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WEST UNIVERSITY SENIOR SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
4/13/2006
Meeting called to order at 3:00 PM.
Attendees: John Neighbors, Stan McCandless, Joe Graf, Carolyn Sacchi, Cathy Wright, Elizabeth
Young, Joan Johnson, Betty Aillet, Lyndon McKnight, Jo Lukens, and Mary Lee Gray. Absent were
Maureen Beck and Mary Ryerson. Staff members present were Toby Dykema and Tim O'Connor.
Council members present were Steven Segal and Dick Yehle. Guest present was Byron Prater.
Previous meetings minutes were sent to Board members with agenda and approved with no changes.
Previews and Sneak Previews were reviewed.
REPORTS
APAC: This September, APAC will host a speaker for the Oasis program. This is a twenty week
program on active life, to include walker and wheel chair participants. Experienced facilitators are
needed for the program. There will be a United Way forum on June 22nd on elder abuse. February 13th
is Senior Day in Austin.
COUNCIL MEETING REPORT: The city of Houston increased our water rate by 3.5% (CPI). West
University has passed 1.5% of this increase to the citizens. Council authorized facilities analysis by
outside consultants. They will advise Council on alternative uses of city property. Our code of laws is
"re-codified" and now searchable on the city's web site. E-mail notification of city events is now
available (by choice and subject) on the city's web site. Council authorized short term leases to Bellaire
and West Park Properties. A workshop was held on the development of Rice Pocket Park and the
Library courtyard.
GOOD NEIGHBOR TEAM: Delivery has been completed for approximately 140 Easter/Spring
baskets, and was warmly accepted by recipients. The Handymen are in the process of reorganizing, and
are relatively caught up with repair requests. Their work is financed by garage sales and by Rotary.
Storage space at the Rec. Center is available for the next garage sale. Residents should call prior to
taking donations to the Rec. Center, and if names and addresses are on the items donated, an
acknowledgement will be sent for tax purposes. Furniture and other large items cannot be accepted at
this time due to stairwell restrictions.
HI NEIGHBOR NEWSLETTER: The final draft of the Newsletter is in-house and the mailing is
expected sometime the week of Monday, April 24th.
ACTIVITY REPORT: Tai Chi and Early Risers (as well as Opera, Shakespeare and Parkinson's
exercises) are well attended. The Saint Patrick's luncheon was also well attended. The East Houston
trial trip was very interesting to those participating. The St. Bernard River trip and the George
Observatory trip (despite "technical difficulties") were judged successes.
MASTER PARKS PLANNING TASK FORCE REPORT: A copy of the West University Place
Parks and Recreation Master Plan was handed out to Board members. Board members were asked to
carefully review the plan with the objective of agreeing on an endorsement letter at the May meeting. It
was pointed out that although Senior Services was not specifically mentioned with regard to some
facilities, the Plan is intended to focus on the "multi-use" aspect of these facilities.
PREVIOUS BUSINESS: Twenty-five to thirty Seniors have utilized our Medicare prescription drug
analysis program. The Federal plan may be more cost effective for Seniors than the purchase of
Canadian drugs. The Library renovation is expected to commence in late August and take
approximately ten days. This renovation will be done by Harris County, and is not part of the courtyard
renovation. There was some concern expressed that because of landscaping, the courtyard and pocket
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WEST UNIVERSITY SENIOR SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES Page 2 of 2
park plans do not include space for groups to gather. The computer program needs to be an "up-front"
expense for participants because the instructor must be reimbursed for his/her time, regardless of
consistent attendance by participants. It is a two month program.
NEW BUSINESS: The UMARMY group is being contacted by Staff to determine if they can be
available for our city at some point. This group trains high school and college students in basic home
repairs that they do on a voluntary basis for those in need.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: None Meeting Adjourned
at 2:55 PM
file://H:ABoard meeting Minutes\Minutes\2006\April 2006.htm 1/23/2009