City workshop reviews Aging in Place plan; commissioners signal support for advisory committee

Assistant City Manager Mark Clemens presented the ad hoc Aging in Place Committee’s citywide action plan at a May 5 workshop, summarizing 19 goals and 64 tasks intended to help older residents remain in Birmingham. Clemens said the plan was built from research, a community survey and adaptation of AARP’s livability domains and noted, “40% of our population is age 50 or older,” underscoring the plan’s urgency.

The report groups recommendations into five domains — needs, communications, social and civic engagement, housing and transportation — and ties tasks to tentative timelines, responsible parties and estimated costs. Clemens and committee members described outreach findings that only about 38% of residents knew about NEXT’s support services and that 78% of survey respondents said they were interested in volunteering to help older neighbors.

Commissioners said they welcomed the detail but asked for clearer prioritization and implementation pathways. Commissioner Anthony Long said he supported turning the ad hoc committee into a permanent advisory group to maintain momentum; Commissioner Schaffer urged staff to return with a proposed charter and membership plan. Several commissioners cautioned that many recommendations that change public facilities or zoning would require formal actions by the commission and possible referrals to other boards.

Committee members suggested immediate, low‑cost steps including improved communications about NEXT services, a volunteer matching event and coordination with the Birmingham Public Schools for programming. Clemens said the packet includes a timetable and responsibility assignments and that staff will return with a motion if the commission wants to authorize a standing committee.

The workshop ended with general direction to use the report as an advisory resource while staff and commissioners work to prioritize the list for near‑term action.