04-10-2024 MinutesMINUTES OF A MEETING OF
THE SENIOR CITIZENS COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS
April 10, 2024
The regular meeting of the Cypress Senior Citizens Commission was called to order at 3:00 p.m. on
Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in the Cypress Senior Center Conference Room, 9031 Grindlay Street,
Cypress, California.
PRESENT: Commission Chair Machal, Commissioners Croce, DeCesare, Heins, and
Skorupinski
ABSENT: Commission Vice Chair Button, Commissioner Osman
Also present: Ian Kokot, Recreation and Community Services Manager; Taylor Burtle, Recreation and
Community Services Coordinator; Alexis Corral, Recreation and Community Services Coordinator
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The pledge was led by Commission Chair Machal.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Limited to 30 minutes – three minutes per speaker, unless extended by
the Commission)
Joe Pak, Senior Field Representative for Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, spoke of her office
preparing a certificate for the Grace Lachina Volunteer Service Award recipient.
Claudia, Senior Center patron, praised the Senior Center facility and programs and spoke of wanting to
observe a Senior Commission meeting.
Leo Medrano, Cypress Recreation and Community Services Commissioner, spoke of wanting to observe
a Senior Commission meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approve Minutes – Meeting of March 13, 2024
It was moved by Commissioner Croce, and seconded by Commissioner Skorupinski, to approve the
minutes of the meeting of March 13, 2024.
The motion was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
5 COMMISSIONERS: Croce, DeCesare, Heins, Machal, Skorupinski
NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Button, Osman
2. Taxi Voucher Program Review
Recreation Manager Kokot provided background on the Taxi Voucher program.
Recreation Coordinator Burtle presented an annual review of the Senior Mobility programs.
Commissioner Croce asked if the surplus from OCTA that accumulated during covid is being spent
down so the funds won’t have to be returned.
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Recreation Coordinator Burtle affirmed, and informed that the City still receives monies from OCTA.
Commissioner Heins asked if there are seniors who participate in both the Taxi Voucher program and
the Nutrition Taxi program.
Recreation Coordinator Burtle responded there is not much overlap as the Nutrition Taxi program
criteria is very specific.
Commission Chair Machal asked if there much variance between how many taxi vouchers are issued
each month and how many are used and if the vouchers have an expiration date.
Recreation Coordinator Burtle responded that 10 vouchers are issued every month to each participant
in the program, but sometimes the recipients don’t utilize all of them every month, and that the
vouchers are only good for the month in which they are issued.
Commissioner Heins asked if Cypress is only paying for the vouchers that are used.
Recreation Coordinator Burtle affirmed.
Commissioner Croce asked if staff ever runs out of vouchers.
Recreation Coordinator Burtle stated that there are always enough vouchers to distribute every month.
Commissioner Skorupinski asked if the vouchers are date stamped.
Recreation Coordinator Burtle stated that the month it’s to be used for is listed on the vouchers and
have never had anyone use an expired voucher.
Commission Chair Machal asked how the participants obtain information about the program.
Recreation Coordinator Burtle replied that most have heard of the program by the newsletter and word
of mouth.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Limited to 30 minutes – three minutes per speaker, unless extended by
the Commission)
Claudia, Senior Center patron, praised the Taxi Voucher program.
STAFF REPORTS (NO ACTION OR DISCUSSION REQUIRED)
Recreation Coordinator Burtle: Senior Prom, April 5. Praised Oxford High students who helped at the
event. Vendor applications sent out for Resource Fair, June 14. Cypress Police Department
presentation on scams scheduled for June.
Recreation Coordinator Corral: St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, March 14; upcoming dining events for
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day; distributed volunteer sign-up for dining center special events.
Recreation Manager Kokot: Youth Action Committee Recognition, May 11.
OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS
Commissioner Croce: St. Patrick’s Day lunch; Senior Center birthday celebration; Commissioner
Appreciation Reception; Youth Action Committee meeting; Police Department open house. Spoke of a
patron requesting that the Senior Center library have more paperback books in stock.
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Commissioner DeCesare: Registered for the NOCE Creative Writing for Seniors class. Spoke of the
class being an important experience for seniors. Related that one of the class members asked if the
participants could use the cupboards in the room to store their supplies.
Recreation Coordinator Burtle responded that the Senior Center is a hosting site for classes only, and
supplies cannot be stored in the facility.
Commissioner Heins: Proposed having a suggestion box installed in the Senior Center. Reported on
suggestions made to her from senior center patrons: (1) an extra whiteboard in “Games for Brains”
class; reserving parking spots specifically for patrons.
Recreation Coordinator Corral informed a new whiteboard has been ordered and that the Senior Center
parking lot is a public lot and spots cannot be reserved except for disabled parking.
Commission Skorupinski: Americana Awards; Boys & Girls Club Gala; Council meeting; Commissioner
Appreciation Reception; “Games for Brains;” cribbage.
ADJOURNMENT
Commission Chair Machal adjourned the meeting of April 10, 2024, at 3:43 p.m. to the regular meeting
of May 8, 2024, to be held in the Senior Center Conference Room at 3:00 p.m.
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CHAIR OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS COMMISSION
ATTEST:
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SECRETARY TO THE SENIOR CITIZENS COMMISSION