* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] I WANT TO BE HERE. WELL, WELCOME EVERYBODY. LET'S CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER, PLEASE. UH, UH, WE, WE ARE CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13TH AT 10:03 AM ROLL CALL MICHELLE VALENCIA. HERE. SHEILA GIBBONS. HERE. NORMA CIA. HERE. ROBERT FINNEY. HERE. ALAN GOLDSTEIN. EXCUSED. CAROLYN HIN. PRESENT. VISH SCH SMITH. HERE. WILLIAM SMITH. PRESENT. WE HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU. UM, COMMISSIONER SMITH, WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? IT WOULD BE MY HONOR. MADAM MAYOR, EVERYBODY'S HANDS UP PLEASE. RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR AND NORMALLY PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. THANK YOU. UM, MS. CIA, WILL YOU PLEASE READ OUR MISSION STATEMENT? WE ADVOCATE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ONE BEACH, CULTURALLY DIVERSE, OLDER POPULATION BY EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE AND SERVICES RELATED TO EDUCATION, HEALTH, HOUSING, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, SAFETY, TECHNOLOGY, AND LANGUAGE ACCESS. THANK YOU. AND COMMISSIONER GIBBONS, WILL YOU PLEASE READ OUR LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT? WE, THE ADVISORY ON COMMISS ON AGING COMMISSION RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE ON TRADITIONAL AND SACRED LANDS OF MANY INDIGENOUS GROUPS WHO CALL THESE GROUNDS HOME. WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR STRENGTH, PERSEVERANCE, AND RESISTANCE IN THEIR SPIRIT. MAY WE STRIVE TO ALWAYS HONOR AND RESPECT THE WISDOM OF OUR ELDERS? THANK YOU. UH, NOW IT LOOKS LIKE WE GET TO, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE JANUARY MINUTES OF OUR MEETING? SO MOVED. OKAY. SECOND. FEBRUARY, JANUARY. FEBRUARY, FEBRUARY. WHAT DAY IS IT? THE 13TH OF MARCH. THE FEBRUARY MINUTES. OKAY. UM, LET'S HAVE A VOTE ON THAT. ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE FEBRUARY MINUTES. AYE. AYE. ANYBODY OPPOSED? DOES ANYONE WISH TO ABSTAIN? LOOKS LIKE THE MOTION PASSES THAT WE ARE APPROVING THE FEBRUARY MINUTES OF OUR MEETING. DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE? RIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR SPEAKER TODAY. UM, DR. RY BRENDAN IS A VERY INTERESTING PERSON FOR US TO KNOW. UM, RY IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGIST WITH A PHD FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA. UM, THEY OWN THEIR OWN BUS. TWO BUSINESSES, ACTUALLY. ONE THAT IS, UH, OPERATES AS A CONSULTING FIRM FOR ORIENTED TO, UM, COMMUNITY BUSINESSES AND, UM, NON-PROFITS THAT WANNA ACHIEVE, ACHIEVE A SOCIAL, UH, ACHIEVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL GOOD. UM, THAT'S CALLED, I'M GONNA SAY THIS WRONG, HAM, AMITA. AMITA. OKAY. UM, AND MY FAVORITE IS, UM, SHE IS THE, UM, OWNER, OR HE, I'M SORRY. THEY ARE THE OWNER OF ETHICALLY, WHICH IS A SUSTAINABLE GROCERY STORE ON, UH, EAST FOURTH STREET. IT'S THE FIRST VEGAN PACKAGE FREE GROCERY STORE. THEY TEACH PSYCHOLOGY CLASSES AT OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE ALSO, JUST BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO DO ALREADY. AND, UH, SHE IS, UM, A WONDERFUL SPEAKER. WE'VE HAD HER AT THE WILMORE CITY HERITAGE MEETINGS, AND SHE'S GONNA TALK TO US TODAY ABOUT ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY IN THE SENIORS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND MEET ALL OF YOU, UH, AND SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT, UH, TODAY ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO ME. UM, SO, UH, SO YEAH, I REALLY, WHAT I REALLY WANNA FOCUS ON TODAY IS THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, SUSTAINABILITY AND GROCERIES. UH, SO TO GIVE KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A BASIC OVERVIEW, UH, OF WHAT OUR GROCERY STORE IS LIKE AND HOW IT'S DIFFERENT FROM OTHER GROCERY STORES. HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS. UH, YOU BRING YOUR JARS FROM HOME, UH, THE ONES THAT YOU'RE USED TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF REFILLING ALL OF YOUR, ALL OF YOUR BASICS, ALL OF YOUR RICE, YOUR BEANS, YOUR LENTILS, YOUR SPICES, YOUR TEAS, YOUR OILS AND VINEGARS, YOUR HOME GOODS, ALL THAT SORT OF THING. YOU COME INTO THE SHOP AND YOU REFILL ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED. SO WE'VE GOT SCOOPS WHERE YOU CAN SCOOP BEANS OUT, YOU CAN SCOOP LENTILS OUT. YOU GOT BIG GRAVITY FEEDERS. YOU CAN GET AS MUCH OR AS LITTLE OF ANY KIND OF INGREDIENT AS YOU WANT. UH, AND THEN YOU GO UP, UH, TO, TO THE FRONT AND, UH, AND WE WEIGH OUT YOUR GOODS AND WE CHARGE YOU FOR WHAT YOU THOUGHT. UM, SO [00:05:01] THAT'S KIND OF THE BASIC APPROACH. AND I THINK WHAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT REALLY MAKE ETHICALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER KINDS OF GROCERY STORES. UM, FIRST OF ALL, UH, EVERYTHING IN THERE, UH, IS TOTALLY VEGAN. UH, SO THERE AREN'T ANY ANIMAL PRODUCTS IN THE ENTIRE STORE. AND ALSO, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO GET AWAY FROM PLASTICS. SO YOU CAN LEAVE THAT PLACE WITH A FULL LOAD OF GROCERIES AND NOT HAVE ANY PLASTIC ASSOCIATED WITH IT, WHICH IS REALLY FANTASTIC. SOMETHING THAT, UH, THAT WE REALLY NEED, UH, AND THAT I WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT IN A SECOND. UM, BUT ONE THING THAT I, THAT I WANT TO KIND OF, KIND OF SAY NOW IS THAT, UH, THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT CROWD THAT I'M USUALLY TALKING TO, RIGHT? UH, I'M A, I'M A UNIVERSITY, UH, PROFESSOR, SO I'M USED TO TALKING TO 18, 19, 20 YEAR OLDS. UM, AND WHY I'M SO DELIGHTED TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THE GROCERY STORE IS THAT YOU GUYS ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE GROCERY STORE , RIGHT? UH, MOST OF MY COLLEGE STUDENTS, UH, THEY'RE EATING, YOU KNOW, PACKETS OF RAMEN. THEY'RE GOING TO THE DINING HALL. I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THEY THINK THAT THE SAUCE PACKETS THAT COME FROM TACO BELL IS A FOOD GROUP, RIGHT? . UH, AND IT'S JUST SO MUCH EASIER TO, UH, UH, TO, TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ALREADY KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH FOOD, UM, ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THAT, THAT KIND OF CHANGE IN, UH, IN THEIR