Senior Advisory Committee — March 12, 2026

A regular meeting of the Petaluma Senior Advisory Committee, chaired in Don Forman's capacity as acting chair (with Chair Nickola Frye absent). The meeting ran from 9:02 to 10:00 a.m. with a small quorum: Don Forman, Gabriella Ambrosi, Kathy Myers, and Robert Bailey were present; Nickola Frye and Seth Combs were absent. No public comment was received.

Minutes Approval

Minutes from the February 12, 2025 meeting were approved as received with no changes noted.

Ad Hoc Committee Reports

The committee worked through updates on its seven standing goals:

Goal 1 – Enhance Social Activities for Seniors: A small but cheerful update — the planter boxes that had been awaiting soil and plants have now been planted with flowers.

Goal 2 – Improve Senior Physical Health and Well-being: No report was given for March.

Goal 3 – Improve Senior Mental Health and Well-being: Kathy Myers spoke about emergency preparedness, focusing on spreading awareness of emergency prep assistance available to seniors and exploring ways to expand emergency services outreach. Robert Bailey was expected to report on Healdsburg's End of Life Planning Program as a potential model for Petaluma, though the minutes do not record the substance of that report.

Goal 4 – Increase Access to Information and Resources: No report was given. (The agenda had indicated the committee was still receiving survey responses related to a planned Symposium, but this was not reflected in the final minutes.)

Goal 5 – Advocate for Senior-Friendly Infrastructure: Don Forman reported on the status of the downtown public restroom project. The minutes do not detail the specific update beyond noting it was discussed.

Goal 6 – Work with Sonoma County Master Plan for Aging: No current meeting or update to report.

Goal 7 – Foster Intergenerational Connections: No report recorded in the minutes. (The agenda had noted an upcoming RTP Workday on April 4 and updates on an intern program, but these were not captured in the final minutes.)

Committee Member Comments — Personal Emergency Device Sponsorship

Kathy Myers and Robert Bailey raised the topic of Personal Emergency Device Sponsorship — devices that help seniors summon help in an emergency — and expressed interest in the Senior Advisory Committee developing a formal recommendation on the subject. No action was taken at this meeting, but it appears the topic will be pursued further.

Staff Comments

Staff liaison Iya Josephmenard provided an update on events and new programs at the Senior Center. Specifics were not recorded in the minutes.

Key Takeaways

Planter boxes are planted: The social activities project to install flower planters has reached a visible milestone — flowers are in the ground.

Emergency preparedness outreach is expanding: Kathy Myers is actively working to broaden awareness of emergency prep resources for seniors, with a possible connection to end-of-life planning models from neighboring Healdsburg.

Personal Emergency Device Sponsorship on the horizon: Two committee members want to develop a formal SAC recommendation on sponsoring personal emergency devices for seniors — a topic likely to return at a future meeting.

Downtown restroom update given, details not recorded: The committee received a status report on the downtown public restroom project, but the minutes do not capture the specifics of where that project stands.

Several goals had no March report: Goals 2, 4, and 6 had no updates this cycle, suggesting some ad hoc groups may need renewed momentum heading into spring.

AI-generated summary from voice-to-text transcript. Not the official record. Verify important details with the source documents linked above.

What happened at this meeting

Chair Report – Update –

Ad Hoc Committee Reports and Updates were presented for multiple goals. Goal 1 (Enhance Social Activities for Seniors) reported that flowers have been planted in planter boxes. Goal 3 (Improve Senior Mental Health and Well-being) was addressed by Kathy Myers, who spoke about spreading awareness of Emergency Prep Help and ways to expand emergency services, with Kathy to report on Ad Hoc committee status and Robert to report on information regarding Healdsburg's End of Life Planning Program. Goal 5 (Advocate for Senior-Friendly Infrastructure) included Don's report on the status of the downtown restroom project. Member discussion included Kathy and Robert expressing a desire to discuss Personal Emergency Device Sponsorship and how the Senior Advisory Committee could make recommendations.

Agenda items (2)

Unfinished Business

1Unfinished BusinessChair Report – Update –

The chair will provide an update on recent activities and matters related to the senior advisory committee.

What happened

2Unfinished BusinessAd Hoc Committee Reports and Updates: Goal 1: Enhance Social Activities for Seniors Ad Hoc Members - Nickola Frye, Kathy Meyers, Iya Josephmenard (PSC) Objective: To create more social opportunities for seniors to connect, engage, and build friendships. Update on dirt and plants for planter boxes Goal 2: Improve Senior Physical Health and Well-being Ad Hoc Members - Nickola Frye, Don Forman, Drake Cunningham (RTP) Objective: To promote a healthier lifestyle and well-being among seniors. No report for March. Goal 3: Improve Senior Mental Health and Well-being Ad Hoc Members – Kathy Myers Objective: To promote a healthier lifestyle and well-being among seniors. Kathy will report on status Ad Hoc committee. Robert will report on information regarding Healdsburg’s End of Life Planning Program. Goal 4: Increase Access to Information and Resources Ad Hoc members - Gabriella Ambrosi, Nickola Frye, Iya Josephmenard (PSC), Patricia Souza (non-SAC member), Objective: To ensure seniors have access to important information and resources. Report – still receiving response to survey regarding Symposium. Goal 5: Advocate for Senior-Friendly Infrastructure Ad Hoc members: Don Foreman, Seth Combs, Nickola Frye Objective: To create a more senior-friendly environment in Petaluma. Report regarding update on downtown restroom. Goal 6: Work with Sonoma County Master Plan for Aging Ad Hoc Members: No Ad Hoc - all SAC members will participate (if possible) in MPA. Objective: To create and increase a working relationship with MPA. No current meeting Goal 7: Foster Intergenerational Connections Ad Hoc members: Nickola Frye Objective: To encourage connections between seniors and younger generations. Report on Intern Program RTP Workday April 4, 8:00-4:00 COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS: STAFF COMMENT:

