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Senior Citizen 2021/09/16MINUTES SENIOR CITIZEN COMMISSION September 16, 2021 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: STAFF PRESENT: Janet Brown, Chair Wendy Hernandez, Community Services Supervisor Nicholas Yagar Beth Lapkowski, Administrative Assistant Shirley McCracken Victor "Vic" Real Ray Shah Paul Vicknair AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Brown called the meeting to order at 2:03 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chair Brown led the Commission in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. INTRODUCTION OF NEW COMMISSIONER: Chair Brown introduced Commissioner Real and asked him to share his background with the Commission. 4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: Chair Brown presented the minutes of the July 15, 2021 meeting. Commissioner Yagar made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Commissioner Vicknair; minutes were approved unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Chair Brown recognized visitors Joe Pak from the Office of Sharon Quirk -Silva and Susan Faessel, the wife of Mayor Pro Tern Stephen Faessel. Joe Pak, Senior Field Representative for Assemblywoman Quirk -Silva, noted that he attends senior commission meetings in various cities on her behalf. Their office offers assistance on many issues relating to state government, including DMV, EDD, consumer issues, and senior scam issues. He added that he would be pleased to assist with the planned senior scam seminars for this commission. In addition, Mr. Pak shared information about the upcoming Korean War monument that will be dedicated on Veterans' Day, November 11, at 1:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Park in Fullerton. This monument will include the name of every veteran who lost their lives in that war. 6. NEW BUSINESS: None. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: A. Hosting Scam Stopper Seminar — Chair Brown asked Wendy Hernandez to share the information she has regarding a scam stopper seminar. Wendy shared that three potential sites will be at the Downtown Anaheim Community Center, East Anaheim Community Center and the Brookhurst Community Center. She indicated that Chair Brown reached out to Anaheim Public Utilities for their assistance. Wendy also spoke with a Crime Prevention Coordinator with the Anaheim Police Department; they will assist with facilitating the seminar and talk about financial crimes. She will also reach out to Mr. Pak for their assistance with the seminars. Wendy also discussed a nationwide organization of teens who teach tech basics via Zoom, which may be helpful as a separate topic for a workshop, although some topics they Senior Citizen Commission September 16, 2021 Page 2 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN cover also relate to scams on the computer. Wendy noted that it would probably be best to hold these seminars during the daytime for the convenience of the seniors, and perhaps try to schedule something via Zoom. Wendy discussed various ways to advertise the workshops to reach the most seniors possible, and asked who they would prefer to schedule the seminars with. Chair Brown suggested working with City staff from Utilities and Anaheim Police first and trying to schedule between 9-11 a.m. Wendy noted that Wednesdays work best at the Downtown Anaheim Community Center and for the Police Department as well. She will work with staff at the other two facilities to find the best days, hopefully in early November. Chair Brown suggested that if a flyer could be prepared they could pass them out during food distribution, and she also mentioned posting it on the City's Facebook page. Commissioner Vicknair asked about the possibility of putting the information in the newspaper; Wendy stated she would look into that as well. Commissioner Real shared a memo that he received from Supervisor Doug Chaffee; Wendy noted that it had been shared with the commissioners. B. Affordable Housing Resources — Wendy Hernandez reported that pursuant to Commissioner Shah's request at the last meeting, she reached out to Community & Economic Development Department's Housing Section for an update about affordable housing resources in Anaheim. She shared that seniors interested in non -Section 8 affordable housing, can be placed on an interest list by going to www.anaheimhousingprograms.net and signing up. They will be notified when vacancies arise. She suggested perhaps it would be helpful to have a representative come to a future meeting and share additional information. Commissioner Vicknair mentioned an article in the Orange County Register about rental assistance that will be offered in the Platinum Triangle based on income, and he asked how that would be verified. Wendy suggested that would be a question for a representative from Housing. Commissioner Shah asked about subsidized housing; Wendy indicated that would be the Section 8 housing, not the affordable housing she was speaking about earlier. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION ACTION ITEMS: Wendy Hernandez explained that this agenda item had been added in 2019 specifically in case something was discussed during the public comment section in the previous meeting that needed follow-up. There was no public comment in the last meeting so there are no action items. 9. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: Chair Brown reported that October 1 st is the International Day of Older Persons. There are currently over 700 million persons over 60 globally, and by 2050 there will be two billion and Anaheim has the highest population of seniors in the county. On September 24th Chair Brown will be attending the 'Turning Silver into Gold" event, and on November 5th, "A Master Plan for Aging" event. Wendy Hernandez noted that she distributed the Anaheim Community Services Department's Activity Guide and suggested commissioners could reach out if they are not receiving it by mail. She noted that the Day of the Dead event that is advertised has been cancelled due to COVID, and the Fall Festival & Parade will be held in a virtual fashion. 10. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Brown adjourned the meeting at 2:58 p.m. NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 18, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.