Commission on Aging Josephine Ratnam, Chairperson Gail Feldman, Commission Secretary

1901 Hearst Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709 Tel: 510. 981.5200 TDD: 510.981.6903 Fax: 510. 981.5220 E-mail: seniors@ci.berkeley.ca.us - http://www.cityofberkeley.info/housing/

COMMISSION ON AGING REGULAR MEETING

AGENDA

North Berkeley Senior Center 1901 Hearst Avenue Berkeley, CA

Wednesday, March 18, 2015 1:30 p.m.

Preliminary Matters

1. Roll Call 2. Public Comments

The public may comment about any item not on the agenda. Public comments are limited to two minutes per speaker. Public comments regarding agenda items will be heard while the Commission is discussing the item.

3. Approval of the February 18, 2015 regular meeting minutes

Announcements (5 minutes) Presentations

Proposed Berkeley Way Housing Project – Amy Davidson, Sr. Community Development Project Coordinator

Paratransit Program – Jonathan Torres, Courtney Supple and Leah Talley, Aging Services

Updates/ Action Items The Commission may take action related to any subject listed on the Agenda. Public comments regarding agenda items will be heard while the Commission is discussing the item. Public comments are limited to two minutes per speaker.

4. Discuss and take possible action to change the meeting time for the Commission to 1:00pm to 3:00 pm on the third Wednesday of the month.

5. Discuss and possibly reconsider sending a letter to Council and to instead provide a recommendation in report form requesting approval for the Mayor to sign the Milken Institute “Best Cities for Successful Aging Pledge” on behalf of the City of Berkeley. (Porter)

6. Discussion and possible action to determine next steps for addressing the comments from the November 9, 2014 Special Meeting of the Commission on Aging and establish Commission priorities and work plan which may include:

a. Creating a list of Commission priorities that we will be held accountable to actively pursuing and take action on (Lazaris).

b. Devoting our future monthly meetings to a specific priority issue and inviting speakers to present to the Commission on the issue (Lazaris).

Information Items

1. Commission on Aging Policy Priorities Table 2. Paratransit Services Plan Development Memo 3. Poverty and Homeless Symposium March 14, 2015 UC Berkeley 4. California Senior Rally Day May 6, 2015 Sacramento 5. Article “Growing Number of Homeless Senior Alameda County” 6. Article “Growth Forces Grocery Outlet to leave” 7. Article “Housing to Replace Grocery Outlet” 8. Chaparral House Memory Care Certification

Communications

9. Letter from Laura Fujii regarding closure of Martin Luther King Middle School Track 10. Correspondence from Secretaries for the Personnel Board, Energy and Housing

Advisory Commissions regarding Council Appointee Annual Meetings

Adjournment

Future Items

1. Report on Nursing Home Infractions in Alameda County. 2. Article in The Atlantic Magazine September 17, 2014 “Why I Hope To Die at Age 75”.

(Porter)

Please refrain from wearing scented products to this meeting.

COMMUNICATION ACCESS INFORMATION This meeting is being held in a wheelchair accessible location. To request a disability-related accommodation(s) to participate in the meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, please contact the Disability Services specialist at 981-6342 (V) or 981-6345 (TDD) at least three business days before the meeting date.

Communications to Berkeley boards, commissions or committees are public record and will become part of the City’s electronic records, which are accessible through the City’s website. Please note: e-mail addresses, names, addresses, and other contact information are not required, but if included in any communication to a City board, commission or committee, will become part of the public record. If you do not want your e-mail address or any other contact information to be made public, you may deliver communications via U.S. Postal Service or in person to the secretary of the relevant board, commission or committee. If you do not want your contact information included in the public record, please do not include that information in your communication. Please contact the commission secretary for further information.

Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Commission regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection at the North Berkeley Senior Center located at 1901 Hearst Avenue, during regular business hours. The Commission Agenda and Minutes may be viewed on the City of Berkeley website: http://www.cityofberkeley.info/commissions.

