Senior Advisory Committee - Regular Meeting

I call this meeting to order. Secretary, would you please call the roll and and or announce who the heck we are?

Yes. Member Herzl?

Here.

Member Nelson is currently not here. Member Ospec? Here. Ospec? Ospec. Member Reese? Member Walsik?

Here.

Vice chair Kroll?

Here.

And chair Harrison?

Here. Well, let's see. Anyone any volunteers?

I'll do it.

You do it you do it well, Richard. Richard will do the pledge of allegiance.

Please repeat with me the pledge of allegiance to the flag of our country. I pledge allegiance to the flag of

The United States Of America and to the republic for which I stand. One nation

under God, indivisible, with

liberty and justice for all. And we start, of course, with public comments. The committee will now hear public comments on non agenda items and consent calendar items such as they are. Secretary, do we have any registered public comments or anybody that wants to line up and speak?

No one in person at the moment, but I do have a hand raised in Zoom.

Okay. I suspect I may know who that's going to be. Please let her go ahead.

Okay. Call in user two, you can unmute.

Good morning, everyone. Maureen Milton, independent advocate for the, handicapped, disabled, little people, and the mobily challenged.

I can't quite hear you, Maureen.

I can't hear her.

Can you hear me now?

No. No.

Do we have any more voices?

Hear me now?

That's much better.

Yeah. That's better.

Oh, good. Anyway, I'm glad to see that we we've got meetings down to every other month. I just wish they would be every month. What I am asking is what has everyone on the dais done to promote the senior advisory commission because no one is in the gallery, but we have to get people interested before or else we're gonna die on the vine. And so that's what I would like to know is what everyone has done to promote the advisory committee at this time, especially the senior club.

Have you have you promoted and say, please get involved, come with me at the meet to the meeting or watch it over channel three at the senior center. So what has been done for that purpose? And I thank you so very much. Looking forward to the rest of the meeting. Bye.

Thank you. And we will actually be speaking on that very question here shortly. Do we have any other Zoom hands?

No. That is it.

Okay. Then we will call the comments done. And I believe it's time for staff communications. Oh, sorry. Yes, staff communications and reports. And I believe there is one.

Hello, committee members. Yes, I will be doing a department update. Perfect. Okay. So this is the update for the month of October based on programming that we did in August and September.

So first up is an overall overview of what the parks and recreation department has been up to. So first up is our Union Pacific Kaboom Build Day. So with about a 100 volunteers and sponsorship by Kaboom, we were able to build a new playground at Union Pacific Park. The playground is fully built and construction just began for the final phase of the park, we could open it up in the next couple months. And then we had a Tommy Lasorda day over at the Fullerton Sports Complex.

It was the fifth annual, and it was hosted by Golden Hill Little League. It was very successful. Our PD and fire departments played a game against each other, and I believe PD won. And then we had our last community yard sale of the year over at Independence Park. So, again, that was very successful.

It gives our vendors and shoppers a safe space to just browse, look around, walk around the park as well. And this past weekend, we had Puptoberfest over at the Hunt Branch Library. So we had live music, a kids' zone, and, of course, the dog races, which was very cute. It was a good time. And lastly, we had our Boots Bash also at the Hunt Branch Library.

We had a mechanical bull, live band, DJ, food trucks, and a kid's sewing as well. So it was a good time. Then on September 20, we were able to host a park golf over at Emery Park. We had about 75 participants show up. And as far as I've heard from the team, it was it went smoothly, and there was a winner.

K. Moving on to our senior programming. So this is what we have going on for the rest of the month. We have workshops and crafts. So if you're available, we'd love for everyone to come attend.

Okay. We were able to celebrate grandparents day early September. We had about 15 participants and one kiddo showed up. There was crafts and just be able to bond with your kiddo in a safe environment. We also had one of our big hats and tea party. So this is a very popular program. Our next one will be in December, but we had a our Hawaiian dancers able or Bedouyster dance. Sorry. Do a performance. We had tea, refreshments, desserts, and sandwiches.

Then we had our Lotteria and Sweet Moments. So we did have a sponsor for this. We had desserts, and we're able to play loteria, so like bingo. It was a good time. Everyone had a blast.

This is what we have coming up for the rest of October and November. Everything is free of charge. All you have to do is call our front desk or go to a community center and sign up, and you'll be able to attend. And our next meeting will be December 9. Any questions?

As a matter of fact, I do. Particularly in my experience lately and with the Rancho La Pals Homeowners Association meeting last night, can you tell me more about the November 13 seniors scam education lecture? Because that is something I feel needs to be highlighted and pushed as much as possible?

Yeah. I'm not sure what organization is coming in to do the lecture itself, but they do touch on, like, technology, and it's mostly technology scams, like getting the text messages or the emails or the links. So I'm able to share a flyer with the whole committee if you guys would like to share that within your circles.

Where will that be

held It and would be at the community center, November 13. I believe the time is 10AM. But again I'll share the flyer with everyone just so you have the exact time.

