San Leandro Senior Commission Meeting - July 20, 2026
San Leandro Senior Commission Meeting - July 20, 2026
The San Leandro Senior Commission met on July 20, 2026, at 10:00 AM. The meeting included approval of June minutes, staff reports on recent events and grant awards, a discussion on age-friendly priority projects, and an update on Alameda County budget developments. Commissioners also addressed participation expectations and planned a coffee social for later in the week.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the draft minutes of the June 18, 2026 meeting unanimously (7-0, with two excused absences).
City Staff Reports & Announcements
- 250th Independence Celebration (July 4, 2026): Commissioners Bella and Laura reported a well-organized event with good food, music, and a VIP area, though note that stairs were a mobility challenge.
- 2026 Annual Senior Resource Fair (June 30): 61 vendors, over 200 attendees, and 93 completed surveys. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive; suggestions included better signage for back rooms.
- Caregiver Focus Support Focus Group (July 14): First listening session facilitated by Karen Grimsich (former executive director of Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay). Three commissioners attended; common challenges among family caregivers were identified.
- Grant Application Updates:
- Awarded a $25,000 Kaiser Permanente community health grant to sustain the senior food delivery program.
- Applied for an Area Agency on Aging grant of ~$112,000/year for caregiver support services, including memory cafes, caregiver appreciation events, trainings, and subsidized recreational services. This one-year contract may be extended up to three additional years.
- Paratransit Program Update: The FY 2026-27 proposal was approved by Alameda County Transportation Commission and City Council, sustaining flex shuttle, flex on-demand (subsidized Uber), senior day trips, senior evacuation pilot, and ride care programs.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made.
Discussion Items
- Commission Commitments and Expectations: Chair Watchison addressed no-shows at the resource fair, emphasizing the need to honor sign-ups and communicate cancellations. Staff agreed to send reminders three days before events and to place RSVP requests prominently in emails.
- July Coffee with Senior Commission Event: Scheduled for Thursday, July 22 (or 23?) at 9:30 AM in the activity room. Three commissioners will participate; no quorum permitted. Promotion via flyers, Facebook, and in-person announcements.
- Age-Friendly Priority Projects Discussion: Staff presented three priority areas: caregiver support (memory cafes, focus groups, trainings, appreciation event), personal protection (cybersecurity workshops, senior evacuation pilot, emergency preparedness, safe routes to senior centers), and promotion/outreach (presentations, expo, community events). The commission agreed to integrate these discussions into regular monthly meetings rather than forming separate committees, with action items agendized for September on memory cafes, safe routes, and the senior services expo.
- Alameda County Budget Developments: Commissioner Brennan summarized the county budget, noting $19.3 million invested in healthcare to eliminate 92 proposed layoffs and a strategic priority to secure sustainable funding for senior services. Staff confirmed $6 million of Measure W funds for the Area Agency on Aging.
Key Outcomes
- Approvals: Consent calendar (June minutes) approved.
- Grants: Kaiser grant ($25,000) and proposed AAA grant (~$112,000) noted; contract negotiations underway.
- Paratransit: Contracts being executed; programs continue.
- Commitment to Projects: Commission will use regular meeting agendas to focus on age-friendly priority projects, starting in September.
- Coffee Event: Three commissioners confirmed for July 22 coffee; no quorum rules stressed.
- Next Meeting: Commission will recess in August, next meeting September 2026.
Commission Reports & Announcements
- Chair Watchison visited former commissioners at a senior living facility.
- Commissioner Brennan raised e-bike safety concerns at a coffee with Senator Grayson and Supervisor Tam, noting two state bills pending.
- Commissioner Camillo suggested a senior prom event and a caregiver registry for middle-income families.
- The meeting adjourned at 11:17 AM.
Meeting Transcript
I call the meeting of July 16th, 2026 senior commission to order. The time is now 10 a.m. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance if you are able. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Please be seated. Mr. Secretary Roll Call, please. Thank you. Chair Watchison? Here. Vice Chair Comelo? Yeah. Commissioner Dylan? Here. Commissioner Lopez Nacario. Here. Commissioner McMichael Cady. Here. Commissioner Brennan. Here. Commissioner Benya. Commissioner Gobak Krishnan. And Commissioner Rixen. Here. For the record, we have uh two excused absences from Commissioner Pena and Commissioner Kopakrishnan. Also in attendance is Senior Commission Secretary Pedro Naranko. Okay, thank you very much. Announcements. If anyone would like to attend the funeral services, they will be held on July 31st at 10 a.m. at Assumption Church with a reception to follow. Anyone else? Thank you, Chair. I have two uh announcements. Uh one is you all have your senior commission badges now. Um so thank you for your patience uh with that. Feel free to wear those to these meetings and to any city events or community events that you attend or you're representing the the commission. And then the second announcement that I have is I left for you on your packet uh a flyer uh which is um for an ice cream social that's going to be taking place next Monday, July 20th. We have been promoting this here at the Senior Community Center with our patrons. Everybody's super excited about ice cream. Um it's a hot day like it's been this week. I think it's gonna be very well timed. And so it's gonna be in in Main Hobby uh from 2 to 4 p.m. There's gonna be gangs, music, uh hopefully a good time for everybody. So you're all welcome to attend if you are available and interested. Thank you. Thank you. All right, please silence any devices that would prove a distraction during the meeting, and also please remember to ask for a recess if you need to step out of the meeting, as that may impact the commission's ability to maintain a quorum. Thank you. A consent calendar, approval of the draft minutes of the senior commission meeting of June 18, 2026.
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