TO:City Council
FROM:Council on Aging
DATE:June 20, 2023
SUBJECT: Council on Aging Annual Report
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Receive Council on Aging (COA) Annual Report.
2.Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. Staff time and costs for coordination and preparation of the COA Annual Report are included in the Adopted FY 2022-23 General Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
The COA was established in 1974. It consists of nine members who are 60 years of age or older. On September 14, 2021, City Council approved Resolution No. 2021-046, rescinding Resolution No. 2010-081, establishing the following functions and duties of the COA:
•Review and provide input on any matters referred by the City Manager or their designee regarding a City departmental action, project, service, or development concerning matters which may directly affect older adults. •Provide outreach assistance to older adults for City projects or services as assigned by City Manager or their designee.
•Serve as liaisons to non-profit organizations or agencies that serve older adults as assigned by City Manager or their designee.
•Implement additional projects as assigned by City Manager or their designee.
•Submit an annual report to City Council on Commission activities and any other periodic reports as assigned or deemed appropriate.
Council on Aging Annual Report
June 20, 2023
6 9
6 DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
In FY 2022-23, COA Commissioners accomplished the following functions and duties:
1. Review and provide input on any matters referred to the COA During the FY 2022-23 term, the COA Commissioners engaged with knowledgeable speakers from City departments and the community to establish relationships and provide input on referred projects and programs as they affect older adults. Meetings included:
Month Topic Presenter
September
2022
Brown Act Overview Noel Doran, Assistant City Attorney, City of Thousand Oaks
September
2022
City Communications Alexandra South, Strategic
Communications and Public Affairs
Director, City of Thousand Oaks
October
2022
Ventura County Area
Agency on Aging
Monique Nowlin, Deputy Director,
Ventura County Area Agency on Aging
November
2022
Economic Development
and City Priorities
Haider Alawami, Economic
Development Manager, City of
Thousand Oaks
December
2022
Addressing
Homelessness in the
City of Thousand Oaks
Ingrid Hardy, Assistant City Manager,
City of Thousand Oaks
January
2023
Many Mansions Rick Schroeder, President, Many
Mansions
February
2023
City Budget Process Brent Sakaida, Budget Officer, and
Ryan Roman, Sr. Financial Analyst,
City of Thousand Oaks
March
2023
Wildfire Preparedness
Opportunities for
Residents
Pepper Dee, Director of Programs,
Ventura Fire Safe Council
April 2023 Get that job! VCAAA
Workforce Committee
Presentation
Stephanie Belding, City of Thousand
Oaks representative to VCAAA
May 2023 Housing Element and
Inclusionary Housing
Overview
Iain Holt, Senior Planner, City of
Thousand Oaks
June 2023 Upcoming Changes for
City of Thousand Oaks
Water Customers
Tara Tosatto, Revenue Operations
Manager, City of Thousand Oaks
Council on Aging Annual Report
June 20, 2023
6 9
6 2. Provide outreach assistance to older adults for City projects or services The COA Commissioners provided outreach assistance to older adults for City projects and services, as well as attended various functions to present COA information by doing the following:
•COA meetings were held at the Goebel Adult Community Center this year to increase the attendance and participation of older adults. •COA Communications Committee worked to increase awareness of the COA in the community. Accomplishments of this committee included revamped flyers, updated monthly meeting notices, including the advertisements placed in the Goebel Gazette, increased social media presence, and the creation of a promotional video to share across social media.
•COA Mobile Home Outreach Committee worked to connect residents living in mobile home parks to available resources, including connection to food assistance, rent and utility assistance, low-cost internet, and other services. •COA Commissioner Guide Committee worked to compile a binder to serve as a commissioner handbook. The binder includes the corresponding resolution, meeting schedule, commissioner handbook, and other necessary information. The guide will be provided during the first meeting of the 2023-24 fiscal year.
•COA Commissioners served on the Conejo Senior Volunteer Program (CSVP) Wellness Fest Committee and the Volunteer Appreciation Committee.
•COA, along with various City departments, had booths at the 2023 Wellness Fest at the Goebel Adult Community Center. All proceeds from that event support CSVP programs.
3. Liaisons to Organizations
In FY 2022-23, COA Commissioners served as liaisons to an array of organizations that serve older adults in the community. Each month commissioners deepen relationships across the community, as well as provide updates and information regarding these organizations at the COA meetings. A summary of the following liaison positions is provided in Attachment #1:
•Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA) – Resident Council on Aging Annual Report
June 20, 2023
6 9
6 Representatives appointed by City Council, Stephanie Belding and Loretta Allen
•Goebel Center Commission (GSCC) – Commissioner Mary Jane Taintor •Community Conscience – Vice Chair Karen Sylvester
•California Senior Legislature (CSL) – Commissioner Tony Gitt •Senior Concerns – Commissioner Tony Gitt
•Conejo Senior Volunteer Program (CSVP) – Commissioner Henry Chan •Many Mansions – Commissioner Henry Chan
•Ventura County Continuum of Care (CoC) – Commissioner Rossanna Guerra and Commissioner Bertha Miranda
4. Implement additional projects
The COA implemented the following additional projects:
•Proclaimed the Month of May as Older Americans Month.
oSpecial posts on social media to promote the work of the COA and representation to older adults.
•Sponsored three events in support of the One City One Book program. oWorkshop held on Thursday, March 23, 2023: Martha Shapiro presented “The Process of Life Review as We Age. How
Reminiscence Can Be Used to Re-tell Our Own Story.”
oCommunity Book Discussion held on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in partnership with the Friends of the Library.
oWorkshop held on Thursday, March 30, 2023: Karen Gorback and Monique Nowlin presented “Get that Job! Job Search Strategies for Older Adults and People with Disabilities.”
In the 2023-24 program year, the COA will continue to proactively seek potential projects and activities that support the duties of the COA.
Council on Aging Annual Report
June 20, 2023
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6 COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
B. Provide municipal government leadership which is open and responsive to residents, and is characterized by ethical behavior, stability, promoting public trust, transparency, confidence in the future, and cooperative interaction among civic leaders, residents, business representatives, and staff, while recognizing and respecting legitimate differences of opinion on critical issues facing the City.
G. Continue City's commitment to community and cultural programs and services (such as Performing Arts/Theatres, Libraries, TOTV, Visual Arts, Youth and Senior Programs).
PREPARED BY: Patricia Lownes, COA Chair
Sarah Mailes, Community Services Analyst
Attachments:
Attachment #1 –2022-23 COA Liaison and Committee Summary Report CMO:115-01\wl\H:\COMMON\City Council\Council Items\2023 Staff Reports\062023\062023 Council on Aging Annual Report.docx