HomeMy WebLinkAboutWUSSB 12-04-2013West University Senior Services Board Meeting December 4, 2013 Present: John Neighbors (Chair), Stan McCandless, Pieter Vrancken, George Baker, Michelle Moore, Selby Clark, Janet Vrancken, Becky Arnold, John Palmer, Virginia Lootens. Absent: Philip Bryant, Candyce Beneke, Sarah Ballanfant, Mary Ryerson, Joe Mitchell. Staff: Tim O’Connor, Toby Brooks. Guests: Councilwoman Joan Johnson, Councilman Dick Yehle, Former Councilman Chuck Guffey, Former Councilman Stephen Segal, Robin Foster (reporter Examiner), A lida Drewes (resident), Carlos De la Torre (Good Neighbor Team member). The Meeting was called to order at 2:04PM. The Minutes of the previous meeting were approved with one minor terminology amendment. Introduction (John Neighbors) The meeting has been c alled to address an item of previous business: the prop o sed imposition of fees on seniors for use of the Recreation Center and Colonial Park Pool. Currently a motion before City Council, approved on first reading, would apply fees at a level of 50% of adul t fees on all seniors with a waiver available to any seniors wishing to avail themselves of this. A working team meeting was held on November 20 th with the participation of John Neighbors, Michelle Moore and Pi eter Vrancken (Senior Board ), Carlos De la Tor re (Good Neighbor Team), Council woman Joan Johnson, Parks & Recreation Director Tim O’Connor and Senior Services Manager Toby Brooks. An account of this meeting has been circulated to all Board Members. Five charts are available to underlie the reasoning b ehind the proposed new fees. Chart Briefing (Tim O’Connor) In 2012 costs for Colonial Park Pool and for the Recreation Center calculated on a marginal basis were fully met by revenues. In 2013 the true share of City costs to be borne by these facilities we re recalculated and on current projections will not be met by fee income. The Number of Seniors with 2013 memberships is 358 for the Recreation Center and 84 for Colonial Park Pool. Number of Visits by Senior members were minimal for 152 of the 358 at the Recreation Center and for 81 of the 84 at Colonial Park Pool. A survey of ten other townships revealed that only two grant free memberships to seniors and a further two gr ant discounts. The total expenses after revenue of Senior Services, Park Maintenanc e and Parks & Recreation Administration will amount to $1,218,500 in 2014 representing a subsidy per West U household (5,300 Homes) of $19.16 per month. In answer to a question Tim O’Connor stated that the main motivation behind the proposed fee impositi on was not financial but one of perceived fairness: younger families in the city feel that seniors are being subsidized unfairly when many of these seniors are affluent. Open Discussion Former Councilman Chuck Guffey Years of experience suggest that the c omplaints must be nominal. If the true views of the city are to be known perhaps a survey should be conducted Former Councilman Stephen Segal Seniors do not make use of city parks so to that extent they are already subsidizing young families through their property taxes. The drop in Revenue for 2013 needs to be explained. John Palmer How accurate a projection of Revenue has been made for the whole year 2013? Councilman Dick Yehle The perceived shortfall of $200,000 probably results from the conservative pro jections of the Finance Dept. which tend to overstate costs and understate revenue. Senior Resident Alida Drewes Much greater transparency is needed. Younger people make far greater use of parks than do seniors. More evidence is required. Tim O’Connor Non - Residents are not admitted to the Recreation Center nor the Colonial Park Pool. If there are exceptions to this principle they are very few. Stan McCandless and Carlos De la Torre In the final analysis the freedom from or imposition of fees for seniors de pends on the philosophy of the city. If we are to be known as a senior -friendly city these fees should not be imposed on seniors.. George Baker There remains the fact, already mentioned by others that, that small children are being subsidized by the senior s who pay taxes for the maintenance of the parks which they use. Michelle Moore Perhaps but children receive no benefit from the subsidies enjoyed by seniors using the Community Center. Becky Arnold On the matter of the city’s philosophy: a lot is done for seniors. One has only to think of the work of the Good Neighbor Team, the theme meals, the handymen, the transportation services. John Neighbors As there has been a first reading of a motion to impose a 50% fee on all seniors (and let us not forget that t he Senior Services Board was not informed in advance of this proposal) can the motion now be modified as part of the second reading? Dick Yehle Minor changes may still be possible. John Neighbors I would like to ask Pieter Vrancken to read the proposal put forward by the working party to this Board. Pieter Vrancken (The text is attached to the memo sent to this Board) Stan McCandless I would have liked to see some credit given for years of residence – say a qualifying period of ten years before a senior cou ld benefit from a reduction in fees or exemption from fees.
Dick Yehle & Tim O’Connor This would be extremely onerous administratively. John Neighbors I would now like to call for a vote on the motion proposed. FOR: 7 Against: 3 The motion will be pu t to the meeting of City Council on December 9 th . The Meeting adjourned at 3:10 PM