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01-31-2014 Minutes-Special MeetingMINUTES SPECIAL MEETING CITY OF SCHERTZ SENIOR CENTER January 31, 2014 A Special Meeting was held by the Schertz City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas, on January 31, 2014, at 1:00 p.m., in the City of Schertz Senior Center, 608 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas. The following members present to -wit: Mayor Michael Carpenter Councilmember David Scagliola Councilmember Cedric Edwards Staff Present: Executive Director Brian James Mayor Pro -Tem Jim Fowler Councilmember Daryl John City Manager John Kessel Executive Director John Bierschwale City Secretary Brenda Dennis Deputy City Secretary Donna Schmoekel Bob Cantu, Chief of Staff Senior Administrative Assistant Sandy Bryant Director of Parks Recreation & Community Services George Logan Special Guests: Guadalupe County Judge Larry Jones Schertz Chamber President Maggie Titterington Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation Debbie Madden Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation Ken Lowery Councilmember Matthew Duke was absent. Call to Order Mayor Carpenter called the Special Meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. Invocation and Pledges of Allegiance to The Flags of The United States and The State of Texas Councilmember Jim Fowler provided the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States. Welcome /Overview • Discuss Activities and Programming of the Senior Center Mayor Carpenter stated that the Schertz City Council came to an agreement to terminate the existing contract between the City and the Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation. This action was voted on and passed this past Tuesday, January 28, 2014, at the regular City Council Meeting. Today, a special meeting has been called to discuss where we go from here and how we are going to operate the center in the coming months ahead. Mayor Carpenter thanked Debbie Madden from the Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation for her work during the past several months. 1 -31 -2014 Minutes Page - 1 - According to the terms of agreement the Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation will officially cease to operate the Schertz Area Senior Center at midnight this coming Sunday, February 2, 2014. The City leadership team will then officially take over. Those individuals are Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services George Logan, Senior Administrative Assistant Sandy Bryant and one other person. This will be a work in progress and they will work closely with the Schertz Area Senior Center Advisory Council. Mayor Carpenter took a moment to _recognize Guadalupe County Judge Lacy Jones who grew up here in Schertz. Mayor Carpenter recognized Director of Parks Recreation & Community Services George Logan who stated that since September 2013, he has been working closely with the Senior Center Advisory Committee members: President Debbie Pape, Nancy Scott, Roy Escobar, Larry Gladu, and Shirley King. Mr. Logan introduced President Debbie Pape who read the following: Mission Statement: "We envision a community where everyone leads full, healthy, and inspired lives." Vision Statement: " Schertz Senior Center promotes healthy aging and well -being in our community through programs, services, resources, and civic engagement." Ms. Debbie Pape introduced Advisory Committee Member Nancy Scott who read the following: Goal 1: Keep the core of programs, services, and resources, while expanding or shifting programming to remain relevant to members now and into the future. Objective 1: Continue very strong emphasis on seniors. Objective 2: Continue to serve as a place that the senior community gathers, centers its resources, engages socially, and be a catalyst for action. Objective 3: Build the Schertz Area Senior Center's ability to attract, serve, be responsive to, and be enriched by the full diversity of the community. Objective 4: Continue to be humble and responsive to the community. Objective 5: Continue to combine forces and build strategic partnerships. Goal 2: Secure financial resources to ensure the stability and sustainability of the Schertz Area Senior Center. Objective 1: Develop sustainable revenue streams. Objective 2: Leverage very strong support from members and participants for an operations budget. Ms. Nancy Scott introduced Advisory Committee Member Roy Escobar who read the following: 1 -31 -2014 Minutes Page - 2 - Goal 3: Strengthen communication to educate the community and our own membership, volunteers, and staff about all that the Schertz Area Senior Center offers and how we lead. Objective 1: Strengthen internal communication and education about what we do (for members, volunteers and staff). Objective 2: Strengthen external communications. Objective 3: Conduct a survey to foster communication with the current membership and the community. . Goal 4: Ensure that we are maximizing our assets, including staff, membership, volunteers, and board members. Objective 1: Enhance education with training and support for board, volunteers and staff. Objective 2: Support staff and make jobs more sustainable. Mr. Roy Escobar introduced Advisory Committee member Larry Gladu who read the following: Goal 5: Contribute to and engage with the community for future growth, using the skills and strengths of our seniors. Objective 