[11:36] Hi, we're waiting a few minutes, waiting on a quorum at the moment.

[11:42] We'll get started in a few minutes.

[11:44] But

[15:56] We're just waiting on a quorum right now. We'll get started out. It's 1215. If we have a quorum by then.

[22:50] I'm assembly. We're doing a sound check right now. Can you hear us?

[22:55] Yes. Thank you. We'll get started here in just a minute. Thank you.

[23:09] We're ready in the chambers. Good morning. Good afternoon, everyone. This is Denise Daniello, chair of the commission. I would like to call the senior citizen advisory commission to order at 1213.

[23:24] So, Clerk, could you please call the roll?

[23:27] Yes.

[23:31] Mr. Duffy.

[23:32] President.

[23:33] Mr. Sharp.

[23:35] Yes.

[23:35] Ms. Wood.

[23:39] Ms. Supply.

[23:41] Yes.

[23:43] Ms. Anthony.

[23:44] Yes.

[23:45] Ms. Daniela.

[23:46] President.

[23:47] You have a quorum.

[23:48] Oh, very good.

[23:49] Thank you.

[23:51] So, the next item on the agenda are citizens' comments, which are limited to three minutes.

[23:59] This would be for agenda items now scheduled for public hearing.

[24:03] Do we have any members of the public signed-up clerk?

[24:07] I have no sign-ups.

[24:08] Okay, very good.

[24:10] And do we have anybody signed up for items other than those appearing on the agenda?

[24:16] No sign-ups.

[24:17] Okay, very good.

[24:18] Okay.

[24:26] We move to item C2 disclosure and statement of conflict of interest. Commissioners,

[24:33] do any of you have to make any disclosures required by the Code of Ethics for

[24:41] conflict

[24:42] of interest for this meeting?

[24:47] Okay. I get no. All right. Now we move to item D approval

[24:54] of agenda and consent agenda. So, as a reminder, approval of the consent agenda passes all

[25:02] routine items indicated by an asterisk on the agenda.

[25:07] Consent item, agenda items are not considered separately unless any commission member or citizen

[25:13] so requests in the event of such a request, the item is returned to the general agenda.

[25:19] Commissioner, do you wish to consider any consent agenda items separately?

[25:27] Clerk, please read the consent agenda.

[25:30] Yes, your consent agenda reads E1, Senior Citizens Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes

[25:36] from April 11, 2024, E2, Special Senior Citizens Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes from June

[25:44] 13, 2024, E3, Senior Citizens Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes from July 11,

[25:52] and E4 senior citizens advisory commission meeting minutes from October 10th, 2024, and that concludes your agenda.

[26:02] Okay, thank you very much. We have a series of minutes that need approval. Part of the problem was that we were not able to establish

[26:11] So today we're able to and we can take action on those minutes.

[26:17] So commissioners, do you wish to make a motion to approve the agenda and consent agenda?

[26:24] I move to approve the agenda and consent agenda.

[26:27] Okay.

[26:28] Very good.

[26:29] Thank you.

[26:29] Commissioner Anthony.

[26:32] So we have a motion on the floor to accept the agenda and consent agenda as read by commissioner

[26:42] Carol Anthony.

[26:47] So Claire can you please call the role?

[26:51] Do you have a second? Oh yes I'm sorry do we have a second? Second. Okay thank you commissioner

[26:57] Duffy. Okay I miss Mr. Duffy.

[27:04] This is the roll call. Oh president. I see. Is that yes? I approve.

[27:10] Okay, where's that? Yes. Miss Sharp. Miss Supley.

[27:18] Miss Anthony? Yes.

[27:21] Miss Daniela? Yes. So the results are 5-0. Okay, very good. Okay, so now we have the minutes approved from last year so that's excellent. So now we're gonna move on to reports.

[27:37] reports.

[27:39] Do we have a possible from the to get a copy of the minutes we just approved

[27:48] from last year? Yes, it's actually emailed to you before the meeting. It's part of your agenda packet.

[27:56] I can I can get with you after the meeting. Okay. Okay.

[28:03] Well, welcome back everyone. Happy new year.

[28:06] I hope everybody had a great holiday.

[28:08] I can't believe it's 2025 or 25% into this new century.

[28:16] So I, first of all, I want to welcome Mayor Gryer Hopkins to our meeting.

[28:23] And we're going to be calling on you in a little bit, but this commission really looks

[28:29] forward to working with your administration and to hear about what you would like us to work

[28:36] on here recommendations.

[28:38] And then secondly, I'd like to welcome our new commissioners, Professor Larry Duffy first

[28:44] and let me tell you a little bit about Larry.

[28:47] So he is a recently retired professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UAF.

[28:55] He also graduated from UAF with his PhD and master's degree and so you talk about growing

[29:02] our own, right?

[29:03] Right.

[29:03] So, during his tenure, Larry conducted cutting-edge research in biochemistry, environmental

[29:10] chemistry, and neurochemistry, and he studied a variety of problems specific to life in

[29:16] the Arctic, including the impacts of climate change.

[29:20] During his career, he received many honors for his research at Antichina UAF, including

[29:27] the UAF Award for Professional Achievement, the Use of Belly Distinguished Research Award,

[29:33] the Sven Epson Award for Neuroscience and the Chancellor's Award for Diversity on many others.

[29:41] He also serves on the Bureau's Air Pollution Control Commission and served as an officer for

[29:47] the U.S. Navy. Larry joined this commission because he's interested in the impact of aging on

[29:54] Fairbanks.

[29:55] So welcome.

[29:57] Glad that you're here.

[29:58] and then

[30:00] And also Teresa Brandt Sharp. She is joined the commission, and she's a lifelong member of the Fairbanks community. She has 35 years in human resources and customer service being employed by the Fairbanks Native Association and Golden Valley Electric Association. According to her application, Teresa wants to serve on the commission because she's interested in strengthening community services to assist people in Fairbanks to remain in their homes in our community.

[30:29] as they age. She's also very interested in helping with Senior Recognition Day. So that's awesome.

[30:36] And I think he helped flash it. I actually worked here. I was working in the Mayors Office at the time.

[30:40] Oh, that's right. It worked that day. It was a wonderful experience.

[30:43] Yes, yes. So that's exciting. And Teresa is also a family caregiver for her spouse. So she brings that

[30:50] perspective as well. So we're really fortunate to have both of you join the commission and we look forward

[30:56] to work with you. So thank you. So for the benefit of our new commission members, I just want

[31:05] to quickly summarize some of the work that we do. A big part of what we, one of the main activities,

[31:11] is senior recognition day and we're going to be talking about that a little bit later during this

[31:16] meeting. And we partner with the Department of Parks and Recreation to host senior recognition day

[31:22] in May because May is recognized as older Americans

[31:27] month nationally and as well as in our state and last year our theme was empowered

[31:33] by connection or powered by connection and this year's theme I looked it up

[31:40] right before this meeting. It's called Flip the Script on Aging. So I thought that's

[31:45] an interesting theme and it's you know its purposes to transform how society views

[31:52] aging and how we talk about aging and how we approach the aging process.

[31:57] So senior recognition day will be scheduled for May 8th this year, and we have a nice

[32:07] lunch that's given, but most importantly, it's also a day to recognize the contributions

[32:14] of older people in the borough for their volunteer efforts for fitness and airgiving, too.

[32:24] And so this year, the Commission worked with Parks and Rec to formalize this process

[32:29] for how we go about recognizing people for these awards and having supporting guidelines.

[32:36] So Brian's going to talk a little bit more about that, just to remind us what we're doing

[32:42] this year. And also borough mayors, so that's for the Fairbanks North Start,

[32:50] borough, the City of Fairbanks and North Pole Issue Proclamation as well. And so

[32:55] they all read those proclamations at Senior Recognition Day. So Senior

[33:00] Recognition Day Fairbanks is the largest of all the Senior Recognition Days in Alaska,

[33:04] so it's something that we can be proud of and it's at the Carlson Center. And we

[33:10] We also have, it's a back-to-back event with the Fairbanks 50-plus Art and Science of

[33:18] Aging Summit and that will be on Friday, May 9th.

[33:22] And so that's an exciting event for people to come.

[33:27] It's open to the public and there'll be a series of activities and presentations about aging

[33:35] and other areas of interest.

[33:38] So, that will also be held at the Carlson Center.

