December 11, 2025 Minutes

Weld Area Agency on Aging - Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

Meeting Location: Zoom Invite & Area Agency on Aging, 315 N 11th Ave., Bldg. C., Greeley, CO
Meeting: Thursday, December 11, 2025 (Thursday) 9:00 am – 11:00 am  

1. Roll Call:

   • Board Members:

     • Attended:
       • Kay Broderius, Susan Collins, DeAnn Cure, Chair-Nancy Haffner, Father Steve Karcher, Vice-Chair Dr. Alan Kress, Ruth Leitel, Valeria Ortiz, Commissioner Peppler, Aaron Sanchez, Anne Curry Sanchez, Gillian Smith, Joyce Smock, Diana Vasquez, Lynn Young
     • Absent:
       • Linda Quade, Jami Shepherd

   • AAA Staff:

     • Attended:
       • Tami Grant, Deputy Director Human Services
       • Kelly Morrison, Home & Community Supports Division Director
       • Meredith Skoglund, Community Outreach Manager
       • Michelle Roper, Administrative Assistant

   • Guests:

     • Lisa Deaton Mobility Specialist – North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO)

2. Approval of Minutes:

   • Motion made by Chair Haffner to approve the minutes from November 13, 2025. Member Leitel gave first approval and Member Cure made second approval.
   • All approved.

3. Program:

   • North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO)

     • The Regional Transport & Air Quality Planning Agency was formed in 1988 and then expanded to its current boundaries in 2007. Over 535,000 people are served within 675 square miles through Fort Collins Transportation Management Area and Greeley Urbanized Area.
     • The focus of the RideNoCo program is to improve individual mobility for older adults, individuals with disabilities, individuals with a lower income, and people who do not speak English as a first language. Improving regional mobility through coordination and collaboration amount regional, public, and private transportation providers, especially in rural areas of Larimer & Weld counties.
     • The RideNoCO call center, and website were established in 2021 and received 94 calls/emails and 772 website visits. In 2025 to date the calls/emails are 360 and 8,741 website visits with 45.9 percent of the trip purpose being for medical needs and 59.8% being over the age of 60. 

   • Weld & Larimer Country Transportation Options Include:

     • Public Transportation

       • GET: Greeley – Evans Transit

         • Areas Served: Greeley & Evans
         • Operates Monday through Friday, 5:45am-8:15pm, Saturdays, 6:45am – 6:18pm
         • Paratransit available within ¾ of a mile of their fixed route service

       • Transfort

         • Areas Served: Fort Collins
         • FLEX Route: Fort Collins-Loveland- Berthoud-Longmont-Boulder
         • Operates Monday through Saturday, route hours vary
         • Offers Dial-a-Ride Paratransit Service for those who are eligible.

       • COLT – City of Loveland Transit

         • Area Served: Loveland
         • Operates Monday through Friday, 6:38am-7:48pm and Saturdays 8:38am-5:48pm
         • Offers Dial-a-Ride Paratransit Service for those who are eligible.

       • Poudre Express

         • Areas Served: Fort Collins, Windsor, Greeley
         • Operates Monday through Friday, 5:45am-6:57pm

       • The Peak

         • Areas Served: Town of Estes Park
         • Service available to: Everyone, Adults 60 and older, Adults 18+ with a disability
         • Seasonal fixed route service (May-Oct.), Accepts route deviation requests
         • All routes are ADA accessible

       • Bustang Outrider

         • Areas Served: Greeley to Sterling & Sterling to Denver (Transfer stop in Wiggins to Denver)
         • Offers multiple routes across the entire state
         • Offers seasonal service to Broncos Games, Ski Resorts & Estes Park.
         • Geared towards commuters into and out of Denver

       • Town of Berthoud

         • Area Served: Berthoud, Berthoud to Loveland
         • Service Available to: Adults 60 and older, Adults 18+ with a disability
         • Door to door service
         • Rides provided Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm.

   • Non-Profit & Volunteer Options

     • VIA

       • Area Served: Most of Weld County, Estes Park, Larimer County part of Johnstown
       • Free Service Available in Weld County: Adults 60 and older Adults 18+ with a disability
       • Wheelchair accessible, demand response service
       • Rides provided Monday through Friday 8 am-4:30 pm

     • Saint Volunteer Transportation

       • Areas Served: Fort Collins and Loveland
       • Service Available to: Adults 60 and older, Adults 18+ with a disability
       • Volunteer Driver Based
       • Rides provided Monday through Friday, 8:15am-4pm

     • 60+ Ride

       • Area Served: Weld County (no wheelchair-accessible van service in Greeley)
       • Free Service Available to: Adults 60 and older
       • Door-through-door service
       • Call Monday-Friday 9 am to 4 pm to schedule rides.

     • RAFT – Rural Alternative For Transportation

       • Area Served: Berthoud Fire Protection District with service into adjacent areas*
       • Service Available to: Adults 60 and older, Adults 18+ with a disability
       • Wheelchair accessible, demand response, volunteer service
       • Rides are provided Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm

     • American Cancer Society

       • Free transportation to cancer patients to and from cancer-related medical appointments

     • Qualified Listeners Corp. – Veteran & Family Resource Hub

       • Free transportation for Veteran’s and their families

     • Come Round to Milliken

   • Commercial Services

     • Uber

       • Areas Served: Colorado
       • Fare-based, ride share - drivers use their own vehicles
       • Rides provided 24/7, depending on driver availability
       • Requires a smartphone or you can call 833-873-8237 to schedule a ride.

