Staff Report
PREPARED BY: ARN ANDREWS
Assistant Town Manager
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Library Director, and Town Attorney
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 09/05/2017
ITEM NO: 13
DATE: AUGUST 25, 2017
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: WITH THE TOWN’S RECENT DESIGNATION AS A WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION AGE-FRIENDLY CITY, AFFIRM AND PRIORITIZE THE FOUR
GOALS IDENTIFIED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL APPOINTED AGE-FRIENDLY
TASK FORCE
RECOMMENDATION:
With the Town’s recent designation as a World Health Organization Age-Friendly City, affirm
and prioritize the four goals identified by the Town Council appointed Age-friendly Task Force.
BACKGROUND:
The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities
was established in 2010 as a way to connect cities, communities, and organizations worldwide
with the common vision of making their communities great places to grow old. The initiative
was established in response to global population aging and focuses on action at the local level
that fosters the full participation of older people in community life and promotes healthy and
active aging. The Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities provides a global
platform for information exchange, mutual learning, and support. Santa Clara County
embraced this initiative and launched an Age-Friendly campaign with the stated goal of getting
all fifteen cities and towns in the County to apply for the WHO Age-Friendly designation by June
2017. In January 2017, the Town Council identified pursuit of the designation as a Strategic
Priority.
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BACKGROUND (Cont’d)
On February 21, 2017, the Town Council authorized the creation and appointment of a seven-
member Task Force to proceed with the WHO Age-Friendly application process. The Age-
Friendly Task Force was comprised of the following community representation:
Lyn Dougherty – Town of Los Gatos Library Board Member
Mary Goulart – Live Oak Nutrition Center, Director
Cindy McCarthy – Los Gatos-Saratoga Recreation, Director of Recreational Services
Cherie Ravel – Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley, Director of Adult
Programming
Margaret Wilmer – El Camino Hospital, Director of Community Health and Older Adult
Services
Don Callahan – Coldwell Banker Realty, Partner Callahan Real Estate Group
Tom Picraux – Town of Los Gatos Community and Senior Services Commission Chair
Throughout the entire application process, the Town collaborated with the Santa Clara County
Department of Aging and Adult Services, and also partnered with the Center for Age Frie ndly
Excellence (CAFE), which provides technical assistance to all of the cities within the County on
their WHO applications and age-friendly goals.
On May 16, 2017, the Town submitted its Age-Friendly application (see Attachment 1). With
the submittal of the application, the Age-Friendly Task Force concluded its work. On July 27,
2017 the Town received its official notification of membership in the WHO Global Network of
Age-friendly Cities and Communities (Attachment 2). With the designation, the Town of Los
Gatos became the 11th of 15 communities within Santa Clara to receive the membership.
This report outlines the Age-Friendly designation process, the subsequent work of the
Community and Senior Services Commission (CSSC), and the requested actions for the Town
Council.
DISCUSSION:
Age-Friendly Task Force
To comply with the WHO Age-Friendly application process, the Task Force was charged with
convening two focus groups of community members comprised of working professionals,
senior citizens, local services clubs, religious institutions, local business owner s, and community
leaders operating local non-profit groups. The Age-friendly Task Force invited community
members who were either seniors living in Los Gatos or professionals who provided services to
seniors.
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DISCUSSION (Cont’d):
The focus groups were established and surveyed to identify needs and potential gaps in
services beneficial for an aging community. The focus group survey format was established by
the WHO and comprised of the following eight domains:
Transportation
Housing
Social Participation
Respect and Social Inclusion
Civic Participation and Employment
Communication and Information
Community Support and Health Services
Outdoor Spaces and Buildings
Upon completion of the focus group sessions, CAFE analyzed the data and presented the
findings to the Task Force and Town staff. The Task Force then distilled that information into
the four broad areas of community needs. These areas became the goals that form the basis of
the Town’s WHO application.
Offer age-friendly and inclusive social events and community-wide dances through a
collaborative of community partners.
The data suggested a need for more social gathering spaces and opportunities for
seniors, especially those facing isolation. Many of the community organizations in Los
Gatos already hold dances but there could be improved coordination, marketing and
methods for providing transportation to attend events.
Provide emergency preparedness lectures and demonstrations specific to older adults. The
community partners would provide access and contributions of emergency supply kits.
The data showed that many seniors were not aware of services provided by the County
Fire and Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Departments, and that more emergency
preparedness training for residents should be explored. Actions could include hosting
events specifically geared for older adults and possibly offering education, materials,
and supplies needed in case of an emergency.
Produce an infographic resource describing available community services for all residents.
These would be available at the Town Departments including the Library and Police
Departments as well as local community centers.
Creation of a convenient handout that all local community agencies could provide to
residents. The handout would list available services, such as housing resources, food
pantries, and other social services. The infographic could include contact information
and represented agencies should play a role in keeping it up to date.
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DISCUSSION (Cont’d):
Explore a public/private partnership to offer a variety of on-demand transportation options for
older adults.
The data indicated a need for more transportation options for seniors and a way to
collaborate with other public and private agencies or ridesharing agencies. This was
recognized as a regional challenge and would require working with community partners
in neighboring cities and Santa Clara County to come up with regional options.
It should be noted that many of the identified Age-Friendly initiatives align well with the goals
of the Human Services Element of the Town’s 2020 General Plan.
Community and Senior Services Commission
In addition to the efforts completed by the Age-friendly Task Force, the Town’s Community and
Senior Services Commission (CSSC) has been actively following and deliberating the findings of
the Task Force. On July 25, 2017, the CSSC discussed how the Commission could be most
effective in helping the Town achieve the age-friendly goals. The Commission created four
teams to evaluate existing and planned programs which intersect with the four goals and to
identify opportunities and challenges associated with successful implemen tation of the goals.
The four reports are included as Attachment 3 to this report.
CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS:
The WHO Age-Friendly initiative culminated in the following areas being identified for Council
consideration:
A community collaborative to offer social events and dances;
More emergency preparedness training opportunities to residents;
An infographic resource describing available community services for all residents; and
Options for additional senior transportation
The Town Council is being asked to prioritize the age-friendly goals provided by the Age Friendly
Task Force. Based on the priorities, the CSSC will begin implementation of the goals.
COORDINATION:
This report was prepared in coordination with the Town Attorney’s Office and Library
Department.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
The prioritization of the goals has no fiscal impact.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is r equired.
Attachments:
1. Town of Los Gatos WHO Age-Friendly application
2. WHO Age-Friendly designation letter
3. Community and Senior Services Age-friendly Goals Information