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Mayor Mary Salas
Chula Vista City Hall
276 Fourth Avenue
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Good Day Mayor Salas:
I am hoping you will take the time to read this additional input on the proposed consolidation of the Healthy Chula Vista Advisory Commission and the Chula Vista Commission on Aging.
A. THE CREATING AN AGE - FRIENDLY CITY REPORT
This report was adopted by the Chula Vista City Council on July 10, 2018. This comprehensive report provided the following commission definitions ( page9).
Healthy Chula Vista Advisory Commission ( HCVAC): The HCVAC was formed in April 2016 as an implementation measure of the Healthy Chula Vista Action Plan ( HCVAP). The commission consists of nine members: five experts in the focus area of the HCVAP and four residents that represent each of the City Council Districts. Working with Healthy Chula Vista Initiative staff from the Development Services Department, the commission oversees implementation of over 60 strategies within the HCVAPthat address public health issues and overall well- being of residents through policy and programs to improve the City' s physical and social environments, promote awareness and access to services, and build community partnerships.
Commission On Aging ( COA): The COAwas formed to advise city staff and Council on matters affecting older residents of the city. The commission consists of seven members who are representative of the total racial, religious, ethnic and social spectrum of senior citizens. Members take steps to develop a mutual understanding and respect between seniors and the balance of the community, review existing programs and recommend modifications, and provide a forum where older citizens may voice their concern and suggestions. The COA works with the Community ServicesDepartment Recreation staff to develop programming for older adults throughout the city and t the Norman Park Senior Center.
In January, 2018, both commissions voted to serve as the " Age -Friendly Joint Task Force" as a way of keeping the Age -Friendly initiative on track.
OBSERVATIONS
1. Both commissionswere formed to pursue independent goals and purposesand deemed necessary by the City Council.
2. The commissions were tasked to serve as the " Age -Friendly Joint Task Force" as a way of keeping the Age -Friendly initiative on track. There was no decision to consolidate these commissions as their independent responsibilities were important enough to act as independent commissions.
3. The " Goals and Objectives" ( Appendix 1) assign specific, independent, non - overlapping responsibilities for both commissions to manage.
4. The responsibilities of the HCVAChave further expanded to manage city wide projects ( such as Harborside Park and community health programs) further stretching the commission resources.
QUESTIONS
1. There was City Council consensus in 2018 that both independent commissions were necessary.
What has changed now that additional emphasis is being placed on senior programs and issues?
2. There is concern that adding the additional responsibilities of the COAwill result in diverting attention from the recognition and development of programs and activities for seniors and achievement of the COA goals and objectives.
Mayor Mary Sa|as
Chula Vista City Hall
27GFourth Avenue
Chula Vlsta, C4 91910
B CONSOLIDATION PROPOSAL DATA SOURCE
The consolidation proposal used data ( see attachment 1) from ten cities of similar population size. The data identified the population and the corresponding number of commissions for each city. | tdid not identify the types ofcommissions within each city.
Ofthe ten cities compared:
One city ( San Bernardino) listed their senior services under their Commission. This is amine( 9) member commission, ..... charged with advising the Mayor, City Council and City staff on community needsfor the purpose ofestablishing City priorities, goals and objectives with respect to parks, recreation and community services, youth services, and senior services.
Seven cities listed some form of "' Senior" or "' Aging" council or commission: ; Anaheim ( Senior Citizens Commission), Stockton ( SanJoaquin County Commissionon Aging), Riverside Commission on Aging), Irvine ( Senior Citizens Council), Fremont ( Senior Citizens Commission), Moreno VaUey(SeniorCitizens Advisory Board) and Oxnard ( Senior Services Commission) all have either
m Two cities ( Santa Ana and Bakersfield) did not identify a senior related commission.
OBSERVATIONS
Even with fewer commissions 80% of the cities used to support the commission consolidation proposal maintain some form of " Senior" or " Aging" council or commission.
QUESTIONS
If the data city sources understand the importance of the need for some form of "' Senior" or " Aging" council or commission why is Chula Vista downplaying the recognition of this important population niche?
C. WHY NOT TO CONSOLIDATE THE HCVAC AND THE COA
TheCommissiononAgingwasformedto pursueindependentgoalsandpurposesaffectingolder residents of the city and repeatedly deemed necessaryby the City Council.
The Commission on Aging serves as an integral partner on the " Age' Friend| yJoint Task Force" as a way of keeping the Age -Friendly initiative on track.
The Commission On Aging has developed an aggressive set of goals and objectives designed to complement the responsibilities assigned in the AGE - FRIENDLY CITY report " Goals and Objectives" Appendix l).
The responsibilities of the HCVAC have further expanded to manage city wide projects ( such as Harborside Park and community health programs) further stretch/ ng the commission resources.
O. NET RESULT
If the HCVAC and the COA DO NOT KONS00DATEthe net result will still be a reduction of six commissions.
Mayor Mary Salas
Chula Vista City Hall
276 Fourth Avenue
Chula Vista, CA 91910
E RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Reconfirm the appointment of both the HCVAC and AOC to serve as the " Age -Friendly Joint Task Force" andassignbothspecifictasksasawayof keepingtheAge -Friendlyinitiativeontrack.
2. Implement the responsibilities assigned in the AGE -FRIENDLYCITYreport " Goals and Objectives" Appendix 1).
3. Onceestablishedreconfirmthe understandingof the responsibilitiesandauthoritiesof the Staff Liaisons and Commissioners.
4. Increasethe COAmeetingfrequencyto monthly meetingsto achievethe statedgoalsand objectives.
5. Allocatean operatingbudget for the COAbasedon projectedprogramsandactivities.
Thankyoufor takingthetimeto readthisinformationandvotingto NOTAPPROVEtheproposed consolidationoftheHealthyChulaVistaAdvisoryCommissionandtheCommissionOnAging.
Sincerely,
Tim Aufmuth
By Comparison
Agency Population
FTE Commissions
Positions Boards
Bakersfield 407615 11960 10
Anaheim 345, 940 21040 15
Stockton 322, 120 11769 lg
Riverside 317, 262 21626 19
Santa Ana 3091441 1, 342 lO
Irvine 309, 031 891 21
Chula Vista 2771220 1, 226 24
Fremont 227, 514 995 15
San Bernardino 2221203 756 14
Moreno Valley 211, 600 352 11
Oxnard 201, 879 2/ 439 10
Fontana 210, 761 GOS 2
Senior Citizen Commission
SanJoaquinCountyCommissiononAging
Commissionon Aging
Senior Citizen Council
CommissiononAging
Senior Citizens Commission
Commission
This is a nine ( 9) member commission, established by
Resolution No. 2Ol8~ 47 charged with advising the
Mayor, CityCouncilandCitystaff oncommunityneeds
for the purposeofestablishingCitypriorities, goals and
objectives with respect toparks, recreation and
community services, youth services, and senior
services; and evaluating community agencies and
organizations receiving City funds for the purpose of
providing recreation services, youth and senior services.
Senior Citizens' Advisory Board