[33:43] We also submit from time to time budget and policy recommendations, their advisory, to

[33:52] the mayor and to the borough assembly, and so last, or in 2023, we did the senior transportation

[34:00] report, and that was based on a survey of seniors in the borough that Parks and Wreck helped

[34:08] us to put together and to distribute. And so that report, if you're interested, is online

[34:14] admissions website as well as the boroughs parks and rec department. And we gave that report to

[34:21] the mayor to the boroughs assembly as well as to the fast planning group that they're using it for

[34:26] their coordinated transportation planning efforts. And we also share with other people as well as with

[34:33] public members. So as you know, Alaska is the state with the fastest growing senior population

[34:39] and in Fairbanks our population is growing too. So in Fairbanks there are more than 18,000

[34:48] people age 60 years and older so they comprise about 18% 19% of the boroughs population are older people

[34:58] and we have a fast growing population of people age 80 and older and that's about 2,200.

[35:05] So for this reason, the commission teamed up while we supported the resolution 2024-17

[35:15] that was passed in July by the Burrow Assembly to include the Fairbank's North Star Burrow

[35:21] in AARP's network of age-friendly states and communities.

[35:26] So the city of Fairbanks submitted an application earlier and that was approved by the city's assembly and city council members.

[35:38] And so Burrow also passed this resolution, which was, I think, supported by Burrow Assemblymember.

[35:56] So that was that was wonderful. And so now it's it's it's original wide issue initiative. So we're working on that. And Carol with the commission is helping to spirally lead that effort, which is also supported by the Fairbanks health partners.

[36:18] the city of Fairbanks and also now the boroughs so it should be telling us more about this effort later in this meeting.

[36:29] So hopefully everybody had boards and were able to participate in boards and commissions training.

[36:34] If you weren't here in person maybe listen to it online if you couldn't understood.

[36:39] But it's always a great training.

[36:42] And yeah, I think that completes my chair report.

[36:48] Are there any questions, comments?

[37:00] It's a very good extensive report.

[37:03] Yeah, so now we're up to item F2, a report from Mayor Gryer Hopkins, which will include

[37:13] a question and an answer, so please step up.

[37:28] Thank you very much Chair Denise Danielo and members of the committee and those online too for having me and inviting me to come and listen and talk with you guys a little bit about the direction of the commission could go and different things that we've got so

[37:44] I in all honesty don't have a lot of specific direction or a report to give

[37:49] A much of what I've been thinking of and looking at stems from conversations with Ms.

[37:58] Dan Supply before this and meetings and campaign forums with the senior center on senior issues

[38:05] out there and the impacts that are coming up well aware before that of the aging population

[38:08] for sure the 20% over age 60 and the projected 80 or 5,000 80 year olds by 2035 so understanding

[38:16] that issue is not just coming down the line, but it is here today and something that we need to start addressing and looking at.

[38:23] The Bureau does a fair number of things, but not a lot in terms of, not enough in terms of supporting our seniors

[38:31] and recognizing them and providing opportunities to age and place and support families and multi-generation families here in Fairbanks.

[38:39] As Chair Daniela talked about the Senior Recognition Day, we told Senior Pollux at Mary

[38:47] Sye.

[38:47] We do put on classes and things like that as the pools as they are open as long as we

[38:51] have life guards which is one of our biggest shortages at our pools to keep them open

[38:55] and operating well.

[38:57] So if you have any grandkids or kids or anybody you know who's looking for a decent fun

[39:01] job, we will train them and get them signed up and we pay better than the Alaska Club.

[39:05] So come get in the lifeguard career and get good training and experience that you can use in the future for anybody out there listening, or if anybody knows anybody.

[39:19] The, um, we provide senior activities, booklets, um, we have, uh, programs that Parks and

[39:27] Recks puts on to support our seniors, but what, you know, we really need as a, as a

[39:32] burrow is a direction and policies and topics that we can do cooperatively, collaboratively

[39:40] with the burrow, with the city, with organizations and things like that.

[39:44] Um, as you come in and you brought me here and invited me to talk a little bit about direction

[39:49] is that we can work with all of you on our ideas that we have,

[39:56] you looking for a direction for your commission is very much not unique

[40:01] to all of the commissions at the borough right now.

[40:05] We have seen on the front page of the Daily News Miner a number of our commissions

[40:10] looking at direction, trying to get a direction and a purpose and a mission for them.

[40:15] I strongly believe that all of our commissions are fantastic ways for our community to help direct

[40:21] our borough and give input for what we need. We can do all of our work every day, but hearing from

[40:27] the public and getting that direction from our commissions from people out there is one of the most

[40:32] important things that we can do. So we worked hard in our first or last couple months to fill number

[40:39] the vacancies on all these commissions including yours and I've approved a few and we'll work with

[40:43] Mr. Charlton, to make sure that I see those in my email and get them through,

[40:47] we have a little electronic system that is much easier and faster than the older paper system.

[40:53] So hopefully we can move those quickly through and as soon as I see them approved,

[40:56] I will go so we can make sure we have enough commission members to meet regularly

[41:00] and have good input from a broad spectrum.

[41:05] This is something that I am hoping to be able to address on the larger scales,

[41:10] the direction that commissions can take, understanding everything from the trails commission to the R sac that handles the road service areas or air quality and what their powers are to a number of other commissions out there that are searching for that purpose and that mission and that direction is something I think we need to address so I'm hoping this spring to summer to do this as a more holistic and comprehensive effort of what

[41:40] Do they want to do what sort of issues do we at the borough look at that falls under their umbrella that whatever commission it is umbrella of responsibilities and hopes and goals to try and

[41:52] Get them all that that mission. That's going to be a bigger effort. But here today with you, we can certainly start that discussion. And you know, our borough, the second cost borough, so it has a limited amount of power specifically that we can do. But one of the big things we can do with bringing people together and try to start

[42:07] dialogues and understanding of the multi-level opportunities that we have, whether it's

[42:12] borough city, city of North Pole, state legislature, legislative funding, and all of the different

[42:17] community groups that we have to come together and start figuring out what specifically the

[42:23] policy in roadmap is for the look out of the 10 years from now by 2035 when we do have

[42:29] that 5,000 80 year olds.

[42:30] What do we need to do to plan ahead for that?

[42:32] What do we need to do to make ourselves an attractive community to bring in the healthcare

[42:37] care needs, bringing in the multi-generational family needs, provide the housing opportunities

[42:43] for seniors and for both Asian place and Asian homes that they can get the assistance

[42:50] and support that they need.

[42:51] So that is one thing I would love to discuss is how can we hear from you and help you as

[42:59] the commission bring together those entities to help guide that roadmap for us on a comprehensive

[43:04] community-wide level.

[43:06] It's certainly nothing small, it is nothing direct, but it is what we could look at as one of the most important things for our commission as well as if there's specific issues out there to bring forward.

[43:18] I do want to make sure, you know, as UE work on making core of each month or each quarter.

[43:25] We can reschedule the meetings just like we did with this one to make sure you're able to have those meetings, but in addition to that, you know, while you're scheduled to meet quarterly.

[43:33] Secondly, if there are specific topics for meetings that you guys need as a commission

[43:39] to work on at a more rapid pace than once a quarter, all you need to do is contact the

[43:46] Chief of Staff in my office, Kubejenda, or my office or the clerks to get to us to say

[43:52] we'd like to schedule a different meeting to talk specifically about whatever topic it would

[43:56] be.

[43:57] You can't just be, we want to talk about why this guy is blue but it can be about, we can

[44:01] talk about what is happening to seniors that makes the sky blue and how we can change that topic or how we could impact that.

[44:10] So that is how we can certainly help make sure you guys are meeting more regularly.

[44:15] If needed be as long as you have a specific item that would be difficult to address or a timely item that we can work on.

[44:23] So that is what I would have as my report today for issues and topics out there but always happy to answer any questions now as well.

[44:35] Very good. Thank you very much, Mayor. So do we have any questions with me?

[44:45] So I just have a follow up. So this is something that we can get involved with as a group in the comprehensive planning effort.

[44:56] and the current plan, because we're working on the next 10 years.

[45:01] 20 years, yes. Yes. So where can we find a copy of the current plan? So the current plan would be going back to 2025 was the last time we worked on the boroughs, comprehensive plan. So it sounds like you guys are probably touched on this a little bit. Comprehensive plan is the roadmap for the boroughs next 20 years and issues that we would need to address how we can look at them, what the public input is. And you can do that by going to

[45:30] FNSB dot gov slash comp plan two P's in a row COMP PLAN dot gov slash comp plan to

[45:40] find a copy of what the work is going on for the new plan and I don't know

[45:45] maybe Mr. Charles and could look it up real fast if the old plan is on there

[45:49] if not we can certainly get that email to the commission no problem and there's

[45:55] currently a survey on there to take right now that would be helpful for all of you and

[46:01] to pass along to all of your friends, family and similarly aged demographic and the

[46:08] people that you work with and impact on this commission to help put their thoughts into

[46:13] that survey.

[46:14] So please do that and that link is right there on that fnsb.gov slash comp plan.

