Minutes 02-09-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 Presentation made to the BOCC on February 2 Chair McKee moved the Advisory Board on Aging to be first in the line up of reports. • Advisory Board on Aging: Alex Castro, Jr., Chair Alex Castro said he added a letter at the Commissioners' places, which is in addition to the plan the Commissioners already received. He said this letter concerns senior safety, noting there was a tragic accident with a senior walking home from the Seymour Senior Center. He said in Hillsborough there are people pushing walkers down highway 70 to the senior centers. He noted that Orange County owns the facilities, but there is multi-jurisdictional involvement with towns responsible for the sidewalks and DOT for the roadways. He is concerned that safety gets lost in the bureaucracy. He suggested interagency groups that can be tasked with addressing issues that affect multiple jurisdictions and can be held accountable. Alex Castro said there is a growing population of seniors who are encouraged to get out a walk, but the conditions to do so are unsafe. He referred to a movement called Complete Streets, noting Chapel Hill has received bond approval for $16.2 million to improve infrastructure, including items such as senior crossings, akin to school crossings. He said seniors need crosswalks, and he is asking the Board of County Commissioners to cut across red tape to remedy this concern. Alex Castro then referred back to the report, which was originally submitted to the BOCC for this evening's discussion. He said he is proud to be associated with this Department, and noted its great efforts to implement programs like Project Engage. He said Project Engage selects individuals from throughout Orange County and provides them with a 13-week overview of all resources available in the County, so that they can return to their own communities and share this knowledge, while perhaps getting involved in the services as well. He said the Department has been developing Master Aging Plans that are community driven, including community meetings to hear all concerns. He said the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina (UNC) was able to help in these efforts. He said the department is good at harvesting resources from young and dedicated students, county staff, and senior volunteers to create multi-faceted programs. Commissioner Pelissier asked staff to look into what happened at Eno Haven Apartments, as she recalled there was supposed to be a pathway to the Senior Center. Alex Castro said there is a sidewalk, but it does not reach the Senior Center, and it is also on a grade. Commissioner Jacobs said he recalled a discussion about a connection not on highway 70, but rather a road that goes behind the complex. He informed Alex Castro that the BOCC has asked staff to look at all of the County's facilities to make them more accessible to pedestrians. Alex Castro said attention should be drawn to senior pedestrians, noting the example of strobe lights at some crosswalks in the County. Commissioner Rich suggested erecting signs at crosswalks noting that seniors are crossing. Alex Castro referred to an example in the County where a variable marking sign was added to alert motorists of an upcoming change in traffic pattern. He also said lowering and enforcing the speed limit would help. Commissioner Price said the sidewalk approaching the Senior Center in Hillsborough is on an incline, and once at the Senior Center the line-of-sight needs to be improved at the entrance.