LIFE. UM, SO, YEAH. AND, YOU KNOW, UM, I THINK THE, THE OTHER THING THAT I, THAT I WANNA TALK ABOUT, UH, IS THE KIND OF STORE OF KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ALL HAVE ABOUT WAYS TO LIVE AND WAYS TO COOK, AND WAYS TO LIVE, UH, THAT ARE SO MUCH DIVERSE, UM, AND DEEPER, UM, THAN, THAN SO MANY OF, UH, OF THE YOUNGER FOLKS WHO I, UH, WHO I TALK TO. UH, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST FOR EXAMPLE, FOR EXAMPLE. SO I, UH, I'M FROM NEW ENGLAND. I'M FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE. AND WHEN I GO HOME AND I TALK TO, UH, MY FAMILY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ABOUT WHAT I'M DOING, YOU KNOW, ALL MY OLDER, UH, AUNTS AND UNCLES, I, I TELL 'EM ABOUT, UH, ABOUT THE GROCERY STORE, AND I SAY, LISTEN, YOU GUYS WILL NEVER BELIEVE IT. THIS IS SO INNOVATIVE. THIS IS SO, SO NEW. YOU. LIKE, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE. UH, AND I EXPLAIN IT TO THEM JUST LIKE I DID TO YOU GUYS. AND THEY SAY WE HAD NOT, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, , THAT'S NOT NEW . WE WERE DOING THAT FOREVER. YEAH. YOU REMEMBER COBURN STORE? YEAH, I REMEMBER COBURN STORE. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DO. WE JUST USE THE SCOOP. WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? RIDE ? UM, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, SO I, WHAT I, WHAT I WANNA SAY THROUGH THIS IS THAT THERE'S, THERE'S THIS DEEP STORE OF KNOWLEDGE THAT, UH, THAT, THAT WE, THAT, THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ABOUT, UH, ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS TO LIVE. UH, AND REALLY ALL THAT, MOST OF WHAT ETHICALLY IS TRYING TO DO IS TO JUST BRING BACK THAT TRADITIONAL WAY OF DOING GROCERY SHOPPING, THAT TRADITIONAL WAY OF FEEDING OURSELVES, UH, OF FEEDING OUR FAMILIES. UM, WE'RE REALLY NOT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO REINVENT THE WHEEL OR ANYTHING. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BRING BACK SOMETHING THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S VERY TRADITIONAL THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR A LONG TIME. A WAY OF LIFE THAT WE KIND OF SWERVED AWAY FROM, BUT THAT WE CAN NOW RETURN TO. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REALLY INSPIRING THINGS TO ME ABOUT, UH, ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THAT WE HAVE NOW. THESE ARE NOT OLD PROBLEMS. THESE ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, CENTURIES OLD PROBLEMS WHERE WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE HUMAN IN A TOTALLY NEW WAY. A LOT OF OUR SOLUTIONS INVOLVE RECLAIMING KNOWLEDGE THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST. SO THAT'S WHY I'M EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT. AND THAT'S WHY THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, THAT KEEPS ME FROM, UH, FROM GETTING INTO THIS KIND OF, UH, DISMAL DUB AND GLOOM KIND OF KIND OF THING, RIGHT? LIKE, I, I KNOW THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES, THAT WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE, UH, THAT WE HAVE THE SKILLS TO DO THIS. WE JUST HAVE TO CATALYZE THAT AGAIN. OKAY. UM, OKAY. SO, UM, A COUPLE, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, I'LL GET MORE INTO KIND OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL, THE, AND, AND ALSO THE HEALTH REASONS, UH, NOW FOR, UH, FOR WHY THIS KIND OF, UH, THIS WAY OF GETTING GROCERIES, THIS WAY OF FEEDING OURSELVES CAN BE SO IMPORTANT. UH, AND HERE I REALLY WANNA EMPHASIZE THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE PLANET AND WHAT'S GOOD FOR OUR BODIES. 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT, UM, THAT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM IS INTERESTED IN MAINTAINING THEIR HEALTH, AND THAT'S TRUE WITH PRETTY MUCH ANY GROUP THAT I TALK TO. BUT, BUT I KNOW IT'S ESPECIALLY, UH, A CONCERN FOR, FOR, FOR FOLKS HERE, UH, AND AN INTEREST FOR FOLKS HERE. UM, SO I WANNA KIND OF PLAY ON THESE, UH, THESE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN WHAT'S GOOD FOR, FOR OUR BODIES, WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE PLANET. UM, SO VEGANISM, UH, IS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS. I REMEMBER, I'VE, I'VE BEEN A VEGAN FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS. I'VE BEEN A VEGETARIAN SINCE I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD. AND PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE TIME I WAS GROWING UP, PEOPLE WERE TELLING ME, OH, THERE'S NO WAY THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET YOUR IRON. THERE'S NO WAY THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET YOUR PROTEIN, YOU'RE GONNA WASTE AWAY. NOW, DOCTORS ARE PRETTY MUCH SAYING THE OPPOSITE. THEY'RE SAYING THAT VEGAN DIETS ARE, UH, ARE A REALLY HEALTHFUL WAY TO LIVE. UM, THEY'RE RECOGNIZING THAT, UH, VEGAN DIETS TEND TO BE HIGHER, UM, IN IRON [00:10:01] HIGHER, HIGHER IN FIBER, UM, HIGHER IN GOOD FATS, LOWER IN CHOLESTEROL, LOWER IN CALORIES. UH, THEY'RE, SEE, THEY'RE STARTING TO RECOGNIZE THAT VEGAN DIETS ARE, UM, UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD WAYS TO COMBAT THINGS LIKE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, THINGS LIKE CANCER, THINGS LIKE HEART DISEASE. UM, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, IF, IF I HAD A NICKEL FOR EVERY TIME THAT PEOPLE CAME INTO OUR STORE, UH, AND SAID, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M TRYING TO LOWER MY BLOOD PRESSURE. HOW DO I DO THAT? UM, WELL, OFTEN THEY DO GIVE ME A NICKEL. SO , SO THAT'S KIND OF GOOD, I SUPPOSE, . UM, UH, BUT YEAH, SO, SO MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE RECOGNIZING THAT. SO, UH, SO THAT'S A REALLY GOOD REASON FOR, UH, FOR PEOPLE TO, UM, UH, UH, FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AND SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO TRANSITION TO A, TO A VEGAN DIET. UH, A VEGAN DIET'S ALSO REALLY HEALTHY FOR THE PLANET. UH, AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE AND MORE STUDIES THAT SHOW, UH, THE IMPACTS OF ANIMAL AGRICULTURE ON, UH, ON LAND, ON WATER, ON CARBON. UM, AND I'LL JUST SIT, YOU KNOW, NOT TO GET TOO DOOM AND GLOO, BUT I'LL JUST THROW OUT KIND OF A FEW, UH, A FEW NUMBERS HERE. UH, SO IN TERMS OF WATER USE, UH, IN CALIFORNIA, WE DEDICATE ABOUT 80% OF OUR WATER TO