[46:20] That would be a one way to give input on it.

[46:23] It's a slow process and it gives a direction for the next 20 years on a number of topics.

[46:29] But, you know, what we would need to do policy-wide, specifically, for senior issues, the

[46:36] entire spectrum, could be a different work that the commission leads.

[46:42] I don't know what to do with that, it would look like, but as we work with, yeah.

[46:48] So I don't know exactly what that specific, what it was.

[46:52] because you guys could, how we would structure and address the policy-driven, more pressing

[47:01] issues for the senior community today, as I was talking about before in terms of what

[47:06] the commission's purpose and mission could be, but the comprehensive plan would be a good

[47:09] place to start.

[47:10] Yeah.

[47:12] So, I'm just kind of thinking out loud, if I may, but I'm thinking maybe we might want to

[47:18] take a look at that plan and then hold a special meeting to talk about the plan and how we

[47:24] could get involved by the input and collecting opinions from older adults about the plan

[47:34] which should be in there, engaging our partner agencies that we work with.

[47:41] Something else too and Carol's going to be talking about it here in a little bit is this

[47:46] age-friendly Fairbanks, which is that national associate to ARP1.

[47:51] Yeah, the ARP1, and that has eight domains of living, and there's like transportation,

[47:58] housing, recreation, outdoor spaces, and many others.

[48:02] I'm just wondering, again, thinking out loud, if there might be some way in which that effort

[48:07] could dovetail with the comprehensive plan, and we could, you know, kind of work both.

[48:15] and to produce something that's meaningful.

[48:18] Definitely.

[48:18] You know, a good way before this,

[48:21] a special meeting or the next regular meeting

[48:23] to talk about that comp plan,

[48:25] a good way to make sure you and the partner organizations

[48:30] and everything get their words in,

[48:32] would be through that survey that's on that comp plan website,

[48:35] sharing that.

[48:37] But then also, we have a number of open houses

[48:39] starting this Saturday.

[48:41] I think we have a half dozen of them

[48:43] or so over the coming weeks to attend those plans.

[48:47] They're all regionally based, so we have one in,

[48:49] present value out in two rivers.

[48:50] We have one in North Pole, one at Pioneer Park,

[48:55] one at Ken Kunkel Center in Goldstrain

[48:59] and one I believe at the Heart Tone Hall in Esther.

[49:01] Make sure we get a good geographic,

[49:06] yeah, array of opinions and input.

[49:08] We also are gonna be adding two more on there,

[49:11] one at JP Jones Center and Southside Fairbanks and one at the Tribal Hall as well to work with the Alaska Native community to hear from them because there are a number of elder issues there as well, but working with the senior center of Ravens Landing, other organizations and housing projects or housing entities around town.

[49:32] or if there's a clearinghouse like Santa's Center or Santa's

[49:36] Santa's Senior Center out in North Pole,

[49:38] to make sure they know and get to those open houses

[49:41] would be a really good avenue.

[49:43] And those dates and times and locations are also

[49:46] on that FNFB website, so any ability you have to reach

[49:50] out to the partner organizations in a somewhat rapid fashion

[49:53] because those dates are coming up would be health.

[49:57] I think the ones this weekend are in Valley, and I can't remember where the second one is this Saturday, but if you look at those, we can find them. I can probably look at it up on my phone.

[50:10] But that's a quick turnaround in terms of giving input. The comp plan itself in terms of getting results in policy is not as fast acting of a document as we might need.

[50:22] So it's good to look at what it was done before because I have not gone through it with a fine tooth comb yet, but

[50:28] It'd be a good place to start looking at that

[50:31] curious

[50:33] You know thinking about the previous comp plan. How much of it?

[50:38] Addressed senior issues

[50:40] Because you know the senior the silver tsunami as it was all was just kind of coming up at that time

[50:47] Mm-hmm, and I don't think it was a large of an issue as it is today

[50:53] be kind of interesting to see what was said in the comp plan in 2005. Looks like Miss Subway might

[51:01] add a question. Oh, great.

[51:06] So the survey closes on February 10th, so there is a quick response

[51:14] required. So I thank you for leaving us to that. I will have that emailed out to our

[51:35] I'm looking online on my end. Yes, that will be it. The one this weekend from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Pleasant Valley Community Center, 4 to 6 p.m. at Pioneer Hall at Pioneer Park.

[51:49] The, which is not the Civic Center, it's the Pioneer Hall, like the museum over in the

[51:54] cabins, in the midst of the cabins, so this Saturday, from 4 to 6 p.m.

[52:04] Then, yeah, I'm happy to read it in, but you can find it at fnsb.gov, so that's a comp

[52:09] plan for us, so you don't have to write it all down, January 28th, 5 to 7 p.m. out in

[52:14] Esther January 29th noon is a virtual meeting via Zoom and then 5 p.m. it can

[52:21] come can come out in GoldStream and then February 1st at the North Pole

[52:26] library from 2 to 4 but that is on there so you don't have to write down as

[52:31] fast as I talk. Okay very good so do we have other questions? Yeah. Thank you. As I

[52:38] I understand that two groups are presently working

[52:42] and those groups are basically informing the plan as well,

[52:47] that there's the task group for transportation

[52:50] and the task group for housing.

[52:52] Is that something that those two groups,

[52:56] the outcomes of those groups are feeding

[52:58] into the comprehensive plan?

[53:01] There's a one that is also a,

[53:05] What do they call it, a steering committee, 14 to 16 people from across the community,

[53:10] representing a broad array of constituencies in the district.

[53:14] That's also helping the planning department guide it.

[53:18] So there's those two committees, the housing and the transportation, plus previous plans

[53:23] that we've done in the past, the social badger plan, the downtown plan, and the trails plan,

[53:28] those sort of things.

[53:28] Thank you I did want to comment up appreciated the process for both of those groups in including senior voices. I know darling. So please and part of both of those groups. I've been part of them. And I do hear some reassurance that the needs of older people are being heard through those groups. So thank you.

[53:53] I'm glad to hear that that is being heard because we would be remiss if we're not listening to the

[54:00] People impacted by your commission

[54:05] Anything further commissioners?

[54:07] comments

[54:09] So I just want to round that out with in addition to the comp plan

[54:16] Working as as we try to

[54:19] Renew and reinvigor all of our commissions

[54:23] And many of them outside of one's built into the ordinance process like planning and planning commission and planning board which are

[54:31] Required for things that come in front of the assembly, so they have a busy agenda no matter what but all the other commissions

[54:37] You know as we hopefully can meet the spring and summer and try to start getting a direction

[54:42] For all of them and how they would like to approach and reiterate themselves whether it's you know a big

[54:49] topic of

[54:50] of long-term planning like with senior issues,

[54:53] how are we preparing, what are we missing,

[54:55] and how do we put all the reports

[54:57] that are gathering dust on the shelves

[54:59] into actual practice.

[55:02] Or if there's specific targeted issues,

[55:04] how do we deal with housing or something like that,

[55:05] specifically how do we bring together nonprofits

[55:08] to make sure they're talking together,

[55:10] whatever those look like.

[55:12] I want to make sure the senior commission

[55:14] is also part of that effort

[55:16] because you guys are one that certainly impacts

[55:19] our community. So let me say tune on when and how we will do that but it might be several

[55:25] months from now as we enter the very busy budget process here starting this afternoon

[55:31] to for our entire borough administration but coming out of that once that dies down a little bit

[55:36] and it's more centered on a few offices to all of them then we can start addressing how we reinvigorate

[55:43] our commissions. So that'll certainly be a part of you guys but please do reach out to all of your

[55:47] department organizations and community of friends and never said you have to get input

[55:52] into that comp plan, the one that's comprehensive plan from 20-year update.

[56:01] And if there are questions now, happy to answer them. Otherwise, if you come up with any

[56:06] as you're driving home, once you park in our state fee, able to email, please feel free to

[56:10] email me. You can either email me at mayor at fnsb.gov or grire.hopkins.fnsb.gov. And we'd

[56:18] happy to answer any questions or talk specifically afterwards because sometimes it's hard to come

[56:24] up with ideas right now.

[56:27] Great, thank you. Thanks so much.

[56:33] Okay. Moving on. Thanks so much for

[56:38] coming.

[56:44] Okay. So next we have item F3, a report from Commissioner Subway and the Fairbank Senior Center.

[56:53] Senior

[57:00] Center, open, congregate meals with weather found back and forth. We are doing about

[57:09] shorter and 10 mils on whales delivery on strength. Still are impacting the wellness of seniors.

[57:21] Seniors are following, laying on the floor for the weekend. We deliver on Monday. We're finding them,

[57:26] So the purpose of milk on wheels that Denise actually has

[57:31] direct reference to is still having a major impact on our community.

