Senior Commission

7725 W. North Avenue Wauwatosa, WI Wauwatosa, WI 53213 Senior Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, September 18, 2023 4:00 PM Wauwatosa Health Department Conference Room and Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89993052063, Meeting ID: 899 9305 2063 Regular Meeting CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Dain Maddox called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM. ROLL CALL Present 5 Commissioner, Chair Dain Maddox Commissioner Kathy Causier Commissioner Dianne Dagelen Commissioner Michael Meier Commissioner Michael Savic Excused 2 Commissioner Kristen Hecht Commissioner Elise Riepenhoff Present Laura Laurishke, Police Admin Support Specialist Carmen Pangilinan, Public Health Strategist Excused Ernie Franzen Kosta Zervas Julia Murphy APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve July 17, 2023, Meeting Minutes 23-691 MOVER: Mike Savic SECONDER: Mike Meier SENIOR SERVICES, PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITY UPDATES 1. Eras Neighborhood Outreach 23-674 Vanessa shared Eras’ 2022 annual report is available and she emailed it to all of the Senior Commission members. Some of the high-level statistics were reported: 1909 clients served overall . 76% live alone, Page 1 of 4 Senior Commission Meeting Minutes September 18, 2023 independently, 47% over age 85. Program Manager Sophia Franklin resigned. They have an interim program manager right now. Volunteer Director Gabby Huff also resigned. Heather Uwozulu left in May. They have a new Development Director named Mel who has nonprofit experience . They would like to engage Milwaukee County partners more. Looking for drivers, phone callers. Looking for students to do in person assessments (internship opportunities), Fall Yard clean up in full swing - let her know if we know people who need their yard cleaned. They are partnering with Forward Scholars, a program to help K-3rd students to get back up to reading level. Looking for volunteers for this new opportunity. Holiday giving has kicked off. Sending out 400 packages to clients on fixed incomes in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. Collecting gift cards and forever stamps. Volunteer appreciation event on Friday at Whitnall Park Beer Garden. 2. Hart Park Senior Center/Wauwatosa Senior Club 23-676 No report. Dain shared an update about the meal program. It is still operating as a drive up program because the meal coordinator, Evelyn, had to retire. Milwaukee Christian Center put in an interim meal coordinator and decided to keep the program drive up until a permanent replacement is hired . 3. Senior Commission 2022 Report to Wauwatosa Community Affairs 23-677 Committee Dain shared copies of the report. Dain, Kathy and Carmen presented it to Community Affairs on 9/13. The report was well received. The report asked them to support us, rebuild our volunteer force, efforts to bolster the block watch program, continued funding for the home rehab program . Discussion ensued about concern regarding housing cost burden for older adults in Tosa . Mike noted this is an issue for the younger folks as well - may have allies in school board or with those who serve younger people . Action Item (Vote) - Allocate $3000 Senior Commission funds 2. $400. Two(2) year membership to United Way Volunteer Roster 23-679 $200/yr Carmen shared that by paying for access to the United Way volunteer portal, it will allow us to connect with individuals and groups who have indicated they would like to perform volunteer work . This is a strategy to increase our volunteer pool in Wauwatosa, which has shrunk considerably . 3. $1,600. Senior Commission promotional material/supplies/printing. 23-680 Includes purchase of tablecloth with logo for outreach events, and continued printing of the Wauwatosa Senior Resource Guide. 4. $1,000. Sponsor WAAN 2024 Advocacy Day 23-681 This will match the sponsorship the Commission provided in 2023 . Motion to approve the $3000 allocation made by Dianne Dagelen, seconded by Mike Meier. Motion approved unanimously. Discussion ensued about other potential funding opportunities including Project Lifesaver through the Police Department and the Lock Box Program through the Fire Department. Members were encouraged to come with proposals for spending at the October meeting. We will have another action item on the October agenda. Carmen shared that Jim Archambo, City Manager, shared that the Commission funding will change in the future and may not be a given allocation each year. The group should work to plan out spending and create proposals for potential spending. WAUWATOSA HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORTS 1. Wauwatosa CHIP/AARP-Age Friendly Community Update 23-682 Carmen shared some updates. Tosa Tech Time - partner with DSHA, MUHS, maybe Pius, trying to connect with public schools to provide volunteer help with technology for older adults . Will be held in the Library. Home Delivered Meal recipient project with Goodwill - in progress. 2. Public Health and Wellness Updates 23-684 Page 2 of 4 Senior Commission Meeting Minutes September 18, 2023 Held the Senior Health and Wellness Fair on 9/13. Next year will have to move to a new location due to upcoming construction on HPSC. Thank you to Mike Savic for staffing the table with Kristen. Discussion about difficulty finding this event on the City events webpage. Carmen did ask Communications to highlight it, but some members still had trouble finding it. Kathy will talk to Eva in Communications about potential for use of a changeable message board outside of City Hall to advertise events . Flu Clinics coming up October 12 and November 9 Children & Adult Flu Clinic Dates (All Ages): · Thursday, October 12, and Thursday, November 9 , 2023 · 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. · City Hall - Civic Center Auditorium. · We will not have FluMist available at the vaccination clinics. Seniors (65 Years and older): · High-dose formulation is a quadrivalent vaccine. · There is a $60 fee for the high-dose flu vaccine. · Medicare covers the cost of this vaccine, in some cases. · Seniors must bring their Medicare card to the clinic. For any claims rejected by Medicare, the individual will receive a bill from the Health Department for the vaccine 3. Wauwatosa Housing Update 23-685 The group discussed the Housing data contained in the 2022 Annual Report, as well as the initiatives being taken by the Joint Housing Coalition. There was discussion about the fact that the proposed 900 units at Mayfair Mall will all be at market rate, no affordable housing options proposed . 4. Recreation/Wellness Updates 23-686 No report. 5. Common Council Update 23-687 No report. 6. Police Department Update 23-688 Laura shared that WPD will be taking over the Froedtert campus in October . Previously this was the responsibility of Milwaukee County. They have been hiring and training a lot of new officers. NEW BUSINESS 1. Advocacy Updates 23-678 Carmen shared that the Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network (WAAN) is currently working on creating issue papers around a large number of issues facing older adults, including housing . Once these are completed they can be shared. ANNOUNCEMENTS - EVENTS - FUTURE AGENDA TOPICS 1. Stepping On Workshop Hart Park Senior Center, Sept 9 - Oct 18, 2023 23-689 Workshop in progress. Will offer again in Spring. TOSA TOMORROW - City Comprehensive Plan 23-690 <https://wauwatosa-wi-comprehensive-plan-hlplanning.hub.arcgis.com Page 3 of 4 Senior Commission Meeting Minutes September 18, 2023 > Coming to end of data collection period. Tammy Szudy shared email about upcoming input opportunity. Kathy went to executive review of the budget with Library. They are still doing curbside pickup. May be helpful for seniors. Encouraged all to stay in touch with their alders. NEXT MEETING DATE: Monday, October 16, 2023, 4:00 PM ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 PM. Page 4 of 4