AGRICULTURE. SO 80% OF THE WATER THAT WE, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ACTUALLY COLLECT, UM, 80% GOES TO AGRICULTURE. ABOUT HALF OF THAT GOES TO ANIMAL AGRICULTURE DIRECTLY. SO IF WE COULD REDUCE OUR DEPENDENCE ON ANIMAL AGRICULTURE, WE COULD PRETTY MUCH SOLVE THE WATER CRISIS THAT WE HAVE IN CALIFORNIA. I THINK THAT'S REALLY POWERFUL. THERE ARE NEW STUDIES FROM, UH, FROM THE UNITED NATIONS THAT SHOWED THAT IF WE, IF, IF EVERYONE ON EARTH TRANSITION TO A VEGAN DIET, UH, WE COULD CUT OUR DEMAND FOR, UH, FOR FARMLAND BY 75%. SO 75% OF OUR AGRICULTURE, UH, AGRICULTURAL LAND COULD GO BACK TO FOREST, COULD GO BACK TO WILD, COULD GO BACK TO ECOSYSTEMS. AND ALSO, UH, ANOTHER, ANOTHER SET OF STUDIES, UH, FROM STANFORD IS SAYING THAT IF WE, IF PEOPLE TRANSITION TO A VEGAN DIET, WE COULD PRETTY MUCH GET HALFWAY TO WHERE WE NEED TO GET TO IN ORDER TO, IN REDUCING OUR CARBON EMISSIONS HALFWAY TO, TO WHERE WE NEED TO GET JUST BY TRANSITIONING AWAY FROM, UH, FROM ANIMAL AGRICULTURE. THE OTHER THING, AGAIN, THAT OUR STORE DOES IS, UH, IS WE EMPHASIZE MOVING AWAY FROM PLASTICS. UH, AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PLASTICS AND THE HEALTH OF OUR BODIES AND THE HEALTH OF OUR PLANET IS VERY STRONG. UM, SO IN TERMS OF OUR BODIES, WE KNOW THAT MICROPLASTICS ARE VERY BAD FOR US. WE KNOW THAT MICROPLASTICS, WHICH ARE TINY BITS OF, UH, PLASTIC THAT COME OFF ON OUR FOOD AND GET INTO OUR WATERWAYS, ALL THAT SORT OF THING, UM, THAT HAS, UM, UH, THAT THOSE MICROPLASTICS CAN ACTUALLY CROSS THE BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER. UH, SO IF YOU'RE INGESTING PLASTICS, THAT CAN ACTUALLY GO INTO YOUR BRAIN AS WELL. AND THAT'S BEEN CONNECTED TO THINGS LIKE DEMENTIA. IT'S ALSO BEEN CONNECTED TO, UH, A WIDE ARRAY OF, UH, BASICALLY HORMONAL PROBLEMS. UM, SO PLASTIC HAS, UH, WHAT'S CALLED AN CALLED ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS IN THEM. UH, AND, UH, THAT, SO THAT CAN, THAT, THAT MESSES WITH THEIR HORMONES IN LOTS OF WAYS THAT ARE TOTALLY OVER MY HEAD. UM, BUT, UH, ACTUALLY, UH, IN 2018 ALONE, AMERICANS SPENT ABOUT $250 BILLION DEALING WITH THE HEALTHCARE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS IN PLASTICS, $250 BILLION IN ONE YEAR. THAT'S A HUGE EXPENSE THAT WE COULD PUT TOWARDS SO MANY OTHER THINGS AND MAKE OURSELVES MORE HELPFUL IN THE PROCESS. AND OF COURSE, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT PLASTICS DONE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. WE'VE ALL SEEN, UH, THE VIDEOS OF, UH, PLASTIC THAT'S BEEN INGESTED BY SEA CREATURES, BY BIRDS, UH, THAT'S CLOGGING, UH, WATERWAYS. UH, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, SUCH A HUGE POLLUTANT, YOU KNOW? UM, SO IT'S REALLY, UM, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BOTH FOR, FOR OUR HEALTH AND FOR, UH, AND FOR ENVIRONMENT, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, CONCERNS, UH, TO MOVE AWAY FROM THOSE PLASTICS. SO THAT'S MY PITCH, KIND OF FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH SIDE. I HAVE A QUESTION. OH, YES, PLEASE. CAN YOU ASK QUESTIONS DURING THE PRESENTATION? I THINK YOU CAN , I LOVE QUESTIONS. IT KEEPS ME FROM LONG WALKING. THIS, I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE THE FOCUS. MM-HMM. PLASTIC. SO WHY DO WE USE ALL THIS PLASTIC? UH, THANK YOU FOR ASKING. UH, ABOUT 47% OF, UH, THE PLASTIC WASTE THAT WE GENERATE IS JUST ASSOCIATED WITH PACKAGING. SO PACKAGING IS REALLY THE BIG THING. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THERE WOULD BE A COMMERCIAL THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME PLASTICS COMPANY, DOW CHEMICAL OR WHATEVER, UH, PUTS OUT SAYING, YOU KNOW, THAT FIG IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR LOT, FOR OUR MODERN LIVES. THAT'S HOW WE MAKE BABY INCUBATORS. THAT'S HOW WE MAKE STUFF THAT WILL TAKE US INTO SPACE. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ALL THESE, YOU KNOW, AND I'M, I'M NOT MESSING WITH THE BABY INCUBATORS, RIGHT? [00:15:01] UH, THERE ARE LOTS OF, I THINK, LEGITIMATE USES FOR, UH, FOR PLASTIC, BUT IT'S EXCESSIVE, RIGHT? UH, IT'S PLASTIC THAT WE'RE, THAT'S USEFUL TO US FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES, AND THEN WE, THEN WE THROW IT AWAY, AND THERE IS NO ACTUAL AWAY, EVERYTHING JUST COMES BACK TO US. SO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO MINIMIZE THAT, THAT KIND OF, THAT KIND OF UNNECESSARY PLASTIC USE I WANNA DO. YEAH. SO WHY, WHY PLA WELL, WHY ARE WE SO HUNG UP ON PLASTIC? I MEAN, IT DOESN'T REALLY DEGRADE MUCH, RIGHT? I MEAN, YOU SEE THE PICTURES OF, YOU KNOW, PLASTIC FLOATING UP ON THE BEACH AND REMOTE PLACES OF THE PLANET. I MEAN, APPARENTLY IT'S EVERYWHERE. APPARENTLY THERE'S FLOATING SOMETHING GIANT THINGS OUT AT SEA OR SOMETHING. SO YEAH. IT SEEMS WITH ALL OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND EVERYTHING ON THIS SUBJECT THAT YOU, YOU'RE PROPOSING A WAY TO ELIMINATE IN OUR SOCIETY. YES. AND WHAT IS THAT? YES. COME OVER TO THE SHE. YEAH. I, WELL, I, I, I HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE. I LIVED ON THIS GREEK ISLAND POT, MOS I POT MOST EVERYTHING ON THIS LITTLE ISLAND. THEY, YOU, IF YOU WANT SOME, YOU KNOW, PEANUT BUTTER OR, YOU KNOW, SESAME BUTTER IN THEIR CASE, OR, YOU KNOW, SOME BEANS OR WHATEVER IT WAS, THEY, THEY DIDN'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT WERE PREPACKAGED MM-HMM. . EXACTLY. SO THAT EXPERIENCE IS ALWAYS SO GOOD. I JUST LOVE IT. EVEN THE WINE. YOU SIPHON THE WINE, PUT IT IN YOUR JUG AND FILL UP YOUR JUG. BUT ANY CASE, HOW ARE WE GONNA ELIMINATE THE USE OF PLASTIC? YEAH. I MEAN, ISN'T THAT, WOULD THAT BE THE GOAL OR NOT? YEAH, YEAH. I MEAN, BAKING INCUBATOR, THAT'S, THAT'S WHATEVER. I MEAN, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT YOU GO TO, YOU KNOW, EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER SMITH, THE HARDWARE, THE, THE STORE. YEAH. YEAH. AND I MEAN, THE RESTAURANT, AND YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, MORE PLASTIC AND YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH JUST ONE SIMPLE LITTLE DINNER. YEAH, NO, I MEAN, IT'S A SHOCKING EXPERIENCE. SO, UM, I'VE BEEN, UH, SO I'VE BEEN, UH, ONE OF, ONE OF THE OWNERS AT ETHICALLY FOR, UH, FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW. UM, AND I VERY RARELY GO INTO A CONVENTIONAL GROCERY STORE. UM, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, AN