[57:39] That our focus now is on the senior for living.

[57:46] Senior living, I'm sorry, my door is wide open.

[57:50] senior living thing and MLH manner, which is assisted living. So we're focusing in on that.

[57:57] We have a veterans direct program that has about 15 beds currently that's helping that's

[58:03] live independently at home. And so we'll continue to grow that particular program.

[58:13] And so I

[58:18] want to finish up the board and so the bachelor's direct program is continuing to layer in the necessary services, we have a lot of veterans in our population.

[58:34] and we are still adding voices for the legislative component and the

[58:42] legislative educational component of seniors in the borough and always

[58:48] honored to be a part of this commission as we move forward about that.

[59:00] Thank you, Derrily. So do any commissioners have questions or comments for

[59:07] and senior center.

[59:11] You do such a phenomenal job. Thank you, darling, for all that you do.

[59:17] You know, I had a really hard time hearing what you were talking about.

[59:23] I am. There's a lot going on in my office today.

[59:28] Regarding MLH, man, did you say now it's assisted living because you used to be independent?

[59:33] independent living and now that the senior center expansion is completed that we're taking

[59:40] our focus and putting it on M.O.H. Manor and the rehab and making sure that that's a vital

[59:45] component in our community as far as those 34 apartment units are concerned and trying to keep

[59:54] yesterday in 2000, and we tried three unsuccessful times to re-apply for them.

[1:00:00] House credits. The boroughs reporting on vacancy rates has a dramatic impact on the competitiveness

[1:00:09] for that specific focus on seniors and for tax credits to go ahead and rehab. As you

[1:00:19] know, 1994 was the last time that received the rehab. So it's been a long time. So how do we continue

[1:00:25] We just frankly not so that's where our focus is now now that we've solidified our base here and you know we open with every model and an exchange.

[1:00:35] We're taking all of our energy and focus focusing there now.

[1:00:45] So we have a question from Brian.

[1:00:49] Darleen, since we do have the mayor's special assistant here, can you elaborate a little

[1:00:55] bit on how that the boroughs reporting of vacancy rates is affecting what you described

[1:01:02] earlier?

[1:01:05] So, from what I understand that, and there are some voices that would have more knowledge

[1:01:13] on this particular topic, but it's the way that the data is gathered with regards to

[1:01:18] the vacancies rates. So when that goes out and how many apartments you have opened or how many

[1:01:24] facilities you have opened, there isn't a, there's a, when that reporting is done, that high

[1:01:32] rate, that high vacancy rate, that is being overall reported from the inventory, really does leave us

[1:01:39] at the bottom of the pile as far as competitiveness and concern. But that particular question that are

[1:01:45] being asked are one not senior driven, you know, doesn't have steps, right, that is, does

[1:01:51] it have, you know, hot water? Does it, you have to haul your own wood, right? Those, that,

[1:01:56] that, that pocket of information to the best of my knowledge is not also being reported. So when

[1:02:01] there's a vacancy rate, it's not necessarily a vacancy rate for the uniqueness of the interior

[1:02:08] and what units are available.

[1:02:12] So for those of us that are driving grants

[1:02:17] to better the interior as far as housing is concerned

[1:02:22] and the housing market is concerned,

[1:02:24] is there a way in which we can obtain that knowledge

[1:02:28] and be very specific about our reporting

[1:02:31] so that way when that is being done out for the state

[1:02:35] and those numbers are being looked at.

[1:02:36] even for investments in our community, you know, from outside investments. If they're looking

[1:02:42] at a vacancy rate that's extremely high, but it's not drilling it down to you when I first moved

[1:02:46] here, but when I was looking in the newspaper, when I my very first, you know, it didn't have a floor,

[1:02:53] and I was like, holy moly, I need to be very specific about what I'm looking for as far as a

[1:02:57] rentable unit is concerned. So, like, being able to take a look at that and how that information

[1:03:03] is being reported out, which definitely better equip those of us that, especially in the housing that are attempting to further strengthen the interior.

[1:03:15] Was that helpful, Brian?

[1:03:18] Yeah, I believe this commission has talked in the past about whether we could include accessibility information and in that housing report as well as it sounds like you're saying we need to know the quality of the housing as well as the quantity of the housing.

[1:03:35] Yes, because for a senior, as I said, a stairs is not a place where a senior is going to be able to rent, right, being the accessibility, like you said, following your own water, and firewood is, you know, up good until we have a stroke, and then that's not, that's not an accessible senior component anymore, and of course, I'm only speaking from seniors, but I do know that.

[1:03:59] But I do know that there are pockets of population that are impacted along the whole scope of the age group with regards to how those numbers are being reported and can we come up with a better way in which to really drill down it and in the specific conversation by and see this.

[1:04:24] So this is to the mayor's staff.

[1:04:27] This question.

[1:04:30] I'm sorry.

[1:04:31] What I didn't get your name. Tom Hewitt is his name. Oh Hewitt, okay. So I'm

[1:04:49] right. Okay, thank you. I'll talk with you later.

[1:04:56] All right, very good. Anybody else have a question or comment?

[1:05:00] for the senior student,

[1:05:10] and now we move on to item F4,

[1:05:14] Brian Charlton,

[1:05:15] with Parks and Rec.

[1:05:20] Turn my mic on.

[1:05:22] Good afternoon everyone.

[1:05:23] I'll try to keep this brief in light of so many topics on our agenda today.

[1:05:28] As you may have heard,

[1:05:28] our long-time Aquatics and Recreation Manager, Michelle Leonard,

[1:05:31] is retiring at the end of the month.

[1:05:34] We are having a gathering

[1:05:36] for her at Mary-Sai on January 30th from noon to one and everyone is welcome. She spent 30 years

[1:05:44] here with the borough, so she's leaving some big shoes to fill, but we have some pretty good

[1:05:49] applicants for that position, so we're hoping to have somebody brought on in a few weeks, hopefully

[1:05:55] at least by the end of February. You know, we're coming out of the holiday season, parks and rec

[1:06:01] hosted several large community events. Our biggest being the winter solstice festival

[1:06:06] and our part of that was the winter lightswalk. I spent nine hours downtown supporting dog

[1:06:16] machine and pictures with the reindeer and the fireworks. There was well over 1,000 people from

[1:06:23] our community out and about and our parks and rec staff does a really good job of maintaining the

[1:06:29] paths in Griffin Park. So I would consider that part of the event fully accessible. So that was pretty cool. I did see at least one person in a wheelchair down there.

[1:06:42] Our next large events are the Tanana Lake Spring Fest that takes place over Spring Break on March 13th and then the

[1:06:51] Chino Lake Spring fling on March 22nd. So we have a weekend one and a week day one one in North Pole one in Fairbanks.

[1:06:59] So trying to spread the love around.

[1:07:02] Tendents that are regular senior programs has been steady. I was able to attend the Christmas themed senior potluck at Mary's side and it was

[1:07:10] We were getting about 20 to 25 people at those, and they did a little gift exchange, which,

[1:07:16] you know, white elephant style. It was pretty neat.

[1:07:20] The next potluck, I believe they are the third Friday of each month, so we're doing one every

[1:07:25] single month at MarySci. The other big news for Parks and Rec is we just updated our website and

[1:07:33] registration platform. So our admins are very busy getting calls with people saying our website

[1:07:40] doesn't work anymore because it's a whole new website address from what we used to advertise

[1:07:45] but it is pretty simple it's fnsb.gov slash parks so easy to find but if you are trying to register

[1:07:54] for something like senior recognition day that's coming up soon that we're going to get a lot more

[1:07:59] calls with that because everyone we transferred all the registrations over but you have to change

[1:08:05] your password when you first try to get into there because we did not transfer passwords.

[1:08:11] Let's see.

[1:08:12] And with that, I'll save the rest of my topics for, well, let me do one more.

[1:08:18] The Senior Resource Guide, as some of you know, we're in the process of updating that.

[1:08:23] We really need input.

[1:08:26] We don't usually get a lot of input on what people like about it or don't like about it

[1:08:31] or what's missing, what seniors could use from that guide, so if folks could take some

[1:08:36] time going through the senior resource guides, I brought some our last weeks meeting, but

[1:08:43] I've given them all out.

[1:08:45] So I have 200 more on order if you need a copy.

[1:08:49] Let me know directly and I'll make sure you can get a hard copy, but they are available

[1:08:54] on our website as well.

[1:08:57] And that, for that, I will save the rest for new business.

[1:09:01] Okay, very good. Any questions?

[1:09:08] All right. Thank you, Brian.

[1:09:11] All right. Item F5 is a report from Day Johnson, Transportation Manager.