Yes, I know a few places I would like to put that flyer and that will give me I will be able to highlight that to my homeowners association meeting as well which happens just before then so that will work. Does anyone else wish to ask questions about this?

Clarify the upcoming meeting of December 9. Which committee is that? Here.

Our senior advisory committee. Yes.

That's us. Just wanna make sure. We don't meet next month, but we do meet in December. So, we still have next month's meeting left on our calendar from when we were quarterly. Okay. Thank you.

Perfect.

The consent calendar is really short, just the minutes from the last time. Have we do we have have we seen those minutes?

Yes. They're part of the agenda. And I believe they're also in front of you.

Okay.

Alright. Printed.

Did you want to take committee member reports later or before the consent?

Well, don't we do that next after we approve the wait, wait. My You're sorry. You're correct. I'm out of I am

It's it's whatever you would like

to do. Out of order. Mhmm. And let's do the staff the committee member reports, and we may as well start from the opposite end for a change. Would you care to begin? Do you have anything to say? You get your five minutes.

Cool. I got five. Alright. The the one thing that I wanted to mention is something that's going on over at the university. There is a major program called the OSHA Lifelong Learning Institute.

It's a program for seniors. The seniors in Fullerton raised the money, built the building, donated it to the university some decades ago. And now the current president wants to take that building away from us and move us off campus. And the OLLI program is, relatively distressed about this because it means having to cross State College. We have disabled people naturally.

We have to the stairs wouldn't be very easy at the new building, etcetera. So I'm not sure what I'm requesting here because I'm not sure if I can request anything, but I did want people to know about it. So it's president Roshan basically, moving Ollie out of the building that they built for the university.

You have more time if you want to go on with that or anything else. I'm not sure what the committee can do for you, but I know that some council members have a little influence on on the on the university. And there I'm sure you have other allies, and this committee certainly supports you as on this big deal to seniors.

Yeah. We probably need other allies. We do have a couple council members that we will be discussing this with. But, otherwise, it feels a little bit like we're on an ocean and we don't control the ship. And we built a damn ship. Darn ship.

Don't think your language is too strong for something that for this important.

Yeah. Or yeah. Do you have a suggestion? Like, so you're saying maybe right, contact the president of the university?

Is that

Oh, yeah. No. We've been in contact with him. Right. He's not responding to us at all.

But if if we get so that would be where like if somebody wants to start flooding you know emails or letters or whatever. That's where it would be directed.

I am I'm open to any recommendations because I am involved with this what we might call a group that's resisting this. And so I'm open to any any ideas that any of you might have. I'm not sure where to go with this and what what we can do. We are getting involved with the press. We're trying to send out press releases and and such to let the community know.

Right. And to its limited public distribution, surfacing this on this committee may help give you a little more visibility, and I don't think anyone on this committee feels we're the wrong place to help bring this to everyone's attention, and perhaps our bad newspaper will hear more of it from being mentioned today and increase the size of whatever coverage they do.

The Fullerton Observer? The Fullerton Observer. Yeah. Yeah. I think the Fullerton Observer is trying to take pay attention to this. That's my impression.

Excellent.

Okay. So if anybody has any comments to me later or whatever, I'm open.

As as I think are we all. Richard, would you like a go?

Sure. Briefly. I am question to staff. Is it possible that you may already have on file a list of the youth organizations within the, city limits that, you could pass on to me so we can start our sub ad hoc committees.

I know we have our youth sports teams that we could put you in communication with. And, course, there's a boys and girls club at the community center. Okay. I know Brett Ackerman probably has some more contacts

Okay. I thought

from the Yeah.

I thought maybe if I could reach out to you all first and gather what what you have on file, and then whatever you don't have, then I can take my time looking for the other ones. But wanna start with the city first, see what you had, if you can get that commission

We can pass that along.

So we can start that part. I would appreciate it.

Of

course. K? And think any other comments I'll save for later when it comes up. But that's

Yeah.

That's all that's on my heart at the moment. Thank you.

You'll get another opportunity quite soon to speak for the subcommittee. So you can hit this again. I guess we'll go back to the other end. Susan?

Yeah. The only, thank you, for bringing that information about Ollie because I know that building was specifically built for Ollie. Right? I mean, that's completely, yeah, funded outside of the university and anything. So that's not not great. I had a question, I guess, for the city, because I know when we formed the ad hoc committees at the last meeting, I believe the city was going to send us an email with everybody with each of our contact information so that we were able to do that. I don't know if that email was sent out. Do you does anybody here remember getting that email?

I remember that we requested it. I did not get anything, and I don't know that we need to make it a motion that we vote for, but we would certainly all like to receive in the next week the subdivided list of who is who on each of the subcommittees.

Who's on which contact info because

we don't have information Okay. For us so that we can coordinate better. I have more to say on that when we do the subcommittee stuff in a moment.

Right. Okay. Yeah. And so and then are we for the ad hoc committee reports, we're gonna is that now or is that later?

There's an item. A

separate item. It doesn't Okay. It doesn't come out of your five minutes.

