Item No. 1
Town of Atherton
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT – ACTION ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
GEORGE RODERICKS, CITY MANAGER
FROM: ANTHONY SUBER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER/ CITY CLERK
DATE: JANUARY 10, 2024
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION OF THE CENTER FOR AGE-FRIENDLY
EXCELLENCE FOCUS GROUP AND TASK FORCE
RECCOMENDATIONS AND CONSIDERATION OF AARP
APPLICATION PROCESS.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Council review and discuss the Center for Age-Friendly Excellence Standing Committee and Task Force recommendations and provide direction regarding the AARP application process.
BACKGROUND | ANALYSIS
The City Council received a staff report on November 15, 2023, included as Attachment 1. The Standing Committee Members and Task Force Members requested an additional meeting to continue to discuss the focus group results, recommendations to the Council for projects or initiatives, and recommendations to the Council regarding the application to AARP/WHO.
On January 5 the Standing Committee held a meeting to continue the discussion. The Task Force and Standing Committee compiled the following list of recommended projects and/or initiatives for Council consideration:
• Develop a non-Brown Act senior committee that is resident-led, and Town affiliated. This committee would be responsible for providing guidance and volunteer support for senior programs and initiatives. They would prepare an annual report to be presented to the City Council
• Develop an annual senior resource fair to be hosted at Town Center • Consider a senior / adult focused recreation area to be incorporated at Holbrook-Palmer Park near or around the existing playground
• Enhanced communication activities and efforts to engage senior residents. This may include increased information distributed through local media outlets, increased in-person Center for Age-Friendly Excellence
JANUARY 10, 2024
events for senior activities and programs, and the inclusion of a re-occurring senior-focused section in the Athertonian.
• Resource and information center related to senior needs to be displayed at the Atherton library
• Enhanced emergency services activities geared toward senior residents. This may include developing a list of senior residents who are homebound or in need of wellness checks during emergencies. Continue to promote resident use of alert services from the Town and San Mateo County alert systems. Include information on Town channels to promote options for power resources and cooling centers during emergencies/outages • Develop a webpage exclusively for senior specific information and resources o Examples of information to be included: Transportation resources for seniors, San Mateo County Resources - Help At Home (Click Here)
The Standing Committee and Task Force discussed the advantages and disadvantages of moving forward with an AARP/WHO application. Both the Standing Committee and Task Force expressed immense gratitude to the Center for Age-Friendly (CAFE) team including Deputy Director Cynthia Nakayama for their support and guidance throughout the process. The Task Force recommended the Council not apply for certification to become an age-friendly city by completing an AARP application. The Task Force recommended that the City Council draft a letter of support endorsing the efforts and work product produced by CAFE to be presented to San Mateo County Board of Directors and County Manager’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact as a result of this report, however if the City Council opts to move forward with specific projects/initiatives and/or AARP/WHO application there may be costs related to contracting with an outside consultant to develop the Action Plan and costs to implement programs or initiatives.
GOAL ALIGNMENT
This Report and its contents are in alignment with the following Council Policy Goals:
• Goal Area E – Strengthen Community Engagement and Transparency • Goal Area F – Be Forward-Thinking, Well-Managed, and Well-Planned
POLICY FOCUS
As part of normal operations, the Town’s programs and services are naturally inclusive of a diverse community. However, given that the Town does not have the staffing to conduct social service programs on its own, the Town relies on outside agencies and partner organizations for specific programs and services that are directed at specific segments of the community. The Council’s policy focus should be on providing direction to staff for specific programs/initiatives that the Town should undertake directly, indirectly, and/or whether or not the Town should complete the AARP/WHO application to be recognized as an age-friendly community.
Center for Age-Friendly Excellence
JANUARY 10, 2024
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notification was achieved by posting the agenda, with this agenda item being listed, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting in print and electronically. Information about the project is also disseminated via the Town’s electronic News Flash and Atherton Online. There are approximately 1,200 subscribers to the Town’s electronic News Flash publications. Subscribers include residents as well as stakeholders –to include, but be not limited to, media outlets, school districts, Menlo Park Fire Protection District, service provides (water, power, and sewer), and regional elected officials.
COMMISSION/COMMITTEE FEEDBACK/REFERRAL
Center for Age-Friendly Excellence Standing Committee
ATTACHMENTS
1. November 15, 2023 City Council Staff Report – Center for Age-Friendly Excellence
2. April 19, 2023 Center for Age-Friendly Excellence PPT