Senior Commission approves 2025–26 work plan and schedules Spring Fling, health fair

The Los Altos Senior Commission on March 3 approved its work plan for October 2025 through September 2026, endorsing goals on social participation, community support and health services and confirming a slate of city events for the coming year.

Chair Olsen opened the discussion by listing the plan’s priorities: “We have 3 goals, which 1 is social participation, community support and health care services,” and walked the commission through the proposed adjustments made after the February meeting. The document includes an ongoing collaboration with Club 55 and Adult 50+ for spring and summer activities and a recommendation that Mayor Meadows present the commission’s priorities to the city council if the plan is approved.

Commissioners debated outreach and marketing tactics—whether to spotlight a single program (for example, chair yoga) or to frame a broader, more inclusive set of health-related offerings. Staff said standard city channels (activity guide, flyers, website, the city newsletter "In the Heights" and social media) are already used and offered to produce targeted flyers and save‑the‑date materials. Commissioners asked staff to bring a focused agenda item on reaching functionally isolated seniors so the commission can develop specific, actionable steps and potential partner outreach.

The commission also discussed event design lessons from last year’s health fair, noting participant feedback that there were too many short presentations and not enough time for vendor interaction. Several commissioners urged simplifying the program to two or three longer presentations and aligning vendors to a chosen theme so attendees can meaningfully engage with both speakers and exhibits.

On motions: the commission voted to approve the work plan as amended (motion and second recorded; approval confirmed in meeting discussion). Separately, the commission voted unanimously to schedule the next community health fair for Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., with Sept. 22 listed as an alternate; staff recommended the 15th in part to avoid conflict with the city’s caregiving conference on Oct. 3, 2026. The Spring Fling collaboration with Club 55 is scheduled for Friday, May 15, and staff will follow standard marketing timelines (generally 30 days before an event) and prepare city‑branded materials.

Staff and commissioners agreed to: finalize the work‑plan language now while delegating specific project details and vendor planning to ad hoc subcommittees or working pairs; ask staff to produce simple, themed flyers for the health fair and Spring Fling; and return to the Commission with a dedicated agenda item on outreach to isolated seniors later in the spring. The meeting included public attendance and an invitation for community members to submit speaker cards for future comment.