Oh, good. I don't think I have anything else though for my for my five minutes. Wendy?

I have the same question that Soothe had about I was waiting to get an email with all our contact about the committees and things. So I didn't receive it and that's what her and I were talking about that earlier. Also, I had a comment that was Marie that questioned about the senior club. Yes, I have mentioned it at our board meetings and I had mentioned it to several people about this committee and I have a board meeting coming up on Thursday. I will announce it again at that board meeting.

And then we have a our Halloween bash is coming up on the twenty third, and I'll announce it then too. And our annual meeting where we elect our new officers is December 5, and that'll be on the agenda also.

And that's very proximate to our next our next meeting. So that will be a good time to push that.

Okay. And I have one question. Can I, put that in the newsletter, our newsletter? Okay. I just wanted to make sure I could.

Okay. I would hope you can since you're the president.

Yes. Well, it it goes to the city the city. Yeah. Yeah. Puts it together. And then I that's everything I have to say. Thank you.

Rosie? I

don't really have a comment on the subcommittees because I haven't been in touch. I'm with Todd on the subcommittee and I just haven't heard anything so I have no comment on that. But I would like to let Maureen know that I also talk to people at my church, my universalist unitarian church in Fullerton. I always bring it up our committee and that people should come and because they're often going to council meetings. You know, I meet them here at council meetings, my universalist unitarian church and and then friends and family, I'm mentioning it too but not too much interest among them.

But yeah, my UU church is quite involved with city council and but they are not able to come in the middle of the day, most of them. So but I do talk it up. Thank you.

Thank you. Alright. And then for my couple of minutes, I have more to say about the subcommittees and our sub the annual report subcommittee, which I will get to as part of the regular business. Outside of that, and also sort of to Maureen's comment. Thank you, Maureen.

If you're still able to listen, thank you for speaking up. I realize this could be an expense and work for this for for staff, but is there the possibility of a small flyer about the next committee meeting, the one in one in December? I have a few places such as Rancho La Paz with its hundreds of seniors where a notice can go up even if even if not a stack of flyers. Having one flyer on the community board would be useful. So I would like to request that.

Our secretary can tell me whether we need to make that a motion to direct you to have some done or whether I just speaking of it, you could I can even print a few of my own if I have a PDF to work from. I think some of us others can, and maybe a few actual copies could be printed for the senior senior club and other places. I would given the electronic difficulties of seniors communicating, which we're seeing examples of right now, I would like to see at least a modest amount of hard copy notice made possible.

We don't need to vote on it. It would just be a direction to the parks and recreation staff.

Okay. Then I would like to make such such a direction. And does anybody not agree with me or want to comment on that?

We can get the flyers done.

Okay. Thank you. We would collectively, I think we would appreciate that because we do have trouble reaching everyone electronically. It's Yeah. We can it's one of our big issues.

I can email them out and have a few hard copies at the center for pickup.

Excellent. Please do see that I get one in the at least an email that I can print and distribute locally.

Of course.

And that, I think, takes care of committee reports. Did anybody have any last thoughts that they wanted to give out since collectively we have minutes left? Okay. So now I believe we move on to the consent calendar. Would anyone to either side of me care to make a motion to accept the consent calendar? I so move. Okay. So moved. I'll second it myself, which I believe I can do, and the secretary can call the vote.

Okay. Member Herzl?

Approve.

Member Nelson is absent. Member Ozpec? Ozepic? Yes. Approve. Apologies. Member Reese? Approve. Member Walsik? Approve. Vice Chair Kroll?

Approve.

And Chair Harrison?

Approved.

Passes. So

I believe the senior mobility program update is next. I know that a user of that marine, for example, is listening and is curious as to what that program will be able to provide in the next month or two. So we will please hear the senior mobility program update.

Thank you, committee members. So this update is about our senior mobility program. This includes our yellow cab rides and our bus pass cells. So first up, this is a program that residents over the age of 60 can take advantage of, and it provides transportation to our community center, medical appointments, or some shopping. And our taxi program is with Yellow Cab.

And then the bus passes, of course, it's OCTA that we work with. So we are bringing this for an update because we are looking to change our service plan with Yellow Cab. So we have, sorry, let me back up. We have had an excess of funds due to the COVID shutdowns that we experienced a few years ago. So we had not extra funds, but just funds that were not used, that we had a certain amount amount of time to spend.

And we have now officially caught up to this year's allocation that we have. So we have been spending more than the monthly allocated funds. So for this fiscal year, we have a $176,000 allocated to the city of Fullerton SMP program. So that's a senior mobility program. If we average that out per month, we should be spending about 15,000 a month.

And as you can see in the chart, we're spending a lot more than the $15,000 a month. So the current service plan that we have, we can no longer sustain. So we will be changing the service plan. So this chart explains what we're currently doing. So we have unlimited free trips to the Fullerton Community Center per day.

