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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4-18-24 Commission PacketIf you will need disability related accommodations to participate in this program or event, please contact LaTasha DeLoach at latasha-deloach@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5225. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs. Senior Center Commission Thursday, April 18, 2024 4 PM Iowa City Senior Center Agenda 1. Introductions/Welcome—J. Gilchrist 2. Minutes (March 21, 2024) 3. Public Discussion for items not on the agenda 4. Operational Overview—L. DeLoach  Senior Center programming update  Senior Center facility update 5. Commission Discussion— J. Gilchrist  Senior Center master plan discussion  Vacant Lot at 21 S Linn St Senior Center memo discussion  Commissioner’s report of community correspondence  Future agenda Items 6. Adjourn **Next meeting is Thursday, May 16, at 4 PM ** Meeting Packet Contents: 1. Agenda: Thursday, April 18, 2024 2. Minutes: Senior Center Commission, Thursday, March 21, 2024 Preliminary Minutes March 21, 2024 1 MINUTES SENIOR CENTER COMMISSION March 21, 2024 Assembly Room, Iowa City Senior Center Members Present: Lee McKnight, Nancy Ostrognai, Angela McConville, Jay Gilchrist, Warren Paris, Betty Rosse Members Absent: Tasha Lard Staff Present: Kristin Kromray, LaTasha DeLoach Others Present: Ben Clark, Shawn Bradbury CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Gilchrist at 4:05 PM. RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 15, 2024 MEETING: Motion: To accept the minutes from the February 15, 2024. Motion carried on a vote of 6/0. McKnight/Ostrognai PUBLIC DISCUSSION: None. EXTERIOR PROJECT UPDATE: Ben Clark and Shawn Bradberry from the City of Iowa City engineering department discussed the ongoing exterior project. Clark noted the current project is for tuck-pointing and rebuilding the top edge of the building and should conclude in May. The second phase will include replacing windows and some exterior doors. Bradberry noted that tuck pointing can last between 25-30 years depending on the exposure of the building. McKnight asked if the windows will be historically accurate. Clark noted that any exterior renovations must be approved by the City’s historic preservation department. McConville noted where the information for Senior Center facilities plan can be found on the Senior Center webpage. Preliminary Minutes March 21, 2024 2 Rosse asked what the plan was for replacing the landscaping around the building. Clark noted that the City’s parks and forestry department will create a landscaping plan once the exterior work is complete. Clark and Bradbury noted their appreciation of Senior Center members and community during the construction period. Gilchrist asked about the extreme fluctuation of temperatures in the building and wondered if correcting that would be part of upcoming renovations. Clark noted that it will be part of interior renovations. OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW: Staff is currently working on the May and June program guide. A new countertop and sink have been installed in the lobby. Friends of the Senior Center has purchased a new electric piano for the Assembly Room. The current art show by Shari Davis is up through the end of May. Shari is donating all of the proceeds from the art to the Senior Center. Staff will have an in-service day on May 3rd. The member, donor, and volunteer appreciation event will be held at Terry Trueblood on April 23rd from 4-6 pm. Commissioners are invited to attend. Rosse asked about transportation from Ecumenical Towers to the event. DeLoach stated she could try and work on transportation if she knew how many people from next door would be attending. Gilchrist let her know that the South Gilbert bus goes to Terry Trueblood. COMMISSION DISCUSSION: Gilchrist noted that the City is seeking input regarding the vacant lot across the street. Commissioners asked if information about the survey could be put into an upcoming Senior Center email. McConville asked if the group might want to consider writing a letter to City Council from the Commission. Ostrognai asked why the custodians are not on the list of Senior Center employees in the personal policies. DeLoach noted that they are under employees of the government facilities staff. DeLoach clarified the winter weather policy stating that when the Iowa City Community School District cancels classes, the Senior Center will also cancel in person classes, but not online classes. The building remains open unless it is an extreme weather event. Motion: To accept the updates to the following policies: Personnel Policies, Senior Center Commission Policy, Senior Center Technology and Video, Visitor and Staff Use of Furniture and Equipment, Volunteer Policy, Winter Weather Cancellations and Closings, Work Study Employees. Motion carried on a vote of 6/0. McConville/Paris Preliminary Minutes March 21, 2024 3 McConville thanked everyone for their support at the Board of Supervisors presentation. Gilchrist asked what the best way is to recognize staff. LaTasha noted that communicating thanks to the City Council for staff and that a personal “thank you” is always appreciated. Meeting Adjourned. Preliminary Minutes March 21, 2024 4 Senior Center Commission Attendance Record Name Term Expires 4/20/23 5/18/23 6/15/23 7/20/23 8/17/23 9/21/23 10/19/23 11/16/23 12/21/23 1/18/23 2/15/2024 3/21/24 Jay Gilchrist 12/31/25 NM O/E X X X X X NM O/E NM X X Tasha Lard 12/31/24 NM X O X O X O NM O NM O O Angela McConville 12/31/24 NM X X X O/E X X NM X NM X X Lee McKnight 12/31/24 NM O/E X X X X X NM X NM X X Susan Mellecker 12/31/23 NM X X X O/E X O/E NM X -- -- -- Nancy Ostrognai 12/31/23 -- X OE X X X X NM X NM X X Warren Paris 12/31/25 NM X X X X X X NM X NM O X Key: X =Present O =Absent O/E =Absent/Excused NM =No meeting -- = Not a member ICSC Master Facility Plan Owner-Identified Goals and Project Drivers 1. The existing building is not fully accessible. Improvements should improve accessibility. Meeting the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act is a minimum and universal design principals should be embraced. 2. The existing building is confusing to patrons and wayfinding is a challenge because there are currently many entrances and excessive, unclear wayfinding signs. Alterations should yield a clear, understandable, and intuitive building. Good wayfinding will be needed, but clear and intuitive space planning should be utilized to reduce excessive signage. 3. Improvements should minimize long-term maintenance costs. 4. The building has gas-fired mechanical equipment and does not meet the city’s climate action plan. A completed project should help city achieve goal of 45% carbon emission reduction by 2030 (2010 baseline) and achieve net zero by 2050. While preserving a building is naturally the most sustainable option, achieving such goals may be cost prohibitive. All options for reduced emissions should be explored, including the potential purchase of green energy. 5. The building will continue to serve the Senior Citizen population of Iowa City, Johnson County, and surrounding communities. Improvements should support the 4 pillars of The Center. Namely, the Center enhances quality of life by creating opportunities to support wellness, social connections, community engagement, and lifelong learning for a diverse and growing older adult population. 6. The building looks “worn out.” Improvements should be modern and vibrant and also preserve and honor the building’s history. 7. Current Capitol Improvement Allocation from the city is distributed over several years. The needs and wants identified through the discovery process should be prioritized within the available funding. Improvements are expected to be broken into phases. 8. The Kitchen and Dining hall can be rented. Kitchen has potential to be an education room and collaborative educational resource for outside entities. Improvements that support programming that generates revenue should be prioritized. 9. The Center is an active space with many events occurring simultaneously. Currently, it is difficult to host events simultaneously. Improvements should consider acoustical isolation. 10. The Center hosts a variety of events with different audience size and different technology needs. Current spaces lack flexibility. Flexible spaces & hybrid technologies are desirable. 11. The Master Plan must be clear so that patrons, commission, city council, etc. all understand the vision, the plan, and the costs.