I now call the July second, twenty twenty-six senior citizens advisory board meeting to order.

Has this meeting been properly noticed and posted in compliance with the Nevada open meeting law?

Yes, it has.

I would like to uh nominate uh Deanne O'Reilly Cameron to stay in that position as she is excellent at it.

I second that Caroline Mosdeen Ward 6.

Do we have any other nominations or is everyone all in favor?

Aye in favor.

All in favor.

In favor, member.

Mm-hmm.

In favor.

In favor of member Mosdeen.

I vote as well.

Okay.

In favor.

So funny.

It's odd.

So moved.

Item number six discussion for possible action to nominate Camille Franklin, recreation leader, Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs for the Senior Citizens Advisory Board Senior Recognition Awards.

At this time, I would like to ask Gregory Gray to give us a little background on why this item is on the agenda.

Thank you.

Gregor Gray for the record.

So the email went out to the board with an attached summary that outlined Camille Franklin's excellent work.

We had a senior at the Dulill Senior Center who was facing potential elder abuse, financial exposure exploitation, and isolation.

APS was subsequently contacted.

And there seemed to be a dispute between the relative and the senior, and the senior was ultimately hospitalized before she was effectively abandoned at Santa Fe Hotel and Casino where she was then hospitalized hospitalized again for the past few weeks.

She went from the hospital to a care center and then subsequently to a group home where she stayed.

In the interim, myself, Camille had gotten contact with her family outside the state in Illinois.

They were concerned about her well-being as it had not been able to get in contact with her.

And we have been coordinating with them for the past couple of weeks.

They came and got her on Monday, and she has made it safely back to Illinois.

So we are very happy to report that as of this meeting, she is safe and sound with her family in Illinois.

APS is continuing their investigation as far as we are aware.

And due to Camille's rapport and work with the seniors at Dulill Senior Center, I thought it would be pertinent for the senior advisory board to consider recognizing her as a body of the city.

So any questions or um comments you'd like to make.

So I'd like to make a motion on that.

We have a motion on the floor to nominate Camille Franklin for the Senior Citizens Advisory Board Senior Recognition Award.

Is all in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

So moved.

And I do want to make a comment on Camille.

This was above and beyond, and it's exactly what is needed in our community when you see the red flags.

So I am so extraordinarily happy that we get to give out this award.

It's such an honor.

Item number seven, report by Gregory Gray, Management Analyst One regarding senior issues received by the Department of Neighborhood Services.

All words.

Gregor Gray for again for the record.

Success stories submitted by Olga Flowers, our community program technician with the Department of Neighborhood Services, Health and Wellness Initiative.

She wanted to highlight Miss Marcia.

She had reached out to our team after receiving a substantial ambulance bill that created significant financial stress on her part.

Olga worked closely with her to understand the situation and communicate with the billing company on her behalf and followed up throughout the resolution process.

After continued advocacy and communication with the building representative, Olga was notified that the account balance was reduced to zero, eliminating the debt.

Um Miss Marcia was then provided with documentation confirming that the account had been resolved and advised to retain the confirmation for her records.

Um Olga says that this case demonstrates the importance of care coordination, client advocacy and a persistence in helping residents, specifically um our seniors and navigating complex health care billing issues by providing ongoing support and follow-up, um, Olga was able to help relieve a significant financial burden for Miss Marcia and give her a peace of mind.

So I just wanted to submit that for the record.

Thank you.

And a big thank you to Olga from the board and everyone else involved.

Um for the next part of my report, I just wanted to um highlight um an item that seemed to be seems to be like a little source of confusion for the boards.

I just wanted to clarify um this matter.

If you have an opportunity, please I'll make sure that you guys have a copy of the bylaws and that you bring your attention to section D of the bylaws.

So um just so we're clear, just wanted to kind of like sum this up.

Moving forward, any member, including the chair and vice chair of the board that does not respond to the quorum email um sent by the liaison will be counted as an unexcused absence, which is covered under section D of the bylaws.

Um we had this discussion with our city attorney.

Should any member including chair and vice chair crew three unexcused absences for regular board meetings during the calendar year, the chair or vice chair can email the liaison and city clerk recommending the removal of the member for those unexcused absences.

The clerk will then take that matter up to the um representing council person for action.

So just want to make sure that we are aware and keeping in mind of section D of the bylaws as well as um keeping an eye out for the quorum email that is sent.

Um that will be our official record moving forward to um make sure that we are keeping track of everybody's attendance and unexcused absences.