Secretary: Gail Feldman Health, Housing & Community Services Department (510) 981-5232 E-mail: gfeldman@CityofBerkeley.info

Mailing Address: Commission on Aging/HHCS Gail Feldman 2180 Milvia Street. 2

nd floor

Berkeley, CA 94704

Health, Housing & Community Services Department

Commission on Aging

COMMISSION ON AGING Draft Minutes

North Berkeley Senior Center Wednesday 1901 Hearst Avenue February 18, 2015 Berkeley, CA 1:30 p.m. Preliminary Matters 1. Roll Call

Present: Allen Stross, George Porter, Andreas Lazaris, Bill Schechner, Gabriella Castello-Kramer (1:36 pm), Veta Jaqulin, Edith Hallberg Josephine Ratnam Absent: None

Staff Present: Leah Talley, Gail Feldman Public: None 2. Public Comment - None 3. Approval of January 21, 2015 Regular meeting minutes.

(M/S/C: Lazaris/Porter; Ayes: Stross, Schechner, Porter, Lazaris, Castello-Kramer, Hallberg, Ratnam ; Noes: None; Abstain: None

4. Election of Josephine Ratnam for Chair (M/S/C: Porter/Stross); Ayes: Stross, Schechner, Porter, Lazaris, Castello-Kramer, Hallberg, Ratnam ; Noes: None; Abstain: None

5. Election of Andreas Lazaris for Vice Chair (M/S/C: Porter/Ratnam); Ayes: Stross, Schechner, Porter, Lazaris, Castello-Kramer, Hallberg, Ratnam ; Noes: None; Abstain: None

Meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

Minutes Approved on:, Gail Feldman, Commission Secretary

COMMISSION ON AGING PRIORITIES

Priority Policy Area Possible Recommendations

Housing Designated units for homeless seniors in low income housing

Affordable housing

Resident Boards and coordination with Housing Management

Transportation

Traffic Safety

Communication and Civic Engagement Centralized information switchboard or webpage for activites and issues related to seniors

Communicating with those in Assisted Living to determine needs

Mental Health

Senior Centers Make SBSC more user friendly, classes, etc. CoA to meet there.

Health, Housing & Community Services Department Aging Services Division

2180 Milvia Street, 2nd

Floor, Berkeley, CA 94704 Tel: 510. 981.5400 TDD: 510.981.6903 Fax: 510. 981.5450 E-mail: housing@ci.berkeley.ca.us - http://www.cityofberkeley.info/housing/

MEMORANDUM

To: Commission on Aging Commission on Disability From: Leah Talley, Manager of Aging Services Jonathan Torres, Senior Citizen Center Director Date: March 11, 2015 Subject: Berkeley Paratransit Services – Annual Plan and Program Development

Each year, Berkeley Paratransit Services (BPS) seeks input from paratransit riders and the community as it develops a plan for the upcoming fiscal year. BPS is a program that the City’s Aging Services Division administers. The goal of BPS is to provide financial assistance to low-income Berkeley residents to help meet their individual transportation needs and to assist Berkeley residents who travel by wheelchair with their personal transportation needs. Below is a summary of our current services:

Program Eligibility

Taxi Scrip Program: Provides a limited amount of free scrip (i.e., temporary paper money) to pay for rides on conventional taxicabs, wheelchair-accessible taxicabs, vans, and other selected vehicles. $360/yr.

1. Berkeley residents over age 80 or who are East-Bay Paratransit certified, of any income. 2. Seniors age 70 to 79 who are at or below 30% of Area Median Income.

Wheelchair-Van Program: Provides a limited amount of free van vouchers and/or free taxi scrip exclusively to wheelchair users needing wheelchair-accessible van service for rides that are beyond the scope of services provided by East Bay Paratransit. 12 vouchers 3 times/year or combination of vouchers and scrip.

Those who travel by wheelchair and are certified by East Bay Paratransit as requiring “wheelchair-lift” service, irrespective of income level.

East Bay Paratransit Tickets: Provides for a limited number of free East Bay Paratransit/ATC tickets to individuals certified by East Bay Paratransit.

Limited to providing transportation services to people who meet criteria established in the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Berkeley Paratransit Services – Annual Plan March 11, 2015 Page 2 of 3

Medical Return Trip Improvement Program (MrTrip). Provides limited subsidies for taxicab or van rides to those returning from a health related appointment.

Those participants in the Taxi Scrip Program or the Wheelchair-Van Program.