1: Maximize volunteer capacity to serve the Schertz Area Senior Center. Objective 2: Build the civic engagement of our constituency so that they may enrich the community. Objective 3: Advocate for seniors and building the strength of the community. • Citizen input and questions Advisory Committee Member Nancy Scott asked if anyone had any questions or comments. Ms. Scott asked the members for a show of hands for those that were in agreement with the proposed goals and objectives as previously read. She then stated to let the record show the vote as being unanimous. Ms. Scott recognized several other individuals who spoke up regarding concerns about how to get participation from the surrounding areas of Cibolo, Selma, and Marion and how to get information out to them. Mayor Carpenter responded that part of this effort could be accomplished through two organizations: 1) the Northeast Partnership, and 2) The Guadalupe County Mayors Association. These two organizations connect to at least 14 other cities. Director of Parks Recreation and Community Services George Logan will arrange to funnel this information back down to the members of the Senior Center. Mayor Carpenter also stated he would ask the City Secretary's office to put a discussion item on the city agenda in the next couple of weeks regarding the possibility of forming a Citizen Advisory Committee much like what has already been established. This committee would be similar to other City Boards already in existence and it would report to and advise Council of items of concern to the Senior Center. This would then be promulgated on the City website, Schertz Magazine, and anywhere else that will garner us publicity.. Mayor Carpenter stated that for now the Senior Center has been temporarily funded to maintain basic operations and everyone will need to assist in the future to find resources and begin building it back from the ground up. Restaurants are currently being contacted to try to 1 -31 -2014 Minutes Page - 3 - arrange a $4 charge for supplying daily meals as regularly as possible. The City will make every effort to continue to honor any prepaid lunch cards and membership dues. Other questions were answered regarding activities,such as membership fees, sponsoring events such as dances and short trips, building maintenance, hiring a new onsite Coordinator, the operation of a Thrift store, craft/bake sales and other events for fundraising purposes. Executive Director of Development Brian James stated that the goal is for staff to make a sustainable plan for the future, one to several years out, take this to Council and provide Council options on how to get there. A public hearing will be held_ and hopefully a large number of senior members will attend to voice their feelings and provide some direction to Council of where we all want to go with this. Another question was asked regarding the possibility of getting any future grant money. Mayor Carpenter stated that George Logan is going to look into that possibility. A second question was in regard to how we can get the business community to support the Senior Center. He stated Maggie Titterington from the Schertz Chamber of Commerce will be able to assist in this area. A representative from Health Link, Rachel Amezquita, was also in the audience and she stated her employer will definitely be a future contributor to addressing the Schertz Area Senior Center needs. More questions and suggestions were offered regarding fund raising possibilities such as having raffles or hosting a gambling night. However, since gambling is not legal in Texas, it could not have any funds associated with it. City Manager John Kessel spoke stating the Senior Center needs to be a first class operation. We need an annual budget and funding to know what we have on hand. Fundraising by membership can augment this budgeted amount. The City will provide the basic foundation (the needs) and the fundraising can take care of the rest (the wants). In answer to another question, Mayor Carpenter stated that all of the City contracts with WellMed and the other current renters of the building are still in tact. A senior center member wanted to know how the separation from the Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation happened. Mayor Carpenter responded that a large group of folks petitioned the City to do something on September 17, 2013. Subsequently, at a public hearing the Council instructed staff to begin negotiating a separation agreement. In conclusion, Mayor Carpenter asked esch Councihnember present to say a few words regarding their support for this project. Guadalupe County Judge Larry Jones also promised his support towards bringing the Senior Center forward by following through on anything Mayor Carpenter and the Council requested of him. Thanks again were given to the Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation participants, Mr. Ken Lowery and Ms. Debbie Maddon, the current Schertz Area Senior Center Advisory Committee, City Councihnembers, and Schertz Chamber of Commerce President Maggie Titterington. 1 -31 -2014 Minutes Page - 4 - Mayor Carpenter stated that while we were having the meeting, Ms. Titterington secured lunches for Monday from Quiznos and Tuesday from HEB. Adjournment As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2.11 Mayor, Michael R. Carpenter T: City Secretary, Brenda Dennis ` 1 -31 -2014 Minutes rage - 5 - -- -- i