Um a response will uh your response will be recorded.

If you do not respond to the email, that will be considered unexcused.

Um so um if there are any questions or comments, that's all I have to report at this time.

Thank you.

And one thing that I would like to add as well, because we do know oh, this is uh O'Rear Cameron, Chair Ariar Cameron for the record.

Um I do did notice as I was going back through the bylaws, um, right at the first page meeting general information in attendance.

We know that things are gonna come up and things are gonna happen, and it may not be the best fit to be able to make it to the meetings.

So just to kind of piggyback on that, it does say it is in the best interest of the board, excuse me.

If it is in the best interest of the board and the citizens of Las Vegas that a member resigns upon recognizing he or she is no longer able to attend meetings regularly.

In other words, you're not going to be shamed if you cannot continue, you know, uh making it to meetings.

Life happens, it's okay.

Um, but just wanted to piggyback on that because I know sometimes there are changes, and we've already had that happen on our board.

So there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Does anybody else have anything?

Any comments on Gregory Gray's report.

Okay, moving to the next item number eight, report by board members regarding senior issues and events within their council wards and at large, all wards.

And first we have ward one, Nicole Graham.

Hello everyone, Nicole Graham Work One.

Uh, the only few things that I have is there has been a rise of just elderly fraud.

And so I just want to make sure there is special things that have gone on throughout the community of just bringing that awareness.

So seniors, please make sure you're paying attention and be cautious and careful.

Do not give anything um information up because there is a definitely increase in that.

Um also just coming up, we are continuing to still work with UMC and Lou Rubo on a more age-friendly hospital setting.

Um, more dates um once that's confirmed.

I will share that, but we are still working on that.

Um, and then August 21st is National Senior Citizen Day.

And so we are looking forward to a special event that will be um further discuss it next meeting.

Um, but looking forward to that um as we recognize our senior citizens of Las Vegas.

That's it.

Thank you.

And ward three, Jennifer Drum.

Good afternoon.

Um, I know it's today and in a in two hours.

So there's a mobile medical clinic, uh, free mobile medical clinic that is available today from three to seven at the East Las Vegas Community Center.

It is uh first come first served basis.

So if anybody listening to this has need for medical care, um they they will be available today.

And um I continue to attend the first Tuesdays in uh our ward, and um thank you for bringing up fraud because that definitely we see a lot of uh people trying to take advantage of everyone and especially our seniors, so please be aware of that.

And that's uh word three.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And ward four, we have David Tilser.

Uh David Tills are ward four.

Uh as everyone knows, obviously the scam uh issue is out of control for everyone.

It especially for seniors.

Uh it seems they seem to be trustworthy, trusting of people, and they are getting advantage advantage of.

Uh most recently I heard of uh two people in Sun City.

One was taken for 25,000, and one was taken for 20 uh through Bitcoin.

There's no way they can get that back at this point.

Uh our bank in Sun City, which is Wells Fargo, is actually asking the tellers are asking the the customers when they come in as 80% of their customers in that branch uh from Sun City uh if they are taking out large amounts of money, uh, keeping their privacy, but we just want to make sure that they're not being taken care of.

Uh one person actually said it was for uh replacing their windows, uh, so they okayed it and it was a scam.

So you can only do so much.

Uh and the numbers you see of people being scammed is actually lower than those that are being scammed because a lot of them feel so silly after it's done that they're embarrassed to even announce it.

Uh uh this past Tuesday we had first Tuesday in ward four at Sun City.

We had a speaker giving us updated uh information on uh different types of scams.

It was an excellent lecture.

Uh and it's it's amazing the different types uh and different ways that people are being taken advantage of.

Uh on this is interesting.

On July 7th, uh we're gonna have a lecture in Ward 4 in Sun City, uh, swimming safety for seniors, which I had never heard of that before.

It's always for the younger ones, but uh it's an interesting thing and hopefully helpful as uh all of our communities now have pools, and regardless of what age you are, you you want to go in and enjoy yourself and there are ways to be safe.

Uh I'm gonna eliminate a lot of it.

I just want to mention something that I have looked into, and I feel pretty pretty good with it.

And if the other board members, if you have not heard of it, if you could look into it, it's a it's an app called Snug S N U G and the second word is safety, S-A-F-E-T-Y, and it's an app you put on your phone.

It says mainly if you live alone, and what you do is you put your phone number, your name, and whatever other information they ask for.

They won't for ans ask for anything technical.

