HomeMy WebLinkAboutWUSSB minutes 9-13-2012West University Senior Services Board Meeting September 13, 2012
Present: John Neighbors (Chair), George Baker, Mary Ryerson, Joe Mitchell, Michelle Moore, Selby Clark,
Virginia Lootens, Sarah Ballanfant, Janet Vrancken, Pieter Vrancken. Absent: Chuck Guffey, Stan
McCandless. Staff: Toby Brooks. Guest: Councilman Dick Yehle. The Meeting was called to order at
2:02PM. The minutes of the June 14 meeting were approved as presented.
Activities (Toby Brooks) Details of the Painting Class are in Hi Neighbor. The Zumba & Hula classes
were not successful. The Drum Circle will be offered once a month on the first Tuesday at LOAM.
Currently this class is not covering costs but numbers are growing. The Galveston field trip had just
enough people. The Genealogy trip was a success. Trips are planned to the Painted Churches in
Schulenberg and to the George Bush Library. An outing to Skeeters Baseball is scheduled for Sept. 21.
APAC (Virginia Lootens) The area Agency on Aging noted that this is the last month of the fiscal year
and remaining funds are being spent to avoid a leftover balance. Regarding past projects: 200+ air
conditioners are being given to seniors in need and more could have been given away; the Dental project
waiting list has been shortened to 2011; Vision and hearing services have caught up (Contact is AAA at
832-393-4301). Sequestration which begins January 2013 will result in a 7-10% cut in funding from the
federal government. Therefore the planning budget has been reduced by 5% but the actual cut in dollars
will be approximately 9%. Additional performance funds will be needed in 2013.Renewals for 2013
contractors are almost complete. A grandparents expo will be held Sept 7, 2012 from 9-2 in Finnegan
Park. September is Falls Prevention Month. Fall Prevention Day will be held Sept 27, 2012 at the Multi
Service Center, 1475 West Gray at Taft. UT Health Center, Alzheimers Association and Memorial Herman
Trauma Center are sponsors. Marla Turner gave a report on what is available right now under the
Affordable Healthcare Act. Next Meeting will be held Oct 4, 2012.
Council (Dick Yehle) Following the three public meetings to look into parking problems in the City, a
study showed that there was no distinct pattern which required action. Illegal parking was better defined
as: parking too close to corners, parking too close to fire hydrants and parking across curbs.
Inconsiderate parking included: parking across a sidewalk in the middle of a block. Such parking is
acceptable on corners. Public Works staff will be deputized to issue warning notes for illegal behavior (for
occasional offences) or fines for persistent violations. As regards property taxes: valuations were up 3%
on last year as a result of higher valuations and new construction. This permitted the rate of 37.4cents
(the same as last year) to be maintained while balancing a budget which is composed 50/50 of
operations and debt service. Thirteen municipalities have been holding discussions with Metro over the
rebating by the latter to the former of one quarter of the one cent sales tax collected by the cities on
Metro's behalf. This one quarter of a cent is to be used for mobility projects. In the case of West
University the rebate should amount to $250,000 but additionally Metro has rebated a further one quarter
cent for flood control projects. The law relating to the rebate expires in 2014 and a new law for 10 years
will come into effect at that time. Metro is putting the issue to a vote in November. The base rate is
currently being negotiated with Metro. Without the whole cent Metro cannot complete two light rail
projects.
Good Neighbor Team (Michelle Moore) The Fall greeting card preparation meeting will be held on
Sept 20, 2012.
PARD (Toby Brooks) The Budget is looking good. There has been one staff resignation. Other aspects
of the report have been circulated to Board Members.
New Business (Toby Brooks) There will be a workshop on budgets on Sat Oct 6. The Theme meal in
January will be paid for by the Lyndon McKnight Memorial Fund.
The Chairman encouraged Board Members to seek an additional two members
The Meeting was adjourned at 2:40PM
The next Senior Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday October 11, 2012