2002/04/11 Senior Center Board of Directors Agenda 0 I V (Si +1)r—
Rohnert Park Senior Center
Board of Directors
AGENDA
Thursday, April 11, 2002
A: 15pm Roll Call
/Brubaker, Hazel ✓Fuhs, Mary
chaeffer, Pam �Tringali, Betty
Jurgiel, Lee ✓Audiss, Wendy
:r Kennedy, Ann ~/Barry, Tim
✓McDouall, Berni ., Hartnett, John
V Wilkerson, Vicki
Approval of Minutes
Unscheduled Public Appearances pile
**New Business** ,fit�- v
( .e, I s } Cam
C-0010/24 Le-6-- /CC6t3vet9 t444-14 7
Board Member Reports
Fun After 50
Dining Site
Gift Shoppe
Senior Advisory
Recreation Specialist
Senior Programs Coordinator
Recreation Services Manager
Recreation Director
**Old Business** / "A ti��,t
Suite C ._ ido .h01(� 1 ( M l (ti t'(- -°)
Other Items for Discussion dtps ke 'rt ` S"S i '`3'''6 4 '
CVAa6 cU_INy et. Comm c#r Sr Cif" °Liu sc( Q.
Adjournment
Gq`, ( 5 Q'M
• •
ROHNERT
PARK
E „ 5401 Snyder Lane
Rohnert Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707 588 3456
RECREATION FAX 707-588-3444
DEPARTMENT
March 13, 2002
Dear Valued Patron of the
Rohnert Park Senior Center:
The City of Rohnert Park has fallen on tough times financially, and our Department has been
asked to help in a number of ways. The expected budget deficit for the city next fiscal year (July
to June) is about $3 million. City Departments were asked to come up with a budget cut/revenue
creation plan to help make up this deficit. Our Department developed a plan for City Council
consideration that affected all areas of the Department services, and represented a 40% net
reduction in programs and services for the Department. This plan, together with budget
cuts/revenue creation from other departments, generated about $1.5 million. That still leaves a
shortage of about $1.5 million for next year. The City Council will ultimately decide how to
reduce expenses and generate revenues to meet our expected budget deficit.
The Senior Center's proposed contribution to the cause is raising various room use fees, cutting
out part-time maintenance services and cutting our only paid Clerical position at the Center
(Bernie Altman). Since our original proposal, we have re-worked some cuts and fees in the
Department, and are close to being able to retain our Clerical position at the Center, albeit at a
reduction in hours.
At the same time, the Building Dept., currently leasing office space on Avram Ave., proposed
moving to a city facility to get out from under a $25,000 per year lease obligation. The Building
Dept. is planning to move into the new City Hall upon its completion in 18 months to 2 years, so
the move into another facility now would be a temporary one.
After reviewing all city facilities, the two facilities that had the greatest feasibility were the
Senior Center, Suite C, and the Vision Teen Center (as there is a proposal to cut out that program
to save money). Not wanting an intrusion into the Senior Center, I insisted on a thorough study
of the costs of both options. After analysis, it was found that moving to Suite C would be
significantly less expensive than moving to the Teen Center facility. Of course, the proposal to
move the Building Dept. into Suite C meant that senior programs would have to be moved.
After some hard work and discussions with people, Wendy Audiss has worked out a plan to
move some Suite C activities elsewhere in the Senior Center, and some activities to the
Community Center; similar to the time that the Finance Dept. had to occupy Suite C due to their
carpet problems last year. Again, this would be a temporary arrangement, with the Building
Dept. scheduled to move out in 18 months to 2 years.
Over
. •
• •
Betty Tringali
264 Parque Fuentc
Rohncrt Park, Ca 94928
March 13, 2002
To: Fellow Seniors
Re: Rohncrt Park Senior Center
At the City Council meeting last evening(Tuesday, 3/12),during a discussion of the City's budget
deficit cutting program, it was brought out that the City's Building Department is proposing to move
its offices into a part of our Senior Center. (Apparently, the Building Dept.'s current lease expires 5/1/02.)
Mayor Flores commented that this proposal was not acceptable and that the Senior Center should not be
considered in any manner to help the Building Department' move.
I wholeheartedly agree with Mayor Flores_ The section of the Center selected for their offices
is Suite C,which is approximately one-third of the Center's space. The Center is pressed for space as it
is;and,as a member of their Board of Directors,a volunteer,and a senior, I strongly oppose this decision.
Many programs will be discontinued and/or displaced, one of which is the award-winning `Connections
Across Generations." It would also displace staff who would be relocated to the Suite A section of the
building, which is already experiencing growing pains. (Incidentally. Suite C also houses the"Senior
Center Mural Project" which won an award in 1999 from the California Park&Recreation Society.)
Please lend your support in protesting this move by attending our Board of Directors Meeting
to be held Thursday, March 14, at 1.15p_m_ in the Activity Room, so that the Directors and Department
officials will be aware of your feelings.
Thanks for your attention to this matter.
SAVE OUR SENIOR CENTER!
Betty Tringali
Senior Citizen