San Leandro Senior Commission Meeting - January 15, 2026

The Senior Commission convened on January 15, 2026, at 10:02 AM, with Chair Watkinson presiding, six commissioners present, and two excused absences. The meeting covered updates on senior services, a detailed presentation on the FlexRide Paratransit assessment, approval of prior meeting minutes, progress on the Age-Friendly Action Plan, and planning for a future lunch with Supervisor Lena Tam. Key actions included unanimous approval of the November 2025 draft minutes and discussion of program improvements.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Draft Minutes (November 20, 2025): Motion to approve carried unanimously (6-0), with Commissioners Shalini and Lopez-Nacario excused. The agenda no longer required separate approval.

City Staff Reports & Announcements

• Vacant Commission Seat (District 5): No applications received yet; outreach will continue via monthly calendars and social media.
• Homeless Point-in-Time Count (January 22, 2026): Currently 47 volunteers secured; goal is 54 to cover all census tracts. Volunteers are still needed.
• Housing Support Contract: Human Services executed a contract with Bay Area Community Services to provide modest rental assistance and support services to at least 70 extremely low-income households, funded through California HCD. Launch expected by April 1, 2026, for an 18-month program.
• Senior Services Update (Liliana Gray): Highlights included a Thanksgiving luncheon serving over 180 attendees (partnered with Spectrum), a Senior Expo with ~100 attendees (sponsored by Kaiser), holiday bingo with 40-50 participants, and a new Soul Line Dancing class (Tues/Thurs 1-2pm, $10 drop-in or $80 session). Day trips resumed (e.g., Filoli with 15 attendees) and outreach with Downtown San Leandro Ambassadors. Commissioners thanked staff for their work.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jacqueline Scoggins (Serenity Funeral Planning Consultants): Announced a free 8-week series "Peace of Heart, Peace of Mind" starting Thursday, January 22, 2026 (6-7:30pm) at the San Leandro Library, covering end-of-life preparation. Also hosts a third-Friday gathering for ages 55+ at Zenti Bistro. Asked to be a resource for seniors.
• Guy Wu: Stated he had no comments.
• Darlene Evans (later in meeting): Raised concerns about liquor licenses near schools and the need for better enforcement, referencing specific distances and locations.

Discussion Items

FlexRide Paratransit Program Assessment Update (Presentation by Mike King, Pear Street Consulting)

Mike King presented findings from a recently completed assessment of the FlexRide shuttle service, conducted as part of the Age-Friendly Action Plan (Priority 5: Transportation).

Assessment Methodology: Reviewed program documents, analyzed ridership data from TripShot and driver logs, surveyed eligible residents (174 responses), conducted five focus groups, interviewed other transit providers (LYNX, HOP, AC Transit), and performed ride-alongs.

Key Findings:

• Ridership data quality was inconsistent; city-reported figures to ACTC show a slight increase over the last two fiscal years.
• Survey respondents (mix of ages 50+ and people with disabilities) identified top destinations: Kaiser Hospital, Costco, downtown San Leandro, San Leandro BART, Main Library, and the Senior Community Center.
• Barriers to usage: inflexible loops taking up to one hour, long waits at stops, lack of seating/shelter, drivers skipping stops due to time pressure, and limited awareness of the service. Focus groups at Fargo Senior Center led to 10-15 new sign-ups.
• Disability certification through East Bay Paratransit (requiring an in-person interview in Oakland) was a significant obstacle.

Preliminary Recommendations:

• Redesign routes to shorter loops (4-5 stops, 30 minutes), focusing on senior residential facilities (Broadmoor Plaza, Fargo, Mission Bay, etc.) and key destinations (grocery, hospital, library, senior center).
• Expand service from three days (Mon/Tue/Thu) to five days (add Wed/Fri) to match appointment and program schedules.
• Improve data collection via TripShot (driver training).
• Add semi-seats and canopies at stops where feasible.
• Create a simpler disability certification process (e.g., signed form from a trusted professional, as done by HOP).
• Enhance promotion through outreach to senior housing, community partners, and transit apps.

