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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-03-13 Council on Aging Packet®UCIL N GIG March 13, 2000 10:00a Call Meeting to Order Agenda Approval Minutes from Prior Meeting Old Business: 1. Land Surrounding the Senior Center 2. Coordinated Transportation Neav Business: 1. Legislative Issues 2. Election of Officers 3. Coats in the Dining Room Persons Wanting to be Heard: CITY OF KENAI MAYOR'S COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING NOVEMBER 17, 1999 ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL The November 17, 1999 Mayor's Council on Aging meeting was called to order by Chair Peggy Arness at approximately 10:05 a.m. in the Green Room at the Kenai Senior Center. Roll was taken as follows: Members Present: Wiese, Jorgensen, Jones, Arness and Billings Members Absent: Hollier, .Enfield, Nelson and Meeks Others Present: City Clerk Carol Freas, Councilwoman Swarner, Senior Director Kellie Kelso, United Way Director Rosetta Alcantra and Practicum Student Gina Wilson i T Eivi 2: AGENDA APPRv v AL There were no changes to the agenda and it was accepted as presented. ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- August 26, 1999 MOTION: Member Jones MOVED to accept the minutes of the August 26, 1999 meeting as presented and Member Wiese SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. MAYOR'S COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 17, 1999 Page 1 of 7 ITEM 4: OLD BUSINESS 4-a. Discussion -Morning Membership Director Kelso referred to the August 26, 1999 meeting at which the Council discussed the decline in seniors' use of the Center in the mornings. In order to encourage more use of the Center, healthier alternatives to breakfast foods, i. e. cereals were offered in October and waffles were planned for January. She noted, the seniors would be alerted to the breakfast foods being available through the newsletter, postings at the Center, and verbal announcements. Kelso added, most of those coming for breakfast would be from Vintage Pointe and the Center opened at 7:30 a.m. 4-b. Discussion -- Wheelchair Van Kelso reported the wheelchair van was received and was being fitted with the radio and being decaled with "Kenai Senior Center." She noted, the van could hold two persons in wheelchairs and 12 additional passengers. Kelso reported a concern was voiced that the van did not have seatbelts. She explained, seatbelts were not required for buses, but costs for seatbelts were being investigated and if purchased, would probably be added by the shop personnel. ITEM 5: NEYAY BUSYNESS 5-a. Discussion -- United Way Presentation/Rosetta Alcantra Alcantra noted she was the new Director of United Way and was making an effort to meet with all the organizations receiving United Way funding. She noted this was her first campaign and thanked Kelso for her help in the drive. Alcantra added, the City of Kenai had met and exceeded its $6,000 goal. MAYOR'S COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 17, 1999 Page 2 of 7 Alcantra reported there had been both increases in donations from British Petroleum and decreases in other donations due to the uncertain economy. However, she believed the total would be comparable to last year's donations. She noted, their Peninsula- wide goal was $450,000. Alcantra also stated two receiving agencies had been added to the list during the year. Alcantra reported her office was situated in the Benco Building and the board meetings were held on the third Thursday of each month at the HEA building. She invited members of the Council to attend their meetings. Kelso explained the United Way donation to the Center was significant and she appreciated the help. She added, there were many donors who requested all their donation be forwarded to the Center. Alcantra noted United Way would also forward donations to agencies who were not on their list of receivers. She noted, all the funds contributed directly to the Center are given to the Center. 5-b. Discussion -- Land Surrounding Senior Center Councilwoman Swarner reported the council had determined the land at the corner of Spur View Drive and Frontage Road (in front of 1_ 1 t _1 ~ _ (Y _ __ !l _ the Senior Censer= on wurcn tnc ,~enror .,enter sign is placedj, was not needed for public use and would now be available for sale. She noted, Dr. Zirul was interested in purchasing the property on which to build a clinic. Swarner added, the property was now in the process of being appraised. Discussion followed in which concerns were stated by the members. Swarner was asked how they could object to the sale and she explained the matter would come back to council at the time the sale is considered for approval. She noted, the property is owned by the Airport Fund. She explained, this was the property on which a developer had hoped to build an assisted living facility. Since he MAYOR'S COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 17, 1999 Page 3 of 7 was unable to acquire the funding to build the facility, the lease of the property was terminated. Kelso noted, she had concerns the property would be needed for future expansion of the Center, however, it was explained to her the property on which the Center was situated was large enough to accommodate expansions. It was asked why the city didn't develop an assisted living facility and Swarner explained the city was not in the social services business. Swarner was asked if a group of seniors went to a council meeting and stated their concerns, would the council change their minds. Swarner answered, probably not but added, it would be worth trying. It was also noted a small doctor's office wouldn't be obtrusive and could be an advantage to those seniors needing care. 5-c. Discussion -- Budget Kelso reviewed the 1999/2000 budget and noted the largest grant supporting the Center's programs comes from the Alaska Commission on Aging. She noted the amounts coming from the Borough and U.S.D.A. were the same as last year and there would be a slight increase to the funds coming from United Way. Kelso also noted the money taken in for meals did not cover the cost of providing tine meals. Kelso explained the senior programs were mostly provided through grants. The City pays for utilities, maintains senior vehicles, building maintenance, etc. The amount included in the budget for rentals, she noted, was an estimate and based on last year's intake. Kelso was asked if rentals for the coming year were coming in and she explained many of the rental reservations for the summer would be made in January and February. She also noted there was usually wear and tear on the building from the rentals, but they had not had any major damage to the facilities. MAYOR'S COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 17, 1999 Page 4 of 7 Kelso also noted, the Center was very fortunate in that they had a lot more employees than other centers. Jones noted, after visiting a senior center in Minnesota he was much more aware of how fortunate they were to have the Kenai Center. 5-d. Discussion -- Coordinated Transportation Kelso referred to the information included in the packet and noted she was a member of the Kenai Peninsula Public Transportation Task Force. She explained, the Task Force was investigating the possibility of setting up a coordinated transportation system, using vehicles from the Kenai Center, as well as other centers and service organizations. At this time they were considering the possibility of a central office with a phone where a person could call in and indicate where they needed a ride to and the coordinator would arrange for the ride. The concept was to offer seniors transportation for evenings and weekends as well as weekdays. Kelso reported a matching grant had been received for the amount of $500,000 from Senator Stevens' office for the development and operation of a transportation system, however it was not known from where the matching funds would come. At this time they were investigating sources for the matching funds. Kelso was asked if the transportation organization would own the vans and she explained it wouldn't. However, all the vans and drivers would have to meet some regulatory specifications. She added, she didn't know how the Senior Center would fit into the system because it was separate from the other agencies in that the City maintained the vehicles, etc. Kelso also explained there were over 40 organizations represented on the Task Force from all over the Central Peninsula (Kenai, Soldotna, Sterling, Nikiski). She added, it had already been established the cost to run a shuttle service would be about $35.00 MAYOR'S COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 17, 1999 Page 5 of 7 an hour which would not be covered by the suggested fares. Other grants would be needed to support the system and iri the present economic climate, it was not known how the cities and borough would be able to contribute to the operation of the system. Kelso added, she did not want the operation of a coordinated transportation system to detract from the services to the seniors involved with the Kenai Senior Center. She added, her seniors were her first priority. The discussion continued and it was noted Kelso and the city manager had originally thought the city could donate a vehicle to the program, but the feeling from the Task Force now was that a vehicle donation wouldn't help that much. Arness asked if most of the organizations were senior centers and special interest groups. Kelso answered yes, and added there was consideration of the groups pooling their transportation costs, but if the Kenai Senior Center did that, it would take away from the Center's budget. However, that arrangement would be an advantage to other centers not run by a city/borough government. Kelso requested a motion of support for the idea of the transportation system. MOTION: Member vvneci a~i:0 v'ED tai support ti lf'. i.V ill.ept ~f the trallJportallUrl system and Member Wiese SECOlOTDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. ITEM 6: ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:55 p.m. Minutes transcribed and prepared by: Carol L. Freas, City Clerk MAYOR'S COUNCIL ON AGING MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 17, 1999 Page 6 of 7