     • Lyft

       • Areas Served: Colorado
       • Fare-based ride share - drivers use their own vehicles
       • Rides provided 24/7, depending on driver availability
       • Requires a smartphone and the Lyft app

     • zTrip

       • Areas Served: Weld, Larimer and Boulder Counties
       • Service available to: Anyone 5 years old and up
       • Medicaid NEMT
       • Fare-based, on-demand taxi service
       • Rides provided 24/7

     • Heart & Soul Paratransit

   • Other Options

     • VanGo – Vanpool Services

       • Area Served: Vanpools must originate in the NFRMPO region
       • Vanpools ideally consist of 4-8 people with similar commutes ranging from 20 to just under 100 miles each way.
       • VanGo ™ participants pay one monthly fare and enjoy:
         • Professional van maintenance, fuel, insurance, guaranteed ride home, use of HOV lanes, Federal commuter tax benefits, shared driving (sleep, work, read while riding), it’s good for you and the environment!

     • Carepool

       • A medical transportation ride-share service that works with Medicare, Medicaid, and is contracted with UCHealth.

     • 211

       • Provides one-time emergency transportation vouchers for Lyft in Weld County
   • Q: Member Leitel – Are the transportation options listed in the blue book?
     • A: Guest Deaton – Yes
   • Q: Chair Haffner – Is there a fee to ride the Greeley – Evans transportation bus?
     • A: Guest Deaton – Yes, it’s $1.75 or afterhours taxi service at $3.00 each way.
   • Q: Member Sanchez – Who provides the maintenance for the VanGo program?
     • A: Guest Deaton – City of Fort Collins & Loveland.
   • Q: Member Ortiz – Does the level of Medicaid impact the ability to use Transdev services?
     • A: Guest Deaton – Has not heard that it does but will do further research.
   • Q: Member Sanchez – How is the program funded?
     • A: Guest Deaton – Through grants. Depending on the type of grant that is awarded determines how the program or other agencies can be supported.
   • Q: Member Sanchez – Have there been cuts made?
     • A: Guest Deaton – Yes.
   • Q: Member Sanchez – How many providers can help with a ride that is needed in 2 days? Seeing less emails from 60+ requesting drivers. Funding and lack of drivers could be an issue. There are so many options, but people can’t get a ride in 2 days.
     • A: Guest Deaton – The VIA mobility program and volunteer programs would depend on the availability of the drivers. A request that quick might need to consider zTrip, Uber or Lyft. It is frustrating because several agencies can’t provide a ride without a few weeks to a month notice.
   • Q: Member Collins – Are there same day services that don’t cost a fortune and can help someone get in and out of the house?
     • A: Guest Deaton – Ambulance and medical transport services if it’s an emergency but that comes with a cost. Call 211 for last-minute needs.
   • Q: Member Sanchez – How many providers can help with a ride that is needed in 2 days?
     • A: Guest Deaton – The VIA mobility program and volunteer programs would depend on the availability of the drivers. A request that quick might need to consider zTrip, Uber or Lyft.
   • Q: Member Leitel – How many providers need a pre-registration from the client?
     • A: Guest Deaton – 60+ has an application, VIA mobility does not.
   • Q: Member Collins – Is it the driver’s insurance that covers the passenger for 60+ rides?
     • A: Member Sanchez – Yes, their personal insurance. Each driver must complete a background check.
   • Q: Member Collins – If someone cancels, can the driver call in to take another ride?
     • A: Member Sanchez – Yes
   • Q: Member Ortiz – For those with Medicaid and Medicare, do you ask if they have checked with their insurance because rides are covered with only 24-48 hours notification? Humana has unlimited transportation for dialysis.
     • A: Guest Deaton – Yes, the first question that is asked is if their plan covers transportation.
   • Q: Member Karcher – Is the agency bound to public funding or can they look to private?
     • A: Guest Deaton – Not sure but will look into it.

4. Committee Reports

   • Nutrition:

     • Member Cure – Attended the recent Friendly Fork Advisory Committee meeting in Firestone.
     • Staff Member Skoglund – Prime rib meals are being served on December 16th and 17th at selected sites. Be sure to make a reservation to get a meal. Meal sites will be closed from December 22, 2025, to January 2, 2026, for the holiday break and will resume on Monday, January 5, 2026.

   • ADRC:

     • Staff Member Skoglund – Next meeting is on January 12, 2026, and looking to change the time to mornings with a different location.

   • Fraud Updates:

     • Staff Member Roper – Be cautious of your surroundings while out shopping, especially purses. Never touch money that is on the ground next to your car or under your windshield wiper unless you have gloves on.

   • Legislative & CCA:

     • Vice-Chair Kress – No updates.

   • 50+ Art Show:

     • Chair Haffner – Meeting in January.

   • Beyond 60

     • Staff Member Skoglund – Always in need of articles, recipes, etc.

   • Monitoring, Oversight, Request for Proposal

     • Division Director Morrison – Working with the new auditor from the State Unit on Aging. The entire state is doing a desk audit this year and hopefully will have the results in the next few months.
     • Staff Member Skoglund – In final stages of making an offer for the Quality Assurance position and reviewing the job description for the open I&A position so that it can be filled in 2026.

5. Board Participation Reports:

   • Nothing to report

6. General Agency Updates:

   • Division Director Morrison – Board terms have concluded for Member Collins & Member Shephard, both would like to stay involved. Father Steve’s term ended, he has requested to stay on for another year. Teresa Shunter would like to return for another year and will be submitting the application. Commissioner Peppler’s term has come to an end and Commissioner Buck will be returning.
   • Commissioner Peppler – Has learned a lot over this past year, and it has been a pleasure to be on this board.

   • Upcoming Events

     • Greeley/Weld Senior Foundation: TBA
     • 50+ Art Show: TBA
     • Senior Symposium: TBA
     • Project Connect: TBA
     • Caregiver Appreciation Day: TBA

7. Adjournment:

   • Motion to adjourn meeting.
   • All agreed.

8. Next meeting

   • Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 9am-11am