Uh, but what this is you're signing up that every day at a specific time, you could put in 10 o'clock in the morning.

Your phone will pop on from this app, and all you have to do is touch the button, and it lets everyone know any emergency numbers or people that you have listed, it'll let them know you're okay that day.

Uh if you don't tap the button within, I believe it's a 10 or 15 minute period, uh, they will do it again, or they will advise uh an emergency person to look into it.

It's a free app.

Uh it sounds like a great thing, it covers you, it makes makes you feel safer with with your family.

And if when you do look into it, there is something called Snug Dispatch, which the a dispatcher will get on and work on it for you, but that is a paid part of the app.

That's 1999 a month.

But the say the Snug Safety app is free, and as long as you tap that button once, whatever time of day you put it on, whoever you put in as your emergency contact will know everything's good.

So I just wanted to pass that along, and I want to welcome our chairperson back.

She's done an excellent job, and I know she will continue to be, and I'm I'm glad she's still with us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And thank you for those kind words.

I almost ran away.

Just kidding.

And now we have Ward 6, Caroline Mosteen.

Okay, look at that.

Technical service.

I needed a little extra technical service.

Caroline Mosdeen from Ward 6.

Um, first of all, yes, uh, to um echo David's uh re-welcome for DN.

So thank you very much, DM.

We would certainly miss you if you weren't in that position.

Um I'd also like to say uh I'm wearing my ward six neighborhood services shirt today in honor of Nancy Bruni, Ward 6, who was re-elected uh to Ward 6 as councilwoman.

Uh she is a wonderful, wonderful representative and takes care of all of the um members of or all the residents in Ward 6, not only seniors, she's got a heck of a busy schedule, but she fits us all in somehow, some way.

So if um anybody hears that by all means, um, even stop by Boca Didos, which is next Thursday, and that's at the uh YMCA building on Buffalo in the Northwest uh off the 215, and that's at nine o'clock in the morning.

She's only able to um have that from 9 to 10 these days because again of her busy schedule.

But her staff is always available.

So if you get there and she's busy with something else, don't hesitate.

She has a very ample staff that um does a great job as well.

So please um please stop by Boca Didos.

Um I'd also like to mention uh David's talking about a number of very good things, and the fraud part is is we have to stay on top of this, regardless of again, age, but seniors are definitely more vulnerable.

Um and I'd like to mention to those folks who have access to both AARP.

Um that's another area where you do see quite a bit of information coming through to advise people about fraud.

Some of the sometimes they get have quick access and sometimes even more than than we have because they covering larger areas.

So if something's popular in another city, you might be able to see something there.

So try to stay aware of not only local but more um diverse uh sources of of information.

And if you do find yourself either possibly or definitely um impacted by fraud, uh as was mentioned, many people are uh embarrassed to report that, but please do.

We have a very good uh department or subdepartment at the police station.

Uh our police are wonderful to investigate.

Uh so don't hesitate to be in touch with them.

They'll keep everything as um simple and as private as necessary, but try to get that information out because it does help not only you, but it will help others and the FBI as well.

Uh so there are many sources of um support for people who are um potentially or or who have been impacted, and the sooner you get to them the better.

So please um heed that kind of warning.

Um because I've had a crazy schedule over the past two months, um, I haven't spent as much time as I'd like with groups of seniors.

So in lieu of that, what I have been doing because of the warmer weather beside, um, I've been carrying little bottles of water in my car.

And I label them now, um, which I'll have available for anyone to see, but I label them, which says the city of Las Vegas has many resources to make your life better.

Contact the Department of Neighborhood Services at the 702-229-6690 for information and help.

In a quick second, I can hand this bottle out at uh stop a light or whatever, and hopefully get it to some people who would take advantage of contacting um the Department of Neighborhood Services and Gregory and Olga who do an excellent job uh in in handling um our our problems.

And there are many places where there are going to be some really good fireworks demonstrations.

So stay in touch with the city or your your uh council person uh on their on their newsletters, they post where they're going to be uh nice, safe and good locations for viewing.

So again, everyone, I wish you uh very happy, healthy, and safe holiday.

Thank you.

What a great idea.

I love it.

Ward six would be myself, Dean O'Rear Cameron.

That's different to say.

Um I will forever have my heart in Ward 4, and I am pleased to announce that I uh am now a part of Ward 6.

Thank you to the mayor.

I did have a move, so if anyone is wondering what what had happened, so there was a regular resignation involved, but we did not have meetings, so unfortunately, everyone probably was not aware of that.

