San Leandro Senior Commission — November 20, 2025

The San Leandro Senior Commission met on November 20, 2025, beginning at 10:01 a.m. and adjourning at 12:15 p.m. The meeting included updates on senior services and upcoming events, extensive public testimony about FlexRide fixed-route shuttle barriers (including elimination of “wave stops”), a presentation on the new CityServe Tri-Valley Ride Care transportation partnership launching in January 2026, and an Age-Friendly Initiative progress report with statistics (e.g., digital literacy participation and FlexRide membership/ridership goals).

Consent Calendar

• Approved (via roll call) bundled items to approve the November 20, 2025 agenda and the minutes of the October 9, 2025 special meeting (noting an agenda/labeling “version issue” confusion during the motion).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Hilda Harris (Flex program participant) expressed concern/opposition to ending the FlexRide “WAVE policy” (notice received Oct. 13, effective Nov. 1), stating designated stops are too far apart and that her nearest stop would be about a mile from where she previously waved the bus.
• Sky Wu expressed concern about FlexRide barriers: limited schedules, stops that require long walks for seniors with mobility aids, missed pickups when riders are not directly at the sign, and resulting waits of an hour or more. Speaker also stated Flex delivers about 2,000–3,000 service loops annually and that despite about 14,000 seniors in San Leandro, only a couple hundred are enrolled/actively using the program.
• Sarah Bailey (Chair, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission) highlighted BPAC presentations on transportation safety projects, encouraging commissioners/public to review BPAC agenda materials on:
  • East Bay Greenway (protected bikeway and pedestrian crossing improvements along East 14th, turning at San Leandro Boulevard)
  • Hesperian protected bike lane/crosswalk improvements
  • Highway Safety Improvement Program concepts such as HAWK (pedestrian hybrid beacon) signals
• City staff invited FlexRide commenters to stay for later discussion on the FlexRide assessment.

Presentations

CityServe Tri-Valley — Ride Care Program (new transportation partnership)

• Catherine Gilbreth (Ride Care Program Manager) and Jeanette Pace (Director of Senior Services) presented a new pilot partnership to provide free, door-through-door transportation.
  • Target eligibility (as presented): adults 18+ with a disability and older adults age 50+; riders must be ambulatory/relatively independent (walkers/rollators/canes/leg braces accepted).
  • Service model: volunteer drivers pick up at home, take riders to medical/pharmacy/grocery/social-services destinations, and wait at the appointment location for the return trip (“no corner to stand on; no phone call needed”). Volunteers may attend appointments if requested (e.g., for hearing/visual impairments).
  • Volunteer vetting: application, onboarding, DMV record, DOJ/FBI background checks, and verification of license/insurance/registration. Insurance coverage remains with the volunteer’s insurance, with rider/driver waivers.
  • Service area stated: multiple Alameda County cities including San Leandro (among others). Presenter cited demographics and noted (as stated) that in San Leandro about 62% of residents are 18–64.
  • Timeline: outreach and enrollment underway; program expected to begin providing rides in January 2026.
• Pedro Naranjo (Senior Commission Secretary / city staff) added context:
  • Partnership emerged from Age-Friendly assessment feedback and is funded as a pilot using Alameda County Measure BB paratransit allocation (approved by Alameda County Transportation Commission).
  • City will build metrics/evaluation; if effective, San Leandro will seek continued funding through annual ACTC proposals.
• Commissioners asked about contact info, volunteer recruitment, care coordination staffing, volunteer/vehicle vetting, accessibility (including deaf/ASL support), and capacity targets (CityServe stated 32 volunteer drivers currently and a goal of about 50).

Discussion Items

City staff report & upcoming events (Pedro Naranjo)

• City offices closure reminder: closed between Christmas and New Year’s, except essential services (e.g., police, water pollution control).
• Senior Commission vacancy: following Commissioner McHenry’s transition, a nominee was placed on a City Council agenda but withdrew due to moving out of town; recruitment will restart (referenced Council Member Bowen’s district).
• Homeless Point-in-Time Count: Thursday, January 22, 2026, approximately 5:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Volunteers needed; contact Elsa Castillo (staff) for registration. Staff described field teams (pairs/trios), optional surveys, and onsite HQ support roles (coffee/donuts, check-in).
• Thanksgiving Luncheon: scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, 12:00–2:00 p.m.; partnership with Spectrum Community Services. Staff reported 168 confirmed attendees at the time of the meeting and invited commissioner volunteers.
• Senior Services Expo: December 4, 2025, 1:00–3:00 p.m. (focused on programs/services in the Senior Community Center building, distinct from the June senior fair).
• Program highlights shared via photos and statistics:
  • AC Transit/ACTC training events (Clipper card and mobility training)
  • Health checks and fall prevention activities
  • Digital literacy classes (Tech Exchange)
  • Day trips restarted: first trip to Oakland Museum had about 14 participants; Oakland Zoo charter bus previously transported over 50 people.