Commissioner Comments and Questions:

• Commissioner Peña asked about the East Bay Paratransit certification; clarified it applies to riders with disabilities under 50.
• Commissioner Michael-Cady questioned why the service isn't open to the general public; Pedro answered that funding (Measure BB) is specifically for seniors and people with disabilities, and the limited capacity and unique safety/comfort needs justify the eligibility criteria.
• Commissioner Brennan noted a geographic imbalance in current loops (most destinations on north loop, leaving a large southern gap) and suggested four smaller loops. He also proposed approaching Kaiser for funding given its high demand as a destination.
• Commissioner Camillo observed that shuttles often run nearly empty and asked whether medical-only trips could be separated.
• Commissioner Dillon discussed Costco (questioned its practicality for grocery shopping) vs. Walmart (more senior-friendly), and suggested having San Leandro Hospital assist with disability certifications. She advocated for including seating at stops and recommended that drivers always stop at every stop (a contract requirement already).
• Commissioner Brennan raised the idea of using existing ID/driver's license readers instead of issuing a separate FlexRide membership card, and suggested clearer signage on the bus.
• Staff noted that regular meetings with MV Transportation address complaints about skipped stops, and that shaded seating already exists at Kaiser.

Age-Friendly Initiative Update (Action Item 7A – Pedro Naranjo)

Pedro provided a progress report on the Age-Friendly Action Plan (approved July 15, 2024).

Implementation Status:

• Most projects are initiated; a chart showing which are completed, ongoing, or targeted for future years was presented. Commissioner Michael-Cady requested separating "ongoing" and "completed" columns for clarity.
• Priority 1 (Plan Sustainability): San Leandro participates in the Alameda County Age-Friendly Communities Council. Recent meetings included presentations on older adult data and Medicare Advantage plans. The second annual Senior Expo and outreach at "It's a Wonderful Night" (Dec 5) reached ~75 people for senior services and 40 for Ride Care.
• Priority 3 (Personal Protection): A safe routes to senior center initiative will begin in spring with technical assistance from California Walks. Emergency evacuation planning: a stakeholder meeting (including MV Transportation, fire, police) is set for February. Libby Besman's tabling events (every other month) averaged 30 participants per event; topics of interest included heat safety, earthquake preparedness, and winter readiness. A presentation from the Transportation and Engineering Division is scheduled for the February commission meeting.
• Priority 4 (Health & Wellness): Healthy Brain Initiative online trainings concluded with 28 unduplicated participants (avg age 71, mostly women). In-person options are being explored. The library received a grant for memory kits; a coordination session at the senior center is planned. A senior food delivery pilot program launched February 4, 2026 (contracted with Vietnamese American Community Center), currently enrolling eligible homebound seniors.
• Priority 5 (Transportation): Ride Care program has 17 enrolled riders, one volunteer driver, and has completed 2 trips. Senior day trips continue (next: Chabot Space & Science Center on Jan 23, fully enrolled with waiting list).
• Priority 6 (Social Connection): Outreach to men for day trips is showing results (4 men enrolled in the Chabot trip).

Commissioner Comments:

• Commissioner Michael-Cady noted the senior services coalition draft plan and offered to share it.
• Commissioner Brennan requested that the Engineering and Transportation division address pavement condition and sidewalk repair plans at their February presentation.
• Commissioner Camillo requested attention to the broken monitor at the entrance and asked for beautification of the bulletin board.

Lunch with Seniors Discussion (Action Item 7B)

Pedro reported that Supervisor Lena Tam is interested in attending a lunch with seniors. May 21, 2026 (after the regularly scheduled commission meeting) was proposed. The commission agreed to proceed, pending the supervisor's availability, and planned to spread out among tables to mingle.

Key Outcomes

• Approval of November 2025 Meeting Minutes: Approved unanimously (6-0).
• FlexRide Assessment Next Steps: Final report due February 25, 2026; recommendations to be incorporated into the FY26-27 contract with MV Transportation starting July 1, 2026. Staff will hold an internal visioning session soon.
• Lunch with Supervisor Tam: Tentatively scheduled for May 21, 2026, pending confirmation. Commissioners will participate and mingle with seniors.
• Communication to Transportation Division: Commissioner Brennan's request to address pavement/sidewalk quality will be forwarded for the February presentation.
• Monitor and Bulletin Board: Staff will investigate fixing the broken monitor and improving the appearance of the bulletin board.
• Meeting Adjourned: at 12:08 PM.