TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Minh C. Tran, County Executive Officer
REPORT BY: Becky Craig, Assistant County Executive Officer, and Kris Brown, HHSA Deputy Director Comprehensive Services for Older Adults
SUBJECT: Update on Future Agenda Items
RECOMMENDATION
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County Executive Officer will provide a report on a pending future agenda item related to membership in AARP’s (formerly known as American Association of Retired Persons) Network of Age Friendly Livable Communities and will request discussion and direction.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Members of the Board of Supervisors have the opportunity at each Board meeting to request items to be placed on future agendas for discussion. Since the specific topic requested was not on the agenda, the remaining Board members did not have the opportunity to discuss the request at the time due to the Brown Act. One request was made for Board consideration.
PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Staff Report
2. Public Comment
3. Motion, second, discussion and vote on item.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Effective and Open Government |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The request is for the Board to consider joining the AARP Network of Age Friendly Livable Communities.
• One in three Americans is 50 years or older
• 10,000 people turn 65 every day - fastest growing population group
• People aged 50 years and older are the fastest growing homeless population
Overview:
Livable Communities - Age-Friendly - is recognition that, when looking at the eight domains of livability, policies, programs, and services would make our communities better for all. County Staff would connect with the local Cities and Town to coordinate policy conversations across jurisdictions.
Eight Domains of Livability:
1. Outdoor Spaces
2. Transportation
3. Communication and Information
4. Civic Participation and Employment
5. Respect and Social Inclusion
6. Health Services and Community Supports
7. Social Participation
8. Housing
Each of these areas will require in-depth assessment, outreach, and development of new or amended policies to reflect an age-friendly focus.
Adopting the Age-Friendly designation helps communities:
1. Participate in a larger discussion about community involvement
2. Support the work of the Area Agency on Aging and the State’s Master Plan for Aging
3. Access to AARP-funded mini grants for new services and community improvements
4. Access to customizable survey tool to establish local priorities - needed for the AAA Area Plan
5. Access to Emergency Preparedness, Public Safety, Dementia-Friendly, and Elder Abuse Prevention tools and best practices
The Board recently received requests from the County’s Commission on Aging and the Healthy Aging Population Initiative (HAPI) to fund a consultant-led gap and resource assessment that could be eligible for an AARP grant.
Membership in the AARP Network:
1. Helps local leaders identify and understand community needs
2. Serves as an organizing structure for making community improvements
3. Fosters partnerships among community groups and local stakeholders
4. Provides leadership opportunities for volunteers
5. Enables changes that benefit people of all ages
6. Public recognition for committing to becoming age-friendly
7. Resources for identifying and assessing community needs
8. Access to technical assistance and expert-led webinars
9. Support and best practice materials from AARP
The Process:
1. Governing body votes to apply for AARP Age Friendly Livable Community designation
2. Letter and application are filed with AARP
3. Appoint a team to create a 5-year plan of priorities to be more inclusive of planning for all ages.
Staff estimates the initial AARP application and letter will take CEO and County Counsel staff a few hours to complete (have requested the application but have not received) and will return with a Board resolution if directed. Staff cannot reasonably estimate the significant number of hours or associated costs that will be needed to conduct community engagement and to assess and develop policies to improve livability in the eight recognized domains due to collaboration with the community, other agencies, and across county departments.