NEW BUSINESS  13.

COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

HISTORY:

The City has two primary providers offering meals for our elder residents, Jewish Community Services of South Florida (JCS) and Little Havana Activities and Nutrition Centers (LHANC). These providers serve meals at multiple sites throughout the City including:

• 6^th Street Community Center

• Rebecca Towers

• Council Towers

• Federation Towers

The City currently funds only one provider, JCS. Both JCS and LHANC receive the bulk of their funding for the senior meals program from the Alliance for Aging who receives its funds through the Older Americans Act, Title III C1 (OAA). The Older Americans Act establishes that the purpose of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program is to:

• Reduce hunger and food insecurity;

• Promote socialization;

• Promote the health and well-being; and

• Delay adverse health conditions.

These agencies fulfill this purpose by providing access to healthy meals, nutrition education and nutrition counseling. Programs target adults aged 60 and older who are in greatest social and economic need, with particular attention to:

• low income older individuals,

• minority older individuals,

• older individuals in rural communities,

• older individuals with limited English proficiency, and

• older individuals at risk of institutional care.

The OAA requires that nutrition service providers ensure that meals meet food and nutrient requirements, are safe to serve and are appealing to older adults. Meals offered must meet the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) which are issued every five years by the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Agriculture.  Based on the most current science, the DGAs are designed to promote health and reduce the risk of chronic disease through healthy eating and physical activity. MyPlate, presented in the attached graphic, shows the nutrient guidelines for meals served through the program.

Meals must provide at least one-third of the Dietary Reference Intakes. The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) are nutrient reference values developed by the Institute of Medicine of The National Academies. They are intended to serve as a guide for good nutrition and provide the scientific basis for the development of food guidelines in both the United States and Canada.

Meals offered are to meet state and local foodservice laws, rules, and regulations to ensure that the meals served are safe and sanitary.  Most states base their state and local foodservice codes on the most recent edition of the Food Code published by the U.S. Public Health Service and the Food and Drug Administration. Elder meal site providers utilize registered dieticians to design the meal menus for nutrition and appeal to those they serve.

The City has awarded $47,000 this fiscal year to JCS in support of its elder meal services. JCS’ program budget is $1,840,834 and the City’s contribution represents about 2.5% of the program’s overall budget. City funds support the following budgetary expenses for JCS’ meal program:

• Administrative Salaries - $11,150

• Direct Salaries - $27,184

• Rent Costs - $7,579

• Program Supplies - $687

ANALYSIS:

Section 2-27(a) of the City Code provides that the creation of any City agency, board, or committee shall require a 5/7th affirmative vote of the City Commission, except for those agencies, boards or committees set forth in Section 2-27(b).  Standing committees or boards are established by ordinance, and the Committee’s purpose, duties, powers, and composition are codified in the City Code. 

Section 2-27(b) of the City Code clarifies that the foregoing 5/7^th vote requirement does not apply to the creation of ad hoc agencies, boards and committees (i.e., any board, committee, or taskforce constituted for a temporary, limited term).  Any such ad hoc board or taskforce may be established by resolution of the City Commission, upon a majority vote of the City Commission. The foregoing also does not apply to any agencies, boards, or committees created by the Mayor as a Mayor's board or committee.  Any Mayor’s committee may be established by the Mayor, at his discretion. 

CONCLUSION:
The Administration is seeking additional direction from the Commission on this issue.