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Minutes 10-07-96 MINUTES OF THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1996, AT 4:00 P.M. PRESENT Betty Collins, Chairwoman Beth Bailey, Public Information Raymond Eney Officer Geraldine Graham Bob Eichorst, Public Works Director Edgar Sackett Esther "Peggy" Stranahan Mary Toth Marion Moore, Alternate ABSENT Jacob Rose Mary Cannon, Alternate 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairwoman Collins called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER A moment of silent prayer was observed following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. 3. ROLL CALL The Recording Secretary called the roll. Chairwoman Collins advised that Mr. Rose contacted her prior to the meeting to advise that he would be out of town. 4. AGENDA APPROVAL Motion Ms. Graham moved to approve the agenda as presented. Mr. Eney seconded the motion. The vote was not polled. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 9, 1996 Chairwoman Collins thanked the City Clerk's Office for a job well done on the minutes. 1 Motion A review of the minutes of the Senior Advisory Board meeting of September 9, 1996 shows they were accurate, with no corrections to be made. Therefore, Mr. Eney moved that they be accepted as submitted. Ms. Stranahan seconded the motion. The vote was not polled. Chairwoman Collins welcomed everyone in attendance, and reminded them that the Senior Advisory Board has worked diligently to get bus service throughout the City. The board's main focus at this time is to provide bus service for seniors for shopping. She explained that seniors are encouraged to stop driving as they age, but they cannot do that if they do not have another means of transportation. The City will begin a "shopper hopper" this month. In addition, Chairwoman Collins reported that a new community center has opened in the Boynton Beach Mall. She introduced Mike Novack, who represents Foundation Health. 6. REPRESENTATIVE FROM FOUNDATION HMO Mr. Novack explained that Foundation Health, as a health insurance HMO in the State of Florida, has made a decision to give back something to the communities in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade Counties by opening these community senior centers. The center in Boynton Beach is located two stores away from Burdine's in the Boynton Beach Mall. It will be designed to provide the following three sources of activities, at no charge: 1. Planned events to provide seniors with an opportunity to participate in Jazzercize classes, low-impact aerobics, Spanish, and arts and crafts. 2. A complete list of seminar activities will be provided. Some of these seminars will relate to health and wellness, nutrition, diet, Medicare, and financial information. 3. A resource center to provide literature for seniors who want to know about pharmaceuticals, generic drugs, choosing an HMO versus Medicare, health and wellness, diet, and nutrition. The seniors will be able to stop in and pick up this written material. Foundation Health will educate individuals about HMOs and their program so that the individuals will be able to make an informed choice. In his position as Community Relations Specialist, Mr. Novack is responsible for contacting the various organizations and condo associations throughout the community to alert them to the fact that Foundation Health is here in Boynton Beach. If any of these people do not have transportation, and they have a group of 20 or more, Foundation Health will provide bus transportation for them to get to the Mall. Foundation Health is open for input. Anyone is free to stop in and offer suggestions on activities. This community center is located two doors away from Burdine's. Visiting this center does not require enrollment in Foundation HMO. Mr. Novack explained that seniors will be encouraged to listen to a Medicare seminar and to what Foundation HMO has to offer. 2 MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA OCTOBER 7, 1996 Mr. Novack advised that the center opened two weeks ago. It is open seven days a week, and adheres to Mall hours of operation. Activities usually begin at 10:30 a.m. The center will remain in Boynton Beach on a permanent basis. Chairwoman Collins inquired if blood pressure checks and cholesterol screenings will be provided at this center. Mr. Novack advised that he has contracted with an organization that will provide these checks and screenings on a weekly basis. This activity will be posted in the center's calendar of events. In response to Chairwoman Collins' question, Mr. Novack advised that he has spoken with a local dance instructor who has agreed to provide instruction at the center twice a week. Mr. Novack reported that many of the large condo associations from Delray Beach bus people to the Mall three times a week. As they learn of the center, they go back and tell others. When anyone stops by the center, they are asked what organization they belong to and the name of their activities' director. Mr. Novack then calls that activities' director and apprises them of the center's existence. He also asks that the center be advertised on their calendars. In response to a question from a member of the audience, Mr. Novack advised that Foundation Health funds the center. Foundation Health is a health insurance company that took over a former HMO known as Care Florida. Mr. Novack reported that when he meets with the individual condo associations, he passes out a special invitation to the center. The individuals register with the center, and when they present the special invitation on their next visit, they are given a free gift. 7. BUS ROUTES - SHOPPERS' SPECIAL Chairwoman Collins advised that a mailing went out to condo associations and communities requesting their assistance and cooperation in getting the new shopper hopper operational. She explained that everyone was very pleased with the practice runs. All remarks were very positive. Bob Eichorst, Public Works Director, explained that the Senior Advisory Board proposed certain routes, and he added the final touches to make the routes safe. The proposed schedule is as follows: ? Winn- Tuesday - Dixie (Oakwood Square): Leisureville 3 MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA OCTOBER 7, 1996 ? Publix Wednesday - (Sunshine Square): High Ridge Apartments, Colonial Club, Hampshire Gardens, Seagate of Gulfstream, Snug Harbor, Sterling Village, Coastal Towers ? Winn-Dixie Thursday - (Oakwood Square): Seaway Villas, Boynton Bay, Village Royale on the Green, Village Royale, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard corridor Service will begin at 8:30 a.m. The buses will pick up passengers and take them to the