So we are looking to limit that to two trips per day, which is one round trip to the community center. So most of our senior programs are in the mornings. So we're hoping that our seniors are able to come, enjoy any physnic fitness classes or lectures, do lunch. And if they wanna stay for any of the afternoon classes, then we have our senior lounge where they can hang out till they wait for their next program. As for our nonmedical nonemergency medical trips, we do have eight free trips per month currently, so four round trips at Fullerton or Anaheim, Pariah, Buena Park, Placentia, La Habra, and some satellite locations that are further away.

So with this new proposed plan, we are cutting out the free trips, but we're still subsidizing what the ride cost is. So it'd be $3 per ride within Fullerton. Anywhere else would be $7 per ride. And for recreational programs, currently, it was eight trips that we're subsidizing and charging $3 with Fullerton. Outside of Fullerton, it's $7.

So now it'll be $6 for anywhere in Fullerton and $14 outside of Fullerton and we're still limiting that to eight trips per month. Another update with our bus passes is OCTA will stop selling paper passes, and they're moving it to this wave card. So it's like a credit card that they're able to reload. So as a city, we will be able to sell the paper bus passes until March. And after that, we're not sure what the city is gonna be able to do.

We're waiting on direction from OCTA because we would have to load each individual's account with funds, and we don't know how the process will be. OCTA isn't aware either. So we'll we should have an answer from OCTA by January at the latest, but this the bus pass program is pending as of now. So that does conclude the presentation. I'm open to any questions.

I do have questions. There's a space here for public comments on this before I go into the questions and we wrap this portion up. Are there any in house or Zoom questions on this topic?

No one in person, but I do have one hand raised in Zoom.

Then let's get to that hand.

Okay. Call in user two. You should be able to unmute now.

Good evening again, everyone. Maureen Milton. I am curious about the new contract. Why is there only so many, like, one per one per week for transfer? Now are we going to have to pay $6 per trip instead of 3?

Because, I mean, that's that's outlandish. We don't we don't have to pay that for with access. So what I'd like to know is when is this new contract being negotiated, who is doing the negotiation, and how can we talk to them to for our input as far as questions, on on, service is concerned. Because I could use it all the time. One trip one trip a week is not enough most of the time.

And as as I say, I could run around and and do everything do all kinds of stuff, But one trip one trip a week is is just not enough. One round trip a week. So who is doing as I say, I need to know who's doing the negotiating, and when is the new negotiating being done for the for for the New Year. Also, this is backing up a little bit. When is the scam seminar on the thirteenth?

What time and where? Also, as far as I people to go to, I've been looking up all kinds of people to contact while you've been talking. And as far as the OLLI Center, is the college going to buy the building from the OLLI Group, Or how is that going are they just taking it away? Oh, I can't think of the word you used, but they're just taking taking over, the center. So, but there are all kinds of people you could talk to.

Couple of them are kinda useless, but at least put a pitchfork under them and maybe they can help. So, anyway, that's about it. So I hope that I can I as I say, I have all kinds of names that you could contact as far as the Ollie Ollie Center goes, but I couldn't find them as I as the meeting was going on? So anyway, thank you so very much. Appreciate it. Bye.

Thank you, Maureen. I'll let Steph answer that before I ask my questions, if there's any answers to give her.

Yeah. So our contract with Yellow Cab is still active until next June. And then we have the ability to extend our contract with Yellow Cab for one more year. But the change of the service plan is due to the available funds that we have.

Right. So So that's not a matter of negotiation. It's a matter of what you of what the program tells Yellow Cab they're going to do?

Yes. So we get our funds from the county. And the last attachment on the agenda report. So this chart has what has been allocated for the city of Fullerton, and that is totally not in the city's hands. That's just the grant funds that we're receiving. So we're able to decide how we spend those funds. And in order for us to be able to offer any type of service for the entire fiscal year, we do have to cut back on what we're able to provide Because we could get to the point in February where we're totally out of funds and there's no services we're able to provide.

I'm interested in these two categories, medical trips and, to quote the words used, recreational recreational trips. There to me, it feels there's a category between them. Given the difficulties of getting out, I think recreational trips is a bit of a misnomer for getting to the grocery store, for a for example. Mhmm. And if it were that black and white, I need to get to the doctor versus I want to go see my friends or attend an event, which I would call a recreational trip.

There is necessity of life trips, which would seem more important than recreation recreational trips. Are are these definitions a matter of an existing document or standard or something the county says, or is that convenient labeling that we just happen to be using?

It's part of our agreement with, the granting agency.

Okay. They don't they don't draw a very fine line. It's either a medical trip or it's recreational.

Correct.

Okay. If it were not for the fact that most recreational trips are not recreational, I I would have I would be asking that the price for medical trips be as reduced as much as possible, at possibly the increase in cost within of the so called recreational trips. But those trips really for most seniors using this program, those trips are not recreational. And while I have issues with the name, but that would be an issue I would have to have with the county, certainly not with Fullerton. Could you bring up that next slide about the bus passes, Okay.

