Daly City council hears 5-year Age-Friendly Action Plan, councilmembers urge advisory board and implementation steps

Daly City council on Monday heard a presentation of a 64‑page Age‑Friendly Action Plan developed to help the city meet the needs of older residents over the next five years. Cynthia Nakayama, deputy director of the Center for Age Friendly Excellence, and Anne O’Brien Kegren, director of the Strategic Alliance for CAFE, said the plan synthesizes focus groups, staff interviews and a citywide survey (reported as 174 responses) into projects aligned with the World Health Organization’s eight domains for age‑friendly cities.

“We asked residents what they need to age with dignity and independence,” Nakayama said, describing outreach that included town halls, focus groups in 2019 and late 2023 and interviews with city staff. The plan lists more than 100 potential projects (compiled in an appendix spreadsheet) and proposes timeframes and responsibility assignments for short‑ and medium‑term steps.

Strategies presented include pedestrian‑safety initiatives and park programming to improve outdoor spaces; partnerships with rideshare and local transit to expand mobility options; workshops and outreach to help residents sign up for county affordable‑housing resources and to support accessory dwelling unit (ADU) permits; expanded communications in multiple languages and formats; and measures to reduce isolation, such as transportation options for special events and intergenerational programs.

Councilmembers welcomed the roadmap. Vice Mayor praised the plan’s framework and suggested an oral‑history project linking youth and elders. Councilmember Glenn Sylvester highlighted ADU resources and urged attention to emergency preparedness, including voluntary neighborhood directories and CERT training. The presenters urged formation of a senior commission or advisory board to ensure the plan is actively implemented and evaluated each year.

The City manager’s office and presenters said the plan is meant to be evolving: projects can be added or removed as priorities and budgets change, and the city would submit the plan to AARP for review and certification. The council indicated the plan would appear on the consent agenda for formal consideration at a later point.