Minutes
1. Welcome & Introductions by Chair — Discussion (2 min.)
Chair Dawn Angelo, welcomed all members and called the meeting to order at 2:00 pm
Guest Cheril Bennett form DCO
2. Roll Call — No Action (2 min.)
Dawn Angelo, Catheryn Koss, Solomon Chis, Sharon Jennings, Harrison Linder, Maureen Sullivan, Sery Tatpaporn, Kristen Stauss, Debra Larsen, Debra Bonner
-Matt Rosenberg (stepped out of Commissions)
Not present: Sery Tatpaporn - excused
3. Request(s) for Remote Participation under the Brown Act (if any 2 min.)
In Person / Contessa Bunn,
Via Zoom / Will Trif, Deanna Quintanilla, Sondra Mattingly, Monica Pucket, Melisa Jacobs
4. Consent Items – ACTION (3 min.)
- Approval of August 27, 2025, Minutes
– no statement on record
Motion to approve the June minutes by Catheryn; second by Sharon, all approved. - Approval of September 24, 2025, Agenda
– no statement on record
Motion to approve the July agenda by Catheryn second by Sharon; all approved.
5. AAC Business & Initiatives — NO ACTION (48 min.)
- Report from representative of the County Board of Supervisor -Aaron Chong - (5 min)
Monica Pucket presented:
- 45th Annual Mental Health and Aging Conference!
Mental health and aging conference on October 30
Time: 9am to 3pm
Location: Hilton, Sacramento, Hard and West
Flyers available for distribution
Speaker's main project focus
No questions
- Report from Senior and Adult Services (SAS) – Contessa Bunn – (3 min.)
Senate Bill 707 will take effect from July 1, 2026, to January 1, 2030. It introduces changes including increased remote access, agenda transparency, translation services, public participation, teleconferencing updates, and use of social media. The governor has not yet signed the bill. A summarized version of the legislation is available.
- SB707 – Brown Act
- Sacramento County cordially invites you to join us for the 2025 Boards, Commissions, Committees and Councils (BCCC) Appreciation/Training Event
- Accessibility Training Part 1 – Cheryl Bennett, ADA Compliance Officer (40 minutes)
• Training focuses on equity and inclusion for people with disabilities in county programs and services, especially direct service providers and public-facing employees.
• Office staff includes one full-time coordinator and a half-time EEO officer; employee complaints have surged 200% since COVID.
• Key office roles: training, technical assistance, complaint resolution, and staffing the Disability Advisory Commission for 25 years.
• Disability affects 25% of Californians; higher rates in older adults. Many disabilities are hidden, including cognitive issues, mental health, and long COVID.
• Multiple overlapping laws govern disability access, with ADA as baseline, but stronger state laws like California FEHA and Building Code often apply.
• Five ADA compliance elements: architectural access, reasonable policy modification, effective communication, respectful interaction, and inclusion planning.
• Architectural access includes ramps, handrails, accessible signage, door handles, elevator features, evacuation routes, and accessible paths to public transit.
• Reasonable modifications require flexible policies and prompt, cost-free accommodations without demanding medical documentation.
• Examples of modifications: appointment flexibility, alternative service delivery methods, extended time for public speaking, zoning exceptions for wheelchair ramps, mental health crisis alternatives to law enforcement.
• Effective communication must serve all, including program participants, their companions, and public in emergency alerts, publications, websites, events.
• Communication aids include alternate document formats, Braille, assistive listening devices, screen readers, text-to-speech, ASL and other sign language interpreters, real-time captioning, qualified note takers, and California Relay Service.
• Accessibility in communications requires correct document/web setup to avoid barriers for screen reader users.
• Do not assume what a disabled person can or cannot do; many disabilities are not apparent (e.g., Stephen Hawking's achievements).
• Avoid asking for medical proof; focus politely on functional limitations to understand accommodation needs.
• Offer assistance but ask first; respect if the person declines help, even if defensively.
• Be sensitive to physical touch, including not touching assistive devices or service animals.
• Service dogs must never be separated from their handlers; laws now also cover emotional support animals.
• Include people with disabilities in planning processes (“Nothing about us without us").
• Disability community input is crucial; support and technical assistance resources are available.
• Upcoming training will cover cultural barriers, effective interaction tips for specific disabilities, and building access into policies.
• Local community organizations are key partners for resources and input.
• Developed strong relationships with airports
• Airports creating inclusive programs for travelers with anxiety, mobility, or vision disabilities
• Programs allow first-time or anxious travelers to visit airports before flights
• Helps travelers familiarize with environment, identify stressors, and overcome barriers
• Sunflower program helps travelers with hidden disabilities at airports.
• Participants wear a bright green lanyard with a sunflower symbol.
• Staff are trained to recognize and assist these individuals, providing extra time or accommodations.
• The aging community might also benefit from such assistance.
• The program involves airport customer service management.
6. Chair Report – Dawn Angelo - NO ACTION (5 min.)
• Meeting held at Center Club Downtown with 15 attendees: 4 CSAC staff, guests including UC Davis Mind Institute, Glenn County Board of Supervisors, Sacramento VA.
• Susan de Morris, CA Dept. of Aging director, discussed California's 10-year aging plan, now in year 5, adapting to ongoing changes.
• Funding cuts (e.g., HR 1) and hospital/clinic closures in rural areas like Glenn County highlighted major concerns.
• Travel distance for health access doesn't fully address equity challenges, especially with difficult terrain and seasonal conditions.
• Glenn County has 30% population 65+, statewide forecast: 1 in 4 Californians over 65 by 2030.
• Rural areas provide lessons for urban aging adjustments; urban areas have close-knit neighborhoods important for mutual care.