INGREDIENT THAT WE DON'T HAPPEN TO CARRY IN THE SHOP. YOU KNOW, I NEED A SPECIAL KIND OF, UH, KIND OF ASIAN NOODLE. SO I, SO I VENTURE INTO THE ROUTES, UM, AND IT'S, IT'S AN OVERWHELMING EXPERIENCE FOR ME, UH, AFTER BEING, YOU KNOW, BEING IN THIS, UH, GROCERY ENVIRONMENT AT OUR, AT OUR STORE AT ETHICALLY, WHERE YOU TAKE WHAT YOU NEED, YOU PUT IT IN YOUR OWN CONTAINERS, UH, YOU TAKE IT HOME, UH, AND YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THIS ADVERTISING ALL OVER THE PLACE EITHER, RIGHT? UH, IT'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, NOTHING IN THE STORE HAS A LABEL THAT'S LIKE, OH, BUY THIS AND YOU'LL BE, YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT LIFE. YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, NO, IT'S JUST, THIS IS BEANS. RIGHT? UM, SO, YOU KNOW, THE, THE EXPERIENCE OF GOING INTO A CONVENTIONAL GROCERY STORE, UH, LIKE A RALPH'S AND BEING BOMBARDED WITH ADVERTISEMENT, UH, BEING BOMBARDED WITH PLASTIC, JUST LIKE LOOKING AROUND AT EVERYTHING AND SEEING THAT EVERYTHING IS INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED, AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED AND CONTAINING MORE THINGS THAT ARE INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED, RIGHT? UM, THAT EXPERIENCE IS REALLY OVERWHELMING TO ME. AND I, I APPRECIATE IN MYSELF THAT THIS EXPERIENCE IS OVERWHELMING BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO TRANSITION MY LIFE SO THAT FOR THE MOST PART, I DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT, RIGHT? IT'S AN OCCASIONAL TRIP TO ROUTES WHERE I SEE, YOU KNOW, I SEE ALL OF THIS PLASTIC, UM, UH, AND WHEN I DO MY REGULAR GROCERY SHOPPING AT, AT ETHICALLY, THAT'S NOT MY EXPERIENCE. I'M LIVING THE LIFE THAT YOU'RE LIVING ON THIS GREEK ISLAND. UH, AND I LOVE THAT , RIGHT? UM, SO YEAH. UM, WE ARE, WE ARE TRYING TO, WE ARE TRYING TO BRING ABOUT THIS CHANGE TO A FOSTER CAREER LIFE. YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. OKAY, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO LET DR. BRENDAN FINISH YOUR PRESENTATION, AND THEN THE COMMISSIONERS CAN ASK QUESTIONS AFTER. OKAY. DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU? SURE. OKAY, COOL. GREAT. WELL, THANK YOU. OH, YEAH, NO, OF COURSE WILL. YEAH. UM, SO, UM, UH, YEAH, SO, OKAY. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS, UM, THAT MY STUDENTS WILL OFTEN TALK TO ME ABOUT, UM, AND ALSO LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I, WHEN I DO OTHER KINDS OF, UH, KINDS OF COMMUNITY TALKS IS THEY SAY, OKAY, ALL OF THIS ENVIRONMENTAL STUFF, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GONNA REALLY TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF WORK. UM, AND ALSO IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE EXPENSIVE. AND I'M REALLY FORTUNATE THAT, UH, SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE, HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON WHAT IT TAKES TO LIVE A REALLY ENVIRONMENTAL LIFESTYLE. UH, AND ONE OF THE CONCLUSIONS THAT THEY'VE COME TO IS THAT IT DOESN'T TAKE MORE MONEY. IT TAKES MORE TIME, RIGHT? IT IS, IT DOES TAKE MORE TIME TO MAKE YOUR OWN MEAL FROM SCRATCH USING INGREDIENTS THAT YOU GET A ETHICALLY VERSUS, YOU KNOW, FILLING UP A RAMEN PACKET, THROWING IT IN THE MICROWAVE, AND CALLING IT A DAY. IT DOES TAKE MORE TIME, AND IT DOES TAKE MORE SKILL. [00:20:02] AND I THINK THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY, UM, ONE OF THE, UH, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY PEOPLE, UM, WHO ARE A LITTLE BIT OLDER HAVE, HAVE AN ADVANTAGE IN LIVING A SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS SORT OF THING A HOBBY, UH, TO MAKE IT SOMETHING, TO PRACTICE YOUR SKILLS, UH, TO STAY ACTIVE, UH, TO STAY ENGAGED WITH. UM, AND IT'S, IT'S A GREAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE THINKING LIKE, HOW DO I WANNA, HOW DO I WANNA SPEND, SPEND MY TIME? HOW DO I WANT TO, UH, CREATE ANOTHER, A NEW ACTIVITY FOR MYSELF? UH, LEADING A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINA, UH, SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE IS A REALLY GREAT WAY TO DO THAT, UM, WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL THINGS, UM, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY THINGS THAT ARE JUST GONNA BE A LOT HARDER FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S, UM, WHO'S RAISING KIDS, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, UH, MAYBE WHO'S A SINGLE MOM WHO HAS A FEW KIDS WHO CAN'T IMAGINE HOW THEY'RE GONNA COOK FROM SCRATCH, YOU KNOW, BIG MEALS EVERY UH, EVERY DAY. UM, AND I HAVE ALL THIS SYMPATHY IN THE WORLD FOR THAT. UM, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT AFFORDANCE THAT, UM, THAT, THAT LOTS OF, UH, LOTS OF FOLKS WHO ARE A LITTLE BIT OLDER HAVE, UM, IS HAVING, HAVING A BIT MORE TIME TO TAKE IT SLOW. UM, AND OKAY, SO THE, THE OTHER THING THAT I, THAT I WANTED TO THROW IN HERE, UM, I'M VERY EXCITED HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD, UH, TOLD SHEILA SHEILA YET, BUT, UH, WE NEW BICYCLE DELIVERY SERVICE FOR OUR SHOP. I SAW THAT. OH, YOU DID SEE THAT? I DID. OKAY, GOOD. GOOD. YOU'RE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ARE YOU? YES. , YOU'RE ON, YOU'RE ON INSTAGRAM WAY MORE THAN I'M, LET'S BE HONEST, . UM, BUT YEAH, SO WE HAVE, UH, SO WE HAVE, UH, UH, SOMEBODY WHO'S, UH, COMES AND COMES ON A BICYCLE, UH, AND HE CAN, UH, HE CAN COME AND PICK UP YOUR JARS, BRING THEM TO ETHICALLY FILL THEM, AND THEN BRING THEM BACK TO YOU. SO IF YOU'RE SOMEBODY WHO HAS, UH, MOBILITY ISSUES OR IF YOU KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T KIND OF IMAGINE GOING, GOING DOWN AND TRYING TO EITHER LIKE, TAKE A BUS DOWN TO DOWN, UH, FURTHER DOWN FOURTH STREET OR DRIVING, UM, BUT YOU STILL WANNA BE INVOLVED IN THIS NEW WAY OF THIS NEW OLD WAY OF GROCERY SHOPPING. UM, THEN YOU CAN, UH, YOU CAN STILL BE INVOLVED IN IT. YOU CAN STILL TAKE PART. YEAH. UH, AND THE WAY, THE WAY TO DO THAT IS SUPER EASY. UH, YOU CAN EITHER GO ONLINE, UM, OR YOU CAN JUST CALL THE SHOP AND ASK FOR, UH, ASK THEM TO BRING YOU UP IN ORDER. UH, AND WE CAN, WE CAN DO IT THAT WAY. SO, UH, SO YEAH, WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT, UH, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE OUR SERVICES, UM, EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE. UM, SO