in each state. The AAA is the agency which disburses Older Americans Act funds to local service providers. (Each AAA in California receives its funding allocation from the California Department of Aging.) Orange County Senior Citizens Program Office: This County Department is the designated AAA for Orange County. This office is responsible for planning for the effective use of Federal Older Americans Act funds. The program office undertakes studies regarding needs of the county's senior citizens, develops plans to meet these needs for consideration by the Board of Supervisors, and then administers contracts to allocate OAA funds to non-profit and governmental entities which provde the services needed by the senior citizens. A partial list of those services includes.hot meals, transportation, legal aide, in-home supportive services, counseling, and senior center operation. Annual Area Plan: The Area Agency on Aging is responsible to formulate a plan for services to the Senior population. This master plan must be approved by the California Department on Aging and is developed with a great deal of public input. The current plan covers the period July 1, 1980, through June 30, 1983, including the first year implementation plan. Orange County Senior Citizens Advisory Council: Mandated by the Older Americans Act to provide client input, the Senior Citizens Advisory Council consists of 18 members and 18 alternate members. The Council is advisory ~J to the Board of Supervisors on matters affecting the Senior population in Orange County. The Senior Citizens Program Office provides staff support to the Advisory Council. As mandated by the Older Americans Act, the functions of the Advisory Council are as follows: 1. Develop and administer the Area Plan; 2. Conduct public hearings; 3. Represent the interests of older persons; and 4. Review and comment on all community policies, programs and actions which affect older persons. INFORMATIONAL REPORT ON ORANGE COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL Page Two October l, 1980 DISCUSSION AND FINDING: At the September 15 Council meeting, Ruby May spoke of a desire for a Senior Citizens Advisory Commission or Committee. An alternate member of the Orange County Senior Citizens Advisory Council, Ms. May stated that this group has suggested that all twenty-six cities in Orange County select some sort of Senior Citizens Commission. Staff has discussed this with Mary Lanier of the Senior Citizens Program Office, and Ms. Lanier stated that the precise form of the advocacy group was not critical. She said that the need is for some form of advocacy for senior needs; it does not have to be a formal Commission. The Advisory Council realizes each community has different needs, and the form of public input which works best in a particular community should be the one utilized. However, Ms. Lanier stressed that some sort of advocacy group is desirable when a City is seeking grant funding. Public input is critical in these situations. RAW:ss DATE: September 29, 1980 Attachment 2 Inter- Com TO: FROM: Honorable Mayor and City Council Royleen A. White, Director of Community Services SUBJECT: RESIGNATION OF VIOLET BANKS FROM ORANGE COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL At the last Council meeting, staff was directed to investigate the possibility of Ruby May being appointed to fill the spot vacated by Violet Banks. The appropriate county staff member, Mary Lanier, was contacted and she offered the following information. Violet Banks resigned more than a year ago and her replacement has already been appointed. Appointments must be made in strict adherence to guidelines of the Older Americans Act, and are made by the Board of Supervisors, Orange County Division-League of California Cities, and various private non-profit agencies related to senior citizens. Ms. Lanier also stated that recent amendments to the Older Americans Act will necessitate some changes in the appointing procedure; these changes will come before the Board of Supervisors in November. She did not state what these changes will entail.. RECOMMENDATION Since Ruby May is now on the Advisory Council as an Alternate, and since no vacancies exist at present, staff recommends no action at this time. RAW:ss