Ruben Abrica

The Senior Advisory Committee agenda includes standard items such as call to order, agenda approval, public comment, old business, new business, and reports. Key discussion topics anticipated for the meeting or listed as associated agenda items include reflections on Chinese New Year and Black History Month, a focus group session for the Senior Advisory Committee, and follow-up on the Senior Services Task Force. New business items cover Senior Arts & Crafts Programming potentially guided by Neal of Art Bias, the continuation of the Senior Advisory Committee Focus Group related to the Senior Services Assessment (covering phases from project initiation through strategic framework development), and discussion regarding the location and schedule for AsKevin Tech Classes, with the YMCA front room selected as the preferred location.

The agenda for the regular session included standard items such as roll call, approval of the agenda, and public comment. Old business involved follow-ups on the Senior Services Task Force and the Workplan Subcommittee, including confirmation of subcommittee meeting cadences and Brown Act compliance regarding member limits. New business considered adding Senior Arts & Crafts Programming to a future agenda. Staff reports covered the low response rate for the Senior Ball Survey and recommendations for future efforts, the progress on the senior services strategic assessment RFP (including requested townhalls and focus groups, with a preference for a focus group with the Committee itself), and updates on Tech Trainings via AskKevin and StreetCode Academy. An announcement was made regarding standardizing bereavement actions for deceased community seniors, to be handled by the Social Participation Subcommittee.

The City of East Palo Alto's Strategic Plan outlines its long-term direction and goals for fiscal years 2025-2029. It focuses on seven key strategic priorities: Civic Engagement, Comprehensive Housing, Governance, Organizational Strength, and Fiscal Sustainability, Land Use, Economic, and Workforce Development, Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities, Public Health, Safety, and Quality of Life, and Public Infrastructure and Utilities. This plan aims to meet community needs, strengthen internal capacity, ensure effective service delivery, and promote an inclusive and just future for its residents.

Key discussions for this meeting included the approval of the agenda and the minutes from the November 5, 2025 meeting. Under Old Business, updates were provided on the Senior Services Task Force meetings and the consolidation of goals for the FY2025-26 Workplan, leading to the decision to form sub-committees for Communication/Social Participation, Transportation, and Emergency Preparedness. Potential partnerships with organizations like Belle Haven, Runnymede Gardens, Drew Foundation, Serenity House, and Samaritan House were discussed. New Business items covered the Senior Prom and a staff report on the Holiday Winterfest event. Staff reports detailed the upcoming Senior Services Strategic Assessment via an RFP process, which will involve the committee as a focus group, and an update on the AskKevin Tech Training programming set to begin in January. Results from the SilverScape Ventures Summer Park Activation survey were also reviewed.

The agenda includes items such as the Senior Services Task Force, the FY 2025-26 Work Plan, and potential partnerships. Also to be discussed are the Senior Services Strategic Assessment, a tech training update, and the Summer Park Activation Senior Activities & Trips survey results.