Services Provided in Fiscal Year 2014 - About 900 residents use taxi scrip to take over 9,250 trips. - About 45 residents use van vouchers for approximately 700 rides. - About 90 residents receive approximately 1,600 no-cost East Bay Paratransit tickets. Developing and Implementing the Plan for Fiscal Year 2016 Measure B provides about $260,000 in revenue annually. We propose to continue our core programs through Measure B support, with benefits adjusted to respond to demand and budget. The passage of Measure BB will bring additional revenue (an estimated $280,000) to support transportation needs of seniors and disabled Berkeley residents. The City of Berkeley provides $100,000 to supplement the program costs. Based on feedback from consumers, our plan for Measure B and BB for Fiscal Year 2016 includes:

Existing/Expanded Programs

Program Description

Taxi Scrip Program Increase benefits from $360 annually to $480 annually; Increase income limits for seniors aged 70 to 79. Current limit is 30% of Area Median Income (AMI), or $1,612 per month for a single person. We propose to set the limit at 50% of AMI, or $2,683 per month for a single person.

Wheelchair Van Program Increase benefits from up to 36 annually to up to 48 annually.

East Bay Paratransit Tickets No change in benefits. Up to $72 in value per year.

Medical Return Trip Program

Up to $360 in reimbursed Medical Trips costs annually

New Programs Program Description

High Medical Need Program Provide extra taxi scrip and van vouchers for eligible participants who have high medical needs that can’t be met with other transportation services. Limited to additional $120 in scrip or 3 van vouchers per month. Examples include: dialysis appointments; cancer treatment appointments.

Travel Training (contracting with community partner)

Provide travel training for seniors and disabled Berkeley residents to gain skills in accessing transportation resources.

Scholarship/Subsidized Fare

Provide subsidized tickets for public transit to low income Berkeley residents (30% of Area Median Income or less)

Capital Costs Supplement the purchase of card reader equipment for taxis (for those without capacity of electronic payment).

Berkeley Paratransit Services – Annual Plan March 11, 2015 Page 3 of 3

New Programs Program Description

Staffing costs Create part-time career staff person to support outreach, enrollment and implementation of new programs.

Key Issues in Measure BB implementation:

New Proposed Programs: The proposed programs meet needs identified by current program users.

Program Planning: We will continue our community assessment to determine how to best meet its needs. Reserve funds will allow us to implement new programs based on assessed needs.

Reserve Funds: We are permitted. Since revenue for this program is sensitive to economic conditions, reserve funds are critical to ensure the stability of the program during years in which revenue dips below program needs. to retain 60% in reserve funds. New programs and program changes are not expected to utilize the entire budget. Currently, the program has $165,255 in reserve funds.

FY 2016 Expenditure Plan (estimate): General Fund: Customer Service and Outreach $70,000 Management $20,000 Purchase of EBP Tickets $6,000 Operating Costs $4,000 TOTAL $100,000 Measure B and BB Taxi Ride Reimbursement $225,000 Wheelchair-Lift Van Vouchers $30,000 High Need Medical Program $40,000 Travel Training $35,000 Scholarship/Subsidized Fare $25,000 Capital Costs $25,000 Staff Costs (Customer Services/Outreach) $52,000 TOTAL $432,000 Measure B/BB Balance, FY16 (reserve): $108,000 Existing Reserve $165,255 Total Reserve $273,255 Allowable Reserve $324,000

Thank you for your support and feedback as we move forward into the next program year.

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Alameda County: Among the 'new' homeless, a growing number of seniors By Karina Ioffee kioffee@bayareanewsgroup.com

POSTED: 12/30/2014 12:01:00 AM PST2 COMMENTS | UPDATED: ABOUT A MONTH AGO

Yolande Cole cooks in her studio apartment in Oakland on Nov. 19, 2014. Cole, who works part time at the Christian

Science Reading Room in Oakland, spent 11 months homeless before finding a subsidized apartment earlier this fall. (Jane

Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

OAKLAND -- Yolande Cole played by all the rules.

She always worked, as a temp doing administrative work and later as a caregiver for the

elderly. She didn't drink or do drugs and paid her bills.

Yet in the 68th year of her life -- a time Cole had long looked forward to finally slow down --

she found herself homeless after a live-work situation in San Francisco didn't pan out.

In one moment, Cole lost not only her job, but also a roof over her head. She moved in with

friends, but after several months of couch surfing, she found herself filling out an

application at a homeless shelter in West Oakland.