YEAH. YEAH. I REALLY, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND I'M, SO, I'M SUPER EXCITED THAT YOU GUYS ALREADY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ME. UH, 'CAUSE AGAIN, I LOVE QUESTIONS. UM, SO YEAH. YEAH. LET'S GET TO IT. ALRIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU DR. BRENNAN. UH, I LOVED YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND IT IS VERY CONTAGIOUS. UM, DO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DR. BRENNAN? GO AHEAD. UM, HELLO. THANK YOU. UM, DOES YOUR STORE ACCEPT THE COUNTY'S CALFRESH? YES, WE DO. DBT. YEP. YES, WE DO. YEP. YEP. WE ACCEPT CALFRESH. AND WE ALSO, UM, WE ALSO HAVE A SLIDING SCALE MEMBERSHIP, UM, PROGRAM. SO, UM, IF YOU, UH, BELONG TO ANY, WE HAVE A LIST OF, UH, DIFFERENT KIND OF IDENTITY CATEGORIES. UH, SO IF YOU'RE A PERSON OF COLOR, UM, IF YOU'RE, UH, L-G-B-T-Q, IF YOU MAKE UNDER $32,000 A YEAR, UM, IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY ON STRIKE, UH, WE WILL GIVE YOU 10% OFF, UH, AND OFF YOUR PURCHASES. UM, SO YOU, AND THAT WE DON'T REQUIRE ANY KIND OF VERIFICATION FOR THAT SORT OF THING. WE JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, HONOR SYSTEM, UH, WE WANT TO GET FOOD TO PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. SO YEAH. IS THERE A TEACHER AND MILITARY ALSO AVAILABLE TEACHERS OR MILITARY PERSONNEL? OH, YEAH. YEAH. I THINK, UM, UH, WE, WE DON'T HAVE, UM, HAVE TEACHER AND MILITARY ON THERE. WE, WE WERE KIND OF TRYING TO GET THE, THE UNDER 32,000 IS KIND OF LIKE A, KIND OF A CATCHALL FOR THAT. UM, WE ALSO HAVE, UM, IF YOU'RE, UM, UH, IF YOU'RE AN IMMIGRANT, YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE LOTS OF, UH, CATEGORIES LIKE THAT, THAT WE THINK, UH, COVERS MOST SITUATIONS. SO, YEAH, GO AHEAD. UH, DR. HI, I'VE BEEN WONDERING WHAT TO DO WITH WHEN YOU'RE TRANSITIONING FROM PLASTIC CONTAINERS TO GLASS. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH ALL OF THOSE OLD PLASTIC CONTAINERS? OH, THESE QUESTIONS ARE PERFECT. YOU'RE GETTING ME TO TALK ABOUT OTHER ASPECTS OF THIS TOUR THAT I SLOWLY FORGOT. . UM, SO, UH, WE HAVE A DONATION SYSTEM. SO IF YOU DON'T, UH, IF YOU, YOU HAVE EXCESS CONTAINERS, UH, AND YOU WANT SOMETHING TO DO WITH THEM, YOU CAN BRING, BRING THEM TO THE SHOP AND WE WILL SANITIZE THEM AND WE PUT THEM OUT AS DONATIONS FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO USE. UH, SO ANYTIME THAT I GO TO THE SHOP AND I REALIZE THAT I NEED TO BUY LIKE THREE POUNDS OF CHOCOLATE, BUT I FORGOT A CONTAINER FOR IT, OOPS. UH, THEN THERE'S ALWAYS A CONTAINER THERE THAT, UH, THAT'S BEEN DONATED THAT I, THAT I CAN USE. YEAH. SO WE TAKE YOUR DONATIONS, THE OLD PLASTIC THOUGH. YES, YES, THEY DO. SO WE'RE ABLE TO, WE'RE ABLE TO SANITIZE THOSE. OH, OKAY. YEAH. WE USE AN, UM, A, A SANITIZING SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE SUPER HIGH HEAT, SO, YEAH. YEAH. YOU'RE GOOD. YOU'RE GOOD. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER, I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT [00:25:01] THIS STORE. I, UM, I HAVE BEEN GOING THERE SINCE DAY ONE WHEN YOU FIRST OPENED. UM, UH, I WAS, UH, TOLD BY MY RHEUMATOLOGIST TO IMPROVE MY ARTHRITIS. I NEEDED TO GO VEGAN. UM, I, UH, I DID TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENED. UM, BUT YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE VEGAN TO GO HERE. I WANNA MAKE THAT POINT. SO MUCH OF WHAT'S THERE IS JUST THINGS THAT YOU USE IN YOUR DAY-TO-DAY FIXING OF MEALS. UM, I HAVE TO SAY THAT THEIR SPICE WALL IS BETTER THAN ANY SPICE WALL YOU WILL GO TO IN ANY STORE. UM, SO DEFINITELY IF YOU NEED THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, GO, THEIR PRICES ARE VERY, VERY GOOD. AND WE, UM, UH, I, I, UH, GO THERE ONCE A WEEK AND, UM, I, WE USED TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE EVERY WEEK AND THE GROCERY STORE BEING VAUGHN'S, OUR TRADER JOE'S OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND ONE THING THAT FIRST GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THIS WAS YOU GO INTO THE PRODUCE SECTION AT VAUGHN'S, HOW MUCH OF THE PRODUCE IS WRAPPED IN PLASTIC AND WHY IS IT WRAPPED IN PLASTIC? IT MAKES NO SENSE. BIB LETTUCE IS IN A PLA PLASTIC CONTAINER. WHY? I DON'T KNOW, IT'S AHEAD OF LETTUCE. BUT ANYWAY, SO WE STARTED GOING TO THE FARMER'S MARKET, AND THEN WE WALK OVER TO ETHICALLY, IT'S PERFECT. WE GET ALL THE GROCERIES WE NEED. WE'RE NOW DOWN TO GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE, UM, JUST THE, I SHOULD SAY THE REGULAR GROCERY STORE. UM, JUST ONCE EVERY FIVE OR SIX WEEKS TO PICK UP THINGS LIKE TOILET PAPER THAT WE BUY THERE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. UM, SO I, I REALLY THINK THAT IT'S WORTH YOUR WHILE TO GO OVER TO THE STORE. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. IT IS A WORKERS' OWNED STORE. I LOVE THAT. SO THE, EVERY, IF YOU'RE PUTTING TIME IN THERE, YOU'RE HELPING YOURSELF IN MORE THAN JUST GETTING A PAYCHECK. AND, UM, I, UH, THEY ARE ALWAYS EXPANDING WHAT THEY HAVE. UM, BUT THERE REALLY ISN'T ANYTHING FROM SNACKS TO YOUR BASICS FOR YOUR GROCERIES THAT YOU CAN DO THERE. SO I REALLY, OR I, I REALLY WANT EVERYBODY TO CONSIDER GOING OVER THERE AND TAKING A LOOK AT THE STORE. UM, DON'T BE AFRAID. IT DOES LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT, THAN RALPH'S OR ANY OTHER ONES, BUT, AND THE FIRST THING THEY HAVE YOU DO IS CLEAN YOUR HANDS, WHICH I LOVE, YOU KNOW, AND THEY HAVE A BIG SIGN THERE THAT SAYS, CLEAN YOUR HANDS FIRST. UM, IF YOU NEED ANY HELP, EVERYBODY THERE WILL GO UP AND TAKE, HELP YOU WITH WHATEVER YOU NEED TO GET. AND YOU CAN DO, YOU CAN GET YOUR LAUNDRY DETERGENT, YOU CAN GET DEODORANT, TOOTHPASTE, AND 50 OTHER THINGS THAT YOU, YOU MIGHT THINK YOU NEED. SO, UM, THAT'S WHY I ASKED DR. BRENNAN TO COME TODAY AND TALK TO US. UM, ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS? UM, KAREN HAS ONE. I JUST WANTED TO ASK WHERE YOUR BREAD CAME COMES FROM? 