COMMISSION ON SENIORS FEBRUARY 9TH, 2022 AT 12:00PM AUSTIN CITY HALL, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM 301 WEST 2ND STREET, AUSTIN, TEXAS, 78701 OR VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Janee Briesmeister, Chair Peter Varteressian, Vice-Chair Natalie Cagle Jacqueline Angel Martha Bauman Patricia Bordie Emily De Maria Nicola Erica Garcia-Pittman AGENDA Amy Temperley Martin Kareithi Luz Lopez-Guerrero Sally Van Sickle Fred Lugo Diana Spain CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION In person: Each speaker signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will be called in order of sign-up and will be allowed three minutes to speak about items posted or not on the agenda. Via telephone: Call or email the board liaison at Halana.Kaleel@austintexas.gov or 512-972- 5019 no later than noon, February 8th. The information required is the speaker’s name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. Speakers will be allowed three minutes to speak about items posted or not on the agenda. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE COMMISSION ON SENIORS NOVEMBER 10TH, 2021 AND DECEMBER 8TH, 2021 MEETNG 2. ANNOUCEMENTS 3. OLD BUSINESS A. Discussion and possible action Commission Work Plan – Standing Item B. Discussion and possible action from Working Groups – Standing Item i. Age Friendly Action Plan Implementation Working Group ii. iii. Transportation, Housing and Outdoor Spaces Working Group Social Participation, Respect and Social Inclusion, Civic Participation and Employment Working Group iv. Community Support and Health Services Working Group v. Emergency Preparedness and Response Working Group C. Discussion and possible action from Joint Inclusion Committee – Standing Item (Commissioner De Maria Nicola) D. Discussion and possible action of City of Austin Budget – Standing Item (Chair Briesmeister) 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Equitable Transit Oriented Development (ETOD): Anna Lan from Capital Metro and Laura Keating from the City’s Housing and Planning Department will present an overview and answer questions about the equitable transit-oriented development project to plan for equitable outcomes for area residents of all incomes and backgrounds along Project Connect corridors B. Discussion and possible action on Commission on Seniors Joint Inclusion Committee C. Discussion and possible action on a Resolution regarding cold weather shelters Representative. (Commissioner Temperley). D. Discussion and possible action on Budget …
COMMISSION ON SENIORS RECOMMENDATION Recommendation Number: (20220209-04C): Cold Weather Shelters WHEREAS, The Commission on Seniors serves as an advisory board to the City Council concerning the quality of life for seniors in the Austin area and to help ensure older adults are productive, independent, and healthy; and WHEREAS, Cold weather puts seniors experiencing homelessness at significantly greater risk for death and adverse health impacts including hypothermia, heart attacks, kidney problems, liver damage, frostbite, or worse; and WHEREAS, The effectiveness of the cold weather shelter is decreased when the population it serves does not know, from night to night, whether the shelter will be open; and WHEREAS, The Winter Storm Uri After-Action Review (https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/HSEM/2021-Winter-Storm-Uri-AAR-Findings- Report.pdf ), shows that the City of Austin was unprepared for winter weather response, especially during Winter Storm Uri. Sixty four percent of the people who died during this storm were aged 60 and older; and WHEREAS, As of December 2021 there was no cold weather shelter plan in place. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission on Seniors makes the following recommendations relating to cold weather shelter planning for the City of Austin. • By September of each year the city shall develop and implement an annual cold weather shelter plan for the city for that a minimum includes: o Coordination of outreach activities prior to cold weather events to ensure that people experiencing homelessness are aware of the available options. o Nightly cold weather options, rather than only when the temperature falls to below freezing, are available. o If a temperature cut-off is necessary, raise the shelter activation temperature to a minimum of forty degrees Fahrenheit. This recommendation was made following a study of over 100 cold weather shelters in 2010 by the National Coalition for the Homeless (https://nationalhomeless.org/wp- content/uploads/2014/02/Winter_weather_report.pdf). o Extend cold weather shelter morning hours till 10 a.m. and provide adequate space in day centers to accommodate people who would otherwise remain outside. Date of Approval: February 9, 2022 _____________________________ Record of the vote: For: Briesemeister, Varteressian, Angel, Bauman, Bordie, Cagle, Garcia-Pittman, Kareithi, Lopez-Guerrero, Lugo, Temperley, Van Sickle. Against: None Absent: Nicola, Spain Attest: _____________________________________________
1 COMMISSION ON SENIORS REGULAR MEETING MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH, 2022 The Commission on Seniors convened a Regular Meeting at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions, 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas, 78702 and remotely. Board Members in Attendance: Chair, Janee Briesemeister, Vice Chair, Peter Varteressian, Amy Temperley, Erica Garcia‐Pittman, Fred Lugo, Jacqueline Angel, Luz Lopez‐Guerrero, Martha Bauman, Martin Kareithi, Natalie Cagle (entered dais at 12:29pm), Patricia Bordie, and Sally Van Sickle. Board Members not in Attendance: Diana Spain and Emily De Maria Nicola. Staff in Attendance: Tabitha Taylor and Halana Kaleel, Austin Public Health Presenters: Anna Lan, Capital Metro, Laura Keating, City of Austin Housing and Planning Department, and Krystal Otworth, Age Friendly Intern, MSSW Candidate. Chair, Janee Briesemeister called the Board Meeting to order at 12:08 pm. The Commission introduced themselves. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION A. No Citizen Communication 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE COMMISSION ON SENIORS NOVEMBER 10TH, 2021 AND DECEMBER 8TH, 2021 MEETNG A. The minutes from both meetings were approved on Vice Chair Varteressian motion, Commissioner Lopez‐Guerrero second on a 11‐0 vote. Commissioners Cagle, De Maria Nicola, and Spain were absent. 2. ANNOUCEMENTS 3. OLD BUSINESS A. Commissioner Kareithi announced Orange Line Working Groups and Community Design Workshops. An email was sent to Commissioners by staff liaisons. A. Discussion and possible action Commission Work Plan – Standing Item No discussion currently. B. Discussion and possible action from Working Groups – Standing Item Age Friendly Action Plan Implementation Working Group Transportation, Housing and Outdoor Spaces Working Group No discussion currently. No discussion currently. i. i. ii. iii. Social Participation, Respect and Social Inclusion, Civic Participation and Employment Working Group No discussion currently. iv. Community Support and Health Services Working Group v. Emergency Preparedness and Response Working Group No discussion currently. No discussion currently. 2 C. Discussion and possible action from Joint Inclusion Committee – Standing Item (Chair D. Discussion and possible action of City of Austin Budget – Standing Item (Chair Briesemeister) Briesemeister) No discussion currently. No discussion currently. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Equitable Transit Oriented Development (ETOD): Anna Lan from Capital Metro and Laura Keating from the City’s Housing and Planning Department will present an overview and answer questions about the equitable transit‐oriented development project to plan for equitable outcomes for area residents of all incomes and backgrounds along Project Connect corridors Commissioners received a presentation on the Equitable Transit‐Oriented …