Again, I am concerned about the digital divide. You spoke briefly about the wave cards. I know you don't have a lot of information yet. Even OCTA, I'm sure, doesn't have information yet. But you used the word reload.

And in my experience with transit passes, reload usually means logging into a website, requalifying yourself if needed, giving the money if needed, and getting the card updated so when you waive it at the pillar or the bus or whatever, it will work for your next month or whatever the duration is. To the best you know, is that going to be the only way these cars could be relocated? Or can they be talking to a human or visiting a keyboard or kiosk of some kind?

You should be able to reload at different locations, like the grocery stores. But it's still pending on Okay. How easy it will be. Right. But I yesterday, I actually signed up myself because I wanted to see what the process is. And you do need to create an account with an email, password, everything on the OCTA website. And so you have the option of having the card on your phone within the app or having a physical card.

Okay.

But like you said, I don't have a lot of information yet. I just know we will be selling the paper passes for the next couple months and then waiting for direction in January.

Yeah. I understand that things are very sketchy and as well out of your control. But to the extent Fullerton can, I would like to surface you or the city, depending on who talks to OCTA? I would like to make sure that OCTA has the difficulties of the digital aspects of this pushed at them, surfaced at them, whatever the polite bureaucratic language is. I want them to be reminded that not everyone has a computer and not everyone even has a cell phone and the ability to use it for more than just a phone.

Maureen is an excellent example of that. Yes. She is in the high-tech Zoom, but she is doing so from an ordinary sits on her desk phone, and that is the limit of her and many other people's capabilities. So anything, any pressure Fullerton can direct at OCTA to make this more accessible to the nontechnical very much should be done.

Yeah, we are. We've had meetings with them, and we've shared our concern within the program. But it is what we've gotten from them is it's happening. They are offering different workshops at their location in Orange, and staff is working on having workshops at the community center as well. So the OCTA staff can come in and sign the seniors up for their accounts and give them the cards.

Excellent. Excellent. Do any of my fellow committee? Yes. I see a hand raised.

So I had a question on the budget allocation and these numbers here. So it looks like, I guess we had a surplus from during COVID because the services were weren't being used. What was our was the city contributing to this, budget? It looks like you guys are project or proposing that the only funds that we're gonna use are what we're getting from the county, Correct? The 176,000. So prior to COVID, did the city kick in any money for this?

We don't have a match. Believe it's a 10% match that we contribute, but that accounts for staff time being used to book the taxis, anything related to the yellow cab So service. But we do not directly pay for taxi cabs or the bus passes. We use only grant funds.

Okay. So prior to COVID, were we overspending then too? So I don't understand I I understand we we we had kind of a built

up. Yes.

How Before I wasn't at the center before COVID, but my understanding is they were spending what they were getting. So there wasn't any surplus. I'm not sure what the service plan was back then and the fees associated with each of the rides. But for now, this plan should help us cut down on the costs so that we would have provided the service for longer.

Yeah. I guess I'm just I don't it seems like I don't I'm I'm just curious. So before COVID, we were we overspending then or there just was less demand? And because we're basically spending double what the county's getting us and we were able to fund that because nobody was using it during COVID, but

I believe there was about $400,000 of surplus the past three years.

Right. So

before COVID, I'm

not sure. Yeah. Did you know what I'm saying? Like, did we offer less? Like, was it more like what you're proposing now?

I believe so.

And so because we had such a surplus, we were offering additional services.

Correct.

So we're kinda going back to where we were.

Yes. That's my understanding.

Yes. If we could get clarification on that, that would be good because I don't think it's fair to be going backwards on it. Think just make sure that, you know, the city's not if the city was willing to spend it before we had a surplus, I think we should be willing to spend it now.

No. I know in the past if we spent the entire funds, the services were cut. So the city was not subsidizing.

Okay.

If we didn't have the funds through the grant, they weren't being providing they weren't providing the trips.

My only comment would be, you know, if, you know, the city budget wise and all that, this is what they're recommending, this is what they think is sustainable. See do, you know, do some kind of survey and see if we're meeting the needs of the seniors based on the new program. Make sure that they are able to afford the $3 or the $6 or whatever. Or if it looks like maybe, like, instead of going from, you know, eight unlimited rides, eight unlimited free trips per month, all of a sudden we're charging each trip. Maybe we just offer four of them free and then charge after that, you know, maybe but, you know, I understand there's limited funds.

We don't wanna run out of the funds and then stop the service. But we also need to make sure we're meeting the needs of the seniors. I think that's what this committee is for. If if it's not meeting the needs, then we have to re the city's gonna have to revisit it and find money in the budget to fund it. That's the way I look at

it.

It's something we'll we'll definitely keep keep looking at as we move forward. So we are hoping to start this within the month just to give our seniors at least a thirty day notice that there will be a change.

I think it might be helpful too to mention that this is if it's true, that this is how it was before we had that big surplus. I think that I don't know, in my mindset, I think that's helpful if you kind of explain what's happening rather than, hey, you don't matter anymore. We're running out of money. We're we're gonna make charts start charging you. I think it's important just, you know, the way you present it.