"I felt like I was stepping off a cliff, like there was no bottom," recalled Cole, who grew up in

New York City and attended San Francisco State University at one point.

Yolande Cole is photographed on her new bed in her studio apartment in Oakland on Nov. 19, 2014. (Jane

Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Skyrocketing housing prices, together with cuts to food stamps and other programs as well

as increased longevity, have resulted in more seniors becoming homeless, said local

advocates.

In Alameda County, 9 percent of people older than 65 live on less than $12,000 a year, the

federal threshold for poverty, according to the latest figures from the U.S. census.

Calculating the number of homeless is more difficult, because many without permanent

shelter stay with friends or significant others, while others are simply not located.

A homeless count conducted in January 2013, found 4,260 homeless people in Alameda

County. About half of those are 50 years of age or older, said Margot Kushel, a professor of

medicine at UC San Francisco.

Last year, the school began tracking 350 homeless seniors in Oakland in hopes of

identifying the issues they face and how to best help at-risk elders before they wind up on

the streets.

What they've found has surprised them.

"A lot of people see these older people on the street and have this view that they've been

there for years; that they have terrible mental health problems or are drug addicts, and that

often isn't true," said Kushel said. "These people spent their adult lives working, they were

paying rent or mortgages, they were generally low-wage workers, but they were doing well.

"Then something happened: They got sick, they lost their job or their partner died. Many

worked jobs that were physical and as they got older found that they became harder for

them to do."

The study found that 41 percent of homeless people in Oakland first lost permanent housing

when they were 50 or older. Many have serious health problems such as diabetes,

hypertension, cancer, incontinence, dementia, and poor vision or hearing which are

aggravated by living on the streets.

"Many of these people are incredibly sick and have an early onset of conditions, typically

associated with old age," Kushel said. "Yet they are spending a good part of each day not

sheltered."

The goals of the UCSF study are twofold: Help seniors find affordable housing and

appropriate medical services that improve their quality of life, and to take the burden of

their care off hospitals and emergency rooms. Whenever possible, UCSF wants to find ways

to unite seniors with relatives who can help care for them instead of leaving them to fend for

themselves or putting them in nursing homes.

Cole is not embarrassed about her experience but says it was one of the most difficult

moments of her life. The homeless shelter closed at 8 a.m. each day, so Cole spent hours at

the library or riding buses or wandering around shopping malls where she couldn't afford a

thing.

"Sometimes I would go to Burger King and buy something to eat and make it last a really

long time," she said.

She was also looking for work, but at her age, that proved difficult. She tried to register with

a county-run employment program, but didn't have all the required paperwork.

In September, nearly a year after first becoming homeless, Cole moved into an affordable

housing complex in West Oakland. She also works part-time at the Christian Science

Reading Room in downtown Oakland, where she has recently been promoted to librarian.

Her experience is all too common, said Carol Johnson, the executive director of St. Mary's

Center, which serves more than 1,000 seniors each year.

"We're still under the illusion that there is a social net, but it is so tattered," Johnson said.

And as the senior population in Alameda County surges in the coming decade, the insecurity

seniors face in their "Golden Years" will only get worse.

The county's senior population is expected to reach 260,000 by 2020, nearly double what it

was in 2000. At the same time, federal funding for the local Area Agency on Aging, which

provides meals, caregiver support and other services to seniors, has been cut in recent years,

from $181 per senior in 2008 to $100 in 2014. Rising prices and wages that just don't keep

up with the costs, will push more and more seniors into poverty, and eventually

homelessness, Johnson said.

"People would be surprised at the level of abandonment of seniors in our community," she

said.

A year of living in shelters made Cole realize how quickly situations can change and just how

vulnerable seniors are.

"I have become totally accepting and understanding of people," she said. "I don't judge."

Contact Karina Ioffee at kioffee@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow her at Twitter.com/kioffee.

Help for low-income and homeless people

If you are in need of housing or food, Alameda County has many resources.