'CAUSE IT LOOKS SO DELICIOUS. OH MY GOD, THE BREAD. IT'S SO GOOD. IT'S, YEAH, IT'S, IT IS THE BEST BREAD I'VE EVER, IT'S JUST, IT'S RIDICULOUS. IT IS GOOD. IT'S, IT'S FROM HEY BROTHER BAKER. UM, AND, AND HE'S A LOCAL, UH, BREAD SMITH. UH, AND YEAH, YEAH, IT'S, IT IS REALLY, IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE. GOOD, INCREDIBLE BREAD. YEAH. YEAH. UH, THANK YOU FOR ASKING. OKAY. UM, SO IF WE HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC, YOU CAN ASK DR. BRENNAN AFTERWARDS OR PERHAPS EMAIL IRENE, UM, WITH THOSE QUESTIONS, FIND NOW. UM, YEAH, WE COULD DO THAT AFTERWARDS. YEAH. SO IN, UM, THE PUBLIC MEETING, WE'RE NOT THAT PUBLIC DURING THE PRESENTATIONS. UM, IT'S ONLY A ONE TIME, SO THAT'S WHY, UM, THE CHAIR IS TRYING TO, THE PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN TALK TO, UM, THE DOCTOR AFTERWARDS. SO, SORRY ABOUT THAT. THAT'S IT. YEAH. NO, I'LL, I'LL SAY I THANK YOU. I THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, THANK YOU SHEILA, SO MUCH FOR, UH, FOR, FOR INVITING ME AND IT REALLY JUST WARMS MY HEART EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID. YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING TO US TODAY. UH, VERY ENLIGHTENING. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, LET'S SEE. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE DR. BRENNAN'S PRESENTATION? SO MOVED. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. OKAY. DO WE, CAN WE HAVE A VOTE? UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF, UH, RECEIVING AND FILING DR. BRENNAN'S PRESENTATION? AYE. AYE. AYE. ANYBODY OPPOSED? AND DOES ANYBODY WISH TO ABSTAIN FOR VOTING? OKAY, THAT MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU DR. RENAN ONCE AGAIN. UM, NOW I BELIEVE HEIDI IS GOING TO GIVE US A REPORT. YES. HELLO. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. UM, GOOD MORNING. UM, THANK YOU. NICE MEETING EVERYONE TODAY. AND, UM, I JUST WANT A COUPLE THINGS. SO I KNOW LAST WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE, THE NEW, UM, SENIOR CENTER COMING TO BE. AND SO I HAVE, UM, PUT FOR THE RECOMMENDATION TO, UM, YOU KNOW, ADD MICHELLE TO, UH, THE MEETING. THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY, UM, ANY CHANGES FROM LAST MEETING, SO I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING BACK, BUT I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT. SO I DID WANNA LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT. UM, AND THEN, UM, AS OF SOME UPCOMING PROGRAMS OF THE PARK AND RECREATION, THEN I JUST WANNA BRING HIGHLIGHT, YOU GUYS ALL GOT NEW RECREATION CONNECTION, WHICH IS OUT FOR THE SPRING, SO THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT THINGS IN THERE THAT [00:30:01] MIGHT INTEREST YOU. UM, BUT SOME OF THE STUFF GOING ON IN OUR SENIOR PROGRAMS, UM, WE HAVE OUR PRIMETIME PLAYERS WHO IS A, A GROUP THAT ACTUALLY COMES TO A LOT OF THE SENIOR CENTERS. THEY'RE STARTING THEIR SPRING SHOWS. SO THOSE ARE, UM, GOING ON AND I HAVE FLYERS FOR THOSE. UM, ONE THING THAT, UM, WE'RE SUPER EXCITED, WE'RE ACTUALLY HOSTING, UM, A JOB FAIR FOR THE 50 PLUS COMMUNITY, WHICH IS, I IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE OUR, OUR PARTICIPANTS MAY OLDER, THEY MAY NEED, NEED THAT JOB OR INCOME. SO WANT, WE THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT, UM, THING THAT WE'RE DOING. SO, UM, WE HAVE SOME FIRE DOWN FLYERS FOR ALL OF YOU. UM, IT'S A JOB FAIR. IT'S CONCLUDING WITH THE JOB FAIR, BUT THERE'S A COUPLE WORKSHOPS BEFOREHAND. SO WE HAVE A RESUME WRITING WORKSHOP ACTUALLY NEXT WEEK. AND THEN WE HAVE AN INTERVIEW PREPARATION, UM, IN ON APRIL. AND THEN IN MAY, WHICH IS OUR OLDER AMERICANS, UM, MONTH CELEBRATION, UM, WORKING, IT'S GONNA BE ONE OF THE EVENTS DURING THAT MONTH, WHICH IS AN ACTUAL JOB FAIR, WHICH WE CAN COME ON SITE. THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS HERE. UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH, UM, THE GOOD WILL, UM, INDUSTRIES AS A PARTNER. UM, SO I HAVE A FIRE HERE, BUT IF YOU KNOW OF PEOPLE WHO NEED THE JOB ARE INTERESTED, YOU KNOW, IT'S FOUR OR 50 PLUS, UM, JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED TO WORK, UM, TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO PROVIDE THEM OPPORTUNITY TO FIND A JOB. OKAY. SO I HAVE THESE FLYERS, SO THAT'S KIND OF ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON THIS MONTH. UM, DOWNSTAIRS WE HAVE OUR CALIBER OF THE SENIOR CENTER, UM, BUT WE ARE PLANNING OUR OLDER AMERICAN MONTH IN MAY. SO NEXT MEETING I'LL PROBABLY BE TALKING A LOT ABOUT THAT, BUT THE JOB IS ONE OF THE EVENTS THAT WE'RE HAVING POSTING THAT AS WELL. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY. THANK YOU HEIDI. UH, CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE HEIDI'S PRESENTATION? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? CAN WE HAVE EVERYONE SAY AYE, WHO'S IN FAVOR OF RECEIVING AND FILING? AYE. AYE. ANYONE OPPOSED? AND DOES ANYONE WISH TO ABSTAIN FROM VOTING THAT MOTION PASSES? UM, WELL IT LOOKS LIKE NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 2023 COMMISSION ON AGING ANNUAL REPORT. UH, DO WE JUST TALK ABOUT IT AND THEN DO THE MOTION? EVERYBODY HAS IT. COPY. OKAY. SO FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION, WE HAVE BEEN FILING A REPORT THAT LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO THIS. AND THIS REPORT BASICALLY SAYS EACH MEETING THAT WE HAD THROUGHOUT 2023, UM, WHO ATTENDED. AND, UH, I GUESS THE TOPICS OF DISCUSSION. UM, AND THEN THESE REPORTS GO TO, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AS THIS IS AS OUR JOB AS THE COMMISSION ON AGING. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT OR WANT TO ADD IN ANYTHING? I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE LONG BEACH ADVISORY COMMISSION ON AGENT ANNUAL REPORT. 2023, SIR. OKAY. CAN WE HAVE A VOTE ON THAT? ANYONE? ALL IN FAVOR OF AYE. AYE. ANYONE OPPOSED? AND ANYONE ABSTAINING FROM THAT VOTE? MADAM CHAIR? YES. DO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONS FILE A REPORT LIKE THIS? UH, THEY ARE ALL SUPPOSED TO, YES. CAN ARE? ARE THEY SOMETHING WE CAN ACCESS? ARE THEY PUBLIC RECORD? PUBLIC RECORD? NOT SURE. WE CAN DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT. I JUST DON'T, I ONLY MENTION THAT BECAUSE, UM, BILL SCHMIDT, COMMISSIONER SCHMIDT AND I HAVE BEEN, UH, TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO KNOW WHAT THE OTHER COMMISSIONS ARE DOING AND TALKING ABOUT AND MAYBE AT SOME POINT PARTNERING, PARTNERING WITH THEM OR, ANYWAY, WE FELT WE NEEDED TO KNOW MORE. YOU COULD EVEN GO ONLINE AND LOOK AT THE OTHER COMMISSIONS. SO WHAT THEY DO IS JUST ATTACH, UM, A COPY OF THE REPORT TO LIKE THE MINUTES. