College Park Seniors Committee

College Park Seniors Committee Virtual Meeting May 1, 2024 7:00 p.m. Final Minutes Seniors Committee Members: PRESENT ABSENT 1. Woei-Nan Bair X 2. Adele Ellis X 3. Carol Gray X 4. Mary Anne Hakes X 5. Kathy Baer X 6. Betty Colonomos X 7. Gail Lovelace X 8. Bonnie McClellan X 9. Darlene Nowlin X 10. Robert Thurston X Also present : Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth and Family Services; Joi Woods, Contract Secretary I. Call to Order Mary Anne Hakes called the business meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. II. Approval of Agenda for May 1, 2024 Gail Lovelace motioned to approve the agenda for May 1 , 2024 as amended . Adele Ellis seconded the motion. All were in favor, none opposed. The motion passed. III. Approval of April 3, 2024 Minutes Bonnie McClellan motioned to approve the April 3 , 2024 minutes as corrected . Adele Ellis seconded the motion. All were in favor, none opposed. The motion passed. IV. Discussion on Committee Vacancies Arelis Perez has resigned from the committee and the Age Friendly College Park Workgroup. The Committee will continue to invite her to events. The committee discussed prospective members. 1  V. Discussion on Mailing List Survey A. The committee discussed permitted use of the mailing list. It is not permissible to use the mailing list to go door to door to gather community feedback. The committee discussed alternate methods to gather community feedback. Bonnie McClellan moved that the committee pursue opportunities to gather feedback from the community about the senior residents ’ communication preference s, internet & computer use, and how they receive information . Gail seconded the motion. All were in favor, none opposed. The motion passed. VI. Committee meeting with YFSS staff Bonnie McClellan moved that the committee host a Staff Appreciation breakfast event at St. Andrews to engage with Senior Services S taff Members . Darlene Nowlin seconded the motion. All were in favor, none opposed. The motion passed. The committee will use the remaining budget funds to cover the costs of breakfast. The committee discussed possible catering from the Iron Rooster. Mrs. Barber will follow up to advise the committee about the amount of money remaining in the budget. VII. Upcoming City Events A. The committee discussed opportunities to administer survey questions and distribute give- a-ways including flyers and tote bags. Mrs. Hakes will follow up with the Communications Director about flyer reprints for events. 1. Parade a. The committee discussed logistics. Shirts will not arrive in time for the parade. 2. Senior Program Line Dance Event, May 17, 2024 3. Trolley Trail Day, June 8, 2024 a. Mrs. Hakes has been in talks with Eric Valentine to participate in VEO scooter demonstrations. 4. Friday Night Live Series – May-September 2024 May 10, June 7, July 12, Aug 9, Sept 6 5. Village Meetings Riverdale Park 6. May 22, 2024 Old Parish House Tai Chi, a. Pilot classes are scheduled to run for 4 weeks b. $35 for four classes or $10 drop in fee per class 7. College Park Day, October 5, 2024 VIII. Age Friendly College Park Update A. Ongoing efforts to secure a Program Lead continue 1. Options to secure a staff person or a contractor remain under consideration during city budget work sessions. The budget is scheduled to be finalized by the end of the month. B. Gail Lovelace is preparing a status report for the Mayor and City Council outlining the progress and goals of the Age Friendly College Park workgroup. 1. Mrs. Hakes noted that she has contacted Michael Williams, the City Director of Planning to explore options for senior discounts and free parking. 2  C. The next meeting will be held in July. IX. Neighbors Helping Neighbors College Park (NHN-CP) A. NHN-CP is currently recruiting board members. X. UMD Collaborations-Capstone Project Update A. Committee members noted positive feedback and progress on the part of students participating in an Intergenerational Relations course. Students are currently working to implement an auxiliary website to bridge gaps of information that is not the city’s website. B. UMD’s School of Architecture is conducting an online survey about Health service needs in College Park. The committee is partnering with the School of Architecture to share information and collaborate where possible in support of the Age Friendly College Park Health Services & Support domain. XI. Grants Discussion A. NIH IT grant-The Co-chairs will continue to monitor updates B. Maryland Umbrella Group (MUG) Grant The committee discussed encouraging the city to pursue the third distribution of the MUG grant. The city’s Grant Writer is continuing to monitor the grant’s income eligibility requirements to determine if it is ideal for the city to pursue. Bonnie McClellan motioned for the committee to express support for the city to pursue securing the third round of the MUG grant to secure Chrome Books. Gail Lovelace seconded the motion. All were in favor, none opposed. The motion passed. XII. City Website Discussion The committee discussed auxiliary list serves to disseminate information, resources, activities/events to a wide audience. XIII. City Survey Discussion A. The committee discussed stakeholder involvement in the development and implementation of the City Survey. The committee also discussed suggesting that the city solicit feedback from City Boards and Committees about survey questions. B. Committee members will make recommendations for the city to add an addendum to the survey to ask questions related to City Boards and Committees. C. The committee will assemble questions to propose to the City Communication Director for the city survey. Mary Anne Hakes will draft questions from Committee Members and forward the questions to Kaisha Barber for follow up with the City Communication Director. 3  D. The Committee discussed the survey results posted on the city’s website. The committee also discussed age specific questions that will help to refine results that are relevant to senior residents. XIV. Senior Advisory Committee contributions to City Publications A. Some committee members met with the College Park Arts Exchange. The committee discussed hosting an additional Art Show in the Spring of 2025 (March/April) at City Hall or St. Andrews. B. SAC continues to submit Did You Know articles for City publications. XV. Additional Discussion Articles Discussion- Washington Post April 16th – Local Advocacy in North College Park highlighting the current housing crisis. XVI. City Updates-Youth, Family and Seniors Services (YSF) A. YSF has a new Social Coordinator B. The Social Sports Survey is still pending, there are plans to make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council based on the results. C. Care Solace 1. Data collection is ongoing to coordinate services for residents. Kiaisha Barber noted success connecting residents ages18-60 with mental health services. There have been more than 900 instances of contact (including follow up contact) over two months. The average amount of time for residents to schedule appointments with Mental Health professionals is 10 days. 2. The committee discussed including mental health awareness information in city communication submissions including the Municipal Scene and The College Park Here and Now. E. Habitat for Humanity Retrofitting The committee discussed the amount of money from the city’s budget that has been allocated and spent from Habitat for Humanity for retrofitting. Mrs. Barber will forward the quarterly reports to the committee co-chairs for distribution to the committee. XVII. Meeting Schedule and Guest Speakers A. Future Meetings and FY 2025 Meeting Schedule 1. The committee discussed meeting dates for FY 2025 Bonnie McClellan motioned that the committee will hold meetings on September 4, 2024, October 2, 2024, November 6, 2024 December 4, 2024, February 5, 2025, March 5, 2025, April 2, 2025, May 7, 2025. Gail Lovelace seconded the motion. All were in favor, none opposed. The motion passed. B. Potential Guest Speakers The committee discussed potential guests including 1. City Public Services Director 4  2. Senior Events Planner, Age Friendly Liaison (Fall 2024) 3. UMD Community Engagement Vice President 4. A member of the city’s Planning Department 5. A member of the Do Good Institute XVIII. Adjournment Bonnie motioned to adjourn the meeting . Gail Lovelace seconded the motion. All were in favor, none opposed. The motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:53 p.m. 5