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04-19-24April 19, 2024 MEMBERS PRESENT: Phyllis Mobley, Gwen Block, Jim Camarata, Beth Mason, Kara Cassidy, Ruth Lunde. Ruth Slivken and Bhakti Modi attended remotely without voting privileges. MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Jenny Potter, Chanhassen City Clerk; Mary Blazanin, Chanhassen Senior Center Director GUESTS PRESENT: Allison Streich, Deputy Director, Carver County CDA; Steve Dunbar, Carver County CDA, Linnea Fonnest, Adult Services Librarian OATHS OF OFFICE Jenny Potter, City Clerk, performed the oaths of office swearing in Commissioner Camarata, Commissioner Block, and Commissioner Mobley. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Camarata made a motion to approve the agenda. Commissioner Block seconded the motion. All in favor, none opposed, the motion passed. COMMISSION ON AGING MINUTES March 15, 2024. Commissioner Block made a motion to approve the minutes from the March 15, 2024, meeting. Commissioner Mason seconded the motion. All members voted in favor; the motion was carried. Minutes were approved and published with proposed corrections. ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS Election of Chair and Vice Chair, - Jenny Potter: Commissioner Lunde nominated Commissioner Cassidy as Chair of the Commission on Aging. Commissioner Camarata seconded the nomination. Motion carried with no opposition. Commissioner Cassidy nominated Commissioner Camarata for Vice Chair; Commissioner Mason seconded. All in favor, motion carried. Open Meeting Law – Jenny Potter: The state mandates that any ‘body’ that recommends to the city council must follow that state’s open meeting laws. The regulation states that if the commissioner cannot meet in person, they must notify the community where they will be virtually, and the commissioner must be in a public space, for example the public library. If the commissioner is not in a public space, then they will still be able to video or call into the meeting but will not be able to be a voting member in said meeting. These are rules made by the state that we are required to follow. PRESENTATIONS Allison Streich, Deputy Director, Carver County CDA: The CDA provides affordable housing opportunities and fosters community economic development. They own 750 units of affordable and subsidized housing throughout Carver County and are looking for funding from MN Housing to develop 76 more units of senior housing in Waconia called Trails End. A way to get funding from the Equitable Development Fund through the state is to get points towards their project. A way of getting points is by seeking out organizations that represent the community in which they will be serving, the Chanhassen Commission on Aging (COA) is one of these organizations. The CDA takes recommendations from the COA, meeting a minimum of two times with them, and then works with an architect to meet COA recommendations. Once the CDA has presented the COA with the new plans, the COA Chair will sign a letter for submission to MN Housing. Trails End Senior Living will be a 55+ and Veterans facility with 13 of the 76 units being income restricted and 8 of the 76 units being reserved for high priority homeless. Trails End will be built using universal design, making it fully accessible for its occupants. One goal of the CDA is to help residents age-in-place. Another way that they will encourage residents to age-in-place is to hire a Resident Service Coordinator at the facility to plan events and aid residents. Streich encouraged commissioners to reach out to her with comments as part of the Equitable Development Fund if they have any ideas moving forward. CDA’s goal is to have open discussions with the COA throughout the whole process of building this complex. GENERAL BUSINESS Communications Articles and Website Updates: With the news of the Chanhassen Villager closing its doors, Commissioner Camarata suggested moving to the Sun Sailor or Chan Neighbors. Commissioner Camarata explained that not every senior has access to an electronic copy of the news and that he wants to publish our articles in a paper copy moving forward, so that all seniors may have access to read and stay current. Commissioner Camarata said that the Sun Sailor is only sent to single-family homes in the area, and they have about 2,500 on their mailing list. Commissioner Lunde expressed that it might be a good idea for extra copies to be put at the library for seniors who do not live in a single-family home. Moving forward Commissioner Camarata will follow up with the Chan Neighbors and the Sun Sailor. Currently, Commissioner Modi has no updates on the website. Bridging Program Updates: Commissioner Block suggested that the commissioners pass on volunteering for the Arbor Day events this year, as last year