Council Social Services and Community Development Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Social Services & Community Development Committee met on June 18, 2013, at 11:00 AM under the presiding leadership of Ford. The committee addressed four agenda items during the session, which included approval of the committee summary, an update on the Senior Citizen Center, an informational presentation on the Office of Aging Services & Disability Support, and referred items that were deferred for later consideration. The committee took one motion to a vote during the meeting and heard three public comments from members of the public. The Committee Summary was approved, while the Senior Citizen Center Update advanced to first reading. The Office of Aging Services & Disability Support item was presented for informational purposes only, and Items Referred to Committee were deferred to a future meeting.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on June 18, 2013:

• Ford
• Akers
• Ellinger
• Kay
• Lawless
• Stinnett
• Scutchfield
• Myers
• Beard
• Lane

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

Motion on Senior Citizen Center Construction 1:21:02

The board voted on a motion to proceed with construction of a new centralized senior citizen center and continue discussions with the YMCA on satellite programming opportunities. The motion was made by Akers and seconded by Myers.

The motion passed by voice vote. Six board members voted in favor: Ford, Akers, Ellinger, Kay, Stinnett, and Scutchfield. Three board members voted against: Myers, Beard, and Lane. There were no abstentions.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included approval of a fiscal year 2014 budget appropriation of $5,000,000 for the first phase of new senior citizen center construction.

Public Comment

Three council members provided comments regarding senior center operations and planning.

Vice Mayor Gordon 1:22:10 addressed traffic and access issues at the current senior center located on Nicholasville Road. He noted that traffic flow presents a major challenge, particularly during rush hour, making it nearly impossible for seniors and others to safely enter or exit the facility.

Council Member Lane 1:24:18 emphasized the need for comprehensive operational planning and financial projections. He highlighted the absence of a business plan and long-term operating cost projections for the senior center. Lane suggested conducting a community survey to better understand seniors' preferences regarding center type and location.

Council Member Stinnett 1:26:27 focused on the need for improved data collection on senior demographics and preferences. He recommended leveraging LFUCG's existing survey tools and increasing their visibility to gather more comprehensive information about seniors' needs and preferences for future center design and operations.

Contested Items

Proposal to Replace Central Senior Center with YMCA Satellite Model

A proposal to shift from a centralized senior center to multiple YMCA-based satellite centers resulted in a split vote among council members. The disagreement centered on several key concerns regarding the operational and structural changes this transition would entail.

The primary points of contention included:

• Ownership and Control: Questions arose about how shifting to a satellite model would affect municipal ownership and oversight of senior services, with concerns about the degree of control the city would retain versus the YMCA.

• Programming Continuity: Council members debated whether dispersing services across multiple satellite locations could maintain consistent programming and service quality compared to a unified facility.

• Loss of a Central Hub: There was concern that eliminating a centralized senior center would remove a unified gathering place for seniors and would complicate coordination among service providers who currently operate from a single location.

The proposal did not achieve unanimous support, resulting in a split vote. This division reflected the council's uncertainty about whether the satellite model would adequately serve the senior population or whether the benefits of consolidation and centralized services outweighed the potential advantages of the proposed YMCA partnership approach.

Committee Summary Approval

The summary of the May 28, 2013, Social Services & Community Development Committee meeting was presented for approval 0:00.

Council Member Ellinger moved to approve the summary, with the motion seconded by Council Member Myers. The summary was approved unanimously by the committee.

Senior Citizen Center Update

1:08

The YMCA of Central Kentucky presented a proposal to partner with the city to operate senior centers at four of its existing or planned facilities. The proposal aimed to expand access to senior services, reduce operational costs, and leverage shared resources between the organization and the city.

Key Speakers and Participants

The presentation and discussion involved David Martirano, Sally Hamilton, Beth Mills, and Christy Stambaugh.

Proposal Overview

The YMCA proposed establishing senior centers across multiple locations within its facility network. The partnership model was designed to benefit both the city and the organization by combining resources and expertise to serve the senior population more effectively.

Discussion Topics

The proposal sparked extensive discussion among attendees regarding several key aspects:

• Location considerations — Participants discussed which facilities would be most suitable for senior center operations
• Programming — Questions arose about what services and activities would be offered at the centers
• Ownership structure — The group debated who would hold ownership of the facilities and centers
• Operational control — There was discussion about management responsibilities and decision-making authority between the city and YMCA

Outcome

The agenda item resulted in a first reading, indicating the proposal was presented for initial consideration and discussion but did not move to a final vote or decision at this meeting.

Office of Aging Services & Disability Support

Christy Stambaugh provided an update on the Office of Aging Services and Disability Support during this agenda item 1:31:24.

Presentation Overview

Stambaugh highlighted the current programs and services offered by the office, including information about satellite centers and outreach efforts designed to serve the community's aging and disabled populations.

Key Issues Identified

The presentation emphasized significant operational challenges facing the office:

• Limited space constraints affecting service delivery
• High demand for services exceeding current capacity

Future Needs

Stambaugh stressed the critical need for a new facility to adequately meet the growing needs of the populations served by the office.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action or decision required.

Items Referred to Committee

1:46:29

The committee reviewed the items on the referral list during this agenda item. Ford led the discussion on the referred matters.

The committee determined that all items currently on the referral list would remain in committee for future review. No motion was made to remove any items from the committee at this time.

The outcome of this discussion was that the matter was deferred, with the referral items to be revisited at a later date.