Um I am absolutely pleased to be able to work in Ward 6, it's where I was for many many years when I first moved here.

And so I got off the ground and running, and I noticed in my Sky Canyon area that I did see seniors around, and I was just kind of wondering in my mind if maybe I could do some things at the community center.

And I saw on our uh Facebook group for our area, somebody needing some assistance for his father.

He wanted some social activities and said that his dad thought that our senior center was just a little too far for him for for various reasons.

And so I started a Facebook group for Sky Canyon Providence Seniors, and we're now including Sunstone, and it's interesting because you know, you kind of get a hint that there might be a need.

We had a hundred members in two days of 55 plus.

I was more than overwhelmed and excited.

And we've already had two coffee meetups at the Aspire Coffee House, and it was absolutely a fantastic turnout.

Um, I gave them guides, the Spotlight Senior Services Guides, they didn't even know it existed, and it turns out a lot of them just don't get a lot of information there because it is such a family-oriented area.

So we're planning a lot of other events to get everybody together social and even some little uh mini health fairs, etc.

to get them the information that they need, and also some wonderful outings, especially because we have so many wonderful things up there as far as outdoors, probably not during the summer, but it's great.

Um, also I am continuing to take calls for assistance as I have for two decades, and mostly what I'm getting.

I I try to classify what I'm getting and summarize it, is unsafe discharge.

There's a lot of instances still going on with the unsafe discharge, and it it's very alarming to me, and it's very difficult sometimes to rally the troops because it's an emergency situation.

I have another one that I'm actually working on that I just got yesterday, and so I have to round up the troops of all the people I know in healthcare and seniors to see what we can do.

And this last one, I was very pleased that the family member actually said I don't know that I can handle it in his weekend state.

So very I like the honesty and just saying, please help help me find it.

I don't know what I can do.

And then I'm hearing a lot about in-home assistance for those that do want the family members at home, and then the elder abuse.

The elder abuse is still very much out there.

Uh, the top elder abuse seems to be from what I've seen, and I do hear it in my reports on the commission on aging is uh financial, a lot of financial, and that is very alarming because that you know it just shows you with the fraud and the things that they're doing there, and then you have the elder abuse with the financial also.

Um, also I received a call for air conditioning help, and that was actually in uh I believe that's Word 3.

And I just emailed the information over to Gregory because I remembered at our April meeting that we had um the gentleman with the city come and talk to us about our programs so that way we can see if this gentleman can qualify, and he may even be able to qualify and have other things that we're not aware of.

Obviously, air conditioning is a priority right now, so it really thrilled me to know that we have that resource so that we can at least tempt that first.

And then also at the same community that this uh gentleman resides in, which is under Mayor Pro Tem Diaz.

I was more than overwhelmed and completely choked up when I saw our senior services flyer there, prominently placed and on their bulletin board.

That really, really um made my heart happy to see it displayed at a community that I've been going to for almost two decades, because that means we're doing something right, and I believe it happened after a request for the flyers, I think is what happened.

So it's just so wonderful.

And I just want to say another big thank you to Mayor Pro Tem Diaz and staff because those are the things that help us to be able to help them to go directly into the community.

And I know she does visit over there, so that's wonderful.

And that's it for my report for today.

And now we will move on to item number nine.

Do you have a comment?

Oh, okay.

Item okay.

I just I saw your hand ready, so I wasn't sure.

Just want to make sure I don't overlook it.

Item number nine discussion regarding next steps and future meeting topics of the senior citizens advisory board awards.

Does anybody have any information steps, meeting topics?

Uh David Till's award for uh first of all.

I know Gregory was very busy on a city project, and I heard it went very well, and you were excellent at it, and I want to thank you for doing that.

It was a major major project, and I heard it was great, and thank you for that.

Uh for our board, uh we have missed uh a few meetings due to the fact that we were not able to get speakers.

Uh I would love to see that not be a reason.

Uh if we are given enough time, uh I'm sure someone on the board can get a speaker within a few days or a week.

Uh, and even if we don't have a speaker, as we don't today, uh we have spent 31 minutes discussing all of the issues that are going on.

So I think it was a productive meeting uh without a speaker, although speakers really make our meeting, but they don't complete it.

We still have all these inform all this information to get out uh to our communities, and I would hope that in the future we could just have a steady flow of these meetings with or without speakers, although speakers are excellent, but again, we do have all these uh all this other information that we'd love to get out, and I just wanted to mention that.