[1:09:18] I don't see Day. Is there anybody from Transportation?

[1:09:28] Okay. Let's move on to Item F6.

[1:09:31] is a report about the age-friendly Fairbanks in the boroughs' participation in the AARP's

[1:09:43] NAFC Initiative.

[1:09:45] Right.

[1:09:46] Commissioner Anthony, thank you, and I'm going to get an assist here from Brian on some slides.

[1:09:52] So the age-friendly Fairbanks initiative, as we've said earlier, is a partnership between

[1:10:03] the City of Fairbanks through the Chief of Staff's Office, the Fairbanks North Star

[1:10:09] Barrel through this commission, and then as well from a group that most of you are familiar

[1:10:15] with, I hope, the Foundation Health Partners Community Health Improvement Planning for

[1:10:21] seniors. That is the mouthful, so we just call our self-chip senior. That is a group that

[1:10:27] meets monthly. That's a group of community health and social service organization leaders.

[1:10:33] And their goal is to commit to improving care of people who are aging and privates.

[1:10:46] So the timeline for having set the goal of becoming an age-friendly community started in year one

[1:10:54] by enrolling in the AARP network of age-friendly states and communities since that again was a mouthful,

[1:11:01] we just call it age-friendly Fairbanks. And we began that process by using community listening

[1:11:10] and piecing together some needs assessments. Many needs assessments have already been published either

[1:11:16] through various organizations, through some of our government work, through the senior needs

[1:11:21] assessment, and then the listening sessions took the part of key informant interviewing

[1:11:28] among those working with the CHIP senior, doing an appreciative inquiry of what are we

[1:11:35] already doing in the community where are our strengths and where can we build.

[1:11:40] And then some ongoing assessments that we'll talk a little bit more about as we move into

[1:11:46] our year two, which I was very happy to hear Mayor Hopkins refer to needing and

[1:11:53] wanting a plan or a path or some direction and that's precisely what this is.

[1:12:00] In year two, we do commit to a plan of action and that we do that as a result of

[1:12:06] what we've heard from people about what's important and what seems doable and

[1:12:11] that we set some goals and some strategies and some measures for making some

[1:12:16] improvement. And then years three through five we continue to address those and to build on those.

[1:12:25] And it's a very welcoming path. There are throughout the nation there are hundreds of examples of

[1:12:32] other communities that have done this and that's the benefit of joining us. That's that we don't have to

[1:12:39] invent from scratch, we can pretty much ride the momentum of those who are already on this path

[1:12:46] and wrestled with many of the challenges of trying to do this. The principle and the steps

[1:12:54] involved are very much around including all older residents in all stages of the process,

[1:13:01] doing these assessments not as the mayor said to put on a shelf, but to make them

[1:13:07] something that then feeds into action and what kind of implementation can

[1:13:15] involve those that have an interest in seeing things improve and to continually

[1:13:21] track that and report it back to share that impact because you know as

[1:13:27] people provide input it's always it's always in everybody's best interest to say

[1:13:37] Now that we've got that input, what changed did that help create?

[1:13:43] And the mayor referred as well to a local candidates forum that thank you to the senior

[1:13:51] center for hosting that back in September.

[1:13:55] Every furrow and city local candidate was there and we spoke specifically to the eight domains

[1:14:02] of aging and the things that are on people's mind and what rose to the top in

[1:14:07] terms of commitments among those who are involved in local government are

[1:14:13] housing issues and that's the costs and modifications aging in place and

[1:14:21] definition of some service areas. Transportation challenges, so accessibility,

[1:14:27] affordability, and efficiency, and transportation.

[1:14:32] Emergencies, so how we communicate, how prepare are we?

[1:14:36] What is our response to various emergencies that affect the community,

[1:14:41] and then to be very planful about emergencies?

[1:14:45] Services, engagement, and inclusion.

[1:14:48] So that would be including older people in civic, employment,

[1:14:53] volunteerism, any number of other things that cause us to...

[1:15:00] To appreciate that as we are older, we are very much connected to our community. And governance, the health and social services powers of the city in Fairbanks, North Star, Barrow are something to consider in terms of what is the impact on both health factors and outcomes given our structure of health powers in the community and to perhaps address that as the years go by.

[1:15:30] When we speak in terms of age-friendly fairbanks, we follow a model that speaks to eight domains of an age-friendly community.

[1:15:42] The three big ones are the built environment, housing, outdoor spaces and building and transportation.

[1:15:49] What feeds those and what makes all that come together is considered the social environment,

[1:15:55] So, the operations of civic participation and employment, communication and information,

[1:16:03] respect and social inclusion, social participation and health services in community supports.

[1:16:11] Those would be the eight domains that as we consider what should and will we focus on

[1:16:17] to the next year and then into the five year plan, what rises to the top as far as where

[1:16:25] where do we want to put our action plan, meet in potatoes.

[1:16:32] One of our methods for coming together around that is to host, and that would be the Community

[1:16:41] Health Improvement Senior Group has hosts the seniors Fairbanks at 50 plus Art and Science

[1:16:48] of Aging.

[1:16:50] This is something that was built off of a long tradition of the community resources, health

[1:16:57] and social services for seniors doing resource fairs so that they had an opportunity to do

[1:17:02] let the public know and to let one another know what was current, what was happening.

[1:17:07] And with a pandemic, that resource fair kind of died back some and this is how it was reinvented

[1:17:16] in 2023 during a pioneer park event was that we conceived of it more as something to perhaps attract

[1:17:25] the entire public that is starting to wrestle with all those things to think

[1:17:30] about as you get 50. At hitting 50, we start thinking in terms of, hmm, I see my

[1:17:37] parents struggling with things I took for granted would be easier than it seems

[1:17:42] like they are. So now maybe I should be more planful about my retirement, my

[1:17:47] future. And at the same time too, it's a huge pivot point for starting to make

[1:17:54] some decisions that then support both the community and individual ability to

[1:18:00] age independently and to remain in our community which over and over we hear

[1:18:05] is one of the number one values of aging and fair banks is to be able to stay

[1:18:09] here and to be able to stay in our own homes as long and as safely as possible.

[1:18:14] So that event started at the Pioneer Park and then in 2024 we collaborated with

[1:18:23] the senior recognition day which made so much more sense and really appreciated the opportunity

[1:18:31] to do that so that as seniors are together on the Thursday for the luncheon we can

[1:18:38] then extend that resource fair and then other events that cause people to celebrate anything

[1:18:44] into the following Friday. So we have opportunity to do things that Thursday evening and that Friday

[1:18:51] during the day, depending on capacity and ability to piece these things together.

[1:18:57] And this season at 2025 May 8th and 9th, we presently have proposal period out for those

[1:19:06] who would like to host an event, to have exhibits, or to be part of the volunteerism that puts

[1:19:16] the group together. And those applications are due by February 28th.

[1:19:21] A small group of us takes a look at those and decides how the resource fair will be laid out

[1:19:27] and what kind of schedule will include. What one thing we thought of in terms of a theme and

[1:19:35] some excitement around this year's event is that AAARP is very much involved in the previous ones

[1:19:44] and kind of helps us come up with something that would attract people this time around.

[1:19:50] We are turning this into what's called a Shred event and they have collaborated with

[1:19:57] a local shredding company and if you bring your big box of stuff, you want safely shredded.

[1:20:04] This event will be an opportunity for some free and exciting shredding opportunity which

[1:20:10] which is perfect because it brings it through that text season and it's coming right along

[1:20:15] with some themes that then let us build on that.

[1:20:20] So for instance, information safety, fraud, how to protect oneself from those kind of activities

[1:20:28] and as well, downsizing.

[1:20:30] That is something we start thinking about as we hit the particular ages, how do I stop accumulating

[1:20:37] so much and how do I safely dispose of things that I need to dispose of, so we're really excited

[1:20:44] about having that as somewhat of a theme around what some of the presentations and exhibits will

[1:20:50] be all about. And if you move on, what I want to point out is that this is an excellent opportunity

[1:20:59] for some listening posts, people. It is very beneficial to survey and have questionnaires, but we're

[1:21:06] all a little weary of those and that listening posts have shown and excited to see the borough

[1:21:14] doing so many more of them as well this is an opportunity for some listening post activities

[1:21:21] and I would encourage us to get behind helping plan this as an event to be able to both sponsor that

[1:21:30] to focus some questions around that and then to build the participation in it.

