2016/09/15 Senior Citizens Advisory Commission MinutesSENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, September 15, 2016
The Senior Citizens Advisory Commission of the City of Rohnert Park met this date at Rohnert Park
Senior Center, 6800 Hunter Drive, Suite A, Rohnert Park, for a regular meeting to commence at
1:00pm.
Call to order
Chair Sampson called the meeting to order at 1:00pm, the notice for which being legally noted on
September 9, 2016.
1. Roll Call:
Present: Elaine Sampson, Chair
Loreen Abbott, Commissioner
Cheryl Burton, Commissioner
Nancy Garvey, Commissioner
Absent: Marion Ackerman, Commissioner (excused absence)
Staff Present: Nelle Herman, Acting Community Services Manager
John McArthur, Director of Public Works and Community Services
Hannah Deeter, Community Service Program Coordinator
2. Pledge of Allegiance:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chair Sampson.
3. Acknowledgment of Meeting Agenda Posting:
4. Approval of Minutes:
With no objection or comments from the Commissioners, Chair Sampson approved the minutes
from the July 28, 2016 special meeting of the Senior Citizens Advisory Commission.
5. Age Friendly Sonoma County
CEO of the Council on Aging, Marrianne McBride, presented on the Age Friendly Sonoma
County Initiative based of of the World Health Organizations "Age Friendly Cities". The
Council on Aging has been meeting with the Mayor, City Manager & Assitant City Manger of
each city explaining the importance and benefits of this initiative.
6. Activities Report
a. Community Services Coordinator — Deeter reported on the new SRJC course offered at
the Senior Center, Qigong, and noted it has been vary well attended. Also new to the Senior
Center, a representative from the Department of Veterans Affairs will regularly visit the
Senior Center to provide counceling/guidance for Veterans on various topics. Hopefully
beginning in October, Kim Grindell, of the Council on Aging will be providing a senior
support group that will meet at the Senior Center on a regular basis.
The Senior Center will be part of various events as the holidays arrive including partnering
with the Sweet Pea Gift Shop for a Mixer in October, partnership with the Council on
Aging to provide Halloween, Thanksgiving and Holiday Luncheons, and planning and
preparation for the annual Veterans Day Event at the Community Center.
Deeter also reported that the Fun After 50 Club will be hosting their Holiday Craft Fair at
the Senior Center on November 19`n
Dining Site Manager suggested potentially starting a cooking class in the Senior Center
kitchen.
b. Dining Site —The Council on Aging Dining Site Manager reported that the Rohnert Park
site makes and average of 30 meals per day. Meals on Wheels has been very efficient and
and for the month of July the Rohnert Park dining site achieved a full month with no waste.
7. Parks and Recreation Commission Liaison Report:
Mayor Belforte reported the new park project in University District as well as the Southeast
Pacific Plan.
8. City Council Liaison Report:
a. New Housing Development/Business Update
Mayor Belforte reported that the University Districts first family will be moving in
their home on October 3`d and the project is progressing well. THe Southeast Pacific
Plan has also been approved for new housing development which will include
affordable housing. There is also be a new Chick-fil-A in Rohnert Park. The
property on State Farm continues to be watched to ensure proper maintenance.
b. Smart Train Update
The train conductors will continue to sound the train horns during testing as a safety
precaution. Crews are doing their best to fix the railroad crossing guards (?). Mayor
Belforte also noted that residents are still stopping on the railroad tracks when they
should be stopping behind the double white line.
9. Community Services Manager & Director Report:
a. Founders Day, Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair, Pumpkin Splash
Acting Community Services Manager, Herman, provided a recap of the summer
activities and introduced the upcoming fall & winter events. The Founders Day Parade
and Festival is free and will be on Saturday, October 1St. The parade starts at 10:00am
and starts at Lawrence Jones Middle School and finishes at Rancho Cotate High
School. The festival is from 11:OOam-5:OOpm and will be held at the Community
Center campus.
Herman reported that the Pumpkin Splash event will be on Saturday, October 15th from
1:00-4:OOpm at H Pool. Register ahead of time for $10.00/person.
The 37th Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair will be help on November 25th & 26th from
10:00am-4:OOpm. Vendor spaces are still available. They currently have 60 vendors
and the space allows for 85.
The Callinan Sports Center will be celebrating it's 30th Anniversary in December. An
event to commemorate this occasion will be announced soon.
b. Community Services staff update
Director McArthur announced that the Community Services Manager, Mitch Austin,
resigned earlier this month. Herman is the Acting Community Service Manager. The
department will be conducting interviews in the next few weeks and are hoping to fill
the position by mid October.
c. Project updates
McArthur reported on the confirmation of paving contract forEnterprise Drive and
Seed Farm but said there is still no start date as of now. The front parking lot of the
Senior Center will also be repaved and will potentially do conducted in the evening or
on a weekend as to not conflict with the Senior Center regular hours of operation.
McArthur also reported that the counter and dishwasher in the Senior Center kitchen
will be replaced.
The department is awaiting approval from the City Council to re -roof the Community
Center before the rainy season begins.
The restrooms at Benica Park have been reopened and the Magnolia Park restrooms
should be reopened soon as well.
10. Communications
No communications.
11. Public Comment
The Dining Site Manager noted that the gutters an the corner of the dining room overflowed last winter
to the point where residents could not walk on the sidewalk without getting extremely wet. Director
McArthur stated that he would have it looked at.
12. Matters to/from Commissioners:
Commissioner Abbott asked if the drop off box at City Hall could be moved to a more accessible
location so payments could be droped off from a car instead of having to get out and walk up to the
box.
Chair Sampson requested to have the activity room doors of the Senior Center converted to an
automatic door in order to accommodate those with wheeled chairs, walkers, or canes. Sampson also
asked about the plans for re -roofing the Senior Center. Director McArthur reported that the design is
90% completed but construction will not begin until spring 2017, once the rainy season is over.
Commissioner Burton asked if the City would consider converting the Senior Center into a two story
building to accommodate more people. Director McArthur stated that would involve demolishing the
existing building and rebuilding which would be too costly.
Commissioner Abbott asked for an update on the Rotary Peace Garden Project. Director McArthur
reported that Rotary is prepared to begin once the Senior Center roof replacement is completed.
Adjournment- There being no further business, Chair Sampson adjourned the regular meeting of the
Senior Citizens Advisory Commission at 1:59 p.m. A6��
Elaine Sampson, Chair Hannah Deeter, Recording Secretary