Title
City of San Leandro Age-Friendly Action Plan: Draft Plan
Staffreport
SUMMARY
In 2018, the San Leandro Senior Commission embarked on an effort to collaborate with the San Leandro City Council and City staff to create the City’s first Age-Friendly Action Plan. In October 2023, the City executed an agreement with Pear Street Consulting to conduct an Age-Friendly Assessment and prepare the City’s Age-Friendly Action Plan. Since October 2023, the planning process has included key stakeholder interviews with City Council, city staff, and external stakeholders; eight listening sessions; a robust community-wide survey; targeted engagement with the Human Services Commission, Youth Commission, Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Adjustments, Recreation and Parks Commission, and Arts Culture and Library Commission; and ongoing in-depth Senior Commission guidance and input. On May 21, 2024, the draft Plan was posted for public comment and will be available for comment through June 11, 2024.
Staff and the Age-Friendly Action Plan consultant will present an update on the Plan, including community engagement efforts, project schedule, and will receive feedback from the public, City Council, and the Senior Commission.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend the City Council and the Senior Commission review and provide input on the draft Age-Friendly Action Plan.
BACKGROUND AND UPDATE
In 2018, the Senior Commission embarked on an effort to collaborate with the City to create the City’s first Age-Friendly Plan. On October 29, 2020, former City of San Leandro Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter submitted a letter to AARP expressing interest in pursuing admission into the World Health Organization (WHO) and AARPs Network of Livable Communities. Age-Friendly is one of American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) primary initiatives. AARP leads the age-friendly movement through its Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. AARP staff and volunteers engage communities, share expertise, and deliver technical assistance to improve the quality of life for the very young, the very old, and everyone in between. The City of San Leandro joined the Network in November 2021. A requirement of membership is to submit and implement a five-year age-friendly action plan.
In addition, City Council Proclaimed San Leandro an Age-Friendly City on November 11, 2023 and again on November 7, 2024. In October 2023, the City executed a contract with Pear Street Consulting to support Age-Friendly Assessment and Action Plan efforts.
The Age-Friendly Action Plan will be a five-year roadmap, spanning July 2024 through June 2029, and will outline key priorities and projects to make San Leandro a more livable place for its older adults. Making San Leandro a more livable place for older adults will ultimately create a community that is better able to support residents of all ages.
The Plan was developed through a community-participatory process that included key stakeholder interviews, listening sessions, community survey, and ongoing Senior Commission and public input. Informed by the community-participatory process, staff identified the following six priorities to focus on to make San Leandro a more age-friendly community:
1. Plan Sustainability (i.e., in partnership with community, build the capacity to implement the solutions needed to ensure well-being for all.
2. Personal Protection
3. Housing Security
4. Health and wellness
5. Transportation
6. Social connection
Within each of the priority areas, staff have identified key projects to support implementation of the priority areas to help support making San Leandro a more age-friendly city.
The draft Plan is included in this packet as Attachment A. The draft Plan was posted for public comment during the period of May 21st through June 11th. Public comment and City Council input will be incorporated into the final Plan, which staff will share with the City Council for adoption in July.
NEXT STEPS
Feedback and comments from the City Council, Senior Commission and members of the public will be collected through June 11th, 2024. The final Plan will be taken to the City Council for approval in July 2024.
PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS(S)
The City Council proclaimed San Leandro an age-friendly city on November 11, 2023 and again on November 7, 2024. On October 29, 2020, former City of San Leandro Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter submitted a letter to AARP expressing interest in pursuing admission into the World Health Organization (WHO) and AARPs Network of Livable Communities.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Attachment A - Age-Friendly Action Plan Draft
• Attachment B - Age-Friendly Action Plan Presentation
• Attachment C - Age-Friendly City Proclamations
• Attachment D - Consulting Services Agreement with Pear Street Consulting
PREPARED BY
Jessica Lobedan, Human Services Director
Pedro Naranjo, Human Services Manager