Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, September 07, 2021
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER APPROVING AN APPLICATION TO AARP NETWORK OF AGE-FRIENDLY STATES AND COMMUNITIES TO DESIGNATE THE CITY OF CARSON AS AN AGE-FRIENDLY CITY (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) welcomes applications on an ongoing basis for the nationwide “AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities” program. According to the AARP roadmap for age-friendliness, there are eight domains of livability, including Housing, Outdoor Spaces and Buildings, Transportation, Communication and Information, Civic Participation and Employment, Respect and Social Inclusion, Health Services and Community Supports and Social Participation. Upon successful completion of an application (Exhibit No. 1) and the submission of a letter of support from the Mayor, (Exhibit No. 2), Carson may be designated as an “Age-Friendly City”. This designation will bring increased awareness to the City of Carson as a great place to age with grace, dignity and the support of the community.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
DIRECT staff to apply for the AARP Age-Friendly City designation.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
The population of the United States is rapidly aging. By 2030, one of every five people in the U.S. will be age 65 or older. Therefore, AARP is working to engage communities, share expertise and develop action plans that will improve livability for aging residents. Each action plan is locally developed and directed by community partners and stakeholders who want to play a role in the livability of their city. The belief is that more livable cities are better able to support people of all ages when local leaders commit to improving the quality of life for the very young, those older and everyone in between. Well-designed, age-friendly communities foster economic growth and make for happier, healthier residents of all ages.
Human Services staff has recruited a small group of community partners with whom to collaborate on the application for this designation. There are four steps to enroll: Enter the network through the application process, collaborate with community partners for the planning phase, begin the implementation and evaluation phase and finally enter a continuous cycle of improvements. The application requires a few short answers about what programs are already in place, along with a letter of support from the Mayor of Carson. It also requires a community person to be named as the main point of contact for the duration of the action plan. This is an excellent opportunity to partner with local seniors, the Carson AARP chapter, the Senior Citizens Advisory Commission, CSUDH and others to create an action plan that assesses the needs, fills the gaps and improves Carson’s livability for seniors.
The action plan can be as large or as small as deemed necessary and a yearly progress report is due to the AARP. Progress reports should include updates on the goals that have been achieved, the goals that have been changed and the goals that are in progress. Should staff succeed in securing this designation, the Human Services Division of the Community Services Department would be the lead contact and manager of the action plan with AARP.
This item went before the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Commission on July 29, 2021 and pursuing the “Age-Friendly” designation was unanimously approved.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fee to apply. If granted designation, some cities hire consultants to develop and carry out the five-year action plan; which staff is not recommending at this time.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Draft Application (pg. 3-5)
2. Draft Letter of Support from Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes (pg. 6)
Prepared by: Robert Lennox, Community Services Director, Dani Cook, Human Services Supervisor