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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9C - Senior Center Task Force Report A Report to the Prior Lake City Council from the Senior Center Task Force September 4, 2007 SENIOR CENTER TASK FORCE "The world is run by those who show up. " With gratitude to each, here they are: Members Lori Terhaar, Chair Cindy Loftus Dorothy Engel Eileen Kirk Emily Farah-Miller Evie Haferman Jo Hoffman Karrie Niemann Leanne Weyrauch Lee Woodruff Linda Engelken Luella Newstrom Marvel Gaudette Rosie Muelken Tom Kourajian Tom Westerhaus Yvonne Anderson City Council and PAC Liaison Chad LeMair Steve Millar Mike F eriancek Staff Liaison Angie Barstad Bob Hutchins Frank Boyles EXECUTIVE SUMMARY For those whose time is limited, we include this executive summary to convey the gist of our recommendations. A Senior Center Task Force consisting of seventeen volunteers met six times for one and a half hours each to prepare the recommendations articulated herein. At the conclusion of its work, the Senior Center Task Force finds that there is a need in the City of Prior Lake for seniors (persons 55+ years) to have a place to gather, engage in life-long learning, health and wellness, learn about volunteerism and health care, enjoy one another's company, receive guests, obtain pertinent information, recreate and socialize. The 6,000 square-foot Resource Center (adjacent to the Library) meets the short-term needs as a Senior Center. In addition to making the building space available, the City will need to make resources available in the form of personnel, office supplies, programming and capital improvements in a total estimated amount of$68,000 the first year (2008). The Task Force recognizes that the community has made a significant investment to groups other than seniors. This allocation would be a significant contribution to the senior population. It is anticipated that the center, while the responsibility of the City, would be operated in close working cooperation with ISD 719 Community Education, Keystone, McKenna Crossing, Lakefront Plaza, Towers Apartments, the City and the YMCA. Each of these groups can be resources to one another in providing many beneficial programs. The Task Force would like to express its gratitude to the Mayor and City Council for the opportunity to make these recommendations as yet another example of preserving the small town feel in Prior Lake and making our residents a Prior-ity. INTRODUCTION This effort is rooted in the City's Strategic Plan and a desire by the City Council to attend to the needs of the community's seniors. The 2030 Vision and Strategic Plan is the blueprint for the development of Prior Lake until 2030. The plan makes a senior center a priority in numerous ways. The 2030 Vision and Strategic Plan provides a five-year goal which states that the City should, "Develop and plan for senior/community center facilities." A two-year objective states, "Accommodate short-term senior/community activities at existing downtown City facilities." The efforts of the Senior Center Task Force are, therefore, in full conformance with the Strategic Plan. Since Premiere Dance Academy will be moving to its new facilities on September 1, 2007, the Council considered an agenda item on June 4, 2007, recommending that a Senior Citizen Task Force be formed to address various questions regarding the possible creation of a senior center. At its June 4,2007, meeting the City Council directed that the Senior Citizen Task Force be created, identified the questions they wanted answered, identified task force membership and recommended preliminary process and timeline to follow. On June 12,2007, letters were sent to numerous individuals representing seniors, senior facilities, senior resources and others. Interested individuals were asked to contact the City to be placed on the Task Force. With the help of some active solicitation, a Task Force of 17 persons representing a wide range of backgrounds was established and has been active and enthusiastic in the preparation of this report. PROCESS In accordance with the process and timeline suggested by the City Council, the Task Force met as follows: July 17,2007 Meeting The Task Force conducted an organizational meeting on July 17,2007, in the community room at the Library/Resource Center. The meeting gave all present the opportunity to tour the Resource Center (adjacent to the Library) and review the proposed process and timeline as well as discuss the work product. Lori Terhaar was appointed to chair the Task Force at this meeting. July 24, 2007 Meeting The second meeting of the Task Force was conducted in the Parkview Community Room. The focus of the meeting was to identify the type and extent of senior- oriented services already available in the community. Oral and written reports were provided by ISD 719 Community Education, City