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO, UH, WE HAVE APPROVED THE 2023 COMMISSION ON THE AGING ANNUAL REPORT. ARE YOU ABLE TO SEND IT TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS? I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO IS PROBABLY ATTACH IT TO THIS FILE. OKAY. SO THAT WAY, IF THERE'S RECORD OF IT. OKAY. SOUNDS GREAT. UM, IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS TIME FOR STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS. WE WILL START WITH THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS LANGUAGE ACCESS AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE. UH, COMMISSIONER, CIA. DO YOU HAVE ANY REPORTS FOR US TODAY ON THAT TOPIC? NO REPORTS TODAY. AND COMMISSIONER HINES? NO [00:35:01] REPORT. OKAY. UH, CRIME PREVENTION AND SAFETY COMMITTEE. COMMISSIONER SMITH? UH, NO REPORT. OKAY. AND COMMISSIONER, WE'RE GETTING ORGANIZED, RIGHT? BOB? YEAH. OKAY. COMMISSIONER FINNEY THEN? NOT THIS TIME. SAME NEXT TIME. OKAY. UH, HEALTH AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE. COMMISSIONER GIBBONS. UM, WELL, I DO HAVE A, UM, A REPORT THAT'S BASICALLY AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON JANUARY 4TH, 2024. UM, A NEW LAW CAME INTO EFFECT THAT, UM, MEDI-CAL WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE. AND, UM, IT IS, UM, INCLUDING, UM, PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE COUNTRY, UM, WITHOUT PAPERS. SO, UM, THE, THERE WILL BE A SIGNUP, UH, FOR MEDI-CAL AT WASHINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL ON MARCH 23RD FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE, IT'S ANYBODY FROM THE AGE OF LIKE 16 ON CAN, CAN SIGN UP FOR MEDI-CAL IF THEY'RE, UM, AND WITHOUT INSURANCE. THANK YOU. UH, COMMISSIONER FINNEY, DO YOU HAVE ANY REPORTS FOR THE HEALTH AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE? NO. OKAY. HOUSING COMMITTEE COMMISSIONER HINES? NO REPORT. AND COMMISSIONER SCHMIDT? WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THE COUNTY, UH, WITH JANICE HA'S OFFICE ARE APPROVING THE SAFE HOUSE FOR SENIORS AND THEY'RE WORKING ON, UH, GETTING THAT MONEY AVAILABLE AND THE LOCATION AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING GOING. I THINK IT'S MARCH 19TH. UH, AND I'M LOOKING AT KAREN SHAKING HER HEAD. SO MARCH 19TH WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSION. UH, AND WE ARE GONNA MOVE AHEAD ON SOMETHING THAT WE ALL FELT WAS VERY IMPORTANT, A SAFE HOUSE. SO CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE'LL ALL BRING CHAMPAGNE . OKAY. I HOPE THAT'S BEGINNING ENOUGH. . OKAY. AND THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE. COMMISSIONER GIBBONS, DID YOU HAVE ANY REPORT FOR LEGISLATION? NO. OKAY. AND THEN COMMISSIONER ILLA? NO REPORT. OKAY. AND THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE? COMMISSIONER SMITH? NO REPORT. OKAY. AND COMMISSIONER SMITH? WELL, THERE'S A VACANCY ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AND I THOUGHT WE'D LIKE TO, IF ANYONE HAD ANY IDEAS TO GET THE THAT NAME TO UH, REX RICHARDSON, OUR MAYOR, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE SOMEONE ON THAT COMMISSION WHO'S SYMPATHETIC TO, UH, WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED OR WHAT I'VE ALWAYS WANTED WITH THE COMMISSION SENIORS TO RIDE FREE. UH, SO JUST IF YOU KNOW ANY SENIOR OR ANY PERSON, I DON'T THINK THE CRITERIA FOR THAT COMMISSION IS AGE. SO IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN TRANSPORTATION, THERE IS A VACANCY ON THAT COMMISSION, THAT'D BE GREAT FOR YOU. PHYLLIS, CAN I SERVE ON TWO COMMISSIONS? CAN ONLY SERVE ON, CAN SERVE ON ONE? WELL, I'M AFRAID 18 IS MY THING. . COMMISSIONER HINES, DO YOU HAVE ANY REPORT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION? OKAY, WELL THANK YOU FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DID REPORT TODAY. UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS? SO MOVED. AND DO WE HAVE A SECOND ON THAT? SECOND, LET'S VOTE. UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE, UH, STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS SAY AYE. AYE. ANYONE OPPOSED? AND ANYONE CHOOSING TO ABSTAIN? ALL RIGHT, LOOKS LIKE THOSE REPORTS ARE RECEIVED AND FILED. AND NOW THAT BRINGS US TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT TIME, WHERE THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE ADVISORY COMMISSION ON AGING ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS. CAN I SAY SOMETHING BEFORE WE OPEN IT TO THE PUBLIC? NO, I CAN. SO DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS TODAY? OH, HI KAREN. SORRY. UM, UH, YES, THE, UH, SENIOR STATE HOME IS SUPPOSED TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON MARCH 19TH. I JUST TALKED TO MARY ANDHAS OFFICE. WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO SEND IN COMMENTS SUPPORTING THE INITIATIVE. UM, ALL THE, UM, SUPERVISORS ARE IN FAVOR, SO IT'S EXPECTED TO PASS. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT ITEM IT'S GONNA BE YET, BUT, UM, I'LL LET I KNOW. AND THEN I WANTED TO JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR HEARING ON THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT. AND WE HAD A HEARING FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH THE COUNTY, UH, ON THE, UM, HEARING [00:40:01] ACT OF ALL. THERE WERE SIX HEARINGS THROUGHOUT LA COUNTY. 211 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED. WE HAD 42 OF THOSE 211 PIECES PEOPLE. AND, UM, ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS THAT WENT AROUND AND OBSERVED ALL THE HEARINGS AT THE, UH, COMMISSION MEETING, UM, DECLARED THAT OURS WAS THE BEST. SO THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. AND THEY, SHE SUGGESTED THAT, UM, THE COUNTY USE LONG BEACH'S MODEL FOR ANY OF THEIR HEARINGS. CONGRATULATIONS. YAY. UH, DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS TODAY? I DO. OKAY, GO AHEAD, DORY. HI EVERYONE. DORY AGAIN FROM LONG BEACH AGING SERVICES COLLABORATIVE AND I JUST HAVE A FEW VERY BRIEF UPDATES TODAY. WE'RE HAVING OUR QUARTERLY MEETINGS HERE AT THE SENIOR CENTER. YOU OF COURSE ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. IT'S AT THREE 3:00 PM AND TODAY OUR SPEAKER IS, WE'RE HAVING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HEALTHY AGING CENTER AND THEY'RE GONNA BE FACILITATING SOME FEEDBACK ON THE LONG BEACHES HEALTHY AGING ACTION, AGE FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN, AGE, AGE, FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN. THANK