Rather than an external survey needing to be conducted, it might be interesting to find out presumably if the data exists internally, the unlimited trips per day or the eight free trips one way trips per month within the local area. What is the uptake on that? Does the average program user use one round trip or 10 per month? So is there any data to support the choice of eight free trips or four visits to the doctor per month? How many do people actually make?

Is it only a small percentage that need that many and we can serve more people's needs more most of the time by saying six or four? And I believe that could come from internal data if it's collected.

Sorry, yeah, that's information we can get from Yellowknife.

I myself would like personally, I would like to see that come to us at our next meeting in December, if not in any way sooner. It would be interesting to see if eight is more or less pulled out of the air by dividing the budget among the number of users or if there is a bias towards many or few trips among the average users. I think that matters.

Question of clarity first. So the information we're receiving, about the Yellow Cab service and the wave card is presented to this board as a FYI and looking for advisement? Or is there another reason we're seeing this now?

It's more of an FYI because it is just a receive and file.

So Okay. As far as senior advisory giving you advisement on this, you're you're not receiving? Or

We're taking into consideration, but for now, this is something that we do have to move forward with just because of the funds that we're spending.

Alright. So so if we share our opinions coming from seniors, it's in the back of your head, but nothing official?

Yes.

Okay. Alright. Just wanna be clear. Then I wanna put a a worm in your head. First, with the yellow cab service.

In my opinion, I can understand, changing it and maybe doubling it like from $3 to $6 so on and so forth. My concern, of course, is for my Fullerton residents. And so when it comes to non emergency medical, a lot of our seniors that are using this program are on a pretty much fixed income. And I am thinking of a few in certain senior communities that would prefer to have a 0 than $3 because they're pinching pennies as it is. And so my recommendation is don't charge a non emergency medical trip within the city of Fullerton or Fullerton residents.

I can see by this list and other ones, the other cities, like Brea, Buena Park, Anaheim, has a much larger amount, of course, more population. But if they're gonna stay in Fullerton and use services within Fullerton, make it zero. Make up the difference elsewhere. The other thing is with the WAVE card. I'm dealing with a community of of seniors at church coming to me, talking about the issues with the wave card that's being proposed that currently they're using they're using paper which is so much easier for them to get.

When you go to electronic wave card, one a lot of the individuals within this community have issues with banks and having credit cards, and it's far harder for them to do that and and utilize that. So they can't they can't use that. So I have several seniors that will not be going to church on Sunday anymore because they can't use a paper, which they're they're using now. And so they're just not gonna be able to go to church anymore because they can't get the card. And then when they try to go to a Ralph's or something like that to get that, they Ralph's has no clue what's going on.

And I know it's rolling out. It'll take time for instructions, so on and so forth. But I'm more concerned for the seniors that we're trying to help when it looks like in reality, we're making it more difficult for them. So I would like to advise that as you look at this, try to think of those that are on the fringes that may miss out on a great opportunity because now it's more technical and it's difficult for them to do. They just deal in a cash world and not credit cards.

I know credit cards are easy for those of us who can utilize the technology, but there are a group of seniors out there. They're just not using it. So let's not get over technical and push the people who really need the services out of the picture. So from a senior advisor, put that worm in the back of your head and and think about that as as you young people are are planning for the rest of us.

With that, I I think I Okay. Said enough. To the extent that Fullerton not running the program and in a sense being a client of the program on behalf of of the seniors of Fullerton. To the extent you have a vote or a chance to pressure, you spoke of the registration for the card and an email address. OCTA needs to be strongly pressured to allow people who do not have email or any electronic communications at all to still obtain reload physically the cards.

I think if there's any point of pressure that Fullerton has at all, it needs to be that you should not be forced to be electronic to have such a card because that is, okay, overdramatic. For the ability to get out on the buses, practically a death sentence for the people Richard is is speaking of. They are never going to be electronically, digitally signing up for anything, and mandating digital is taking away a service. Period. And I, for one, would like to see Fullerton push that as hard as possible to OCTA. One more. Go ahead.

I really agree with Todd and Richard on this. With the board, even my board here at the senior club, half of my board doesn't even email or even have a smartphone. Also, it's brought to my attention almost on a daily basis when I say, oh well, you know, email this or do this. They, most of them tell you, oh well I don't email, I don't have a smartphone Or I do have a smartphone, but I don't know how to work it. I don't have to do that at all.

To give you an example, we print a newsletter that goes out monthly that's mailed. We have tried in the past to maybe email this out every other month or every couple of months. We have gotten such a backlog of people telling us, oh, don't do that. We would never see it. Please don't do that because the cost of printing has just gone up.

You wouldn't believe how much to print this newsletter. And the postage, the postage goes up seems like every few months it's going up. And like I said, we've tried to do this because of the cost and it has been told no, no, don't do this. I know you know this, Miriam, because we've talked about this in the past. So definitely with this card I see nothing but issues and problems getting our seniors to use it. Yeah. It's yeah. I'm fully needs they need to check into this really before they go ahead.