Recreation, YMCA, Keystone Communities, Lakefront Plaza, Prior Manor, McKenna Crossing and Scott County Transit. July 31, 2007 Meeting The third meeting of the Task Force was a panel discussion involving the directors of four local senior centers including: Burnsville, Lakeville, Bloomington and Minnetonka. Each of them have been in operation for at least a decade. A considerable amount of information was shared about initial steps in planning to start a senior center and the major programs and challenges likely to be faced. The panel addressed eleven questions assembled by the Task Force. This panel discussion may be seen on PLTV 15. August 7, 2007 Meeting The purpose of this meeting was to review the resource information and panel discussion. After some vigorous discussion, the Task Force decided to devote the next meeting to discussing specifics about the proposed center. August 21, 2007 Meeting The Task Force determined that the Resource Center space meets their minimum criteria for a senior center. There was an understanding that there would be shared use of the facility with other groups at non-conflicting times. A budget was reviewed for 2007 and 2008 and the Task Force agreed that the fmal meeting would be devoted to reviewing the draft report. August 25, 2007 Meeting A copy of this report was e-mailed to members. The Task Force discussed and agreed upon numerous modifications to improve the document. The report was approved for submission to the Council by the Task Force and Chair Terhaar asked to make the presentation. QUESTIONS On June 4, 2007, when the Council approved the Task Force, they identified questions it should answer. The questions are listed below together with Task Force responses: 1. Does the Resource Center space meet the minimum criteria to serve as a senior center? The Task Force concluded that with some capital modifications, the 6,000 square foot space would meet the requirements. There was universal agreement that a kitchenette would be needed, multipurpose tables and chairs and dividers so multiple activities could take place concurrently adjacent to one another. 2. What programs would the seniors, including baby boomers, like to see offered? The Task Force views and opinions were wide-ranging. Therefore, the Task Force agreed that this subject would become its focus if a commitment were made by the Council to make the space available and to budget funds for capital, personnel, programming and office supplies. With such commitments, the Task Force will devote its future meetings to this topic. 3. What resources are available to offer programs? There is a long tradition of cooperation between the City Recreation division and ISD 719 Community Education in programming. ISD 719 Community Education will be adding an adult activities coordinator who can be of considerable assistance to the City's Senior / Community Program Specialist. In addition, the YMCA, McKenna Crossing, Lakefront Plaza and Keystone Communities have individuals on their staff who can work in partnership to make programming available. We all have transit resources as well which could be helpful in making programs available to large enough senior populations to make the offerings cost effective. The decisions regarding which programs to offer and which resources to use would be addressed next. 4. What is the cost of the facility and who pays? The Task Force has prepared some cost estimates. We believe the $7,500 capital investment from the City Manager's 2007 budget will facilitate the completion of the kitchenette which is considered a critical part of the center. The 2008 budget includes $31,000 for a Senior / Community Center Specialist, $20,000 for programming, $5,000 office supplies and $12,000 for capital improvements. 5. To what extent does the City subsidize the facility? It is anticipated that the $68,000 listed above would be drawn from the General Fund budget. To supplement this revenue source, the Task Force recommends a modest membership fee. In addition, sponsorships will be sought from business and community organizations. For the 2009 budget, the Task Force and staffwill be in a position to report on the actual costs of programming and the comparative success of each. IMPLEMENTATION The Task Force recommends the following general timeline for implementation of the senior center: Fourth Quarter 2007 . City Council adopts 2008 budget with $68,000 for senior center . Installation of kitchenette completed . Senior/Community Center Programmer hired . Programming for first half 2008 finalized . Marketing materials distributed to seniors announcing opening First Quarter 2008 . Marketing materials distributed . Additional capital improvements completed . Senior center opened (January 2008) . Program modifications and refinements to center made based upon experience (February and March) . Grand Opening (April 2008)