SAC MIN 1999-06-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Senior Affairs Commission Page 2 Minutes of Thursday, June 10, 1999 Commissioner L.Walsh reviewed what the Commission has done regarding health care issues and stated that he will present this issue to the California Senior Legislature. He reported that Congresswoman Eshoo had suggested that the Commission contact two House committees (Ways & Means and Commerce) where HR358 Patients Bill of Rights has been stalled since January. Commissioner L.Walsh suggested that representatives of AARP come to our next Commission meeting to discuss health care issues. He also suggested that the Commission report back to the City Council on its progress and ask how the Commission could be more effective. Commissioner M.Walsh suggested going before the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors to get their support. She agreed to have a preliminary discussion with Supervisor Griffin on this matter. ITEM 1 — VETERANS MEMORIAL SENIOR CENTER PROGRAMS REVIEW Senior Services Specialist Marlene Annuzzi spoke about "Seniors at Home" Program offered by the Veterans Memorial Senior Center. She showed a binder of material which was developed for volunteers and a folder for prospective participants for these services. Ms. Annuzzi spoke about the training provided to volunteers. The number of volunteers for the shopping at home program (SASH) has increased to thirteen and they consist of members from the Senior Center and from the community. Currently, the SASH program serves 23 at-home seniors. Recruitment for volunteers is on- going and more volunteers are always welcome. A future program to be offered to seniors will be the "Heart-to-Heart" program which will involve volunteers calling or visiting at-home seniors. The Commissioners complimented Ms. Annuzzi on her presentation, the informational binder, and on the important services offered to seniors. Ms. Annuzzi asked the Commissioners to have seniors interested in signing up for these services to please contact her. Several of the Commissioners noted they would contact the service groups they belonged to in order to recruit more volunteers for the programs. Commissioner Walsh suggested that if letters were sent to community churches about these services and needing volunteers, he would be willing to follow up with the churches. ITEM 2 — WORKPLAN UPDATES -Housing, Transportation and Employment Commissioner Borgens stated the sub-committee will be making a presentation to the City Council on June 28 regarding suggestions of affordable housing on City-owned property on Rolison Road. -Outreach, Public Awareness • Update regarding timing of traffic signals Commissioner M.Walsh said she spoke to the secretary of the CalTrans traffic signals manager and confirmed that if the lights were changed in one direction to allow for more pedestrian crossing time, then the time would be added onto the opposite traffic direction. She agreed to call Traffic Engineer Rich Haygood to find out what regulation establishes the pedestrian crossing time on El Camino Real.