HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCAC Minutes 2020-04-12 Regular
CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD
SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY
MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2021 9:00 AM
MINUTES
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE FRIENDSWOOD SENIOR CITIZENS
ADVISORY BOARD THAT WAS HELD AT THE FRIENDSWOOD ACTIVITY BUILDING,
416 MORNINGSIDE DRIVE, FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS, WITH THE FOLLOWING
PRESENT CONSTITUTING A QUORUM:
Committee Chair Nancy Mastrofrancesco
Committee Member Vickie Hefner
Committee Member Dorothy Montz
Committee Member David O’Brien
Committee Member Yolanda Robles
Committee Member Doris Ochoa
Committee Member Alternate Charlene Mizener
City Council Liaison Sally Branson
City Council Liaison, Alternate Robert J. Griffon
Mayor Mike Foreman
Senior Program Manager Genie Balderaz
Assistant Senior Program Manager Shadey Caraveo-Saldaña
Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Michael Boyett
1. Call to Order
Committee Chair Nancy Mastrofrancesco called the meeting to order at 9:03 am.
2. Invocation
The invocation was given by Committee Member Charlene Mizener.
3. Communications from the Public
Council Member Sally Branson stated she enjoyed calling Virtual Bingo in March and
suggested the Friendswood Senior Citizen Program staff invite other council members to
call bingo.
4. Approval of Minutes
A. November 10, 2020 Meeting Minutes
Committee Member Doris Ochoa moved to approve the November 10, 2020 Meeting
Minutes.
5. Discussion of Possible Actions
A. Phase II Reopening Update
The Friendswood Senior Citizen Program is currently open to the public and offering
programs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with a maximum of 20 person
occupancy for most programs. Participants are required to actively participate in a
program while in the building but are not required to register in advance. Fitness programs
are offered every 30 minutes to continue all sanitizing protocols and ensuring a smooth
transition during the check-in process between classes. Staff is also planning to offer on
trip a month beginning in May. Assistant Senior Program Manager reported there have
been an average of 40 participants a day and feedback has been positive. There have
been mixed reviews on staff requiring masks to enter the building, with some expressing
the need for more lenient rules but others grateful for the rules and feeling safer.
Committee Chair Nancy Mastrofrancesco asked if staff knew how many seniors were
vaccinated, but she was informed staff is not allowed to ask to see participant vaccination
records.
Committee Member David O’Brien commented that the Dominoes (42) players would be
more willing to attend if eating were allowed in the building. Assistant Director Michael
Boyett responded that staff would discuss the possibility of allowing participants to bring
their snacks to the building.
Committee Member Vickie Hefner requested clarification on what qualified a person as
actively participating in a program. She mentioned having attended an activity but having
to wait some time before she had a chance to play. Michael Boyett explained what staff
meant by actively participating and why this rule was set in place.
Committee Member Vickie Hefner asked if fundraisers would be planned soon, but staff
responded there were no plans to offer such events since the program wasn’t offering
much.
B. Committee Member Position Available
Committee Chair Nancy Mastrofrancesco asked other members for input on potential
members that would be willing to serve the board. She reviewed what needed to be done
to be considered for the position and where the application could be found. Some
committee members suggested emailing regular participants and posting signs around the
building to inform others of the available position. Senior Program Manager Genie
Balderaz mentioned she had received three applications of senior citizens that have never
come to the program before.
C. Cinco de Mayo at Stevenson Park
[Wednesday, May 05, 2021; 11:00 am – 1:00 pm at Stevenson Park] Senior Program
Manager Genie Balderaz announced that La Casita would be sponsoring the food for the
event. She said the owner would serve individual plates to avoid staff from having to serve.
She also mentioned staff would offer sweet bread from a nearby Mexican bakery. For
entertainment staff was working on hiring an affordable Mariachi and then playing Mexican
Bingo called Loteria. The event would not be advertised in a newspaper or Facebook to
avoid large crowds at the first event. Members would be encouraged to sign up in advance
to give staff an idea on interest, but walk -ins would also be welcomed on the day of the
event.
Mayor Mike Foreman with Council Members Sally Branson and Robert Griffon offered to
sponsor the Mariachi.
6. Reports
A. Assistant Director’s Report
PARD Assistant Director Michael Boyett discussed changing the date and time of the
board meetings in the future. Dates and times were brought up and will be voted on at the
next meeting.
The Assistant Director reported the Spring Sparkle event had a great turnout.
He then reported the Youth Fishing Derby was scheduled for May 1, 2021 at the pond in
Centennial Park. This is a free event for families. Staff will paint circles on the grass around
the pond as spot holders for families to encourage social distancing. The pond will be
stocked two days prior to the event with 600 lbs. of catfish.
The Assistant Director also reported that the Fourth of July event will start with an evening
concert on Sunday, July 4th with The Spazmatics performing and fireworks after the
concert. The regular route parade down Friendswood Drive will then be offered the
morning of Monday, July 5th, which is the observed Federal Holiday. He mentioned several
people suggested the event should be offered as a Saturday/Sunday event, but the Fourth
of July planning committee voted for the current plan instead. In case of the pandemic
conditions worsening, staff has planned to offer all activities virtually and not open to the
public.
7. Comments
8. Adjournment
Committee Member Dorothy Montz moved to adjourn the meeting and Committee
Member Doris Ochoa seconded. This meeting was adjourned at 9:39 am.