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Review the original purpose and mission of the Senior Coalition of Solano County and provide further direction to the Coalition and County staff; Provide direction on the membership representation of the Coalition; Consider the appointments of the Rev. Robert T. Fuentes, Cindi Royval-Unger, Jenalee Dawson, Laurie Hartmann, Lauren Rolfe, Louise Joyce, Karen Mickens, Wallace Pearce, Debbie McQuilkin and Jessica Duplantis to the Solano County Senior Coalition for 2 year terms to expire on April 23, 2021; and Provide direction on the request from the Senior Coalition for $9,620 in County General Fund for FY2018/19 through June 30, 2019 to increase the Senior Coalition Contractor agreement (if increase is approved, 4/5 vote required)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Health and Social Services (H&SS) is support staff for the Senior Coalition of Solano County. County staff ask that the Board review the original purpose and mission of the Senior Coalition of Solano County and provide further direction to the Coalition and County staff in light of the restructuring of the Napa/Solano Area Agency on Aging in FY2018/19; Provide direction on the membership representation of the Coalition; Consider the appointments of the Rev. Robert T. Fuentes, Cindi Royval-Unger, Jenalee Dawson, Laurie Hartmann, Lauren Rolfe, Louise Joyce, Karen Mickens, Wallace Pearce, Debbie McQuilkin, and Jessica Duplantis to the Solano County Senior Coalition for 2 year terms to expire on April 23, 2021; and Provide direction on the request from the Senior Coalition for $9,620 in County General Fund to increase the Senior Coalition Contractor agreement for the balance of FY2018/19 through June 30, 2019 (if increase is approved, 4/5 vote required)
SUMMARY:
The Board of Supervisors designated the Senior Coalition of Solano County as the Board’s senior issues advisory board and adopted bylaws for the Coalition on May 9, 2006. On May 26, 2009, the Board approved amended Senior Coalition bylaws which remain in effect. The bylaws include the mission, vision and values of the Senior Coalition and its purpose. The mission of the Senior Coalition (Coalition) of Solano County is to advocate for and support efforts that improve and enrich the lives of seniors living and working in Solano County. The purpose is to provide a forum for interagency cooperation and coordination; promote public awareness of senior issues and available resources; recommend improvement in senior services; encourage and facility community support for seniors; establish priorities in order to facilitate better integration of senior services within Solano County; and provide advice and recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding the adoption and implementation of Board policies and actions that may be necessary in order to accomplish the Coalition’s purposes.
The Coalition recommends the Board of Supervisors consider and approve the recommended appointments to the Senior Coalition for 2 year terms to expire on April 23, 2021. All of these individuals have extensive backgrounds and expertise in their work with, and for, seniors in Solano County. Each will be an excellent contributor as an advisor on issues that are important to the well-being of seniors in the County.
The Board approved an appropriation for a contract in the Health and Social Services (H&SS) FY2018/19 Adopted Budget for $56,800 to fund a Senior Coalition Contracted staff support to the Coalition for FY2018/19 for July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. This was funded with County General Fund. The Senior Coalition Contractor has fully expended the contract as of April 14, 2019 and has submitted a request for additional funding of $9,620 for the period of April 15, 2019 through June 30, 2019. If the request is not approved, H&SS will provide staff support for Senior Coalition meetings.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The review of the original purpose and mission and membership of the Coalition and direction to staff and the Coalition is not anticipated to have a financial impact. The appointment of the proposed ten members will have no direct financial impact but contract management and some County staff support is provided by H&SS. If approved, the request for an increase to the Senior Coalition Contractor budget for contract staff support will result in an increased County General Fund cost equal to the approved amount of the contract increase from $56,800 plus the approved amount for July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.