Thank you again.

Greg Greg for the record, we will add that item to um the next agenda for the board to discuss and for possible action.

Caroline Mosdeen, Ward Six, sorry, Doug.

Um Caroline Mosdune for Ward 6.

Um, in some of the conversations that I've had with people, it seems to always come down to I don't know what I don't know.

I which I I think all of our lives we've experienced that as well.

They people, particularly seniors at this point, uh, don't seem to know where to go, which is part of the reason I love more, I love Department of Neighborhood Services.

Uh it's a it's a great place to start, but I don't really want to in inundate your department.

Inundate, please inundate.

Well, well, I will, and I do, but I don't want to do that.

So what I'd like to do is I would like to bring back something that we've talked about numerous times.

It's once again to get, even if it's a single page ahead start on some of the resources.

I know that I've been here for a couple of years already, and there's just there's a limit to even what I know, and I know with some of the other members, we overlap in different areas, and somebody's got some information.

So I'd like to find a way to maybe within the next year to get that line of communication open a little bit more with something basic, again, just to start.

Now I know in your department there are some great flyers and things like that.

I have seen some of those, but I'd like a better um either understanding of them or maybe just a better supply of them.

And I know uh you DM was talking about the uh uh councilwoman Diaz is I haven't seen that, and I think it's something that probably I'd like to see as well.

So if we can find a way to double down and get back to getting hold of resources.

Now, one of the things that I have done, uh don't know that I have it with me, but that I have done is I've gone back over some of our recordings to get hold of what dates or what uh meeting we had different speakers that would be relevant to people.

And you're going to be surprised that there are RTC possibilities for your your situation.

Excuse me, or some of our elder care or some of our law.

So I've been going back over the meetings so that at the very least people can get a snippet and have the original um the original speaker give that because again I think we each of us are reluctant to try to do more than say, hey, this is a great idea.

Let me get that speaker to come into my my council, my councilwoman's area, which is probably certainly excellent, but it's still going to limit the number of of um participants.

So if um if anybody wants some of that list that I've been working on for, I guess um, over the past year's worth of meetings, if that helps anyone.

Gregory for the record, I know that this has been um a ongoing discussion regarding um like a resource sheet or booklet to kind of help you guys along when it comes to your constituents.

Um I am hesitant to agree that that is the best approach, considering that everybody has a resource list.

We have um senators, congressmen, uh even our own mayor and council people have magnets, booklets full of resources.

Clark County has the royal pages.

I am very hesitant to add to the pile.

Um, I like the fact that we we do have a care coordination flyer, which I can bring plenty of copies in for you.

Um, it briefly goes over some of the resources that are available.

It doesn't really go into depth, but it does like touch on some of the things that we do address.

There's no limit to it.

Um nine times out of ten, it is a case by case basis.

I don't want a senior to look at a list of resources and not find a thing that they are looking for and not called so I think that that would probably be the best approach is to give you the care coordination flyer to give out it has one number on there, and they know that either myself or Olga will call or answer the phone.

So and they um if no one is available, they can always leave a message.

We will return their call within two days at minimum.

Um I think that is the best way, especially in light of concerns regarding fraud and scam.

I know that it's easy for seniors to get inundated themselves with numbers to call and people to talk to, and knowing that all you have to call is 702-229-1200, ask for Greg, ask for Olga, and they know that they will get Greg or Olga to call them back.

So I would like to start with that and see how that goes for like maybe a few months, and then let's circle back to that topic and say, okay, well, yeah, the flyer was great, we're still getting questions or we still need a little bit more information.

Can we flesh it out and then we can add on to that and move forward from there?

Is that okay?

Yeah, Caroline Mosdeen, uh, Ward Six.

Yes, Gregory, and I certainly uh understand and appreciate your concerns.

Um my um interest was actually not to have a flyer to hand out, but rather just for the board.

So again, it brings to uh top of mind somebody's talking about um elder elder abuse or somebody's talking about it's just a great place to start along with um along with the care.

Now, should I be changing that telephone number?

Yeah, I've got 669 zero.

Yes, please change it to 1200.

Um that is the designated line for care coordination.

That is my direct line.

They're gonna be calling me directly, and I'm not always at my desk.

I don't want uh angry senior to be like, well, I've been calling Gregory and he's not answering his phone.

Oh yeah, the 6690 numbers for you guys to call me.

Sorry, I will fix that on all the future ones, but the ones that have been at the end of the day.