Abode Services: Emergency shelter, rental subsidies, transitional housing. 510-657-7409,

http://www.abodeservices.org

Alameda County Community Food Bank: 800-870-3663. http://www. accfb.org

Berkeley Food and Housing Project: Emergency food and shelter, housing placement

services. 510-649-4965, http://www.bfhp.org

ECHO Housing: Offers rental assistance, including move-in costs and delinquent rent. 510-

496-0496, http://www.echofairhousing.org

Eden Information and Referral: Rental information and emergency shelter. 510-537-2710,

http://www.edenir.org

Housing Authority of County of Alameda: 510-538-8876, http://www.haca.net

St. Mary's Center: Broad range of programs for seniors and children, including winter and

transitional shelter, soup kitchen, therapy programs, clinic. 510-923-9600,

http://www.stmaryscenter.org

Growth forces Grocery Outlet to leave Berkeley

Jun 25, 2013, 2:46pm PDT Updated: Jun 25, 2013, 3:33pm PDT

Grocery Outlet operates close to 200 stores and continues to adding locations.

Blanca Torres Reporter- San Francisco Business Times

Grocery Outlet has outgrown Berkeley.

The retailer plans to move its headquarters from its longtime home on 4th Street in West Berkeley to 5650 Hollis St. in Emeryville, a 54,000-square-foot, former Bayer warehouse that was converted to office.

“We’ve done everything from reconfiguring space to eating up conference rooms,” said Eric Lindberg, co-CEO of Grocery Outlet. “It just got to the point where we needed room to grow, room to expand. We were forced to move.”

Grocery Outlet was started in San Francisco, but it moved to Berkeley in 1992 to a 20,000-square-foot space at 2001 4th St. that sits above a Grocery Outlet store. The Berkeley space is owned by Read Investments LLC, a real estate firm founded by the same Read family that founded Grocery Outlet and owns real estate that the retailer leases.

The company plans to move to Emeryville later this year and will initially occupy close to 36,000 square feet. After six years, Grocery Outlet’s lease will expand to the full 54,000 square feet for the remainder of its 10-year lease.

The move to Emeryville mirrors Grocery Outlet's recent expansion: It now operates 196 stores and has been adding about 20 to 25 new stores per year.

The retailer's growing operations require more staff and Lindberg expects the firm will bring on another 20 workers this year for 175 by year end. Available jobs are in recruitment, training, purchasing, merchandising, information technology and marketing.

Lindberg said the company wanted to stay as close to its current location as possible and began looking for a new space last year.

The company considered various East Bay locations including Jack London Square and Point Richmond, but found that Emeryville was a good fit.

1

Housing to replace Berkeley Grocery Outlet building

January 22, 2015 9:15 am by Emilie Raguso

The zoning board approved a new development at 2001 Fourth St. in December. Image: Trachtenberg Architects

A sprawling mixed-use housing complex, designed by Trachtenberg Architects, has been approved for Fourth Street and University Avenue in West Berkeley, along with about 8,500 square feet of retail the developer says he hopes could become a grocery store.

The 5-story, 152-unit complex at 2001 Fourth St. is set to include nearly 200 vehicle parking spots, as well as space for more than 80 bicycles and nine motorcycles. Berkeley’s Zoning Adjustments Board approved the project at its Dec. 11 meeting nearly unanimously, with seven members in favor, Commissioner Igor Tregub voting against the project, and Commissioner Steven Donaldson recusing himself because he is a neighbor.

The project is slated to include 12 very-low-income units — to be distributed throughout the property — and will also pay $400,000 into the city’s Housing Trust Fund, which the city uses to help build additional affordable housing in Berkeley.

About a dozen speakers addressed the board in December. Most were concerned about the demolition of the Grocery Outlet building and the store’s impending closure, currently scheduled to come at the end of the year; the resulting loss of union jobs at the store as well as a place to buy affordable food; and the changing neighborhood demographics, ballooning rents and intensifying pressure on existing residents as density increases.

2

“I’m tired of people who call Berkeley home having to kowtow to people who look at it like a cash cow,” said one neighborhood resident. “I don’t want to see any more luxury apartments going in.”

In recent years, new apartment developments have been built nearby at Fourth & U (171 units) and The Avalon (99 units), which opened last May. The 58-unit Aquatic is under construction and set to open later this year. There’s also a new commercial project planned on the Spenger’s block, and there could one day be housing across the street from Spenger’s at what is now a huge parking lot.

Zoning board commissioners stressed that, whatever its decision, Grocery Outlet plans to leave. The company moved its corporate headquarters to Emeryville in 2013 after relocating to Berkeley from San Francisco in 1992. A company representative told Berkeleyside in August that the store has struggled financially for many years.