[1:21:37] So I would look for and hope for lots of proposals around how can we make this

[1:21:43] opportunity also be a listening post opportunity and on the theme of

[1:21:51] opportunities. Another has crept up and it is pending and through the community

[1:21:56] health improvements senior group we were able to throw our hat in the ring for a livable

[1:22:05] community's technical assistance proposal. And I want to thank some of the folks that

[1:22:11] contributed kind of on short notice to some input on what should we focus on. We have so

[1:22:17] many opportunities for some technical assistance around age friendly fair banks. What is something

[1:22:23] on our mind that we could benefit from and as we rallied that kind of information we honed

[1:22:29] in on pretty great enthusiasm both from the city, from the borough, on technical assistance

[1:22:36] around emergency preparedness and that we have submitted an application, the nationwide

[1:22:43] process for deciding do we get that technical assistance here in Fairbanks ending and what

[1:22:50] But that would bring us, if and when we do here, and I'm very optimistic, would be some

[1:22:55] strategic advising on the ground here in Fairbanks, and some perhaps some training around

[1:23:02] what are some of the specific needs of older people relative to floods, fires, ice,

[1:23:09] snow, mageddon like we had in what year was that, that this photo was from, and that I know

[1:23:16] we have some very strong partners who are excited about this opportunity if and when we do realize it

[1:23:25] and that is it and I'll leave it open for some questions.

[1:23:32] So commissioners, do we have any

[1:23:33] questions for Carol? Good job Carol. Thank you.

[1:23:43] So I have a question. Yeah so how can this commission

[1:23:47] with respect to individual commission members

[1:23:51] get involved in the age-friendly Fairbanks effort

[1:23:55] in terms of, you know, like attending meetings

[1:23:59] or you want to speak a little closer to the mic.

[1:24:01] Oh, sorry. Thank you.

[1:24:04] So how can individual commission members

[1:24:06] get more involved with this effort?

[1:24:09] I have, thank you.

[1:24:11] I have exhibitor application forms here.

[1:24:14] Plus, we have connections for that

[1:24:16] on the foundation health partners webpage, our Facebook page, sorry, and so I would encourage

[1:24:23] if you are involved in any particular group to perhaps consider being an exhibitor,

[1:24:28] to definitely volunteer, to we never turn away volunteer, we need breeders, we need help

[1:24:35] planning and piecing these things together, and then if you have an interest in this being a

[1:24:44] A listening post, I would absolutely welcome the part of the planning around how do we make this a listening post event.

[1:24:55] Thanks.

[1:24:56] So, Darleen, did you have a question?

[1:24:58] I thought I saw your hand up.

[1:25:01] Nope.

[1:25:01] Okay.

[1:25:02] All right.

[1:25:03] Anything else from the commission?

[1:25:07] All right.

[1:25:07] So, we look forward to your future reports on what's going on.

[1:25:11] Okay,

[1:25:17] we're getting forward in time here, and we've come up to a new business election

[1:25:25] of Chair and Vice Chair.

[1:25:28] So before we hold elections, here's a brief reminder of the role in duties of the Chair

[1:25:34] and Vice Chair.

[1:25:35] The Vice Chair fulfills all duties in the Chair's absence, and the Chair's duties are the

[1:25:43] attend agenda setting meetings, calls the meeting to order at the appointed time, determines

[1:25:49] a quorum is present, conducts the proceedings in conformity with the FNSB code, determines conflicts

[1:25:58] of interest based on whether a member's financial interest is substantial, or the personal involvement

[1:26:04] is prejudicial in a manner coming before the body, even a hard time talking today, announces

[1:26:12] in proper sequence the next item before the Board of Commission in accordance with the agenda.

[1:26:17] Determines who has the right to speak, impartially permits pro and con equal time, explains

[1:26:25] clarifies issues without bias, maintains decorum and order during debate, keeps discussion on topic

[1:26:34] and discourages repetition, refrains from debate unless passing the gavel, states the motion

[1:26:41] and clearly takes the vote accurately and announces the vote so all can hear and adjourns

[1:26:48] the meeting.

[1:26:51] So do we have any questions about those duties?

[1:26:58] So now we move to chair

[1:26:59] election. Nominations are now in order for the chair. Nominations do not require a second.

[1:27:06] The missionaries may nominate themselves.

[1:27:11] We hear any nominations for chair.

[1:27:13] I would like to nominate Denise Daniello to remain as chair.

[1:27:22] Second.

[1:27:25] I would also like to nominate Denise Daniello,

[1:27:28] to show acceptance to be in the chair.

[1:27:31] Well, thank you.

[1:27:34] You know, I've done this for a while now.

[1:27:39] Does anybody else want to take on this responsibility?

[1:27:49] I want to learn more about the commission first, and I've got to make sure it's not

[1:27:56] conflict with my other department.

[1:28:02] Okay, I accept.

[1:28:04] Thank you everyone.

[1:28:07] So now we move to the

[1:28:16] vice chair.

[1:28:17] So, nominations are now in order for the vice chair.

[1:28:20] Nominations do not require a second.

[1:28:23] Commissioners may nominate themselves.

[1:28:31] I know that Carol has her plate full.

[1:28:33] I would like to nominate Carol if she's willing to continue carrying that on the plate.

[1:28:40] I would be willing to nominate.

[1:28:43] Thank you.

[1:28:44] Okay.

[1:28:45] Second that motion, too.

[1:28:47] Very good.

[1:28:48] All right.

[1:28:49] So now we have our officers moving to item G2 review and approved award criteria for the senior

[1:29:04] recognition of awards. Well, Brian, you want to talk about that? I think we've already implemented it, but you want

[1:29:12] just yeah the nominations are currently open and for lack of some

[1:29:19] quarms we moved forward with the well to step back this commission worked pretty

[1:29:26] hard on getting three of the award criteria decided and I'll run through it

[1:29:33] real quick because we have do have some new commissioners can I share my screen

[1:29:38] In case anyone wants to follow along, this is from the Agenda Packet, let's see, then it

[1:29:47] pulls up here, still sharing PowerPoint, is there a way to switch to showing what I'm

[1:29:56] showing on my web view.

[1:30:00] So, um, well, Ryan's looking for that, the criteria criteria are listed on the nomination forms too.

[1:30:53] I think

[1:30:58] that's what I don't

[1:31:03] know. I don't know how your sharing system works. There it is.

[1:31:06] Thank you.

[1:31:09] Yeah, that's going to be the screen.

[1:31:11] I mean, the background screen on the laptop.

[1:31:14] Thank you.

[1:31:15] See?

[1:31:16] Perfect.

[1:31:17] Got it?

[1:31:18] Yeah.

[1:31:20] That easy.

[1:31:21] Yeah.

[1:31:24] Sure.

[1:31:25] It's kind of up to you guys.

[1:31:26] I can just read it, and you can read along.

[1:31:29] Does that work?

[1:31:30] We have it.

[1:31:30] Okay, let's just do that because I know we're getting late

[1:31:33] in the day for folks that are planning.

[1:31:36] I will remind the chair that there is no time limit to

[1:31:39] our meetings, but there is time to people's life.

[1:31:41] But I'm watching the clock because I've got another

[1:31:43] Are we coming up after this?

[1:31:45] Yes, I hear you.

[1:31:46] Okay, so since you guys have it on your screen as well,

[1:31:50] we started with a discussion about ethics.

[1:31:53] There was confusion about like,

[1:31:55] hey, I nominated someone I know them

[1:31:58] and we always ask the commissioners to nominate people.

[1:32:01] Are they able to actually vote on those nominations

[1:32:03] and the commission decided that there is a conflict

[1:32:06] of interest if they are direct family member

[1:32:09] of the nominee or are the nominee themselves

[1:32:11] and therefore they could not vote for that nominee.

[1:32:15] We also came up with that criteria about how frequently someone could win.

[1:32:19] You have to wait at least 10 years to be eligible for the same award.

[1:32:23] Someone could be nominated for a different award, but just once every 10 years for the awards.

[1:32:30] And we'll get to what those awards actually are here.

[1:32:35] There was something about how many people can be awarded in each category.

[1:32:40] I'm following in some of you probably want to know what the categories are but we will get to that.

[1:32:47] There's three individuals can be nominated for the volunteer or can win in the volunteer category.

[1:32:55] I think this is an old page here because it says one for male fitness,

[1:33:05] one for female fitness, and we combined those to be just one fitness award. And then we have an outstanding one for outstanding caregiver, and I'm going to scroll down to see where the other categories are because we came up with a new category.

[1:33:28] There it is. Model of health award and that's really the criteria we need to work on today.

[1:33:35] But I'll just go back kind of just through this quickly. Oh, there it is in the next section.

[1:33:43] So if we have more than five nominations in a category, we do have a scoring criteria

[1:33:48] we developed and this commission due to frequency of meetings, we can appoint a work group

[1:33:58] of three or less commissioners to kind of score those nominations and then bring them to the

[1:34:03] whole commission for final acceptance. And that's if we have five or more, if less than that,

[1:34:10] we kind of just make a decision on the day of the commission meeting. The award categories,

[1:34:16] There's lifetime fitness, honored caregiver, outstanding volunteer, and a model of health.

