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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-02-04 Council on Aging SummaryCOUNCIL ON AGING February 4, 1999 lO:OOam Call Meeting to Order Agenda Approval Minutes from Prior Meeting Old Business: 1. Change in Residency Requirements/Vintage Pointe New Business: 1. Handicap Vehicle 2. FEMA Grant 3. Election of Officers 4. Automatic Front Doors Person Wanting to be Heard: COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING FEBRUARY 4, 1999 KENAI ~ENIOR CENTER 10:00 A.M. CHAIRMAN SAM HUDDLESTON, PRESIDING ITEM 1' CALL TO ORDER lis ROLL CALL Chair Huddleston called the meeting to order at approximately 10'06 a.m. taken as follows: Roll was Present: Absent: Hollier, Weise, Huddleston, Nelson, Meeks, Arness and Billings. Enfield Also Present: City Clerk Freas, Councilwoman Swarner, Senior Director Kellie Kelso, Earl Jones, Eleanor Young and Sylvia Johnson. ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL Member Hollier requested Borough Funding for. Senior Centers be added as an Old Business discussion item. There were no objections stated. Huddleston accepted the agenda as amended. ITEM 3' APPROVAL OF MINUTES 'MOTION: Member Nelson MOVED to approve the minutes as presented and Member Hollier SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. ITEM 4: OLD BUSINESS Discussion -- Borough Funding for Senior Centers Member Hollier noted the minutes of the prior meeting referred to discussions former Director Porter had with Borough Mayor Navarre in regard to continued funding from the Borough. Kelso explained, the issue Porter had been speaking to was a request from the Forget-Me-Not Center who wanted to receive funding from the Borough. She noted, the Forget-Me-Not Center had not requested funding before and initially were requesting funds from the same funds set aside for the senior centers on the Peninsula. A committee of Senior Center directors met with the Mayor and explained their concern that including other groups in the same group as the senior centers COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING FEBRUARY 4, 1999 PAGE 1 would diminish the funds allocated to the centers. The Committee suggested the Borough consider funding to other organizations, but keep those allocations separate from those set aside for the senior centers. Kelso continued, the original ordinance spoke to "senior programs" which the Committee felt was unclear and opened the funds to anyone serving seniors. The wording was changed to keep the funds separate and it was passed. She warned, there was no guarantee that in the future they would all be vying for the same funds. Discussion -- Residency Requirements/Vintage Pointe A general discussion took place in which Meeks and Hollier stated their concerns that the lowering of the residency requirement from one year to six months would hinder long-time residents of the area from being able to move into the housing. It was explained, the Council on Aging had discussed the matter several months ago and recommended the residency requirement be changed from one year to one month. The reason for the residency requirement change was because there were apartments sitting empty and it was hoped lowering the residency requirement would help fill up the apartments. Swarner explained, the council felt a one-month residency was too short and changed it to a six-month requirement. Swarner and Kelso explained how the rent from the apartments was kept separate from the city's General Fund and how those rents were used for improvements, repairs and maintenance of the housing complex. Kelso also explained how dining room rentals funds were also kept separately, but included in the Senior Center budget. It was also explained that no changes were made to how the waiting lists worked (active and inactive). Also, Kelso explained those applying for housing had to be 62 or older, have been a resident for six months and can live independently. There was a short discussion where those attending stated their keen desire to have carports built for the Vintage Pointe tenants. ITEM 5' NEW BUSINESS Discussion-- Handicap Vehicle Kelso reported efforts were being made to purchase a handicap vehicle for the Center's use. She noted, a request for bids was advertised. Those responding bid the vehicle approximately $10,000 over what had been budgeted for the cost. At this time, the specifications for the vehicle were being rewritten to downsize the vehicle. A new bid will be requested shortly. COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING FEBRUARY 4, 1999 PAGE 2 b. Discussion -- FEMA Grant Kelso explained, in the past, the Center received large grants from FEMA. However, the FEMA organization now believes there are lots of duplications of services in the area for seniors and have informed her this year they would be forwarding only $750 and next year, they would not be funding senior centers at all. c. Discussion-- Election of Officers Kelso reported, the City Council had discussions during several council meetings in regard to including student representatives to the city's boards, commissions and committees. Swarner explained, one of the commissions had a non-voting student representative and another commission had a voting student representative. The City Council decided to alloTM the boards, commissions and committees to have voting student representatives. However, if there are no students interested in being placed on a board, commission or committee, consideration would be given to other appointments. Swarner requested anyone knowing a student who would be interested in serving on the Council on Aging to contact the City Clerk to fill out an application. MOTION: Member Meeks MOVED to elect Peggy Arness as Chair of the Council on Aging. Member Nelson SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. MOTION: Member Hollier MOVED to close the nominations. There were no objections. ORDERED. SO MOTION: Member Huddleston MOVED to elect Joanna Hollier as the Vice-Chair. Member Billings SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. Arness and Hollier were elected as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Council on Aging. d. Discussion -- Automatic Front Doors Kelso reported there were funds available to place automatic doors on the Senior Center in connection with making the Center ADA compliant. A general discussion followed in which some concerns were stated, i.e. cold blasts of air coming into the Center when the doors stay open, doors getting stuck, moose triggering the automatic doors at the housing complex, the possibility of putting a heat curtain up in the foray to counteract the blasts of cold air, etc. COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING FEBRUARY 4, 1999 PAGE 3 It was suggested the group discuss this matter further after learning what kind of doors were being suggested. ITEM 6' PERSONS WANTING TO BE HEARD Councilwoman Swarner-- Swarner reported the Council had selected Bill Frazer to fill the vacancy on the Council from the resignation of Hal Smalley. She noted, Frazer has lived in the community since 1983 and works at Walters & Associates. Swarner also reported she would continue to be the Council on Aging's liaison and would continue attending their meetings. S. warner noted there was a vacancy on the Council on Aging and if there were people interested in being appointed, they should submit an application to the City Clerk. Swarner stated she would forward the Council on Aging's comments to the city council regarding building carports for housing tenants. She suggested the seniors consider inviting council members to lunch to discuss their concerns. Swarner also suggested the Council on Aging may want to make a formal presentation to council in regard to their request as well. Kelso suggested their request may be premature as there are maintenance concerns for the housing facility that may take precedence. Swarner reported the city departments were developing their budgets for the new fiscal year. She added, she requested council give some consideration to adding more employees to the summer Parks crews for working in the flower gardens and parks. ITEM 7: ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at approximately 10'53 a.m. Minutes transcribed and prepared by: Carol L. Freas, City Clerk COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING FEBRUARY 4, 1999 PAGE 4