• Discussion of the "Forgotten Middle" who earn too much for benefits but can't afford care costs.
• Isolation and loneliness among older adults noted as a significant ongoing issue.
• Meetings held quarterly to bring diverse stakeholders together to discuss aging policy impacts; no immediate follow-up actions from this session.
• Representation important for sharing commission perspectives from Sacramento County.
7. Old Business – NO ACTION
8. New Business — NO ACTION
9. Reports — NO ACTION (25 min.)
1. Ad Hoc Committees:
- Housing & Homelessness/ Maureen Sullivan – (5 min.)
Everything is pretty much on the governor's desk. AB 348, full per service partnership eligibility on the
governor's desk. He has until September 30 to sign our veto bills.
AB 450, support for owner and aging immigrants, creates a stakeholder panel on the governor's desk. AB 1068, emergency evacuation, evacuation planning for long term care facilities, it's on the governor's
desk. AB
1069, emergency shelter access for older adults and people with disabilities is on the governor's
desk and SB 352, disaster for is next steps to
implementation has been signed
- AAC Initiatives, Behavioral Health & Program Monitoring Committee /
Harrison has nothing to present
Sharon presenting:
- By-laws Committee / Debra Larson – (5 min.)
Debra is working on the pdf files
- Public Awareness & Advocacy Committee / Kristen Stauss (5 min.)
Kristen is presenting:
45th Annual Mental Health and Aging Conference!
Mental health and aging conference on October 30
Time: 9am to 3pm
Location: Hilton, Sacramento, Hard and West
Flyers available for distribution
Speaker's main project focus
2. Area 4 Agency on Aging - Rebecca Hensley (5 min.)
Will Trif is presenting for Rebecca:
• 2004 needs assessment involved an 8-page print publication with a survey.
• Every four years, a comprehensive survey is conducted for older adults in a seven-county region.
• The 2026 assessment will be similar: an 8-page publication in Sacrament News and Review with stories of program impact.
• Distribution includes local newspapers, senior centers, meetings, and health fairs.
• New addition: focused social media campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.
• Expectation to exceed previous survey response record of 3,000.
• Updates will be provided as the spring launch approaches.
3. Aging Resources Exchange - Catheryn Koss or Debra Bonner (5 min.)
Catheryn Koss:
• Next Aging Resources Exchange: September 30
• Speaker: Janelle Cazares, Director at El Hogar, will overview El Hogar programs
• Monthly online event via Zoom; open to all
• Email sign-up available for those not receiving invitations
• Three Sac State students starting updates on Aging Resources Directory in late September/October
• Focus on reviewing, updating links, programs, and adding new resources
4. Liaison Reports
- Human Services Council (HSC) – Debra Bonner – (5 min)
Debra presenting:
• Ongoing planning of staff listening sessions to involve the community.
• Quarterly community-wide meetings starting January; monthly Executive Committee meetings for planning.
• January speaker: Ryan Klis on legal pathways to behavioral health treatment.
• Board of Supervisors to appoint active community members to various boards and commissions.
• Review of commissions to fill empty seats with interested individuals.
• Focus in January on housing, crisis response for adults, and addressing food deserts.
• New behavioral health commission's first meeting tonight (6-8 PM at county building).
• The commission includes members from Mental Health Board, ALD, and new community appointees, with five more appointments pending.
10. Recruitment and Orientation Committee (ROC) – NO ACTION (5 min.) - Catheryn Koss
- Catheryn presenting:
So I already announced that Matt Rosenberg had to resign from the Commission. Dolores Diaz did her interview with county staff, and she does need to come to a second meeting so she's not here today. So Monica, I just, I don't know if you can make a note to just like put a put a hold on whatever the process is for Dolores Diaz's application, she has to come to a second meeting before we could move forward with her application. Whichever decision right before we put it before the county board supervisors, if she's going
to go forward, okay, I'll definitely let the clerk's office.
11. Announcements - Open Forum and Discussion (5 min.)
Debbra conference presentation
it's been coming up Mental Health and Aging Conference, which is October 30. It's from nine to three. From nine to 10 is registration, and we will have exhibitor tables there people with resources, actually, I've managed who spoke at the aging Resource Exchange the library the Talking Books, oh, yeah, so they will have a table there. So that's exciting. And we are at 80% capacity as London. We will we were so I don't know where we're at now, and I can just let you know the speakers were having. So the keynote will be supervisor Patrick Kennedy. We will have Dr Mary Ann Abraham. She's a geriatric psychiatrist and assistant clinical professor from UC Davis, Michelle Ernster, she's with the greater Sacramento women's brain health program, and she's with the UC Davis Health Department of Public Health and with Michelle's presentation, we are actually going to have a panelist of participants who have been a part of this program or their current or done it in the past to share their experience, how the brain health program has really helped them as they are aging and aging better because and getting all the information. So we'll have three, three or four people for that. Then we're we will have representatives from the pearls program to encourage active, rewarding lives. And this program came out of University of Washington, who was behind the grant and everything, and they are actually coming here to speak, and then we will also have a panel of participants there to talk about their experience going from maybe isolation, depression, loneliness, and how the girls program has helped them move forward in their life with the tools that were given.
Public Comment - (limited to 3 min. per speaker) - ACTION (10 min.)
No public comments
12. Future Meetings — Open Forum and Discussion (5 min.)
- Adult & Aging Commission Executive – October 15, 2025
- Adult & Aging Commission Main Meeting – October 22, 2025
13. Adjourn
Motion to Adjourn by Catheryn second by Solomon; all approved
Adjourn 3:35pm