[1:34:23] And then there's been questions in the past if you could nominate a whole group, or just

[1:34:27] an individual, such as could you nominate the food bank, or could you nominate the meals

[1:34:32] on Wheels program.

[1:34:33] And it was decided that we would limit it to an individual awards rather than a group

[1:34:39] award.

[1:34:40] And part of the rationale for that is usually those groups do have a champion within the

[1:34:45] group that's really making those groups move. It could be more than one, but really focusing

[1:34:51] on those individuals. So those topics, whilst I'll open here at this meeting, they were

[1:34:58] kind of decided and worked through with this commission. So I'm going to just scroll ahead

[1:35:04] because there's really only one category, and it's the second category on your sheet there,

[1:35:12] and it's the model of Health Award, Ms. Anthony and Ms.

[1:35:19] Tarkeian and worked together to, I believe Ms. Tarkeian helped you, yes,

[1:35:24] worked together to come up with these criteria and part of the criteria was

[1:35:31] well, we didn't, we knew what the award was called but we didn't really know what

[1:35:35] we were judging nominations, how we were judging the nominations.

[1:35:41] It was very subjective, so we want to try to get a little bit of objectivity in there.

[1:35:48] So just going through these, we modeled it to match the other categories.

[1:35:55] So the first scoring criteria is consistent commitment to healthy aging, and that's two

[1:36:04] parts.

[1:36:04] This person would demonstrate long-standing involvement in community activity that promote healthy

[1:36:11] aging for self and others, and be provides help to others by way of advocacy, public education,

[1:36:18] civic participation, and other program or service development that supports healthy aging.

[1:36:25] Since you guys can all see this, I'm wondering if there's any comments. Can you all see this,

[1:36:32] actually? Yes, okay. Sometimes I'm not sure. Ms. Sharp is telling me what I think is correct or not.

[1:36:40] Thank you. So, if you can read through, maybe we'll just start with 1A, and is everyone

[1:36:47] like the language that is there?

[1:36:52] Okay, saying no and saying no, and so in 1B that provides

[1:36:56] help to others by way of advocacy, public education, civic participation, and or program or service

[1:37:01] development that supports healthy aging. Does that one make sense to everyone? Okay, and I

[1:37:07] So I will say after we're done with this little section here, I think we are going to be completely done with this process, so that is nice to look forward to.

[1:37:17] So for number two, the work group came up with trailblazer for healthy aging.

[1:37:23] That's defined as impacts others by serving as inspiration by contributing in a meaningful way to age-friendly fair bank domains, such as housing, transportation, access to care,

[1:37:36] social inclusion, communication, respect, and or civic participation. Is there

[1:37:43] anything missing in that one? I think they did a really good job. So everybody's

[1:37:49] nodding their heads. So we'll move to number three, leadership or involvement. So

[1:37:53] this person, a, does volunteerism that demonstrates healthy aging and or has a

[1:38:02] professional role, that impacts improvements in age-friendly fairbanks, C,

[1:38:10] inspires growth, and community involvement in age-friendly fairbanks.

[1:38:14] Does everybody agree with those concepts?

[1:38:17] All right.

[1:38:19] So, again, some of these other, oh, I guess this laptop's a little confusing for me.

[1:38:28] But, um, so I would say maybe it would be time for someone to make a motion to accept these criteria.

[1:38:37] Does that make sense, Claire?

[1:38:39] Okay. First, are there any questions or comments regarding the criteria?

[1:38:44] Everybody's good?

[1:38:46] Because we're going to be using this for this next round of awards for 2025.

[1:38:51] Okay.

[1:38:52] Okay, so does anybody wish to make a motion to accept the criteria for

[1:39:01] senior recognition awards?

[1:39:03] Can you speak to the mic?

[1:39:06] Thank you.

[1:39:11] Okay, I'll go ahead and make some motion to accept for the senior recognition award.

[1:39:17] All right, very good.

[1:39:18] Do we have a second?

[1:39:20] A

[1:39:22] second.

[1:39:24] Very good.

[1:39:25] Okay.

[1:39:27] so we have a motion on the floor to accept the award criteria for the senior

[1:39:34] recognition boards is already stated does anybody have any comments about

[1:39:42] that everybody to vote okay call the roll please all right mr. Duffy yes miss

[1:40:15] I just want to let you know that I did bring copies of the nomination forms there in the back of or in the front of the chambers so people can take some home or distribute.

[1:40:26] I've got a big stack over there and then I'll get the nomination forms in our monthly flip newsletter as well as they are on the senior program page as well for people to download and share.

[1:40:40] But we do encourage commissioners to try and find some folks to nominate because sometimes we do struggle to have enough nominations each category.

[1:40:48] thank you. But other times we have so many which led to the you know the move

[1:40:55] to establish criteria so we have a process. So okay do you know if this will

[1:41:04] be the nomination forms will be published in the news minor? We haven't

[1:41:09] published them in the news minor before it's something we could try to do we

[1:41:13] We noticed the meeting, but we put it in our, actually went out in our January senior

[1:41:20] newsletter, and I'll get them in our Parks and Rec newsletter, and I'll ask our admins

[1:41:26] to get it on our Facebook page as well.

[1:41:29] But I can share them with the mayor's office, and I think it would be something they'd be

[1:41:33] interested in promoting as well.

[1:41:35] That sounds good, because, you know, not everybody uses the computer or has access to a computer.

[1:41:42] Okay. Very good. Thank you. And item G3, I'm not sure if we, well, we might have some

[1:41:51] things to discuss. Review and discuss senior recognition day and Fairbanks at 50 plus

[1:41:55] event. So did we still want to, was there anything that we needed to discuss or should we schedule

[1:42:04] special meeting and then we talked about that or what do you suggest by and where are we with the

[1:42:11] planning? I had a very brief little bit. We're just getting started with with the planning for

[1:42:18] it. So one is reviewing that senior resource guide because we try to get it published for senior

[1:42:23] recognition day with the 2025 version basically goes from May through April. So any feedback on that

[1:42:31] That shared directly with me would be great.

[1:42:34] We did have some questions about what sort of involvement the commission wanted to have

[1:42:38] in the preparations.

[1:42:40] So I made a really short list of things to consider if you'd like me to share.

[1:42:48] One is we select the winners or this commission selects the winners.

[1:42:54] It is called Senior Recognition Day.

[1:42:57] Some people think Senior Rec Day stands for Recreation, but it's actually Senior Recognition

[1:43:02] Day.

[1:43:03] So, one of the big points is recognizing the winners of those categories.

[1:43:09] But sometimes this commission is helped with us, help choose menu items, so food choices.

[1:43:15] The commission could help with setup or take down serving, tabling, which operating a resource

[1:43:21] The commission has often had a resource table there choosing who will sing the national anthem.

[1:43:30] We've had Tom Gross sing at the last two years and we just want to make sure that we could ask him again, but we could also ask someone else if the commission was interested.

[1:43:39] The MC Choice, we're working with Jerry Evans, who had done it two years ago, and last year he wasn't available, so we are Lewis, who also did great.

[1:43:50] So we're trying to figure out we're going back with Jerry Evans, but if this commission feels differently or he's not available, there could be some input.

[1:43:59] Also, we usually have musical performers, if the commission had any input on who they would like to see perform.

[1:44:08] And then we could bring potentially like we give out a plaque to the eldest female and male

[1:44:18] that are present at that event. And if the commission wanted any input on design of that plaque,

[1:44:25] that's what we had come up with as a brainstorm, but the commission may have additional ideas.

[1:44:33] Okay, very good. So I'm going to turn to the commission now and ask what would be the best way

[1:44:40] We're up to provide input. Do you think we should have a special committee that would work with parks and ruck? I think we did something like that last year.

[1:44:50] Or do you want to have a special meeting to discuss all of these topics items that Ryan just read off?

[1:45:00] What do you think would be the best way for us to be involved? Because we're going to be involved. You know, this is a partnership between the commission and parks and rack. And our next regularly scheduled meeting is April. And that's too late to make decisions. Right. Other than who's going to win. Yeah, because we can get the awards made, but we can't choose food in April. It's chosen sooner than that. So. Yes.

[1:45:27] Maybe could I suggest we do new time meeting in maybe the late February early March timeframe?

[1:45:36] Can you speak in the mic a little more?

[1:45:44] Maybe late February early March, if that's not too late, we could have a breeze.