The ones you have, you might be surprised.

The ones you have, I I don't mind, it's fine, go ahead.

But just moving forward, make sure it's 229, 1200.

That way it is a line that both Olga and myself will answer.

It is also on your business cards.

I I I actually I took that off of one of my business cards, it might have been an older business card.

So it's on the not the brand new ones you just gave out.

So please use your brand new business cards.

Um, so that way you are using the 1200 number.

So even when you guys like to say just hey, hey, say Carolyn sent you, say Deanne sent you, and we'll know, and we'll make that a priority.

Like, okay, yes.

You know, member Mosdean from the senior advisor board.

You know, that that's that's extra.

You mentioned member Mosdeen, we want to return your call.

We want, you know, like tell us what's going on.

Um, we do I do get a number of calls from seniors that are like, well, I don't know what I'm looking for.

And I said, okay, well, tell me what's going on.

And then they'll tell me.

And it's oh, okay, well, you need this.

Oh, thank you so much.

Like, but it's like when they get a list or a resource list, and they're going down, they're trying to find that very specific thing that is not listed, they will not call.

Right.

I have seen that from you know, from the the big county book.

Yes.

It's the same, it is the same kind of people.

Go, they're overwhelming.

It's overwhelming, it's a lot, and knowing that they just have to call one number and know that one of two people are going to answer and take care and address their needs, it gives them peace of mind as well in that situation.

Where it's like, oh, okay, yes, Greg, yes, I know that name, or Olga, yes, I know you they said you were gonna answer the phone, they said you're gonna call.

Um I think it's about like familiarity and comfort for our seniors when we are um taking care of them, um, knowing them by their name, you know.

They they take the little things in consideration where like I answered the phone, like, oh hi Carolyn, it's so nice to hear from you.

Like, oh, you know my name?

Yes, absolutely.

Excellent.

Well, thank you very much for uh all of what you do and all of what you continue to do and will continue to do.

Deanna Rear Cameron for the record.

Um, I just wanted to chime in on that too.

Uh, from an internal standpoint, it's wonderful when we have the one central number like that because we can get a better idea of exactly what the needs are.

And that really, really helps us if we can keep track of those things so that we know um various different things.

You know, when funding comes up, it's just like some of the programs we have now.

Um, we can help put them through those.

They may not see those, uh, especially because I give up those spotlight guides, but that's just a general overview so that people mainly the more active ones have something, but those that are kind of more homebound, it's a little easier if we're just giving them a phone number, and then that way they can call and they're very well taken care of, as you know.

So um for me, I like it centralized so that we get better information.

And the number one reason why um being boots on the ground out there is because these resources change almost daily.

It's like what and especially now because we have a lot of issues uh with companies, companies, not just this the fraud on seniors, but now we have a lot of companies that unfortunately um have been involved in fraud and especially in hospice.

It's in the news, I'm sure you've seen that.

So it just helps us to keep better track of everything and to know and understand.

It would probably be kind of difficult.

I'm out there all the time, and it's hard for me to keep up with these resources.

So I love having it centralized.

I think that's wonderful.

Caroline Mosdean, Ward Six again.

Um, thank you for that, Dean.

Uh the only I I have a possible solution, not a solution, but a plan B.

Can can and I know your department, department of neighborhood services already has something like this.

Even if it's not contact information, can is there a list which just lists out the kind of things that can be taken care of?

That alone would be an excellent resource, which just says, yeah, here's what we're here for.

And it and then the big telephone number, but at least let people know or let us know wo uh who we would want to refer.

That I think would be, and I I believe you already have it.

I just don't know that I have a current copy or anything.

Great great for the record.

So um sometimes it's hard to encapsulate everything that the department does, especially our department and the city as a whole.

Um, so the one thing I like about the number is you hit the nail on the head.

You don't know what you don't know.

And even if and even if you call, if I don't have the resource at the city or I don't have the answer, I'm going to find it.

And I think that that's the difference.

Um sometimes people have been like the people that we do get, like they have called several times to several organizations trying to find an answer, even if the answer is no, it doesn't exist, or we don't have that.

And sometimes that's a relief to a senior order, like I've been calling for the past week trying to figure this out, and thank you.

I'm not going crazy.

This doesn't exist, and I'm you know, there's no resource that exists in that capacity.

So I so I guess for me, it's like if you do have a senior that comes and they bring you a situation that you're not 100% certain on if the city provides or if the county provides, they can still call and ask.

And oh, I don't know about that.

