TITLE
Recommendation to direct City Manager to identify potential funding sources to continue Senior Congregate Meals Program for City Council consideration.
DISCUSSION
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine distributes senior congregate meals through the services of Human Services Association (HSA) to over 260 seniors. The nutritious lunches are served at the Senior Center and the satellite locations 5-6 days per week depending on the facility. For the seniors who depend on this program, this is the only decent meal they receive on daily bases.
This program is now threatened by the lack of resources to properly sustain the program. Unlike other cities that partners with HSA, the City of Long Beach does not contribute any funding to the senior citizen congregate meals program. Because of the growing cost of operating the program and the fact that all of the other partner cities contribute to the program, HSA is requesting a payment of $1.00 per meal. Seniors who can are asked to donate $2.00 for their meals. This rate is comparable to the average of $1.04 that is contributed by the other 8 cities to HAS for similar services. The estimated annual cost is approximately $70,000.
I request the City Council support for finding the necessary funds to continue this vital service in order to fulfill the 2010 Strategic Plan Goal to develop and implement a plan to address the needs of the elderly, including health, safety, transportation, housing and quality of life (N3.4).
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Councilmember Tonia Reyes Uranga, Seventh District /s/