Thank you. I think we've given you quite a strong push about what we want the city to present to OCTA. I don't see any of those fingers being raised. Would you care to make a motion to accept the report?

Yes. I'll make a motion to accept.

And I'll second it.

Okay. There's a second. Motion is accepted. Could the secretary please call the vote?

Yes. Member Herzl?

Approve.

Member Nelson is absent. Member Osepik? Approve. Member Reese?

Approve.

Member Walcic? Approve. Vice Chair Kroll?

Approve.

And Chair Harrison?

Approved. Passes. Okay. That brings us to Agenda Item three, the Senior Advisory Ad Hoc Committees for the twenty twenty five-twenty twenty six Work Plan Update. That is a grand title for us facing these things. My script says we start with public speakers. So I will ask again, do we have any in house or Zoom callers on this issue?

No one in person. I do have one hand raised in Zoom. Call in user two, you can unmute.

Hello again, Maureen.

Good hi there, everybody. Anyway, getting out the, information for, the, taxi transportation. There has there has been hasn't been free trips since two since '24. Everything you pay $3 for. And if you go to the satellite situations, from what I'm reading, you pay 7 to the to the each way.

6 or 7. But, anyway, there hasn't been free trips for the senior taxi program since '24. They had they had them for quite a while in '24, but they haven't had them since. Let me see. From March 1 to 06/30/2024, there were free trips.

But after that, you have to pay $3 for everything. I don't mind paying $3. I mean, that's fantastic. But to have to pay 6, that's for low income people like myself, that's ridiculous. So, anyway, that's what I wanted to say regarding the senior transportation.

But $6 per trip is doubling it. Low income people can't afford it. So, anyway, I thank you so very much for allowing me to speak now. Can you reinterview? Because I wanted to tell you about the the no the charge for every medical trip.

I that I pay $3 to go to medical trips. So can you can you review what's on the agenda right now? I wanted to say something there, but I was so intent on telling you that we didn't have we haven't had free trips. Now free trips to the senior center, that's that's still going on. They ask for a dollar donation every day, but Okay. Technically, there's supposed to be three.

Yeah. Unfortunately, Maureen, we're already done with that item, and I think we have all we can get from that. So thank you, but I don't have any more answers. We don't have any more answers for you on this one. Let's so we look at the subcommittees.

And for reasons we've already started to discuss, a number of the subcommittees don't really have much to report yet, but I will still go down the list of the subcommittees with a chance for everyone to speak on topic, and we'll do them in the list I have on this agenda report with the Community Visibility Committee first. Do any of the three members have comments to make that they've not already made? Resource access?

I can speak for that. Please do. Since, member Osepik and I are the members on that. We did not meet prior or talk about that, but we're looking forward to getting well, we can exchange contact information now. And I have some ideas for that.

There are because it's basically the city coming out with a resource guide and there are I know of two very good resource guides already that exist. So, you know, we'll I'll get together we'll get together and have something to present in December that I think the city can we'll be happy to hear that we'll be able to plug into the resource guides already existing.

Excellent. I would like to the extent possible for each of these subcommittees for us each to have something concrete that we can give to staff at our next meeting, something we can vote on saying, yes, we would like this this done this way. Please do what you can and get back to us. I have I have an annual report comment coming up, but the inter intergenerational engagement, and there is a mouthful. Richard, I heard you ask about resources to you to use to further your goal. Please, please go on more if you would like to.

I have first a comment to my subcommittee group. I want to remind everybody during our introduction to this committee and everything, any subcommittees or whatever they want to correspond with each other, all we have to do is reach out to the city clerk and like for an example, what I'm going to do once I get this list is I'm going to send the clerk notice saying I want to reach out to the subgroup and say we're going to look at this agenda items. Let's meet at A B C, and we'll, have coffee and we'll start talking. And then once you funnel through that, everything will get started. So we have resources.

You know, just reach out to them. Let them know that, hey. You're ready to meet? Reach out to those individuals. As far as this group, yep. I get that list. I'm gonna get going, because I feel so strong about it. I don't think the other two committee individuals will mind me getting started on it, and I'll be reaching out to to to the group here really, really soon. We'll get going, and and I hope to have something at the next meeting that we can present. And, of course, once we do that, that that information will go to the city clerk even before we meet.

Excellent. That way, they'll do their magic with it and all all that fun stuff. So I'm excited about it. I'm glad to see the list now put on official paperwork, and we got some work ahead of us. And I I believe we're all excited, especially when we're, in this case, dealing with the youth of Fullerton. So I I'm excited, and I can't wait to see how this all comes together. So this, I think, is a foot moving forward.

We're gonna talk about Holly.

Yeah. K? Excellent. And I think that's enough. I, for one, would not want to be a person in Richard's way of getting this done. So Yeah. I'm very glad to I'm very glad to hear this.

May I say something? Please. Of course. I think there's we don't know who the chairs are of these committees. So we don't know who's supposed to call these committees, who is supposed to organize these committees. They're not going go anywhere until we have some structure.