DISCUSSION:
The current Senior Coalition bylaws approved by the Board on May 26, 2009 include administrative, membership, and staffing changes but do not include any modifications from the original bylaws to the mission, vision, and values of the Coalition. The most significant change in the revised bylaws was the elimination of a required number of representatives in the categories of legal and law enforcement; community based organizations; health, mental health and medical; and seniors, substituted by language stating that efforts will be made to ensure that there is at least one representative from each membership category. The revised bylaws also changed the Coalition staffing from the Office of Family Violence Prevention (District Attorney) or Older and Disabled Adult Services Division of H&SS to the Department of H&SS.
Individuals serving as members of the Coalition should bring with them: an understanding of countywide issues affecting seniors; demonstrated expertise in work related to the health and well-being of seniors; and, a willingness to volunteer generous amounts of time to work on policies and projects that are designed to give all Solano County seniors the best possible life. The bylaws state five members are appointed by Board Supervisors, seven members are appointed to represent the cities. The remaining 15 members are selected to represent the community. The ten recommended community members represent the categories of Community Based (faith based) Organization; Health/Medical; Community Based (senior housing); Community Based (nonprofit) Organization; Law/Legal California Senior Legislator; Senior; and Community Based (transportation) Organization. Attachment C lists the category and the individual seeking to serve in each that category of the Coalition. Each of these recommended members has worked with the Coalition for several years and has had an extensive career or volunteer experiences working with seniors in communities throughout Solano County.
Robert T. Fuentes has served for more than 20 years as Executive Director for Faith In Action, a group that provides several support services to seniors. Cindi Royval-Unger works as a trainer for caregivers and staff in the areas of Alzheimer’s and dementia diseases and fall prevention. Jenalee Dawson works as a social services coordinator for a major senior housing complex as part of her job for California Human Development, an agency that is dedicated to combating poverty. Laurie Hartmann is Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Solano County, the organization that provides vital nutrition services to County seniors.
Lauren Rolfe is a member of the California Senior Legislature, a volunteer group that proposes and advocates for new legislation on senior issues before both the California State Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Louise Joyce has done extensive work with nonprofits and end-of-life issues faced by seniors. Karen Mickens is an experienced senior services manager, having served for many years as head of a local senior center. Wallace Pearce worked for several years in corporate legal services management and serves currently on a number of boards and commissions charged with advocating for seniors. Debbie McQuilkin is a manager for Solano Mobility a countywide program for assessing and meeting the transportation needs of seniors. Jessica Duplantis is Community Outreach Coordinator for Paradise Valley Estates and works regularly with seniors. The Coalition considers the recommended members to be excellent candidates for membership and is looking forward to making use of their wealth of experience and expertise.
The Senior Coalition Coordinator who is the contracted support has indicated her contract has been exhausted and has submitted a request for additional County General Fund (Attachment E) which outlines staff support activities identified as critical totaling $7,696 and activities identified as non-critical totaling $1,924 for the remaining three months of the current fiscal year. The total amount of the both the critical and non-critical activities requested increase is $9,620. The existing Coordinator contract is for $56,800 for the period of July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 and is funded with County General Fund. If approved, the contract would increase up to $66,420.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to provide direction to the Coalition and staff on its mission and purpose or membership representation; however, the County is now the administrative entity for the Napa/Solano Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and there exists the potential for overlap and/or gaps between the AAA and the Senior Coalition.
The Board may also choose not to appoint the recommended members; to limit an overlap of appointments between the AAA and the Senior Coalition; or to eliminate any overlap in appointments. Some overlap between the AAA and the Senior Coalition may improve coordination between the two entities; however, elimination of overlapping appointments may provide opportunities for additional senior representatives to participate in senior issues. The individuals recommended for appointment meet the criteria and membership categories of the Coalition and have indicated the desire to participate in the Coalition.
The Board may choose not to provide direction on the request from the Senior Coalition for additional General Fund to support the Contractor in which case H&SS will provide staff support to the Coalition for its meetings and agendas.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
H&SS, the department providing administrative and contract management support to the Senior Coalition, worked with the Senior Coalition of Solano County and the Senior Coalition Contractor on this Board item.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION