Dane County  
Minutes - Final Unless Amended by  
Committee  
Area Agency on Aging - Legislative / Advocacy Committee  
Consider:  
Who benefits? Who is burdened?  
Who does not have a voice at the table?  
How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?  
Wednesday, April 27, 2022  
9:00 AM  
via Zoom  
The Wednesday April 27, 2022 AAA Legislative/Advocacy Committee meeting is being held virtually. The  
public can access the meeting with the Zoom application or by telephone.  
To join the meeting in Zoom, click the following link (after you fill out the form, the meeting link and  
access information will be emailed to you):  
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cwXG7vE4SMeZJeG5iIzPsQ  
This link will be active until the end of the meeting.  
To join the meeting by phone, dial-in using one of the following three phone numbers:  
1-833-548-0276  
1-833-548-0282  
1-888-788-0099  
When prompted, enter the following Webinar ID: 867 0087 8125  
If you want to submit a written comment for this meeting, or send handouts for committee members,  
please send them to MATULLE.CINDY@COUNTYOFDANE.COM. In the subject line please state: Written  
Comment for this meeting or Handouts for this meeting. Please include the name of the meeting and  
date.  
PROCESS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT: ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO REGISTER TO  
SPEAK ON/SUPPORT/OPPOSE AN AGENDA ITEM MUST REGISTER USING THE LINK ABOVE (even if you  
plan to attend using your phone).  
Registrations to provide public comment will be accepted until 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the  
meeting.  
Staff and Guests Present: Cindy Matulle, Sridevi Mohan, Carrie Springer and Angela  
Velasquez.  
A. Call To Order  
Chair OLSON called the meeting to order at 2:00 pm.  
7 -  
Present  
TED BUNCK, JODIE CASTANEDA, ANNA LEZOTTE, JILL MCHONE, ESTHER  
OLSON, JIM SCHMIDLKOFER, and GAIL RUTKOWSKI  
1 - FAISAL KAUD  
Absent  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
Minutes from March 23, 2022  
2021  
MIN-720  
Attachments: 2022_0323 AAA Legislative-Advocacy Comm Mtg Minutes  
A motion was made by SCHMIDLKOFER, seconded by CASTANEDA, that the  
minutes be approved. The motion carried by the following vote:  
7 -  
Ayes:  
BUNCK, CASTANEDA, LEZOTTE, MCHONE, OLSON, SCHMIDLKOFER and  
RUTKOWSKI  
1 - KAUD  
Absent:  
C. Action Items  
1. Diversity Work Group  
Committee member KAUD was not present for report.  
No action taken.  
2. AAA Legislative/Advocacy Committee Description Update  
AAA Legislative/Advocacy Committee Description Update  
2022  
ACT-004  
Attachments:  
Legislative Advocacy Committee Description 041522 DRAFT_Diversity  
Wrkgp language (003)  
After a short discussion by members, it was decided to table this item until next month  
when KAUD would attend.  
A motion was made by BUNCK, seconded by SCHMIDLKOFER, to table the  
AAA Legislation/Advocacy Committee Description Update until May meeting.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
7 -  
Ayes:  
BUNCK, CASTANEDA, LEZOTTE, MCHONE, OLSON, SCHMIDLKOFER and  
RUTKOWSKI  
1 - KAUD  
Absent:  
3. Advocacy Supporting Federal & State Programs  
OLSON advised the Legislature is on break. Aging Advocacy Day is May 11 and there is  
still time to sign up. Top three items to be the focus of Advocacy Day are Caregiver Tax  
Credits, Voting Rights and additional funding for ADRC’s/Aging networks. WAAN will be  
finalizing the Advocacy Day agenda on Friday May 6, 2022.  
No Action Taken.  
D. Presentations  
None.  
E. Reports to Committee  
2022 Leg-Adv Comm Work Plan--QTR 1  
2022  
RPT-008  
Attachments: 2022 Leg-Adv Comm Work Plan_QTR 1  
1. 2023 AAA Budget Priorities  
AAA Aging Specialist Angela Velasquez reported that the draft would be ready for the  
May meeting. NewBridge will be putting forth an increase in funding for the Diversity &  
Inclusion Program. Focal Points are requesting an increase for Case Management.  