[1:45:50] new time meeting to discuss this and that where input is in in enough time for

[1:45:58] Brian's group to plan and Brian let the group know that I'm willing to

[1:46:07] volunteer again this year for the front desk detail because they also

[1:46:11] sound that I do not have the physical ability to be white staff.

[1:46:16] Right. Yes.

[1:46:18] And the clerk showed me some dates earlier when we were putting figuring out whether we need to reconvene at another time and there was

[1:46:26] I'm a late February date, I believe.

[1:46:29] There was an early and late February date on that list that the chambers would be available.

[1:46:36] Right here. So those dates are January 30th and that's probably June.

[1:46:41] February 6th or February 27th.

[1:46:45] And I think I'm going to be away on February 27th, but I can participate.

[1:46:53] Oh, I can't even say that.

[1:46:56] I might be involved in a conference.

[1:46:59] February 6th would be the best date for me.

[1:47:03] Should a special committee also work with you in between, you know, after the commission meets,

[1:47:12] Just to make sure things move along. That would probably be helpful just to have be able to

[1:47:19] You know fill the gaps as necessary. Yeah, so I think that would be a good idea

[1:47:24] So we could meet and kind of just get you know like how you suggest Teresa, you know

[1:47:30] Just kind of get the broad brushstrokes down and then a point of special committee

[1:47:37] anybody who would like to join and

[1:47:39] And to meet in between that time and the April meeting.

[1:47:45] Okay.

[1:47:47] All right.

[1:47:48] So I guess the next thing that we need to do is-

[1:47:51] I can start reading, raise your hand there for a second.

[1:47:53] Is that-

[1:47:54] Oh, I'm sorry.

[1:47:55] Yeah, quickly.

[1:47:56] But having a committee is almost a necessary component of the needs,

[1:48:00] because we meet so far apart and not letting that committee do all the work with good faith.

[1:48:05] And then if there is an approval that's needed that we have a quick meeting to give that approval, but you know, I have tremendous trust and Brian and his crew and you and whoever else maybe part of that community, I will not be part of that community because my plate is overly full right now.

[1:48:23] But it almost sounds like that's the wisest and most logical solution to moving this successfully forward.

[1:48:33] I mean, she did a great job in monitoring suspected visit that last year.

[1:48:37] And I think that forming the committee, that's not tied to the restrictions of these meetings.

[1:48:42] Really smart.

[1:48:44] So, Darlene, some reason I can't hear you very well, but are you suggesting that we just

[1:48:50] do this by committee or that we have the committee and a special meeting in February?

[1:48:55] Maybe only, unless you need our approval, just do a committee only, that we, I'm raising

[1:49:01] my voice a little, I hope you can hear me a little better.

[1:49:04] Committee only makes sense that we all have trust in you and Brian or whoever else is going

[1:49:09] be part of that committee. And then that way only me if we have to, right? And if you need

[1:49:15] our approval on something, but other than that, I don't think we should be balanced to the

[1:49:19] formality of this process, if it's not necessary.

[1:49:31] All right. So maybe for now, so I like your idea

[1:49:35] Teresa, but I'm thinking maybe the February 6th state might be too soon that we should just

[1:49:41] appoint a special committee to work with Brian and his team and then get the balls in motion and

[1:49:49] maybe have a meeting in March before the April meeting just to you know get everybody up to speed

[1:49:55] us to where we are with senior recognition day and that could be a very short meeting.

[1:50:01] We do have kind of a standing group right now that's meeting to plan between this and the

[1:50:11] organizing, gracefully.

[1:50:14] So getting one or two additional commission members

[1:50:18] to come to those meetings would probably support that.

[1:50:22] What do you think?

[1:50:22] We just have to be sure it's not three or more.

[1:50:25] Correct.

[1:50:26] Or more than three.

[1:50:27] You can have up to three.

[1:50:29] I've written it down 47 times.

[1:50:30] It's hard to remember.

[1:50:32] We're already at three.

[1:50:33] So I don't know if that would work.

[1:50:36] I think the special committee should just focus

[1:50:40] the Senior Recognition Theater.

[1:50:42] No, Teresa wants to be involved with it.

[1:50:44] And Darleen and I and Carol already serve on CHIP.

[1:50:47] That's four.

[1:50:49] But no, it's not a CHIP meeting group, right?

[1:50:53] Carol, our other group where we meet with just you and me

[1:50:56] and Michelle, is that group I was thinking more of?

[1:51:01] But that's maybe even two involved for what the commission's.

[1:51:05] That's kind of a free for all of anybody

[1:51:07] somebody who wants to help with perfect C++.

[1:51:10] What if those meetings happen?

[1:51:13] The half hour check-in on Wednesday morning.

[1:51:17] I forget the specific dates,

[1:51:19] but right now we meet once a month as it gets closer.

[1:51:22] We meet twice a month and then as it gets real close,

[1:51:25] we meet once a week just the half hour check-in

[1:51:28] over the over teams, Microsoft teams.

[1:51:33] I'm happy to organize a separate meeting

[1:51:35] and bring that information to our other meetings.

[1:51:40] Teresa, what do you think about that idea in Darlene?

[1:51:47] Do you think we should have a, in Carol?

[1:51:50] And Riri?

[1:51:51] Should we have a special committee just for Senior Recognition Day

[1:51:54] or join this other committee?

[1:51:57] That's also involved with the 50 plus.

[1:52:01] I think you should have a special committee

[1:52:03] because it's focused specifically on what we do and how we contribute to that event.

[1:52:08] And then Brian can take that information when he meets with the chip and the 50 plus about.

[1:52:19] All right, so it's been suggested. I don't know.

[1:52:26] So I think we're going to do the special committee for senior recognition day and Brian will organize that and be in contact.

[1:52:34] So people who would like to be, who would like to serve on the committee, please raise your hand.

[1:52:42] Lisa?

[1:52:43] I don't think I

[1:52:49] can talk in the mic.

[1:52:51] I am afraid to make a commitment to a committee right now with my other responsibilities.

[1:52:59] I'm willing to help out with the senior recognition, but to chair a committee, I just don't know that I can commit to it.

[1:53:09] Yeah, I think we'd be in an informal thing, you wouldn't have to chair it.

[1:53:17] It's really, I think of it more of kind of like helping us make decisions so that the

[1:53:22] commission is involved, so we would do something like, hey, here's the three food choices.

[1:53:28] What do you guys think?

[1:53:29] Yeah.

[1:53:30] We choose this one.

[1:53:30] Hey, here's a couple of plaque options.

[1:53:32] What do you guys think?

[1:53:33] There's not really any planning involvement, it's more of helping us make the decisions.

[1:53:37] being included in the decision making.

[1:53:40] We can do it via phone.

[1:53:42] Yeah, I can do it sitting in room care.

[1:53:44] Okay.

[1:53:44] Yeah.

[1:53:45] Yeah.

[1:53:46] I can be flexible at times.

[1:53:49] Okay.

[1:53:50] Are you interested?

[1:53:52] Okay.

[1:53:53] Okay, Larry.

[1:53:54] I'm looking at you.

[1:53:55] Are you interested?

[1:53:55] Sure.

[1:53:56] Okay, Larry is interested.

[1:53:58] Carol.

[1:53:58] Carol is interested.

[1:54:00] Darling.

[1:54:00] You have time?

[1:54:01] Nope.

[1:54:02] Okay.

[1:54:02] I'm interested.

[1:54:04] So put me on too.

[1:54:05] or can only me three of you so you're going to have to arm wrestle.

[1:54:09] Okay, then.

[1:54:11] So why don't you let Theresa be a stand-in since she has some hesitation about availability and time and just let it be Denise Carroll and our new commission member.

[1:54:24] That's a great idea.

[1:54:27] Okay, so Carol needs to go.

[1:54:30] So we need to wrap this up.

[1:54:32] But I got everything I need.

[1:54:35] You got it?

[1:54:36] OK.

[1:54:37] So our next meeting will be in April.

[1:54:42] Oh, yep.

[1:54:48] Oh, sure.

[1:54:54] Oh, right, right.

[1:54:55] On April 10th.

[1:54:56] OK.

[1:54:57] So that's our next regular scheduled meeting.

[1:55:00] If we don't schedule something fire to April 10th,

[1:55:05] does anybody foresee not being able to make the April 10th meeting?

[1:55:09] Will all be here?

[1:55:16] So we're running late and does anybody have anything else that they want to say?

[1:55:23] Are we good?

[1:55:24] Okay, this meeting is now adjourned.

[1:55:27] Thank you.

[1:55:28] Thank you.

[1:55:29] Nice job.

[1:55:30] 145.

[1:55:31] Good job, you 45.

[1:55:31] I'm kind of proud.

[1:55:33] Thank you.

Reconvened Senior Citizens Advisory Commission Meeting

Agenda

Transcript