November 2025 Age-Friendly Initiative Update (Pedro Naranjo)

• Plan Sustainability
  • Participation in Alameda County Age-Friendly Communities Council (meeting Oct. 17), including committee work and partner spotlights.
  • Age-friendly webpage updated; outreach at community events (e.g., “Second Fridays,” BASIB autumn fair).
  • SOS Meals on Wheels agreed to distribute the monthly senior calendar to Meals on Wheels participants.
  • De-escalation training “save the date” pending; commissioners/volunteers invited.
• Personal Protection
  • Community Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Training Program (UC Berkeley/California Walks) report finalized and posted; staff planning next steps and expected to present findings at a Senior Commission meeting in early 2026.
  • Emergency evacuation transportation pilot planning: using FlexRide shuttles during shelter activations; design phase with subject matter experts targeted for late January/early February 2026, with a goal to run a drill in the Jan–June period.
  • Great California ShakeOut participation described as a “drop, cover” exercise; evacuation drill planned next.
  • Digital literacy (Tech Exchange): 4 workshops completed; each workshop had 6 classes; 82 individuals completed the program (in English, Spanish, Cantonese), and each participant received a refurbished free laptop.
  • City Transportation/Engineering presentation to Senior Commission scheduled for February 2026 (topics to include pedestrian safety infrastructure programs).
• Health & Wellness
  • Virtual caregiver trainings (Healthy Brain Initiative) started Oct. 17 and run through year-end; staff reported low participation and sought ideas for improved outreach.
• Transportation — FlexRide fixed-route assessment and “wave stop” change
  • City is conducting a comprehensive FlexRide fixed-route shuttle assessment (consultant: Pear Street Consulting / Mike King). Staff described three focus groups completed: current riders, potential riders, and drivers, plus an active survey (paper copies at Senior Community Center and library; also online) and key-informant interviews.
  • Staff stated the current fixed-route design includes 15 stops per loop and about a 1-hour loop.
  • Staff explained the wave stop policy was eliminated primarily due to safety concerns (whether pull-over locations are safe for riders/drivers/traffic) and noted operational impacts on keeping to schedule.
  • In response to rider impacts, staff described an interim approach: for locations where riders previously waved, MV Transportation will assess whether a wave stop location is safe; if deemed safe, it may be temporarily allowed pending the full redesign.
  • Staff stated FlexRide currently has 717 enrolled members and a current-year target of 8,119 rides, with an annual goal to increase membership and utilization by at least 5%.
  • Staff also described biweekly meetings with MV Transportation to address specific rider complaints (missed stops, late shuttles, pass-bys) immediately rather than waiting for long-term changes.
  • Commissioners discussed promotional challenges (program naming and confusion between fixed-route vs. “on-demand/Uber-like” service) and requested opportunities for commissioners to ride the FlexRide shuttle to better understand and promote it.
• Social Connection
  • Senior day trips restarted: next trip scheduled December 17, 2025 to Filoli Historic House & Garden (noted as weather- and mobility-dependent due to outdoor walking).

Additional Commission Actions / Planning

• Lunch with Seniors: Commission discussed reviving “lunch with seniors” and inviting Supervisor Lena Tam (and potentially other elected officials) in 2026, subject to scheduling coordination.
• Senior Stories (America 250): Commissioner Shalini proposed using the computer lab to help seniors upload stories to America250.org (prompt described as future-focused; formats include text/video/picture). Public comment suggested partnering with local schools for intergenerational support (students assisting seniors).

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent items (agenda and October 9, 2025 special meeting minutes) by roll call.
• Received and discussed public testimony expressing concerns about FlexRide service design and the removal of wave stops; staff committed to interim stop safety assessments and ongoing operational fixes while the broader assessment proceeds.
• Transportation program developments:
  • Announced Ride Care transportation pilot partnership beginning January 2026 (enrollment underway).
  • Confirmed FlexRide assessment underway through Jan. 2026, with consultant presentation to the commission expected early 2026.
• Confirmed key upcoming dates:
  • Thanksgiving Luncheon: Nov. 26, 2025 (12:00–2:00 p.m.), ~168 confirmed.
  • Senior Services Expo: Dec. 4, 2025 (1:00–3:00 p.m.).
  • Filoli day trip: Dec. 17, 2025.
  • Homeless Point-in-Time Count: Jan. 22, 2026 (5:00–9:30 a.m.).
  • Transportation/Engineering staff presentation: Feb. 2026.
• Adjourned by roll call vote at 12:15 p.m.