Let me look into it for you.

Let me take that burden off of you to have to do the searching and the researching to find it.

Even if it's a scam or a fraud that you're concerned about, you can call and ask.

Hey, I got this email or I got this mail notification regarding Charles did it the other day not too long ago where he was concerned about solar panels.

And so I was like, Yes, I can absolutely look into that for you.

Um from what I can gather, you know, it doesn't seem like it's legitimate.

Once again, we re-reiterate to seniors.

If you don't know or if you're uncertain about a service or program that is being offered from a door-to-door person, don't use that service or call someone that can help you make a well-informed decision.

So I can absolutely get that list together for you guys to use for yourselves.

I definitely would be I I guess it'd be like case by case basis.

If you feel like a senior would benefit from having the information, by all means share it.

Um, but I would definitely create that for you guys to have so that way you can reference it whenever you need.

Thank you.

Deanna Rear Cameron for the record.

Uh, the other thing that I would love to see as a next step in in some discussion is ways to get seniors here.

We talked about this long ago when we were in council chambers, but I think especially with uh some of the fantastic speakers we've had.

I think it would be wonderful if we could put our heads together and figure out ways because a lot of the communities have buses, they have transportation there, and we should maybe you know find a way to personally invite them.

I have access to a lot of them, uh, and whatever other ways, even um maybe see, I don't know how that could work with you know our centers or you know how we can do that.

But I think it would be nice if we could get some of the seniors here, and my main reason for saying this is A, they can be a part of the process and see what we do and see what's going on.

But I think the biggest reason is because then we will have some public comment and we'll hear, we'll hear and get on the record some of the things uh that are going on out there, and then that will also make them feel heard.

I don't know about any of you, but I love when I feel heard, and I know seniors really appreciate that.

So if anyone has any ideas or if we want to, I don't know if we if this is something we would agenda agenda size or um just a discussion, but I think it would be wonderful if we can all kind of part ways from this meeting and think about how we can do that.

What can we do?

Caroline Mosdy and Ward Six.

I think that's a great idea, particularly if we have a form of transportation.

What we might be able to do is go from ward to ward and just have okay, we're going to have a bus and it's going to be for ward one this month, so we don't have to spread our resources and and we have that and advertise it sufficiently so that we can get that, and then the next month it's ward two, and each month we have a different group here.

And uh I think we might be able to take advantage that I think it's an excellent idea to get more people here.

Gregory Gray for the record.

Um so that that has been a topic of discussion.

I know that downtown is notoriously bad to navigate for seniors when it comes to driving.

So, yes, the bus maybe paratransit would be willing to assist in that realm to get seniors here.

Um, but I do know that part of our discussions was getting the board to do a little bit more outreach in their wards.

So I think rather than trying to get them here is you guys going out to your wards, maybe like for a like a public comment social thing, whereas like coffee and you're able to gather comments that you can read into the record at the meeting, and then we'll probably try to see about like getting the YouTube link or something to um the centers afterwards so that way they can view and see that their comments are being read into the record, and then maybe we can talk about maybe having uh like a small event in the then cafe where we can invite a handful of seniors to come and then you could after your meeting you can have a discussion with them that after after this meeting and stuff like that.

So there are a couple of avenues that we can consider.

Um so it may be good to put that on the agenda for discussion.

Caroline Mosdean Ward Six again.

Um that's another way to handle it, and I think a great way.

Uh in Ward 6, we did that probably two years ago.

We we tried it and we had a few.

Um I think we had a few attempts at it.

We had a bit of a group, not as large.

Now that we have maybe a larger group with Deanne working, um, I don't do any social media, yeah.

But now that I have Deanne doing all of that work, maybe I can work with her to um to set up something similar because I have the basis of the flyers that are there.

We just have to change some dates and maybe a location.

But I I do like I I think that we could have something, even if it's quarterly, we could have something at our locations, and then if it works for ward six, we'll spread it out and see what what else we can do.

But I'll I look forward to working with her.

And I know you attended Gregory in the past when we also had Elizabeth Pataretto.

Um so it was I I think it was a uh a good way, and I I like your suggestion.

Thank you.

Deanna Rear Cameron for the record.

Yes, I absolutely love both what Gregory just said, and also what you said about doing the separate wards, what we could almost do is obviously being out there to them in the community is the number one.

I mean, that's that's the best uh if we can make that happen.