Speakers disputed the company’s assertion, testifying before the zoning board that the store is always busy, and that the company may have different reasons for its plans to leave Berkeley.

Some said they hope to see space allocated for a large grocery store in the neighborhood before it’s too late.

“We’re going to move from a situation where the Grocery Outlet currently doesn’t have enough customers to one where there will probably be demand and the ability to support a full-service grocery. And there won’t be a space for it within the Fourth Street area,” said neighborhood resident Bryce Nesbitt. “I’m not saying that this building is the one that needs to have the space for the grocery, but what I see here is the need to plan for a full-service grocery within this developing district.”

Said another speaker: “One by one we are allowing things to leave based on the individual needs of that property and the individual needs of the developers. I think that this is a great loss.”

The project developer and property owner at 2001 Fourth is Read Investments, LLC, a real estate firm founded by the Read family, which also founded the Grocery Outlet chain. Read’s managing partner, Morgan Read, told the board in December that Read Investments and Grocery Outlet have been separate companies since the grocery store was sold in 2009 to Berkshire Partners LLP. (Members of the Read family continue to run Grocery Outlet, however.)

Read said his team had tried and failed, since 2011, to find a new tenant for the existing building, approaching everyone from T.J.Maxx and CVS to Walgreens, Trader Joe’s, Sprouts Farmers Market and Whole Foods.

“We were not able to solicit any interest,” he said. “Which led us down the path of a redevelopment of the site.”

3

Those businesses told Read Investments the site would not work for them because of its limited parking, difficult access and “limited and competitive trade area“: “limited” because roughly half of the 1-mile radius around the store falls in Bay, which cuts down on the number of nearby customers, and “competitive” due to the other grocery stores in the area, members of the development team explained to the board. (See a graphic representation, from the project architect, of the property’s trade area.)

The company then shifted gears and began to target more “neighborhood-serving” retailers, and designed the retail space at 2001 Fourth to accommodate them.

“Our first choice among them would be to have a grocery user or multiple grocery users stacked side by side,” he said. “We have approached a dozen or so such tenants. And unfortunately, because completion of the project right now is so far out, getting anybody to sign up and commit is pretty much impossible. That being said, we’re very much encouraged by the amount of interest out there.”

(Project architect David Trachtenberg said, as of early January, there is no estimate as far as when 2001 Fourth might be built because the timeline has not been set.)

Read told the zoning board that his firm has talked to everyone from “a lower-end type of provider to a more specialized organic-type of grocer” to fill the retail space, but had been unable to lock anyone in. “I would love nothing more than to commit to a tenant today,” he said. “It’s just a market impossibility.”

4

Planned: 2001 Fourth St. aims to activate the street on both Fourth and Fifth. Image: Trachtenberg Architects

5

An aerial view of the courtyard and massing at 2001 Fourth. Image: Trachtenberg Architects

Trachtenberg gave a brief presentation to the zoning board describing his firm’s design. He said his team had broken up the building massing into four distinct structures “with ‘light courts’ that slice the block into four separate pieces,” letting light into a large courtyard that spans about 75 feet by 150 feet. He said, rather than build the project out to 206 units, which could have been allowed, the development team opted to go with fewer units and more space and amenities for tenants.

Trachtenberg said, “to activate the block” on Fifth Street, there will be two residential lobbies, at University and also mid-block, along with the new retail on the east side of Fourth Street just south of University and north of the Sierra Nevada tasting room, which opened in late 2013.

6

He described University Avenue below the freeway as “a difficult moment in the urban fabric”: “It’s not the nicest place in town,” he told the board. “We hope to improve that.”

Also planned are a garden at podium-level — above first-floor retail and parking — with a children’s play area and bocce ball court; a communal kitchen and gym; and a rooftop garden with an outdoor theater as well as barbecue and eating areas.

Above: University now and, perhaps, in the future. Below: The podium-level garden is advertised as family friendly. Images: Trachtenberg Architects

In response to concerns expressed by one local resident about congestion, Trachtenberg said that, according to the traffic analysis, there will be fewer car trips associated with the new project than there are currently. He also emphasized Read’s intention to find a business that will fill the neighborhood need to buy food: “The team is very sincere about getting a grocery in the ground floor of this building. It’s absolutely the best possible use for the neighborhood and for the project tenants.”

