HomeMy WebLinkAboutSSBM 4.14.22West University Place
SENIORS BOARD MEETING
April 14, 2022
Presiding: Ann Crowley (Chair)
The meeting is called to order at 2:00 PM
Roll Call:
• Present: Ann Crowley, George Baker, Teresa George-Hung, Karen Kenny, Selby Clark, Tom Brombacher,
Candace TenBrink, Candyce Beneke, Susan Davis, Allan Elkowitz, Gloria Nino Monacelli, Diana Ayers,
Mardi Turner, Toby Brooks, Shannon Carroll (Council Liaison)
• Absent: , Joan Johnson, George Hildebrandt
• Guests: Carlos De Le Torre and John Barnes, Ms. Alida Drews
Action Items:
1. Approve minutes:
a. Karen Kenny approved and seconded by Selby Clark.
2. Citizens Comments:
a. John Barnes — working with a couple of residents to bring the garden club back and
running. Multigenerational expectations. Please contact John Barnes regarding this.
b. Ms. Alida Drews — Seniors Center — transparency needs to be there for the senior
center. Proposing to have the board involved in that decision. Our senior center is not
up to date compared to the Bellaire Senior Center. Nothing is being done regarding this
according to her.
3. Candace Tenbrink, Candyce Beneke, Karen Kenny and George Hildebrandt— Presented Vision
Statement
a. Please see attachments given. —This is the vision statement for the senior board.
b. Change the vision statement from “where” to “in which”
c. George Baker — What do you mean by “Best” life
d. Motion — Selby, second Mardi
i. All in favor — most
ii. Against -1 (George Baker)
4. Strategic Planning Committee:
a. People are still needed, and committee is recruiting.
b. George Hildebrandt, Karen Kenny, and Candace Tenbrink are the current members.
c. 1st order of business — get a list of data
i. Need to send the list to Susan White and Toby Brooks
ii. What to do with Data.
1. Repeat business,
2. Success of certain classes, what customers want etc.
5. Ann Crowley — regarding the new building and city planning — it would be better in all of our
interests to see how data is aggregated to see what the Senior center would really need in a 4–
5-year span. Seniors will be asked regarding this information for future data.
a. Shannon — this process will occur with in 2-5 years with a vision for 50 years and we
need input from the board.
b. What is wrong with the buildings? — George Baker
i. Buildings are too old to be made compliant to current laws.
ii. Is it more cost effective to renovate or make a new building?
iii. Accessible parking is also an issue for this current Senior Center.
iv. Ada compliancy is not met.
v. Also make the buildings environmentally friendly
c. Mardi Turner — There is no room to add more staff in the current city hall
d. George Baker —the new Senior center needs a social space.
e. Diana Ayers — what is going on with the fire building?
i. Shannon — more remodel than getting rid of all of it to keep traditional original
building.
6. Walkability for West U Committee
a. current members George Hildebrandt, Ann Crowley, Karen Kenny, and Teresa George
Hung. city is walkable. If city council is open to it.
b. It needs to be part of the strategic plans.
c. Teresa was able to get the city of Houston to increase the time at the crosswalk
between Kirby and Rice.
d. Toby — report the violations using the WestU app. This may help to deal with
walkability issues within the city of WestU.
e. Seating outside fenced areas of park for dog walkers in the park would be great for
increasing walkability.
APAC: Karen Kenny
1. Research study about caregiver/provider life view
2. Offering boosters for elders at home.
Good Neighbors Team: Mardi Turner
1. Delivery at the end of March.
2. Office Katy Wilson plus fire department — knoxbox and virtual gate.
Parks and Recreation: Easter festival last Saturday.
1. Outdoor event series (Crescent Circus — very well attended)
2. 22nd — Steel Drums — to get everyone out into the Caribbean mood
3. Membership drive —Colonial Park pool members only events
4. June 3rd ice cream social, pirates of the colonial
5. Pickle ball underway and will be installed as soon as supplies come in Weir Park
6. City council approved Judson Park funding —$137,000 and funded by friends of WestU
parks. Slated for June
Senior Services Staff: Toby
1. 3 trips — Memorial Park arboretum
2. Buffalo Bayou Guided walking tour —11 people came.
3. Peach cobbler day — 20 people
4. Classes have been doing really well
5. Mahjong was full
6. Free aqua yoga class — Rec Center
City Council: Shannon
1. Shannon — most of it was touched on in the above.
2. Great turn out from the board.
3. Received an update from the sustainability task force — group that the current council put
together to make the city more sustainable for the future.
ii. The city is still working and trying to
iii. Variance to replace the tower or build
Adjournment: (3:07pm)
1. Motion to adjourn meeting— Selby Clark seconded by Susan Davis
Submitted by Teresa George-Hung