HomeMy WebLinkAboutSSBM 10.10.19Page 1 of 2
SENIORS BOARD MEETING
October 10 , 201 9
Presiding : Selby Clark
The meeting was called to order at 2:03 p.m.
Roll call: Candyce Beneke , Ann Crowley, Joan Johnson, Tom Brombacher , Stan McCandless, George
Hilderbrant , George Baker , Judy Faulkner, Eliz abeth Wilder , Susan Davis , Carlos de la Torre , Can dace
TenBrink , Council Liaison Lauri Lankford, Good Neighbor Team Liaison Mardi Turner, Staff Members
Toby Brooks and Susan White
Absent: Karen Kenny, Carol O’Neil
Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of September 9 , 2019, were approved.
Visitors : Dick Yehle
C ITY C OUNCIL REPORT
Tax and spending plans
Tax rate to decline ; rates at Rec Center to remain unchanged .
Increased city revenue allocation categories:
Increased maintenance ; replacement of old water lines ; c orrection of “ponding” in streets
and trip hazards ; i ncrease of police salaries
Tri -Sport s contribution
Council decision taken not to contribute $125,000 to West University Tri -Sports Association ,
citing low percentage (20%) of West U. Resident participation .1
Recycling
Recycling in West U. is currently operating at a loss . Options to shipping trash to China?
Board Me mber Elizabeth Wilder urged a policy of “burn or bury ,” avoiding
shipments to China, much of which, she averred , would end up as ocean trash.
Flood control
Poor Farm Ditch issues continue unresolved. Construction and landscaping by South Side
residents have resulted in a lower ditch drainage capacity , in directly increasing the likelihood of
flooding by upstream residents in West U.
A review of draining systems is in progress. Consideration is being given to detention credits,
rain gardens and systems of micro -detention of rainfall.
A question was asked ab out burying power lines during the replacement of water and
sewage pipes on Buffalo Speedway . As the power lines are in the rear of the properties,
burying them in the street is not feasible.
1 https://www.manta.com/c/mr54nd7/west -university -tri -sports -association
Senior Board Meeting, Minutes of October 10 , 2019
Page 2 of 2
(On previous occasions, members of the Board have urged Council representatives to
support a plan to bury all powerlines in West U.)
Digital future of West U.
A new city website is 80% complete; an a pp for West U. is under development ; advances in
virtual fence
Senior Needs Assessment workshop
City Council still continues to have a seniors needs assessment at the top of their goals. A
preliminary meeting is scheduled for December 4 at the next senior board meeting to meet with the the
consulting company who will be doing the needs assessment . Dec. 4 (2 p.m.)2
G OOD N EIGHBOR T EAM
Fa ll greeting cards are to be sent out to West U. seniors 85 years and older (almost 200).
Thanksgiving Cards will also be sent. The team needs additional volunteers.
APAC R EPORT
W AS SENT via email. Cand yce TenBrink vo lunteered to be the alternate representative .
P ARKS AND R ECREATION
Events: Full Moon Festival (October 18) 3
Fun Run (October 26)4
Consideration is being given to repurposing the area in Colonial Park presently used as a
volleyball court . A Colonial Park User ’s Group is being formed ; Upgrading of W h itt Johnson Park
near completion. Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is scheduled for December 2, at 5:30 p.m.
S ENIOR S ERVICES
Festival of the Arts , October 12 5
Volunteer Luncheon, November 19
Contra Dancing series continues, meeting 1 st & 3 rd Saturdays from 7:30 -9:30 p.m.
Presentation by seniors planning lawyer Ruth -Ann Toups to follow this meeting at 3 p.m .
Adjournment : The meeting was adjourned at 3 :10 p.m.
Next meeting: Wednesday, December 4 , 201 9 at 2:00 p.m.
____________________
Submitted: George Baker
2 [As the main deterrent for seniors remaining in West U. is likely to be financial, consideration could be given to
allowing an exemption for seniors to rent rooms in their homes and garage apartments.]
3 https://www.faceb ook.com/events/4130 -byron -st -houston -tx -77005 -3516 -united -states/full -moon -
fest/452986685301460/
4 https://westutx.gov/501/West -U -Halloween -Dash -and -Kids -Fun -Run
5 https://z -m -www.facebook.com/events/391898885045994/