Um, and I do have access to sponsors and things to maybe do something to encourage them to come out, um, because I know that's always the issue, but maybe even still think about having because what you said kind of triggered for me, and we don't have to do it that often, so it's watered down, but like you know, uh ward six day, award four day at you know, senior citizens advisory board, and it can be only one every six months.

I mean, it doesn't have to be that way, it's not overwhelming trying to get them here, and as we're out in the community doing these things, we can almost have um you know, maybe encourage ways that they can have like their ambassadors that will come to represent, you know, their ward at the meeting on ward whatever day, just to help get more engagement, and that way we're not trying to bust that many people, you know.

Uh so if we're out there doing it and then maybe you know, let them know we're gonna be doing ward days, so we'd like just a couple ambassadors who can you know report to us on public comment, and then also when we're out in the community, um, because I believe I should know this, but um the public comment, uh, it's the same way that it is on city council, correct?

They have a way to get their public comment to us without being here.

Is that correct for the senior citizens advisory board?

I can't remember.

Yeah, I don't even know.

I'll take that back to city clerk and I'll have an answer to the state.

Yeah, just you know, where they can email it.

I mean, I'm not trying to encourage, you know, 50 emails every meeting, but I'm just you know, if we had the ambassador and if for some reason they couldn't make it, just throwing some ideas around to uh get the board um the word out about the board and that we do want to hear what's going on, so that we're hearing it here, and we're also hearing it through senior services because sometimes they have comments where they're not actually needing a service, but they want to bring some things to our attention that could be an issue, and I think that's good because as much as we're out there, we're hearing things, but at the same time we want to hear from them and give them their voice.

So just suggestion.

Follow up Caroline Mosdeen, uh, ward six.

Yes, I think that uh certainly is important, and we should continue that.

But uh also I'm just thinking about it.

Um in terms of financial resources, we all have council women, council people who uh who have a bit of a budget, and I think maybe if we need something, excuse me, if we need something to make one or more of these um outings or however we choose to make it available.

Well, we should each uh maybe reach out to our council person, and maybe we can get that going as well.

Deanna rear cameron.

Nicole Graham would oh yes, go ahead.

Just a thought, maybe um, I know I mentioned earlier August 21st is National Senior Citizen Day.

I wonder if we can maybe put together or this introduction meet and greet kind of circles back to that day, and we highlight you know what the board does and ways for them to just re-emphasizing what we do.

Maybe that could be part.

Deanna Rear Cameron for the record, absolutely, and I believe we were gonna put uh we're gonna put that on the agenda at the next meeting because our meeting is on August 6th, and we were gonna put it on the agenda for the senior citizens' day, and that is perfect.

Yes, we definitely want in our meet and greets, any of them actually to make sure we always talk about the board and what we do in our senior services.

Thank you, Nicole.

Does anyone else have any other next steps or future meeting topics?

Caroline Mosdeen, Ward Six.

I have one, and I'm not sure exactly how we can approach it or even if it is something that's we can even take up.

But I think I've mentioned, and I I've I've kind of beat my head against the wall on some things.

Um there's a group of people, mostly women, that meet who meet at the YMCA location on Buffalo every Tuesday, and they prepare, they knit, crochet, sew, uh, blankets, all things for donations.

I've tried using the neighborhood uh fund, and we can't get them in because they're not all from one HOA, and it uh doesn't appear that we can even pose to the city council to broaden that that that um requirement.

These people have been doing this for years, they pay a lot of money for all their supplies, they spend their time, they donate for many, many different organizations.

And I am trying to find my best.

I know at one point the end spoke about maybe having some resources.

It's just it hasn't happened, and I get frustrated when we hear because many of these most of these people are seniors, as a matter of fact, but when when we hear can't seem to find a way to help these seniors who are helping others.

So, in one fashion or another, I'd like to find a way that we could get something on the agenda that would um maybe meet our requirements to get it on the agenda and find a way to get some funding for these folks.

Deanna Rear Cameron, do we have any other discussions regarding next steps and future meeting topics?

Hearing none, item number 10, citizens' participation.

Public comment during this portion of the agenda must be limited to matters within the jurisdiction of the board.

No subject may be acted upon by the board unless that subject is on the agenda and is scheduled for action.

If you wish to be heard, come forward and give your name for the record.

The amount of discussion on any single subject as well as the amount of time any single speaker is allowed, may be limited.

Do we have any citizens' participation?

Seeing and hearing none, we are now adjourned, and our next senior citizen advisory board meeting will be August 6th, Thursday, 2026 at 1 p.m.

Thank you.