Seven different senior-focused ad hoc committees will report on their progress, including efforts to increase social activities for seniors, improve physical and mental health, expand access to information, create senior-friendly infrastructure downtown, coordinate with the county's Master Plan for Aging, and build connections between seniors and younger generations through an intern program.

Verbatim transcript available

3 transcript segments indexed

____________________________________________________________________________ DATE: April 2, 2026 TO: Iya Josephmenard, SAC Members FROM: Nickola Frye SUBJECT: Agenda – March 12, 2026 AGENDA – March 12, 2026 Submit Written Public Comment Email the Committee Clerk at: ijosephmenard@cityofpetaluma.org, with the subject line “Public Comment.” Comments that are received at least two hours prior to the meeting will be distributed to Committee members and published with the agenda packet on the City's website as part of the public record for the meeting. Comments received after the cutoff time will be distributed and posted online following the meeting. Decorum The Chair has the authority to rule any speaker out of order, including speakers during the General Public Comment period, if the subject raised is not within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Committee, or during a public hearing or a general business item if the speaker is not presenting testimony or evidence relevant to the matter or if the speaker becomes disruptive to the proceedings and conduct of the meeting. The Chair also has the authority to order any person who willfully interrupts the meeting to be removed. All persons are expected to conduct themselves with civility and courtesy at all times. All persons giving comments shall speak directly to the Committee and address issues, not individuals. Personal attacks and cursing are not tolerated in order to foster an environment where everyone feels welcome to speak. Animals in Meeting Locations No animals shall be allowed at or brought in to a public meeting by any person except (i) as to members of the public or City staff utilizing the assistance of a service animal, which is defined

as a guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability, or (ii) as to police officers using the assistance of dog(s) in law enforcement duties. CALL TO ORDER – by Don Forman at: - 9:02 ROLL CALL - Nickola Frye abs, Don Forman, Gabriella Ambrosi, Seth Combs - abs, Kathy Myers, Robert Bailey STAFF LIAISON - Iya Josephmenard, PRESENTATION: None GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT During General Public Comment, the public is invited to make comments on items of public interest that are within the Senior Advisory Committee’s subject matter jurisdiction and that are not listed on the current agenda. Public comments are limited up to three minutes per person. Depending on the number of persons wishing to address the Committee, time will be allocated in equal shares totaling no more than twenty minutes, subject to the Committee’s discretion (Cal. Gov’t. Code §54954.3(a), Petaluma Rules, Policies and Procedures, III). PUBLIC COMMENT: - none APPROVAL OF MINUTES of February 12, 2025, meeting: - no changes, approved as received PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION: - none NEW BUSINESS: - none OLD BUSINESS: 1. Ad Hoc Committee Reports and Updates: Goal 1: Enhance Social Activities for Seniors Ad Hoc Members - Nickola Frye, Kathy Meyers, Iya Josephmenard (PSC)

Objective: To create more social opportunities for seniors to connect, engage, and build friendships. Update on dirt and plants for planter boxes - Flowers planted! Goal 2: Improve Senior Physical Health and Well-being Ad Hoc Members - Nickola Frye, Don Forman, Drake Cunningham (RTP) Objective: To promote a healthier lifestyle and well-being among seniors. Goal 3: Improve Senior Mental Health and Well-being Ad Hoc Members – Kathy Myers – Spoke about spreading the word about Emergency Prep Help and ways to expand emergency service. Objective: To promote a healthier lifestyle and well-being among seniors. Kathy will report on status Ad Hoc committee. Robert will report on information regarding Healdsburg’s End of Life Planning Program.– Goal 4: Increase Access to Information and Resources Ad Hoc members - Gabriella Ambrosi, Nickola Frye, Iya Josephmenard (PSC), Patricia Souza (non-SAC member), Objective: To ensure seniors have access to important information and resources. No report Goal 5: Advocate for Senior-Friendly Infrastructure Ad Hoc members: Don Foreman, Seth Combs, Nickola Frye Objective: To create a more senior-friendly environment in Petaluma. Report regarding update on downtown restroom. – Don reported that status of the bathroom project. Goal 6: Work with Sonoma County Master Plan for Aging Ad Hoc Members: No Ad Hoc - all SAC members will participate (if possible) in MPA. Objective: To create and increase a working relationship with MPA. Goal 7: Foster Intergenerational Connections Ad Hoc members: Nickola Frye Objective: To encourage connections between seniors and younger generations. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS: - Kathy and Robert would like to discuss Personal Emergency Device Sponsorship and how the Senior Advisory Committee could make recommendations. STAFF COMMENT: Events and new programs at the Senior Center ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned by Don Forman at -10:00am