DATE:
February 25, 2025
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
Community Services
TITLE: Senior Advisory Committee
Reestablishing Resolution
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View Repealing Resolution No. 17420, and A ll Amendments Thereto, and Adopting a Resolution R eestablishing the Senior Advisory Committee, to be read in title only, further reading waived (Attachment 1 to the Council report).
BACKGROUND
At its December 10, 2024 meeting, the City Council considered staff’s recommendation to dissolve the Senior Advisory Committee (SAC or Committee) due to ongoing vacancies, lack of quorum for meetings, and challenges completing their work plan. Council spoke about the importance of the SAC as a voice for Mountain View’s seniors and directed staff to return with an amended resolution to:
• Reduce the SAC’s membership from seven to five members; • Establish a quarterly meeting schedule (instead of 10 meetings per year); and • Broaden the scope of the Committee to expand its focus beyond the Senior Center.
Council also directed staff to return with a n update in approximately nine months on the effectiveness of these changes and provide additional recommendations if needed.
At the December 17, 2024 City Council meeting, Council appointed Nirvana Nwokidu to the SAC, resulting in a total of three members on the Committee. At the same meeting, the City Council also adopted Resolution No. 18956, which amended Council Policy K -2, Boards, Commissions, and Committees, which clarified that nonresidents may only serve on certain committees, one of which is the SAC. The remaining vacancies on the SAC are being advertised again for further recruitment with applications to be considered by the Council Appointments Review Committee.
Senior Advisory Committee Reestablishing Resolution
February 25, 2025
ANALYSIS
The City Council’s direction to amend the SAC’s structure and broaden its scope is intended to revitalize the Committee while continuing to address senior issues across the community. The updated structure will reduce membership from seven to five members and establish quarterly meetings to occur in March, June, September, and December.
Membership
The SAC currently has three members. With a seven-member Committee, the SAC would not be able to meet as they would not have a quorum. Reducing the number of members to five would allow the Committee to have a quorum as long as the three current members are in attendance.
With a five-member Committee, two vacancies remain. The City Clerk’s Office is actively recruiting to fill these vacancies with postings published in the Mountain View Voice and on the City’s website. This was also posted on social media ( Chamber of Commerce, Facebook, and X) City Hall Connection, Community Center lobby tv, Center for the Performing Arts marquee, and bulletin boards (KMVT, City Clerk’s offic e, City Hall and Library). The ad was emailed to neighborhood associations, Mountain View Whisman School District, Mountain View Los Altos High School District, Mountain View Adult School, Community School of Music and Arts, Multicultural Engagement Program groups , and Council Neighborhood Committee interest list .
Copies of the ad were available outside the C ouncil Chambers, in the R otunda and at the Community Center. Furthermore, with Council’s amendment to Council Policy K-2, nonresidents may serve on the SAC, which expands the recruitment pool.
Community Services Department s taff will also implement strategies to recruit for the two vacancies. Recruitment efforts will focus on individuals passionate about senior issues, such as senior service providers, Senior Center visitors, and family members of Mountain View seniors, to ensure an invested membership. To reach such potential members, staff will post SAC vacancy notices at the Senior Center and send them to senior resource providers, such as Avenidas.
Additionally, staff will promote the recruitment through the Senior Center’s monthly newsletter, the Recreation Division’s monthly e-newsletter, Nextdoor, and digital advertisements on lobby televisions in the Senior Center, Community Center, and the new Rengstorff Park Aquatics Center.
Meeting Schedule and Attendance
Sustaining regular SAC member attendance has been difficult in the past several years. To address this, Council recommended transitioning to a quarterly meeting schedule from the current schedule of 10 meetings per year. Meeting quarterly reduces the time commitment for members, which may encourage better attendance and participation. It will also provide more time between meetings for members to prepare, engage in meaningful discussions, and provide well-developed recommendations or feedback on meeting topics.
Senior Advisory Committee Reestablishing Resolution
February 25, 2025
The first meeting is scheduled for March 5, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at the Mountain View Senior Center.
The 2:00 p.m. meeting time was selected after polling the current three SAC members, all of whom confirmed their availability. As new members are added to the Committee, staff will reconfirm their availability to attend a 2:00 p.m. meeting and may adjust the time based on the Committee member’s availability. This approach accommodates the current and future members and reduces potential scheduling conflicts. To further address attendance challenges, staff will implement several measures to inform and remind members of meetings.
Scope of Work and Work Plan
As noted above, Council directed staff to broaden the scope of the SAC beyond a primary focus on the Senior Center. The proposed resolution reestablishing the SAC more clearly emphasizes the Committee’s purpose to advise broadly on issues of interest to Mountain View seniors. Issues the Committee could discuss include the anticipated increase in the senior population (referred to as the “silver tsunami”), transportation and housing, food and nutrition, health services, and grief support along with other topics that may come up that impact seniors . This broad Committee focus will ensure that its efforts remain impactful and relevant.
At its first meeting, the SAC will be tasked with developing a work plan for Council to consider in fall 2025, aligning with the timing of the annual advisory body work plan adoption process. Staff will recommend that the Committee focus on meaningful objectives that directly benefit Mountain View’s senior population rather than continuing efforts such as the biannual State of Mountain View Seniors Report. The focus of this first year with a reestablished scope may also include strategies for filling vacancies and topics the Committee would like to review and advise on over the upcoming months.
Staff will continue to support the SAC by facilitating meaningful discussions, encouraging achievable objectives, and clearly defining expectations for members.
FISCAL IMPACT
The SAC currently operates with an annual budget of $2,000, which is used to support events or activities, as appropriate, in the Council- adopted SAC work plan . No additional funding is required.
NEXT STEPS
The Committee will hold its first meeting on March 5, 2025. Approximately nine months after this meeting, staff will evaluate the changes to membership, meeting frequency, and scope as well as the outcome of increased recruitment efforts to determine the effectiveness of this new Senior Advisory Committee Reestablishing Resolution
February 25, 2025
format. Depending on that assessment, staff may recommend continuing the current direction, making additional modifications, or dissolving the Committee.
LEVINE ACT
California Government Code Section 84308 (also known as the Levine Act) prohibits city officials from participating in any proceeding involving a “license, permit, or other entitlement for use” if the official has received a campaign contribution exceeding $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant within the last 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to- play-limits-and-prohibitions.html.
Please see below for information about whether the recommended action for this agenda item is subject to or exempt from the Levine Act.
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
☒ General policy and legislative actions
ALTERNATIVES
1. Decline to adopt the resolution and keep the SAC at seven members, meeting monthly, and continue to focus the Committee’s scope on the Senior Center.
2. Direct staff to return with a resolution dissolving the Senior Advisory Committee and to use community meetings, a task force, or other methods to discuss, gather input and initiate actions to address senior-related issues.
3. Provide other direction.
Senior Advisory Committee Reestablishing Resolution
February 25, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICING
In addition to the standard agenda posting, staff sent notifications through the Senior Center email distribution list and posted notifications at the Senior Center.
Prepared by:
Michele Petersen
Recreation Supervisor
Colin James
Recreation Manager
Kristine Crosby
Assistant Community Services Director
Approved by:
Audrey Seymour Ramberg
Assistant City Manager
MP-CJ-KC/4/CAM
207-02-25-25CR
204865
Attachment: 1. Resolution