Title
Health and Human Services Agency, in conjunction with the Commission on Aging, recommending the Board approve the relocation of all senior services currently provided in the Senior Center in South Lake Tahoe to the City's new building referred to as the Multi-Generational Center, and direct staff to have further discussions and negotiations with City staff regarding use of space, design layout, and other critical factors as identified to ensure the needs of the senior community are clearly defined and addressed.
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is responsible for the administration of senior programs for El Dorado County. Operated out of the Community Services Division in the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), Senior Services provides a range of programs, services, and hosts activities at sites across the County to meet the needs of residents 60 years of age and older. Specific to the South Lake Tahoe basin and operated out of the current South Lake Tahoe Senior Center, the primary program offered is the Senior Nutrition program. This program prepares and serves congregate meals for seniors Monday through Friday and additionally prepares and delivers home delivered meals to homebound seniors. Through a shared office space within the building, other available services to residents include Senior Legal, Senior Peer Counseling, Home Energy Assistance Program, and Family Caregiver Support program.
Senior Services management and program staff have held regular meetings with the City of South Lake Tahoe staff since September 15, 2020 to help plan and prepare for the potential move of Senior Services programs from the current Senior Center into the planned Multi-Generational Center. The core discussions involved understanding if ample space would be available to provide services, if the commercial kitchen in the new facility could accommodate State requirements for the Nutrition program, if there would be adequate dining space when compared to the current senior center, and if office space could be available to meet with residents in private. Through the discussions, City staff welcomed input in order to make adjustments to the plans of the building if necessary to accommodate program needs. As one example, based upon program feedback, the City adjusted the facility’s conceptual design of the planned dining area, moving it from the second floor down to the first floor to both help streamline the cooking, preparation, and serving of meals and also so that seniors that are less mobile can more easily access the congregate meals program. The outcome of these meetings resulted in all program needs being met and accommodated.
As the final planning meetings were occurring between the County and City staff, the Commission on Aging (COA) was simultaneously holding monthly meetings and considering if they would make a recommendation to support Senior Services programs moving to the Multi-Generational Center. At both February and March 2021 COA meetings, the South Lake Tahoe City Manager, HHSA Executive Management, and Senior Services Management provided updates regarding the status of the City/County program planning meetings. Additionally, at the March meeting, a presentation was provided by the South Lake Tahoe City Manager and HHSA Director to provide a more detailed overview of the available space at the new facility, how programs would be accommodated based upon the City and County planning meetings, and to answer any questions that the COA had. The final March presentation resulted in an April 1st special meeting of the COA to listen to input from some local residents of South Lake Tahoe, to review the information provided at the March presentation in more detail, and to consider a final recommendation. As a result of that meeting, the COA unanimously supports the move of Senior Services programs into the Multi-Generational Center. The COA voted to draft a letter of support that they would send to the Board of Supervisors to voice their endorsement of Senior Services moving from the current Senior Center and into the new facility. The language in the letter was reviewed at the April 15th COA meeting and was unanimously approved.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to not approve the relocation of Senior Services; however, this would have a negative impact on providing services to seniors.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
2/22/21, Legistar 21-0142, Item 2 - Joint Meeting
3/23/21, Legistar 21-0189, Item 25 - Closed Session
4/20/21, Legistar 21-0650, Item 26 - Closed Session
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
City of South Lake Tahoe; Commission on Aging
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this agenda item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director