Okay. So just for clarification, there are no chairs for each ad hoc committee. Right.

I think it's a case without of leadership.

I think it's a case of a stronger personality on each subcommittee taking the helm

what I was going

to say. And chasing down the other members. Unofficial chairs. Right. And as unofficial chairs, as Richard is doing with his with Derek, look. He's already got me calling it his subcommittee even if there isn't an official chair.

Right. I'm going to ask now ad hoc committee number one, community visibility, Nelson, Ozpek, and Reese. Who is going to and I'm not saying your name right, I don't think. But but who is going to call that meeting? We need someone willing to do it. And if nobody's willing to do it, I will step in and say, we'll call that meeting. Okay. Okay.

And I need I think you just volunteered. Okay.

Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

And that's how it's done.

And in committee number four.

That would be, that is the annual report committee. The subcommittee does not have a, as we've just heard, does not have chairs, but since it happens to include the chair of this committee, yes, I'm taking the helm on that. Nothing has happened yet because we needed to get together like this, but it is my intent with two months to go until our last meeting of the year, I will be pushing for my two fellow committee members to get together with me. Even absent the subcommittee reports that we will be hearing about at the next meeting, I want to put together what we want to sell tell the city the city council as our conclusions for the year within this within this year at the presumably, there is a city council meeting after ours in December since we're the second Tuesday, presumably the third Tuesday. And I don't know if it's clombored by the holidays or not.

In fact, I could ask that, can't I? Is there a Fullerton City Council meeting after our next meeting that is still within this year? Do we know that as far as It the should city agenda be. All right. I would like for the three of us that are this subcommittee to meet sometime inside the next month, discuss our talking points, and we can then work further by email, but patch a document to give preferably before the next meeting of this committee that the that staff has at least a few weeks to clean up and propose as this committee's annual report on what we want to what we want to say to the city council.

I would like to put that direction to the staff in time with enough slack time before our next meeting that they can give us something we can vote yay or nay on and then have it and then have that by staff or and if necessary, by intervention by some of us that know some of the city council. Have that on the city council's agenda, preferably in December, if not in January, as a formal report from this committee to the city council as a whole. So the city council actually gets something back from us for having put us on this committee in the first place. They hear me talk my three minutes at city council meetings. The last time there was a staff report in the consent calendar, I had to have that pulled from the consent calendar so it was actually surfaced as exist as existing to the audience for the for the city council meeting, and I'm certainly going to do that next time if necessary.

But I want the city council to actually sit up here and hear from us or staff what they're granting us this committee, granting us this time, and making us every two months has, in essence, bought them in a way they're the customer of this committee. I want them to get something.

We meet November 11.

Correct.

The city council meets.

No. Sorry.

No. No. We're not No.

No. We meet in December.

We're not

meeting November is the leftover meeting from when we were quarterly.

Okay. I gotta change that. City council meets November 18 and December 16. Right? Right. So that gives us our timing.

So at our December at our December session, we can, if the subcommittee has done its work and given staff something in a timely manner, we can agree and possibly vote to have to ask city staff to present a report on our behalf at that immediately following city council meeting. And that is my goal. We'll see how well I do it. I make goals that I cannot meet, but lack of ambition gets us nowhere, and that is my intent. Okay. Comments? Anybody? Please.

No. I'm just trying to figure out when our next meeting is. Right.

I'm sorry. December 9.

What?

December 9.

December 9. December 9.

So the item that we were currently on was on the ad hoc committee update.

Yes. That is my update on my annual report committee. My update is that we need to get something done. Here is my plan and my hopeful optimistic forecast of what this subcommittee is going to get done hopefully within the next month so staff has time to chew on what we do and present it, promoting to the next meeting of this committee. And that is my that is okay.

I'm pushing the edges of the definition, but that is my report. And I don't think any of my two fellow committee member subcommittee members disagree with that? No.

I agree.

Okay. So that is my subcommittee report and that subcommittee's direction or warning to staff as to what we are going to try to have done.

Ad hoc committee.

Subcommittee, ad hoc committee. You're right. Ad hoc is the correct correct language. And having said that, I then turn the page of my script. Would someone care to move to adopt everything we just said?

I move to adopt everything we just said.

I second.

Please call the roll. Or make other comments because we've done something wrong.

No, no, no. You're good. The motion or the recommendation is just to receive and file. So it's you're not really it there's nothing to adopt. It's

just Okay. To approve.

Okay. If So to receive and file our reports and heed our warnings of what we intend, I believe you can call the roll.

Yes. Member Herzl?

Approved.

Member Nelson is absent. Member Ozepic? Approved. Member Reese?

Approved.

Member Walsick?

Approved.

Vice chair Kroll?

Approved.

And chair Harrison?

Approved.

Passes.

Okay. We'll be adjourning to the net for the committee as a whole, we are adjourning to December 9, Just missing a day of infamy. And I believe this committee is adjourned. Meeting is