grocery store. They will have one hour to shop. The bus will return with another bus load of passengers to be dropped off. The previous bus load of passengers will be picked up and returned to their homes. One stipulation from Public Works is that only grocery bags or shopping bags be handled on the bus. Shopping carts are not permitted because they are too cumbersome and can damage the seats. The schedule that has been provided is an initial schedule. It is hoped that this schedule will be expanded to a five-day a week schedule which includes a trip to the Mall. This service is in the very beginning stages, and many mistakes will be made. Mr. Eichorst urged the residents to be patient until everything is firmed up. In response to a question from the audience, Chairwoman Collins advised that the time schedules which have been provided are approximate times. A list of the stops and approximate times for each condo area will be provided. In response to a remark from an audience member from Leisureville that she would prefer to shop at Publix, Chairwoman Collins explained that because the Publix on Congress Avenue is very congested, the mall owner will not permit the bus to stop at the front of the store. Winn-Dixie has a great deal more room for the bus to stop. They have added benches and more cashiers. They will allow the use of the public address system to announce the departure of the shopper hopper. In addition, Winn-Dixie has a motorized vehicle available within the store for shoppers who cannot walk. There will be a volunteer on the bus to assist the riders with their packages. Chairwoman Collins advised that Mae Volen goes into some areas of our City to provide shopping transportation. They receive funds for seniors in the South County. While their center is wonderful, it is much too far from the City of Boynton Beach for most of our seniors to participate. We tried to work with Mae Volen in an effort to open a satellite here in the City, but we were not successful. Since we now have a bus service for shopping, we would like to be able to tell them to use their buses for medical trips. Chairwoman Collins will plan a meeting with them in the future. 4 MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA OCTOBER 7, 1996 Chairwoman Collins urged the residents to use this new service. If it is successful, the service will remain in operation in the future. Once the grocery shopping routes are well established, we will try to work out trips to the Mall. Mr. Eichorst urged everyone to remember that this service is in its infancy stage. It will not work without the participation, understanding, and cooperation of the people who use the service. Although some of the residents of Leisureville would prefer to shop at Publix, going to Winn-Dixie also assists the drivers with regard to turnaround time. Once the system is operating smoothly for a six-month period, staff will look at adding Publix to the schedule. Mr. Eichorst is confident this service will work. Mr. Eichorst admitted that when he was first given this challenge two years ago, he dreaded it and felt it was a losing venture. He has learned that it can work, and he supports it wholeheartedly. An audience member questioned what will happen with the daily bus schedule. Mr. Eichorst said he does not want to eliminate the daily service. He feels the public can be served with an improved schedule. That service may not run as often as it is currently running, but it can be more neighborhood friendly. Mr. Eichorst is hopeful that he will be able to have the routes swing through the neighborhoods and possibly provide transfers to Palm Tran. He would like to be able to provide service through the Meadows, Boynton Lakes, Golfview Harbour, and Chapel Hill. Chairwoman Collins commended Mr. Eichorst for the work he has done. She reminded everyone that Mr. Eichorst did not have input regarding the current routes. However, he is now working with the routes and will make the service neighborhood friendly. This service will begin on Wednesday of this week. Leisureville will not be serviced this week. Their service will begin on Tuesday of next week. The cost of a round-trip is $1.00 ? for seniors (50 each way). Anyone wishing to volunteer on the buses to assist passengers should contact Mr. Eichorst. 8. VOLUNTEERS/REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS COMMUNITIES Mr. Eichorst explained that the purpose of the volunteers is to make sure passengers get on and off the buses with their packages. In addition, the volunteers will make sure everyone is ready to be picked up when the bus arrives. A suggestion was made that, if possible, each bus load of passengers have a volunteer to serve this purpose. Ms. Bailey suggested that the condo associations advertise the new bus service in their newsletters and post notices on their bulletin boards. 9. RE: CARRIE PARKER'S LEAVING 5 MINUTES SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA OCTOBER 7, 1996 Chairwoman Collins announced that City Manager Parker-Hill recently married and will be leaving the City. The Senior Advisory Board members have prepared a card which will be sent to her. Ms. Bailey advised that City Manager Parker-Hill has decided to stay with the City for a few additional weeks. The party in her honor will still be held on Friday, October 18. Tickets are available for $25 per person. 10. OLD BUSINESS None 11. NEW BUSINESS The Community Relations Board is sponsoring a Multicultural Festival on November 16, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., at Boat Club Park. They have asked if the Senior Advisory Board is interested in having a booth at the Festival. Chairwoman Collins asked the members to think about this, and let her know if there is any interest in setting up a booth. Ms. Bailey reminded everyone present that the grand opening of City Hall in the Mall will be held on Friday, November 8, 1996, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Bethesda Hospital and Palm Beach County are co-sponsors of this effort. Representatives from the City, Bethesda and Palm Beach County will be present. Refreshments and entertainment will be available. She urged everyone to visit. The City Hall in the Mall is located next door to Burdine's. Mr. Eney asked that the record reflect the fact that Bob Eichorst offered a tremendous--- amount of cooperation and help in this effort. Chairwoman Collins agreed with Mr. Eney's remarks and stated that Mr. Eichorst and the bus drivers will be recognized in the future as an expression of the board's gratitude. 12. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the board, the meeting properly adjourned at 5:05 p.m. Janet M. Prainito Recording Secretary (Two Tapes) 6