VELASQUEZ is still working on the numbers to inform and possible make the case for  
the Case Management ask. OLSON suggested a lower priority ask for Nutrition funding  
as the ARPA funding runs out next year as a heads up to the County Board.  
VELASQUEZ did not think this was necessary as the Department is aware of this issue  
already.  
2. 2022 Committee Work Plan: QTR1  
AAA Manager Sridevi MOHAN and VELASQUEZ presented the QTR 1 Committee Work  
Plan. There was much discussion and support around the need to advocate for housing.  
MOHAN and VELASQUEZ will send out base-line data and other relevant studies and  
articles to Committee members for further discussion on potential action at the next  
meeting.  
3. ADRC Governing Board  
OLSON stated that County Supervisors Melissa Ratcliff and Kate McGinnity presented on  
the Dane County Task Force for Broadband. OLSON suggested having them come and  
do a presentation for this committee in the next few months. ADRC is working on  
developing questions for public input at listening sessions.  
4. County/State/Federal Legislative Update  
Dane County Lobbyist Carrie Springer reported the Legislature sent over the last batch of  
bills last week. Fifteen bills were signed and 28 vetoed, which included 10 on voting  
rights, for this batch of bills.  
5. State's Aging Advisory Council  
OLSON reported that three new fiscal staff have been budgeted to work with AAA’s in  
managing OAA and ARPA funding. VELASQUEZ reported that this additional staffing  
has been helpful with inquiries regarding ARPA and OAA increased funding utilization.  
6. Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network  
OLSON reported AARP is launching an information campaign for older adults and how to  
ensure voting by this group continues.  
7. Wisconsin Senior Advocates Update  
OLSON reported top priority is voting rights for older adults. Collected a bunch of stories  
from the last election on issues and positive results.  
8. Committee Membership  
One member short, which needs to be someone from the AAA Board.  
9. Chair & Staff Reports  
VELASQUEZ talked about ARPA funding for Nutrition, Supportive Services and  
Transportation. Excess ARPA funding in Nutrition is being used to provide equipment  
and other upgrades to dining site kitchens in preparation for a potential tiered licensing  
requirement for the facilities in the future. Supportive services (3B) money are being used  
to launch a massive hoarding clean-up project over the next 15 months and to increase  
transportation to at least one focal point that has needs beyond the current budget for  
transportation.  
VELASQUEZ reported of the innovative HDM breakfast program to start in July. The  
pilot is designed to decrease malnutrition in older adults by providing those screened as  
malnourished with 2 meals per day. Fifty HDM recipients will be identified, as needing two  
meals a day. The pilot will be accessed after 6-8 months to see how the program has  
benefitted those participating.  
VELASQUEZ reported the Claris Companion Tablet Program will start the pilot phase in  
August with 20 people from rural Dane County and 5 Spanish speaking homebound older  
adults. Claris Companion is a tablet with built in internet connection capability so no  
internet service is needed by an older adult that does not have the internet. The tablet is  
loaded with 4G or 5G data for ease of use. Some older adults have laptops, tablets and  
smart phones they find difficult to use. The Claris Companion seems to be much easier  
to use and is reasonably priced.  
F. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
Next meeting: Wednesday, May 25, 2022, 9 am via Zoom  
OLSON wanted Diversity, Housing and Budget Priorities discussed at the May meeting.  
G. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
None.  
H. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
None.  
I. Adjournment  
A motion was made by LEZOTTE, seconded by MCHONE, that the meeting be  
adjourned at 10:38 am. The motion carried by the following vote:  
7 -  
Ayes:  
BUNCK, CASTANEDA, LEZOTTE, MCHONE, OLSON, SCHMIDLKOFER and  
RUTKOWSKI  
1 - KAUD  
Absent:  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Cindy Matulle, AAA Clerk III.