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10 Senior Center ReportCITYOF CHANHASSEN 690 Go' Center Drive, PO Box' I47 Cl~anhassen, Minnesota 55317 Pt~o,e 612.937. I900 General Fax 612.937.5739 £,gineering Fax 612.937.9152 h~blic S~U £ax 612.934.2524 Web wu,w. ci. 3anhassen. mn. us MEMORANDUM TO: Todd Hoffman, Park & Recreation Director FROM: Kara Wickenhauser, Senior Center Coordinator DATE: June 16, 1999 SUB J: Senior Center Report This past month the Senior Center has been a busy place. The CHAN-o-laires held their last summer practice on 6/8/99 and the Woodcarving Club held their last weekly meeting for the summer on 6/2/99. The Woodcarving Club will only be meeting the last Wednesday of every month for the months of June, July and August. Every other Senior Center activity will continue to run during the summer. Approximately 655 and 275 (as of 6/15/99) visits were recorded for the months of May and June. Listed below are the activities and special events that were sponsored by the Chanhassen Senior Center in the months of May and June. Attached to this memo is the goals that were set by the Chanhassen Senior Commission. The Senior Commission met with the Chanhassen City Council for a work session on Monday, June 7th. The main discussion revolved around the need for additional senior housing. Trips - On Tuesday, June 15m seven people from the Chanhassen Senior Center traveled to the Minnesota Zoo with Chaska and Waconia Community Education. Upcoming trips include Orchestra Hall 6/25/99, St. Cloud Tour 7/19/99, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres "Good News" 7/28/99 and Hiawatha Pageant in Pipestone 7/30 - 7/31. Special Programs - The Footcare Clinic continues to do well. We had 7 appointments for the April and June clinics. The Senior Center Advisory Board is hosting a Bake Sale and Senior Center Open House for Saturday, July 3rd from 5:00pm - 7:00pm. All profits will go into the Senior Center General Donation Budget. Miscellaneous - Currently the Senior Center is looking into purchasing a new microwave. Southwest Metro Transit will be having their grand opening on Monday, June 21~t with a tour through Murphy's Landing and a ice cream social at the station. g:\park\kara\senior ctr update 6.99 The Oty of Chanhassen. A growing communiq with clean lakes, qt~ah'O, schooh, a cha,ning downwwn, thrivi,~ businesses, and beautifid parks. A ~zteat p/ace to live, work, a~td pla3: CITYOF 690 O{y Center Drive, PO Box 147 Chanhassen, Minnesota 55317 Phone 612.937.1900 General tax 612. 937. 5739 Engineering Fax 612.937.9152 Public Safe9, Fax' 612.934.2524 ll~b wwu:ci, chanhassen, mn. us MEMORANDUM TO: Scott Botcher, City Manager FROM: Sharmin A1-Jaff, Senior Planner DATE: June 2, 1999 SUB J: Senior Commission Goals and Objectives for 1999 The following are Senior Commission Goals for 1999. The majority of them are ongoing: Identify issues facing senior citizens and present them with possible solutions and recommendations to the City Council. In 1989, the commission discussed the possibility of a "Senior Needs Study" with the City Council. This goal remains a priority for the commission. The study would be similar to that which was conducted in 1990, open ended with no preconceived ideas. The study would take place after the release of the 2000 census. The current Metropolitan Council projections indicate a 45% increase in the senior population by the end of the decade. If the 2000 census confirms these projections, a larger percentage of the overall population will be seniors which will lead to larger issues and type of sex~'ices catering to seniors. The commission's goal is to be proactive and prepare for these needs rather than react to them. This goal is consistent with the City Council's action step to provide Quality Amenities, Community Involvement, and assessing the need for more senior housing, assisted living, and Long-term care nursing Home. The commission is also asking for direction if they should start preliminary research and gathering data pertaining to assisted living such as sites available in the City for such a facility, size of parcel, location requirements, general services offered, etc. Congregate Dining - Meals On Wheels: The program has been running successfully and the number of seniors using the program continues to increase. The Meals On Wheels portion of the program is growing on a monthly basis (the program is adding 1 to 2 seniors per month). This goal was a priority from 1997 and has been accomplished. The Senior Commission intends to advertise the program and ensure that those who need it are aware of its existence. The commission also intends to encourage volunteers (other than seniors) to participate in serving and delivering meals. Current driver volunteers include a mother and daughter team, seniors, and working non-senior adults. This goal is consistent with Scott Botcher June 2, 1999 Page 3 7. Communication With Neighboring Senior Centers and Community Education: a. Coordination of events. b. Transportation coordination with other senior centers and community education. This goal is consistent with Cost-Effective Quality Services. o Senior Parking At Public Buildings: Ongoing. The Senior Commission contacts local businesses and request the installation of the signs at their parking lots. This goal is consistent with encouraging the participation of businesses in community events. Support Senior Expo. This goal gives staff an opportunity to learn about issues facing seniors, what other communities are doing to address these issues and form partnerships with other agencies. The Expo is held once a year and the cost for this valuable service is only $10.00 per person. It is a Cost-Effective Quality Service. 10. Support: Chanhassen Heritage Preservation Urgent Care Facilities Food shelf Inter-generational activities This goal is consistent with the City Center Identity action plan and History Preservation. In the past the Senior Commission members raised money to buy a brick for the Chanhassen Depot and organized several activities in the Senior Center to raise additional funds for the same. 11. Have an annual joint work session between the Senior Commission and the City Council to present the goals and objectives for the year and in~ure that the Council's vision and their expectations of the Senior Commission will be met. This goal is consistent with Community Involvement. The Senior Commission members are actively involved in the community. Each member is assigned the duty of attending a senior activity once a month to listen and educate seniors on programs available to them and hear their concerns and issues facing them. Through this format, they are able to poll a representative sample and report the key issues to the City Council. g:\plan',sa\sc\goals-99.doc Scott Botcher June 2, 1999 Page 2 the Cost-Effective Quality Services, Community Involvement and giving businesses in the community the opportunity to volunteer their time and services. o Senior Center: The number of activities and attendees of the center continue to increase. Some activities have been moved to the Recreation Center while others have a cap on how many may attend. The Senior Commission realizes that the City does not intend any space/building expansions in the near future, however, if and when an expansion takes place, the Senior Center need to be enlarged. This goal is consistent with Quality Amenities. Transportation: Transportation continues to be an ongoing challenge for seniors. In 1989, the Senior Commission formed a "Senior Transportation Needs Sub-Committee." The mission and objective of the commission was I) to help resolve senior transportation problems, 2) improve existing transportation service, i.e. Southwest Metro Transit and CART, and 3) obtain a senior van or bus, 10-15 passengers, with handicap lift. The van/bus would be used for senior activities under the direction of the Senior Center. Staff also worked with Southwest Metro Transit to conduct a survey of all seniors in the community to learn more about their transportation needs. The results of the survey appeared to be inconclusive, with the exception of transportation to medical appointments. This goal is consistent with Strategy 5, Encourage and promote community connections, work with a variety of groups (commissions, other government agencies and private entities) to ensure that the public transportation needs of Chanhassen residents and businesses are met. o Information And Referral / Senior Information Line: The Senior Center was rewarded a new computer and software from United Way. Staff was directed to advertise the program and make people aware of the availability of the service. This goal also falls under Cost-Effective Quality Services. o Educate future generations of seniors: Increase awareness of the opportunities and challenges that face seniors in Chanhassen. A subcommittee organized a slide show presentation which was shared with the City Council. It will be presented to the community and schools. This goal falls under Community Involvement.