HomeMy WebLinkAboutSSBM 12.04.19Page 1 of 2
SENIORS BOARD MEETING
December 4 , 201 9
Presiding : Selby Clark
The meeting was called to order at 2:0 0 p.m.
Roll call (VERIFY): Candyce Beneke , Ann Crowley, Tom Brombacher , George Hilderbrant , George Baker ,
Elisabeth Wilder , Can dace TenBrink , Karen Kenny, Carol O’Neill , Stan McCandless , J udy Faulkner, Joan
Anderson, Carlos de la Torre, Susan Davis
Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of November 14 , 2019, were approved.
Special guest : Jamie A. Walker, Ph.D., Texas A&M, Coordinator of Senior Services Needs Assessment
Recreation Center: Susan White
Senior Services: Toby Brooks
Presentation by Dr. Walker
Background: The most recent senior services needs assessment was done in 1998.
Goal: Preliminary report by April 30, 2020, based on focus group interviews
Parks, transportation, recreation, aging in place
Key themes
Feasibility analysis
Recommendations
Comments:
Who are classified as seniors? (Stan)
Lack of a “hang -out space” for seniors in the Community Center
Lack of a farmer’s market
Will survey reach all language communities?
Need for a way to fund essential home repairs of seniors who lack the means
E.g. The entrance to the home of a 70+ senior on the south en d of Community
Drive has three steps but no handrail.
Need for consideration for seniors by City Council to have an exemption from city rules
to allow for renting a room in the residence or an in -law apartment
Need for seniors to have relief from Harris Co unty tax assessments based exclusively on
“comparable sales” and that do not take into consideration the condition of the grounds
and buildings.
Adjournment : The meeting was adjourned at 3 :0 8 p.m.
Next meeting: January 9 , 20 20 at 2:00 p.m.
Agenda addition : Proposal to the City Council of an exemption for seniors to rent a room in their
homes or an in -law apartment to compensate for rising Harris County property taxes.
Submitted: George Baker
Senior Board Meeting, Minutes of November 14, 2019
Page 2 of 2
Proposed agenda topic s for January 2020 meeting :
1. Exemption for seniors of rentable space
Concern: Property taxes in Harris County are assessed in a way that is unfair to seniors on fixed income. Taxes are
assessed according to “comparable sales” in nearby areas. The high sales values reflect new homes and those with
remodeled kitchens and baths or other features (such as an added elevator).
Seniors in older homes without remodeled kitchens and other features are assessed at the average sales prices of
newer and remodeled homes. The Harris County Tax Board does no t consider the market value of a residence
according to its present condition, but only in relation to a much higher average.
Every senior homeowner in the tax district with an older home is disadvantaged by this administrative practice.
Until such time th at a reform of the tax code is carried out to correct this unfairness, West University Place could
help seniors to stay in their homes (which hinges on paying continually rising taxes) by giving them an exception
that would allow seniors to rent space in t heir homes or garage -apartments.
Challenges:
1) The Seniors Board could approve a motion to ask that City Council consider such an exemption. An
exemption might require a formal vote by residents, not just an administrative ruling by City Council.
2) Setting limits and enforcement would be issues. It would not be consistent with West U’s family -oriented
culture to have an influx of short -term residents in the model of AirBnB. Renting a room or studio to a
college student might be for just one semester (of 3 or 4 months).
3) Fairness to non -seniors could become an issue: some residents who are not seniors who live in older
homes that have not been renovated are likewise being unfairly taxed, and their ability to remain in West
U. may require a similar solution.
4) The re would need to be additional qualifications for the exemption, such as a residence requirement
(such as 10 years) and age of home (such as 20 years). A senior who moved into a recently built home five
years before would not be eligible.
5) The senior who wo uld make use of this exemption would be given a permit or other form of official
recognition that could be shown to neighbors who might ask about the unfamiliar faces.
2) Financial assistance for seniors with needs of home repairs
Concern: Aging in Place vs. home repairs
West University Place promotes, with programs, the philosophy of aging -in -place for seniors. Implicit is the
premise of dignity, pride and self -respect. Some homes of seniors are in a dilapidated state, and their owners lack
the financial reso urces to repair them.
The condition of these houses affects the dignity and health of their owners and lowers property values of their
immediate neighbors.
One approach to addressing this issue would be to create a non -profit association (in the fashion of Friends of
West University Parks) that could be administered by West University church leaders and supported, financially, in
part, by the City (in the fashion of Tri -Sports). The association would administer an application process that would
provide fi nancial assistance to needy seniors for specific repairs that go beyond the scope of work of the existing
Handyman Team.
Topic comments: George Baker TEST