Title
Resolution to Create a Taskforce and a Process to Examine Options for Services Provided at the Ann Arbor Senior Center
Body
Whereas, The Ann Arbor Senior Center serves approximately 500 senior citizens throughout the city of Ann Arbor with between 12,000 and 15,000 visits per year;
Whereas, Services offered at the Senior Center include meals, educational classes and opportunities for social interaction;
Whereas, Funding for the Senior Center is from the City's General Fund;
Whereas, The total request for appropriation to operate the Senior Center in proposed FY2010 budget is $189,867.00;
Whereas, Projected revenue for the Senior Center in the FY2010 budget is $38,180.00, thereby creating a forecasted Senior Center budget deficit of over $150,000.00;
Whereas, The City is experiencing significant fiscal challenges due largely to ever increasing costs and to the current economic crisis resulting in State revenue-sharing cuts and declining property tax revenues;
Whereas, The City Administrator has proposed a two-year budget plan that calls for reducing General Fund expenses by 10% in order to prevent illegal deficit spending; and
Whereas, The proposed budget for FY2011, which will be considered by City Council in May of 2010, recommends closing the Ann Arbor Senior Center;
Resolved, That City Council appoint members to a Senior Center Task Force at the second Council meeting in June 2009 to work with staff to evaluate options for either sustaining the activities at the Senior Center in a financially-responsible manner or for providing that Seniors have reasonable access to these activities at alternative sites;
Resolved, That City Council direct the City Administrator to coordinate a process working with the appointed Senior Center Task Force to explore those same options requested from the Task Force;
Resolved, That this process examine options for increased revenue as well as potential cost reduction measures for services offered and operation of the Ann Arbor Senior Center; and
Resolved, That the alternative options considered and developed be presented to City Council in February 2010 and be considered for inclusion in the City Administrator's FY2011 budget proposal that will be presented to City Council in April 2010.
Submitted by Councilmembers Greden, Teall, Briere, Taylor, Smith and Higgins