Title
Adopt a Resolution to Approve the City of San Leandro 2024-2029 Age-Friendly Action Plan
Staffreport
COUNCIL PRIORITY
• Public Safety
• Infrastructure
• Housing and Homelessness
SUMMARY
The City of San Leandro joined the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Association of Retired Persons’ (AARP) Age-Friendly Network in November 2021. Age-Friendly is one of AARP’s 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. A requirement of membership is to submit and implement a five-year age-friendly action plan. The City is scheduled to submit the final Plan to AARP in summer 2024. The City of San Leandro’s first Age-Friendly Action Plan was developed through a community-participatory process that included key stakeholder interviews with City Council, City staff, and external stakeholders; listening sessions; presentations and engagement of key stakeholder groups; and a robust community-wide survey. The Plan outlines six priorities and thirteen projects to focus on to make San Leandro a more age-friendly community.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the resolution approving the FYs 2024-2029 Age-Friendly Action Plan.
BACKGROUND AND UPDATE
In 2018, the City of San Leandro Senior Commission embarked on an effort to collaborate and create the City’s first Age-Friendly Action 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.
In addition, the 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, presentations and engagement of key stakeholder groups, community survey, and ongoing Senior Commission and public input. The key stakeholder interviews included City Council members, Senior Commissioners, City staff, and subject matter experts. Informed by the community-participatory process, staff identified the following six priorities to focus San Leandro upon to make 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 identified key projects to support implementation of the Plan.
The draft of the Plan was posted for public comment from May 21 through June 11. In addition, the City Council and Senior Commission provided input on the draft Plan during the June 10, 2024 Joint meeting of the City Council and Senior Commission. Additional input was solicited during the June 20, 2024 Senior Commission meeting. The public was invited to attend and provide input at both meetings. Fifty-three comments were received during the public comment period, which is indicative of the ongoing efforts to keep the community informed and engaged. The input received from the public, Senior Commission, and City Council was incorporated into the final Plan and/or will be considered during the Plan’s implementation phase.
NEXT STEPS
The Human Services Department will continue to partner with the Senior Commission and engage the community in the San Leandro Age-Friendly Initiative during the summer/fall 2024 implementation phase. During this process, projects will be prioritized, lead and supporting partners identified, and metrics with an evaluation plan and timelines determined. City staff plans to present an implementation-phase update to the City Council in fall/winter 2024.
PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS(S)
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. The City Council proclaimed San Leandro an age-friendly city on November 11, 2023 and again on November 7, 2024.
Summary of Public Outreach Efforts
The Plan was developed through a community-participatory process that included key stakeholder interviews, listening sessions, presentations and engagement of key stakeholder groups, and a community-wide survey. Information regarding these various opportunities was shared via the City’s Age-Friendly Action Plan webpage; ads in local newspapers (San Leandro Times and Visión Hispana); shared on the City’s social media platforms; informational booths located at various City and community-based sites; presentations to City Commissions and service organizations (e.g., Rotary Club); and outreach at various community events (e.g., Cherry Festival).
The draft Plan was available for review and comment on the City’s Age-Friendly Action Plan website from May 21st through June 11th 2024. Information regarding the Public Comment Period was disseminated to the community via ads in the San Leandro Times; email distribution list comprised of individuals involved in the community-participatory process; notices sent to San Leandro Unified School District families via the District’s Peachjar system; promotion via the City’s social media outlets; and City website pop-up informing the public about the Public Comment Period and guide on how to submit a comment.
Lastly, community meetings to solicit public comments on the draft Plan were held on June 10th and 20th, 2024 at two locations to enable more citizens to attend the meetings.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
This item has no financial impact.
ATTACHMENTS:
• A - Resolution
• B - City of San Leandro Age-Friendly Action Plan
PREPARED BY
Jessica Lobedan, Human Services Director
Pedro Naranjo, Human Services Manager