Senior Citizen 2019/05/16MINUTES
SENIOR CITIZEN COMMISSION
Downtown Anaheim Community Center, 250 E. Center Street, Anaheim, California
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
Paul Vicknair, Chair
Harold Ramey, Vice -Chair
Alden Esping
Ray Shah
Nicholas Yagar
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
Emma Burns (Unexcused)
Patricia Pina (Excused)
May 16, 2019
STAFF PRESENT:
Wendy Hernandez, Community Services Supervisor
Beth Lapkowski, Administrative Assistant
VISITORS PRESENT:
Mike Chastain, Senior Citizens Club
Sharon Curry
AGENDA ACTION TAKEN
1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Vicknair called the meeting to order at 2:03 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Esping led the Commission in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Chair Vicknair presented the minutes of the March 21, 2019 meeting and called for a
vote. The vote was four ayes with one abstention by Vice -Chair Ramey.
4. UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: None.
5. SCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMUNICATION:
A. Anaheim Senior Citizen's Club Updates - Mike Chastain provided some background for the new Commissioners and
restated some of the concerns the Club has relating to the City not having a strategic plan for aging. They have put
forth a recommendation that the City should hire an independent consulting group to perform an assessment based
on demographics, etc., similar to what Irvine and Long Beach have done. He noted that the Club had provided a
presentation to Council Member Moreno and then to the Senior Citizen Commission, and subsequently they
presented to Council Member Barnes. He has also reached out to Assemblyman Tom Daly to get some advice on
moving forward, and yesterday they presented the fourth revision of the presentation to Council Member O'Neill. He
noted there are 60,000 seniors in Anaheim, ages 65 and above, and they are outpacing the national average for
increasing the population over the next several years. He reiterated their desire to have an outside assessment of
senior needs and is interested to hear what Council Member Moreno's next steps will be. Chair Vicknair stated that
he has not heard from Council Member Moreno either and noted that he is a very busy man. Chair Vicknair noted
that he will follow up with Council Member Moreno, and Mr. Chastain said he would send a follow-up email to him
and copy Chair Vicknair as well and inquire whether he would like to see the updated presentation they now have.
Mr. Chastain referred to the Anaheim Youth Services Assessment that was undertaken by the Anaheim Community
Foundation and stated that they would like to see that type of study done for seniors. He asked where the funding
came from for that study and Wendy Hernandez stated that she will send information about that to him and copy the
commissioners.
6. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Update on Housing Tour — Chair Vicknair asked for an update on the tour with Andy Nogal from the Community &
Economic Development Department. Commissioner Shaw reported that the trip was successful; he stated that out of
the 80 residents, 70 are doing well and 10 have a shortfall making rent each month primarily due to health expenses.
Chair Vicknair asked if they felt the program was worthwhile and whether it should be expanded; Commissioner Shah
Senior Citizen Commission
05/16/19
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AGENDA ACTION TAKEN
stated that the demand is very great for this type of housing, and noted that there is a waiting list of three to four
years. Commissioner Yagar stated that these developments are set up such that the City owns the land and leases it
to a developer who then pays the City for the lease. If they need assistance during the process, the City loans the
developer money but they repay the City; the only actual cost for the City is staff who oversee the program. He feels
the City should do this as much as possible, particularly if they already own the land. Commissioner Yagar stated
that if there are any questions the commissioners have to please send them to him and he will follow up with Andy.
Vice -Chair Ramey asked how people become eligible for this housing assistance; Commissioner Yagar said that he
would inquire about that. Chair Vicknair thanked the commissioners for their work on the presentation.
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Chair Vicknair asked Wendy Hernandez about the commission's recommendation to City
Council that he recently signed; she brought copies for each commissioner and distributed them. Wendy stated that if a
response to the recommendation is received she will notify the commissioners.
8. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION ACTION ITEMS: None.
9. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: - Vice -Chair Ramey introduced Sharon Curry, HOA President from Sunkist Gardens Mobile
Home Park, who discussed the issues at Rancho La Paz Mobile Home Park related to substantial rent increases.
10. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Vicknair adjourned the meeting at 2:55 p.m.
NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be held on Thursday, July 18, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. at the Downtown Anaheim
Community Center, 250 E. Center St., Anaheim CA 92805.