Board members said the project was well-designed and had been generous with its open space and amenities.

Said Commissioner Sophie Hahn: “This is an absolutely gorgeous project. It’s the second project that this team has brought to us where they don’t max everything out. They don’t take everything they could take. The living spaces are generous. The architecture and design are tasteful and appropriate for Berkeley. The outdoor spaces are phenomenal, generous, and beautifully designed with a lot of amenities.”

They wondered, however, whether the project has too much parking, and asked the developers — as part of their use permit — to make every effort to pursue an agreement with a car-sharing company to have car-share spaces on site. There was also some discussion about the number of spaces in the garage that will be wired for electric vehicles, and the possibility of whether the neighborhood might one day be eligible for parking permits.

Commissioner Tregub said he could not vote for the project because he could not support the demolition of the building — because it houses the Grocery Outlet — or the store’s closure, and saw those changes as a detriment to the neighborhood.

Fourth Street, looking north toward University, as it may one day look. Image: Trachtenberg Architects

Other commissioners said they sympathized with the neighbors but felt strongly that the project is right for the area, and that the impending closure of the grocery store is beyond their purview.

7

Commissioner Shoshana O’Keefe said, if the board did not approve the project, Grocery Outlet would leave anyway, and leave the neighborhood with “a blighted useless property.”

“This project is not forcing Grocery Outlet out,” she said. “I’m sad to see it go, but I think it’s outside of what we’re being asked to decide tonight.”

Commissioner Denise Pinkston agreed, and spoke briefly about the “huge amount of transformation” happening in the grocery industry, with outmoded large-format stores struggling financially due to changes in shopping patterns and lifestyles.

“Saving a building where a grocery store happens to be is not the same thing as saving a grocery store,” she said. “No amount of land-use planning can force a grocery store to work in a market that’s changing beyond our control.”

NEWS RELEASE Media Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Elizabeth Eaken Zhani Media Relations Manager 630.792.5914 ezhani@jointcommission.org

Joint Commission Awards First Memory Care Certification Chaparral House Offers Dynamic, Welcoming Environment for Memory-Impaired Seniors

(OAKBROOK TERRACE, ILLINOIS – March 3, 2015) The Joint Commission’s Nursing Care

Center Accreditation Program announced today that Chaparral House, a nonprofit skilled

nursing facility in Berkeley, California, is the first skilled nursing facility in the United States to be

awarded the organization’s Memory Care Certification.

The Joint Commission began offering Memory Care Certification in July 2014 to recognize

nursing homes that provide memory care services for patients and residents with dementia and

other cognitive impairments. The certification was developed with feedback from respected

industry experts in memory care, and builds upon new accreditation requirements addressing

memory care services that also took effect at that same time for all currently accredited nursing

homes and those seeking accreditation.

“On behalf of The Joint Commission, I want to congratulate Chaparral House on becoming the

first organization in the country to earn the Memory Care Certification,” said Gina Zimmermann,

executive director of the Joint Commission's Nursing Care Center Accreditation Program. “This

certification recognizes the hard work and dedication of the Chaparral House leadership and

staff to provide a secure, therapeutic and welcoming environment for residents with memory

impairment.”

Chaparral House was founded in 1978 by the then-mayor of Berkeley, Wally Johnson, and his

wife Marion, along with their friend Dr. Leela Craig, a well-respected physician who became the

organization’s first medical director. Today, Chaparral House provides eldercare for 49 people in

a dynamic, homelike environment on 2.4 scenic acres. All residents, including those with

cognitive difficulties, are encouraged to participate and contribute however they are able.

“We value this recognition by The Joint Commission of our patient-centered care that helps

people deal with the complex issues of aging while functioning as highly as they are able,” said

KJ Page, the administrator of Chaparral House.

To achieve Memory Care Certification, a nursing home must be in compliance with Joint

Commission Nursing Care Center accreditation requirements as well as the strict criteria related

to the certification, including:

Specialized care and service programming centered around a patient’s or resident's

unique needs, preferences, abilities and interests, that are led by a qualified individual

experienced and trained in the care of patients or residents with dementia.

Advanced staff training and demonstrated competence in current best practices in

dementia care.

