The Winters Senior Commission on Aging welcomed its newest commissioner on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
Mark Rowan was appointed by the City Council at a special council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 10. Rowan stepped in to fill the remainder of the term vacated by Wally Pearce in October 2022. The term is scheduled to expire on June 1, 2025.
Rowan told Commissioners he had moved to the area in 2020 and he was ready to get involved within the community.
“I love Winters and I want to do my part to serve the community,” Rowan said in his application.
The Senior Commission on Aging still has one more seat to fill. The application of interest is available on the City of Winters website at https://tinyurl.com/2s3t53mx.
Applications can be submitted in person or mailed to the City Clerk at City Hall, 318 1st St., Winters, CA 95694. Applications can also be sent via email to cityclerk@cityofwinters.org.
Senior Center update
City Manager Kathleen Salguero Trepa updated Commissioners about the status of the City’s efforts to obtain the plans for the Winters Senior Center.
According to Trepa, the City is continuing to work with Domas Management Company to obtain a signature from the original architect who drafted the plans to sign them over to Domas. She told Commissioners the City met with the original architect in September, who has been silent since.
The Winters Senior Center project has been held up for two years first due to a standstill from the pandemic, and now due to the current issue at hand. Without obtaining the right to use the plans, the City is unable to incorporate new 2023 code energy updates, or obtain bids for the project.
“We’ve seen the plans, we have the plans, we don’t have the rights to use the plans,” Trepa said.
Commissioner Marianne Boyer reported that the Fundraising committee has been successful and will present an official update to City Council at an upcoming meeting. In the meantime, the Senior Commission members will take time to look through the initial first draft of the list of potential equipment and furnishings for the Senior Center.
Older adult wellbeing
The topic of the well-being of older adults in the community was brought up in a discussion. Commissioner Tina Lowden inquired if the City, the Winters Police or Fire Departments, or if Yolo County had a protocol or program where public safety officials or volunteers check in on senior citizens who live alone and do not have family or a caregiver who regularly interacts with them.
Trepa said the City does not have a program or protocol that addresses that issue, but advised Commissioners to encourage older adults to make connections with their neighbors and to communicate some regular signs and behaviors to look for.
“People can watch out for some regular signs (blinds open every day) and look out for a change in regular behaviors,” Trepa said.
In her City Manager’s Jan. 13 update, Trepa shared about the group’s discussion and concerns for elderly living on their own who might have a medical event or fall unbeknownst to others.
“Being left unattended for days could have devastating results for that person,” Trepa said.
She encouraged all Winters residents to reach out to neighbors if they live next door to someone who might need an extra hand or who might appreciate being checked on to establish a signal that “all is OK.”
“The Winters community ethos of service to others/service to the community runs strong here,” Trepa said. “These individual bonds and connections weave the fabric that makes Winters the truly magical village it has been and continues to be.”
Senior Resource Guide
Commissioners are in the beginning stages of looking through the Senior Resource Guide to make updates for 2023. Commissioner Karen Croley is taking the lead in creating a team to identify updates to the publication that provides resources for older adults in the area. Commissioners plan to release a new update this fall.
The current version of it is available in both Spanish and English on the City of Winters website at cityofwinters.org/senior-resources.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Large Conference Room (Abbey Street entrance).
