A consultant leading Merced County’s Age and Disability Friendly Action Plan briefed the Los Banos City Council on May 21, outlining a five‑year strategy to improve livability and services for older adults and people with disabilities.

Mike King of Pear Street Consulting said the plan was developed through 10 focus groups with about 319 participants and an advisory committee; a draft went to the county for public comment and the Board of Supervisors was scheduled to consider it June 10. "The plan is purposely aligned with California's master plan for aging and AARP's domains of livability," King said.

King summarized the plan’s top priorities as communications and information, transportation and affordable housing. He described 14 draft project recommendations that include volunteer caregiver and driver programs, scaling county home‑repair and accessibility modifications, pedestrian safety and digital‑inclusion efforts. King said the plan targets lower‑income older adults and people with disabilities and will rely on volunteer efforts and outside grants for implementation, rather than a new county general‑fund commitment.

Councilmembers asked how implementation would work locally. King said the county's Area Agency on Aging will initially lead the work with existing staff and will pursue grants and partnerships. "We're gonna get them organized and ready to take advantage of those opportunities," he said.

Councilmember Deborah Lewis pressed whether the plan targets particular income groups; King said the emphasis is on lower‑income households that are most affected by gaps in transportation, housing and services. Another councilmember noted the plan could help inform local general‑plan updates and transportation planning.

The presentation was informational; no council action was requested. King provided a project website for the draft plan and staff said they welcome feedback as the county moves toward adoption and implementation planning.