YOU. I KNEW I GOT THAT WRONG. UM, TAGGING ON WHAT HEIDI MENTIONED, WE ARE PLANNING FOR AN EVENT ON MAY 18TH. IT'LL BE AT HOWTON PARK. IT'S THE TAKE ACTION FOR MENTAL HEALTH FAIR IN HONOR OF OLDER AMERICANS MONTH. RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE PLANNING STAGES, SO I DON'T HAVE A FLYER TO SHARE YET, YET, BUT I HOPE TO HAVE THAT FOR YOU, UM, SOON. AND I'LL GET THAT TO YOU AS SOON AS WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE. BUT IT'S GONNA INCLUDE A RESOURCE FAIR FOR MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. WE'RE GONNA HAVE WORKSHOPS FROM, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. AND WE'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE SOME INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS. UM, AM I RUNNING OUTTA TIME? IS THAT MY OKAY, . UH, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF, UM, UPCOMING WEBINARS FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE ON APRIL 17TH, PROJECT GREENLIGHT LONG BEACH ON THE 23RD. UH, WE HAVE OUR WORK GROUPS MEETING NEXT WEEK AND I'M GONNA CHANGE MY HAT NOW TO HEART OF IDA. UH, JUST WANNA REMIND YOU ALL THAT WE HAVE OUR STAY CONNECTED MESSAGES THAT ARE GOING OUT TWICE A MONTH FOR SENIORS. THEY CAN SIGN UP BY JUST CALLING US. WE'LL GET THEM ON THE LIST. WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT NOW WE'RE ABLE TO TRANSLATE THOSE MESSAGES. ENGLISH, SPANISH, KOREAN, AND TAGALOG. AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR A VOLUNTEER TO HELP US TO TRANSLATE TO KAMAI SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE ALL OF OUR GROUPS HERE IN LONG BEACH. UM, AND YOU MIGHT NOTICE THAT THERE ARE CAL STATE LONG BEACH NURSING STUDENTS ROAMING THE SENIOR CENTER. WE'RE PARTNERING WITH STUDENTS AND THEY ARE PROVIDING HEALTH SCREENINGS AND ALSO JUST ADVICE FOR SENIORS UP A WHOLE MINUTE . UM, BUT THE, THE NURSING STUDENTS ARE WILL ALSO COORDINATE HOME VISITS, UM, WHERE THEY WILL GO OUT TO SENIORS WHO ARE NOT GLOBALLY ABLE TO GET HERE TO THE SENIOR CENTER FOR THOSE, YOU KNOW, BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENINGS OR NUTRITIONAL CONSULTATIONS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. SO THEY CAN COORDINATE WITH US IN THE OFFICE DOWNSTAIRS IN . MM-HMM, . THANK YOU. DORY. TALKING LIKE A CHIP ON TODAY. . DOES ANY, IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC? GREAT. LET'S MOVE ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. COMMISSIONERS. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER SCHMIDT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. UH, OR A SUGGESTION. IS IT POSSIBLE WE COULD HAVE A MIXED MEETING, HAVE THIS ON ZOOM? BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE MEMBER WHO'S IN THE PROCESS OF CHEMOTHERAPY. HE CAN'T ATTEND, BUT HE COULD ATTEND ON ZOOM, BUT HE CAN'T ATTEND PHYSICAL, HE'S NOT ABLE TO. YES. IS THAT A POSSIBILITY FOR MEETINGS? NO, IT'S NOT. WE COULD, WE CAN HAVE ONE ON ZOOM IF YOU WANT, BUT ALL THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD HAVE TO BE ON ZOOM. NO, I WAS THINKING OF A MIXED MEETING. WE CAN, WE'LL JUST DOUBLE CHECK ON THAT ONE BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE IDEA IN PERSON NOW, SO I'LL HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK TO SEE IF THAT'S AN OPTION. WHAT SHE WANTS, SHE WANTS LIKE FOR THEM TO COME IN AND THEN HAVE SOME PEOPLE ON ZOOM. EXACTLY. SO AVAILABLE FOR HIM TO LOG IN EXACTLY IN PERSON. WE GET HIM WITH THE AUDIO. OKAY. AT LEAST. OKAY. JUSTICE APPEAL. GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER HINES. UM, IT'S NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. WOULD THE ABSENCE OF NATIVE, DO WE HAVE A OPENING ON OUR COMMISSION NOW? YES. IS IT POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE FOR A VACANCY? I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THAT, BUT THEY ARE AWARE OF IT. 'CAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT, THE CITY CLERKS ARE THE ONES THAT UM, TAKE THE APPLICATIONS AND FILL THE SPOTS. SO HOW WOULD SOMEBODY APPLY IF IT DOESN'T SAY VACANCY FOR OUR COMMISSION? 'CAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU GO TO IT. THEY'RE ALWAYS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. SO THERE'S LIKE DIFFERENT, [00:45:01] UM, THERE'S DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS SO THEY CAN FILL OUT AN APPLICATION AND THEN THE CITY CLERKS WHEN THERE'S AN OPENING, THEN I'M, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW IT WORKS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEY KNOW THAT THERE'S ONLY UM, EIGHT COMMISSIONERS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LET 'EM KNOW EVERY TIME SOMEONE LEAVES. SO THEY'RE LOOKING, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES THEM TO, TO POST IT. RIGHT. WE'LL CHECK OR TO FILL THE VACANCY ACTUALLY. OKAY. JUST AS LONG AS IT SAYS THERE'S A VACANCY ON OUR COMMISSION, THEN PEOPLE KNOW THAT OUR COMMISSION, 'CAUSE THEY HAVE THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT'LL SAY LIKE, UH, PORT OF LONG BEACH OR, UM, PARK AND REC OR WHATEVER, THERE'S A FULL 'CAUSE THEY HAVE NO OPENINGS. BUT IF THERE'S ONE AVAILABLE ON OURS, IT ABSOLUTELY HAS TO SAY IN THE RED LETTERING THAT THERE'S A VACANCY. OKAY. CHECK. GOOD QUESTION. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION? OKAY, WELL I WILL JUST, UH, SAY, SORRY, NOT NOT QUITE . JUST ONE THING. UH, IF ANY COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR SPEAKERS, PLEASE GIVE THE CONTACT INFORMATION TO COMMISSIONER GIBBONS AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY TOPIC THEY WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS AT OUR MEETINGS, PLEASE SEND THAT TOPIC TO IRENE SO SHE COULD ADD IT TO OUR AGENDA SO WE CAN SPEAK ABOUT IT, UM, IN PUBLIC. AND I WILL MAKE, CAN SOMEBODY MAKE A MOTION FOR US TO ADJOURN QUESTIONS? YOU ARE GONNA DO QUESTIONS. IS THAT COMPLETELY AFTER QUESTIONS OF WHAT? FOR DR. BRENNAN? UH, YES. AFTER THE MEETING'S COME ADJOURNED. OKAY. MOTION TO ADJOURN. DOES ANY I MOVED. DOES ANYONE SECOND THAT? UM, MOTION SECOND. AND ALL IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNING THE MEETING? AYE. AYE. OKAY. MEETING IS ADJOURNED AT 10 50 ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17TH. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. OKAY. MARCH. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.