City Council Minutes 2023 01-24-23Yorkville & the“Aging in a Changing Region”Program Yorkville City Council presentationJanuary 24, 2023Brad WinickPlanning/Aging
What is “Aging‐in‐Community” &why discuss it in Yorkville?Aging‐in‐Community is a “whole of government” effort to support the aging population, consistent with ‘livable community’ efforts that address the needs & interests of residents throughout their lifespans (“Lifecycle Living in Yorkville“)Yorkville’s population – while younger than the County & region’s –has stayed relatively consistent since 2000, even while growing by over 200%While Yorkville’s older population is growing & likely to increase, an intergenerational approach (“Lifecycle Living”) seems a good community fit
Resident Input Forms We received 229 digital + 11 hard copy Resident Input Forms–a very healthy community response!Unique to Yorkville, a YHS intern distributed similar surveys to her network, yielding 13 responses from a generally younger perspective
Yorkville’s Public WorkshopsWorkshop #1 was held in the Beecher Center on Wednesday, September 21stWorkshop #2 was held in the Library Meeting Room on Thursday, October 20th
Summary of Key Resident InputLots to like in Yorkville, such as the small‐town feel, good government, lots of activities & neighborlinessConcernsinclude a shortage of affordable housing & housing with services, unsafe road crossings, and some accessibilityissuesWhile social connectivity is seen as primarily an individual matter, there is appreciation for all of Yorkville’s activities & events Many references to viewing aging as part of a multi‐generational approach to overall community livability
Stakeholder Assessment Input ‐‐IWe distributed & got 13 completed Assessments from Yorkville staff & 20 Assessments from external partner agenciesThe two groups agree that Yorkville’s older residents lack knowledge of existing support servicesWe asked each group to identify existing impediments to Aging‐in‐Community in Yorkville
Stakeholder Assessment Input ‐‐IIStaff‐identified impediments to Aging‐in‐Community include:an over‐reliance on online communicationsa lack of centralized resourcesa shortage of older adult programming, transportation & parkingland use & zoning deficienciesDowntown not being pedestrian‐friendlyExternal partner‐identified impediments to Aging‐in‐Community include:a lack of intergenerational opportunities & caregiver/adult day care servicesa shortage of supports for middle‐income older adults some community divisiveness
The AiaCR 2021 & 2022 Strategic GuidesRead the strategic guides at https://mayorscaucus.org/initiatives/aging‐in‐community/aging‐in‐a‐changing‐region/
Strategic Guide Format
Coordination RecommendationsTake a ‘whole of government’ approachto Aging‐in‐Community/Lifecycle Living (A‐i‐C/LL)Establish an A‐i‐C/LL Commission to play a policy and review roleIncorporate A‐i‐C/LL into key municipal initiativesInclude A‐i‐C/LL as a pillar of the upcoming Comprehensive Plan UpdateView public realm opportunities as important to A‐i‐C/LLView Yorkville’s housing issues in part through an A‐i‐C/LL lensInvestigate including “Missing Middle Housing” options in Yorkville’s housing stock Develop the Downtown Overlay District in support of A‐i‐C/LLReview operations and programs for A‐i‐C/LL consistency
Collaboration RecommendationsContinue to leverage and grow working partnerships with key stakeholder partnersBetter collaborate with the network of existing service‐providersto reduce the knowledge gapExplore developing expanded partnership opportunities between Yorkville’s younger and older adult groupsIncorporate the faith community in overall A‐i‐C/LL effortsRegularly attend the MMC’s Age‐Friendly Communities Collaborative
Communication RecommendationsElevate and promote Yorkville’s commitmentto Aging‐in‐Community/Lifecycle LivingProvide a consistent and integrated messageabout Aging‐in‐Community/Lifecycle Living Practice anti‐ageismin all municipal communications and behavior
Implementation of RecommendationsIt is up to the City whether to implement the recommendationsThe City Council, staff (& the Aging‐in‐Community Commission?) can review, select & prioritize the recommendations, and develop implementation plans & schedules for selected recommendationsAdditional ideas & strategies can (& should) be added to the City’s ongoing Aging‐in‐Community program
Thank youThank you to the Core Team: Krysti Barksdale‐Noble, Jason Engberg, Micki Miller (Senior Services Associates) & RaeAnnVanGundy(Kendall County Health Department). Special thanks to YHS Intern Alexandria “Dria” Sandoval Thank you to City Council & staff, Workshop attendees & everyone who submitted a Resident Input Form or Stakeholder Assessment