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Item 13 Staff Report Senior Task ForceDATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: MEETING DATE: 7/17/00 ITEM NO, COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT July 13, 2000 MAYOR AND TOWN TOWN MANAGER SENIOR TASK FORCE: A. ACCEPT THE COITY SERVICES COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE SENIOR TASK FORCE REPORT; AND, B. REFER THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO STAFF FOR ALTERNATIVES RECOMMENDATION: A. Accept the Community Services Commission's recommendation regarding the Senior Task Force Report; and, B. Refer the Commission's recommendations to Staff for alternatives. BACKGROUND: Council considered the Senior Task Force Report on May 1. In summary, the Task Force concluded that senior services in Los Gatos need a "face and a place": a Senior Coordinator that serves as the initial contact and resource for all local senior services; and, a designated senior center that provides a spectrum of senior services and activities. Council referred the report to the Town Manager for consideration in this year's operating budget and to the Community Services Commission for comment. DISCUSSION: This year's operating budget includes $50,000 for case management services and $40,000 for a Senior Coordinator. The $40,000 is allocated for granting to the Los Gatos -Saratoga Adult Education and Recreation Department to hire a full-time coordinator; the agency would be asked to supplement the grant to cover the salary and benefit costs. The Community Services Commission has reviewed the Senior Task Force report and recommends that the Town hire the Senior Coordinator. The Commission's memo is attached. It is recommended that the Commission's memo be referred to Staff for response no later than September 18. Staff believes it is appropriate to explore alternatives such as contracting with a local nonprofit for services before deciding to hire a full-time employee. In the interim, staff will work with Senior Task Force and Community Services Commission representatives, and other interested parties to draft a work program. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: The Senior Task Force report is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required. PREPARED BY: Regina A. Falkn Community Ser ' ' 1 irector N: \csd\tcrpts\tskfrce 1. res Reviewed by: OK/Attorney Revised: 7/13/00 11:51 AM Reformatted: 7/14/99 PAGE 2 MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL SUBJECT: SENIOR TASK FORCE July 13, 2000 FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact at this time. Attachments: Memorandum from Community Services Commission Distribution: Community Services Commission Senior Task Force Bob Best, Los Gatos - Saratoga Department of Community Education and Recreation CELEBRATING COMMUNITY MEMORANDUM`"' GAS% IAW®' COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION .aa,�eoahb.e.K To: Mayor and Town Council From: Community Services Commission Subject: Senior Task Force Report Response Date: July 11, 2000 Recommendation: 1. That the budgeted Senior Coordinator position be employed by the Town using the following criteria: • Community Services Director should have direct input on developing a detailed job description which will be used for recruitment; • Community Services Director should be directly involved in recruitment effort; • Senior Coordinator position should report to the Community Services Director and be operated under the Community Services Department; and, • Senior Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating recommendation number two. 2. That the Town hire an Architect to develop concepts and budget estimates for reuse of the neighborhood center. Background: The Senior Task Force report recommended that a full-time Senior Services Coordinator position be established. It suggested that hiring and managing the person could be a cooperative effort between the Town and the Los Gatos Saratoga Adult Education and Recreation Department. Funding for the position is included in the adopted FY 2000/01 and 2001/02 budget in the form of a grant to the Recreation Department; the agency would be requested to supply the balance needed to hire the full-time staff person. Discussion: In order to carry out the Task Force recommendations, it is essential to have the new staff person be a Town employee. The Town and the Recreation Department have different roles in providing for Senior services. The Town, specifically the Community Services Department, is committed to providing for comprehensive senior services. The Community Services Department operates the Neighborhood Center and the Senior Drop -In Center; it also manages contracts with a number of senior service providers. The Recreation Department is one of many players committed to developing Recreation programs and should be viewed as a provider of contracted programming services. In order to be successful, this new employee must have a broad view of Mayor and Town Council Senior Task Force Report Response Page Two senior needs and be able to meet the challenges of bringing all of these services under a coordinated umbrella. We strongly recommend that the senior coordinator be hired by the Town and that the employee report to the Community Services Director. This will: • give the Town more control over the person's job assignments and allow for corrective changes that need to be made in the Senior Program; and, • assure that the Town's best interests are protected when the senior coordinator makes recommendations regarding potential Neighborhood Center improvements. It has been suggested that this project be referred to as "pilot" allowing for the required flexibility. The Town staff should work with the Recreation Department to discuss funding the position. It is estimated that the person will be hired in the late fall. As a result, the $40,000 budgeted for Fiscal Year 2000-01 will be sufficient even if there is no financial contribution from the Recreation Department. N :lcsdlcs cltas k forc. w pd Town Council Minutes July 17, 2000 Redevelopment Agency Los Gatos, California HEARINGS CONTINUED GUM TREE LANE 15690/RESIDENTIAL REMODEL/APPEAL (12.09) Mayor Blanton announced that this was the time and place so noted for public hearing to consider appeal of a Planning Commission decision requesting approval to construct an accessory living quarter and a variance application to exceed the allowable height on property zoned HR-21/2. Conditional Use Permit U-00-1. Variance Application V-00-1. Property Location: 15690 Gum Tree Lane. Property Owner/Applicant/Appellant: Eric Hamilton. The following person spoke to this item: Eric Hamilton, 15690 Gum Tree Lane, spoke of his accessory structure to house a table tennis court being approved in 1996. The permit expired in 1998 due to misinformation from staff, and when he came in to reapply he found that the rules for hillside development had changed. He has filed a variance application and requests approval of his project. No one else addressed this issue. Motion by Mr. Attaway, seconded by Mr. Hutchins, to close the public hearing. Carried unanimously. Motion by Mr. Hutchins, seconded by Mr. Attaway, to grant the appeal as this is an issue of policy over which the Planning Commission did not have discretion to modify or address, but which is vested in the Council for decision; to adopt the findings in the Planning Commission report of April 12, 2000; and to note that the location of the accessory unit is on a large site where the structure has no impact on others. Carried by a vote of 3 ayes. Mrs. Lubeck and Mr. Pirzynski voted no because they could not identify findings for the variance. SENIOR TASK FORCE/TOWN FUNDING (13.19) Motion by Mr. Attaway, seconded by Mr. Hutchins, that Council accept the Community Services Commission's recommendation regarding the Senior Task Force Report and refer the Commission's recommendations to Staff for alternatives, noting that it is time for the Town to offer continued support to the Seniors' efforts. Carried unanimously. FRANCIS OAKS WAY 15500/NEW RESIDENTIAL/RESOLUTION 2000-95 (09.09) Mayor Blanton noted that this was the time and place to consider adopting resolution granting an appeal and remanding a decision of the Planning Commission approving an Architecture and Site Application to construct a new single family residence on property zoned HR-2'/2 . Project Application PRJ-98-113. Property Location: 15500 Francis Oaks Way. Property Owner: Parkside Limited. Applicant/Appellant: T.H.I.S. Design. Ray Davis, resident, spoke to this item, expressing his opinion that the process and decision was not to his liking and was done in some faulty manner. TC: D 11: MM071700 13