Engaging mealtime, social and recreational experiences designed for patients or

residents with dementia that include families and opportunities for intergenerational

activities.

Provision of a safe, functional environment that minimizes noises and confusing visual

stimuli for patients and residents with dementia.

Nursing homes wishing to pursue Memory Care Certification can elect this option on the

electronic application for accreditation available on the Joint Commission’s website. For more

information, please email ncc@jointcommission.org or call (630) 792-5020.

###

The Joint Commission Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

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Andrade, Roxana

From: DeSnoo, NealSent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 9:41 AMTo: Feldman, GailSubject: Commission

2/25/15

The Commission passed the following motion:

The Berkeley Energy Commission recommends that City Council members (and the Mayor) hold annual "working"

meetings that gather together their appointed Commission members. The purpose of the meetings would be for

personal contact, information sharing and networking.

Motion Carried: 4-2-1-1. Motion: James. Second: Gallardo. Ayes: Gallardo, Lee, Murray, Wang. Nays: Bell, Schlachter.

Abstentions: James. Absent: Constantine.

Neal De Snoo, Energy Program Officer

Office of Energy and Sustainable Development

City of Berkeley Planning Department

2120 Milvia Street

Berkeley, CA 94704

510.981.7439

ndesnoo@cityofberkeley.info

www.cityofberkeley.info\sustainable __o _ `\ <, _ ...... ( • ) / ( • ) Check out what we are up to, visit www.cityofberkeley.info/energyupdates/ and subscribe to receive updates!

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Andrade, Roxana

From: Davidson, AmySent: Friday, March 06, 2015 2:14 PMTo: Feldman, GailSubject: COmmission on Aging - annual meetings

The HAC took action on this last night. From the draft minutes:

A motion to support the Commission on Aging’s recommendation for all City Council members and the Mayor to hold annual working meetings that gather together their appointed Commission members was passed. (M/S/C: Tregub/Wolfe. Ayes: Abramson, Magofna, Skjerping, Tregub, and Wolfe. Noes: None. Abstain: Abramson, Darrow, Drake, and Gordon. Absent: None.)

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Andrade, Roxana

From: Abel, DavidSent: Friday, March 06, 2015 10:49 AMTo: Feldman, GailSubject: RE: Recommendation from the Commission on Aging

Gail,

The Personnel Board considered this at its March 2 meeting and voted to table the item and not consider it at

this time. The Board did not feel it was necessary to create this formal mandatory meeting because they

already communicate with their Council Members.

From: Feldman, Gail

Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 11:31 AM

To: Abel, David; Al-Hadithy, Nabil; Amoroso, Alexander; Angstadt, Eric; Brenman, Eric; Brown, Don L.; Bryant, Ginsi; Burns, Anne M; Corbeil, Donna; Davidson, Amy; DeSnoo, Neal; Erickson, Christina; Feldman, Gail; Geiken, Delfina M.;

Greene, Elizabeth; Hollander, Eleanor; Javandel, Farid; Johnson, Carol; Klein, Jordan; Lee, Aaron; Lee, Katherine; Lee,

Kristen S.; Merker, Mary Ann; Miller, Roger; Molina, Raquel P.; O'Connor, Katherine P.; Patterson, Carol; PRC (Police Review Commission); Rose, Sean; Schneider, Andrew; Talley, Leah; Thomas, Patricia A.; van Herick, Kristy; Wicker,

Andrew; Wong, Wingyin; Zarnowitz, Sally Subject: Recommendation from the Commission on Aging

TO: All Berkeley Commissions and Commissioners FROM: Commission on Aging (COA) RE: Joining the CoA in urging Council members and the Mayor to pledge to hold annual meetings with their commission appointees Fellow Commissions and Commissioners, The Commission on Aging is writing to ask you to join us in urging Council members and the Mayor to hold annual commissioners' meetings with their appointees. Our rationale for asking this of council is contained in the recommendation attached. We would like you to put our recommendation before your commission for a vote of support before the end of March 2015. If the recommendation is passed by your Commission, please send a letter to council expressing this. If you'd like to add any comments, contingencies, changes or further suggestions, please feel free to do so. Please contact Gail Feldman, Commission Secretary, for any information or questions at 981-5232 or gfeldman@ci.berkeley.ca.us Sincerely, Commission on Aging

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