8-18-2023CHANHASSEN COMMISSION ON AGING MINUTES
August 18, 2023
MEMBERS PRESENT: Gwen Block, Jim Camarata, Beth Mason, Ruth Lunde, Ruth Slivken, Bhakti
Modi
MEMBERS ABSENT: Kara Cassidy, Laura Baumtrog
STAFF PRESENT: Eric Maass, Planning Director, Arianna Lyksett, Communications Manager, Mary
Blazanin, Senior Center Coordinator, Andrea Poehler, City Attorney
GUESTS PRESENT– Linnea Fonnest, Adults Services Librarian
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Camarata made the motion to approve the agenda. Commissioner Block seconded. All
members voted in favor and the motion carried. Agenda was approved.
COMMISSION ON AGING MINUTES MAY 19, 2023
Commissioner Camarata made the motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Mason seconded. All
members voted in favor and the motion carried. Minutes were approved.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Discussion/Update on City Website Revisions
Commission On Aging member Bhakti Modi and City of Chanhassen Communications Manager Arianna
Lyksett presented draft updates to the city’s website to make it more user-friendly for seniors as well as
provided a demo of a new central page of senior information that will be deployed in the coming months.
Staff will monitor the page’s performance over time and present to the Commission On Aging (COA)
how it is working and what fine-tuning may be necessary once it has been active for a period of time.
Discussion on July 3rd Business Expo and July 4th Bingo Event
Commissioners discussed the two events and what they viewed as successes of the two events and what
they would like to improve upon in 2024.
- Successes of 2023:
o July 3rd: Had the correct type of information available to give to people. Didn’t have
people asking questions about things that we didn’t already have information on.
o July 4th: Very strong attendance and community support. A smoother way to collect
funds if very busy. Good packaging of prizes. Dave Ryan did a great job announcing.
- Improvements for 2024:
o July 3rd: Eric to check on the supply of flyers/pamphlets for future years.
o July 4th: If possible, purchase additional cards to meet demand.
Update on City Ordinance Regarding Solicitors and Peddlers
Eric Maass provided a brief update on the City Council’s recently adopted ordinance amending city
policy regulating solicitors and peddlers. City Attorney Andrea McDowell provided an update to the
Commission as it relates to the legalities of the ordinance update. Commissioner Slivken indicated some
concerns that she had regarding the lack of restrictions on solicitors and peddlers as a result of the newly
adopted ordinance and provided the commission members with information from the City of Eden Prairie
and their program for regulation of solicitors and peddlers.
Senior Center / Civic Campus Listening Session Summary Discussion
Eric Maass gave the Commissioners a review of the listening session regarding the civic campus project
and plans for the future city hall and senior center facilities. Mary Blazanin discussed with the
Commissioners the flexibility that the new space will have and the opportunities for expanded
programming and services to the Chanhassen community. Eric Maass informed the Commissioners that
the City Council would be having a work session with the Architecture team on August 21st at 5:30 p.m.
to workshop the exterior design of the new building.
Humanity Alliance Partnership Discussion
Commissioners will be volunteering with the Humanity Alliance to provide nutritional snacks for
community members who may be food insecure. Snacks would be provided on a pay-as-you-can model.
Mary Blazanin will be working to further develop the partnership between the senior center and the
Humanity Alliance Partnership.
Alzheimer’s Awareness Month Preparation
Mary Blazanin indicated that she is currently preparing the November calendar for the senior center and
anticipates having a speaker on Alzheimer's. Commission on Aging members in the past have typically
staffed a table at the library from time to time and provided paper materials on Alzheimer's. Saturdays are
typically the busier days for library traffic. Linnea Fonnest said that the Carver County Library has two
Alzheimer's speakers scheduled to take place at the library. One on November 2 and a second on
November 30.
VISITOR PRESENTATIONS:
Linnea Fonnest provided the COA members an update on fall activities at the libraries across Carver
County including Grandparents Week, which will run September 10-16th. On September 10th the library
will host Grandparents Day which will include storytimes, crafts, and photo opportunities for visitors to
enjoy. Mary Blazanin invited the Commissioners to the annual women’s tea luncheon on September 14th
and the 2nd annual Senior Expo on October 4th from 9:30-12:00 p.m. including looking for volunteers to
staff a COA booth starting with setup at 9:00 a.m. Commissioners Block and Mason each volunteered.
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Camarata called for meeting adjournment. Commissioner Mason seconded the motion. All
voted in favor and the motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m.
Minutes prepared by Eric Maass, Planning Director