Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 18 - Senior Citizens Commission Parks, Recreation, and Community Services www.santa-ana.org/parks Item # 18 City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 Staff Report March 7, 2023 TOPIC: Senior Citizens Commission AGENDA TITLE: Senior Citizens Commission Informational Report RECOMMENDED ACTION: Accept informational report and provide direction to staff. DISCUSSION: Background At the January 17, 2023 City Council meeting, Mayor Amezcua added the following councilmember requested item: Discuss and Consider Directing the City Manager to Direct Staff to Prepare an Ordinance Establishing a Senior Citizen Commission. There was consensus among the City Council to proceed with this item. Accordingly, staff has prepared this report outlining preliminary research of different commission structures, alternatives to a commission, and a draft ordinance establishing a Senior Citizen Commission. Senior Citizen Commission Like all other boards and commissions, a Senior Citizen Commission is an advisory body that advises the City Council, particularly relating to matters concerning aging and older adults or senior citizens (the terms “older adults”, “seniors”, and “senior citizens” refer to individuals who are 55 years of age and older, and are used interchangeably in this report). Generally, a Senior Citizen Commission advises the City Council on the following matters: •To act in an advisory capacity to the City Council relating to service delivery pertaining to older adults. •To make recommendations to the City Council relating to services provided by the City to older adults. •To make recommendations to the City Council relating to policies and plans relating to older adults. Senior Citizens Commission March 7, 2023 Page 2 3 2 9 0 •To facilitate coordination between the City of Santa Ana and external government agencies that provide services to older adults •To carry out such studies as may be assigned to it by the City Council. •To report to the Mayor and City Council its findings from time to time. Similar to how all other City boards and commissions are established, a Senior Citizen Commission would include seven members, each nominated by a member of the City Council and appointed by a majority vote of the City Council. With the exception of the citywide commissioner seat nominated by the Mayor who would serve a two-year term, each commissioner would serve a term of four years. The Senior Citizen Commission would meet regularly, establish bylaws concerning their scope of work, and report to the City Council from time to time. For discussion only, attached is a draft ordinance establishing a Senior Citizen Commission (Exhibit 1). Staff researched surrounding municipalities with existing or prior Senior Citizen Commissions and found that most Senior Citizen Commissions were disbanded due to time commitment requirements and lack of participation from the community. Alternatives to Establishing a Senior Citizen Commission Below are alternatives to establishing a stand-alone Senior Citizen Commission. Add Two Seats to the Parks and Recreation Commission to Represent Older Adults Add two more seats to our current Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission to make a Commission of nine members, whereby the two new members are older adults. Under this model, the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem would each select an additional person to fill the two seats. These two commissioners would provide insight into the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Agency’s service delivery for older adults. Direct Staff to Establish a Senior Committee At the direction of the City Council, staff may establish a Senior Committee — a group of individuals appointed to engage in a short-term study or to advise staff on matters relating to older adults. Direct Staff to Establish a Senior Task Force The City Council may direct staff to form a Task Force to accomplish one or more specific objectives. A Task Force would meet as often as necessary, and would operate in a purely functional capacity. Establish a City Council Standing Subcommittee to Discuss Matters Relating to Older Adults The City Council may establish a standing subcommittee to discuss matters relating to Senior Citizens Commission March 7, 2023 Page 3 3 2 9 0 older adults. Standing subcommittees are subject to provisions of the Brown Act. City Council Ad-Hoc Committee to Discuss Matters Relating to Older Adults As an alternative to a standing subcommittee, the Mayor may establish an ad hoc committee ad hoc committee to discuss matters relating to older adults. The ad hoc committee would generally serve only a limited or single purpose, would not be perpetual, and would dissolve when its specific task is completed. Recommendation At this time, staff recommends adding two more seats to the existing Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission to make a Commission of nine members to include older adults who would serve on the Commission provide insight into the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Agency’s service delivery for older adults. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. EXHIBIT(S) 1. Draft ordinance for discussion only Submitted By: Hawk Scott, Executive Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services Approved By: Kristine Ridge, City Manager DIVISION X. - SENIOR CITIZENS COMMISSION Sec. X-XXX. – Establishment and purpose. There is hereby established a Senior Citizens Commission (hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”). The purpose of the commission shall be to advise the City Council on matters relating to service delivery pertaining to older adults. Sec. X-XXX. – Senior Citizens Commission membership and term. The Commission shall be composed of seven (7) members who shall be residents of the city. The provisions of section 2-326 of this Code shall govern the appointment, removal, vacancies, and term of members of the commission. Sec. X-XXX. – Qualifications of commissioners. Each member of the commission shall be at least 55 years of age. Sec. X-XXX. - Meetings. The commission shall meet at dates and times set forth in the bylaws of the commission. The bylaws shall be approved by the City Council. Sec. X-XXX. – Organization The Senior Citizens Commission shall elect from its members a chairperson and vice chairperson, each of whom shall serve in such position for the term of one (1) year. No member shall serve in the position of chairperson for more than one (1) term. Sec. X-XXX. - Responsibilities and duties of commission. The Senior Citizens Commission shall have the following responsibilities and duties: a. To act in an advisory capacity to the City Council relating to service delivery pertaining to older adults. b. To make recommendations to the City Council relating to services provided by the City to older adults. c. To make recommendations to the City Council relating to policies and plans relating to older adults. d. To facilitate coordination between the City of Santa Ana and external government agencies that provide services to older adults e. To carry out such studies as may be assigned to it by the City Council. f. To report to the Mayor and City Council its findings from time to time.