they were not utilized. Commissioner Cassidy reminded the group that it is listed on our website as one of the events the Commission on Aging volunteers for and encouraged anyone with free time on the day of the event to attend. Memorial Day Participation Updates: The city will set up a table for commissioners to use to collect donations for the Veterans Court at the Memorial Day events. A few commissioners will need to volunteer to sit at the table for the day. Commissioners Mason and Mobley volunteered to help run the table. Past Commissioner Jerry Cerchia will be contacted to explain how this has worked in the past and share his experiences with set up and donations. Staff Liaison Blazanin will make sure a table, chairs, signage, and information are ready for that day. 4th of July Bingo, Expo, and Senior tent/seating: Commissioner Cassidy explained that she is rewriting the letter inviting local businesses to donate to the bingo prize fund. She also organized the lists of businesses by address to make it easier for commissioners to group their door-to-door outreach. Staff Liaison Blazanin confirmed that the commission will deliver the letters at the end of May. Commissioner Lunde made a motion to have this year’s donations go to the local Semper Fi Flo nonprofit, who are devoted to supporting military families in our community. Commissioner Camarata seconded that motion. Semper Fi Flo will be receiving the donations from 4th of July Bingo this year. Staff Liaison Blazanin will reach out to the local group to let them know. COMMUNITY PARTNER PRESENTATIONS Senior Center Updates: Mary explained that there are monthly summer trips planned in 2024. Monthly movies are seeing an average crowd of 15-25 seniors. Monthly Coffee with the Cops, hosted by Deputy Jake Hodges, is popular and well attended. British History lessons will end in May and has been gaining participation throughout the year. Last year the Senior Center served 11,000 cumulative participants. The Senior Center is continuing to work with CAP agency, delivering over 6,400 meals last year. Over 3,400 seniors took part in day trips planned in partnership with Chaska Lodge. In the year 2023, there were over 9,000 cups of coffee served in the Senior Center. The Senior Center is growing rapidly and touches a large part of our Chanhassen community. The Senior Center programs will be moved to the Chanhassen Recreation Center starting June 2024 through Fall of 2025 during construction of the new Civic Campus. Linnea Fonnest, Chanhassen Library Updates: There will be a Senior Nook “update” to the Chanhassen Library. This is a specific space in the library with comfortable seating, and places to keep information related to the Commission on Aging’s activities like Act on Alzheimer’s, as well as Senior Center program flyers and posters, Carver County information, and other Alzheimer’s related materials, like the Memory Kits, to reside. Consumer protection information is also on the wall in the library lobby and in the refreshed Senior Nook that is from the Federal Trade Commission. The area will be clearly labeled with a sign that has been ordered. The Book Sale is happening currently and Fonnest encouraged the commissioners to share the details of the Book Sale with the people they know. Intergenerational games that were held in March will be making an appearance once again on April 28th. From May 4th through the end of September, the Chanhassen Library will host the volunteer Master Gardeners to help in the lobby. Master Gardeners will be there every Saturday morning to answer questions. Chan-o-laires concert on May 4th. There will be a Cello and Guitar Concert on May 19th, the concert is being put on by Compass which is an arts organization in the Twin Cities. The Seed Library project is in its third year, where anyone can take seeds to plant and now can return seeds in the fall. CareerForce is now monthly at the library for drop-ins for job assistance. The library is continuing to support and promote the Bridging Seniors and Students Book Club which is coordinated by Commissioner Ruth Slivken. Carver County Health and Human Services Updates: No one was present at this meeting from Carver Country Health and Human Services. No updates currently. OPEN DISCUSSION Staff Liaison Blazanin confirmed that the May 17 Commission on Aging meeting will be held at City Hall, but the June meeting will be at the Recreation Center as construction on the new City Hall building begins. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Mason called for the meeting to adjourn. Commissioner Block seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion was carried. The meeting was adjourned at 11:24 a.m. Minutes prepared by Kate Vogt, Administrative Support Specialist Minutes Submitted by Mary Blazanin, Senior Center Coordinator