DUTIES : The Senior Citizens Commission studies, reviews, evaluates and makes recommendations to the City Council on any matters affecting elderly people in the City, including health, education, employment, housing, transportation and recreation.

RELATIONSHIPS : The City Council is the final decision-making body of the City. Commissioners act as advisors to the Council and as a conduit for community input to the Council.

QUALIFICATIONS : Commission members must be residents of the City of San José and cannot be City employees. Members should have knowledge in the field of aging, and have available time due to the number of meetings, subcommittees and research needed for full participation.

MEETINGS : The Commission meets the second Thursday of each month at 1:30 P.M. at Almaden Winery Community Center - Office on Aging - Multi-Purpose Room at 5730 Chambertin Drive, San José, CA 95118 (408) 979-7915. Commissioners spend approximately eight hours each month preparing for and attending the regular meeting. Additionally, Commissioners spend as much as five hours a month on subcommittees, community meetings and in contact with seniors.

BENEFITS : There is no compensation for serving on the Senior Citizens Commission. However, from time to time, Commissioners may be reimbursed for some expenses incurred on City business.

POLITICAL REFORM ACT OF 1974 AS AMENDED : The Conflicts of Interest Section of the Political Reform Act applies to the Senior Citizens Commission; however, Commission Members are not required to file a Statement of Economic Interests.

APPOINTMENT PROCESS : All applications received are submitted to the Project Diversity Screening Committee for review according to the needs of the Commission as specified in a Needs Assessment Memo. Applications will be forwarded to the City Attorney for a Conflict of Interest review and thereafter, the applicants will be asked to appear before the Screening Committee Members for an interview. Following interviews, the Screening Committee will develop a list of applicants which will be submitted to the Council Member Liaison to the Commission. The Liaison will forward the list to the Rules Committee of Council either with or without a supplemental recommendation. The City Council makes the final appointment to the Commission based on Rules Committee recommendations.

ATTENDANCE : Commissioners are expected to attend all Commission meetings. San Jose Municipal Code Section 2.08.060 specifies that a Commissioner who has unexcused absences from any three consecutive regular meetings, or who misses 20% of meetings in one year, is deemed to have resigned from the Commission.

For further information about the Commission, please contact the Commission Staff at 408-979-7913.