HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-26-2010 Council-Recreation ws
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City Council of Peachtree City
Joint Workshop
Minutes of Meeting
April 26, 2010
The City Council of Peachtree City held a joint workshop with the Recreation Commission at the
Gathering Place on Monday, April 26, 2010, at 6:30 pm. Members of the City Council present
were Mayor Don Haddix, Doug Sturbaum, Eric hnker, Vanessa Fleisch, and Kim Leamard.
Members of the Recreation Commission present were Chairman Mark Ballard and Shayne
Robinson.
Staff members present were City Manager Bernard McMullen, Leisure Services Director Randy
Gaddo, Recreation Administrator Sherry McHugh, and Leisure Programs Coordinator for
Seniors Janet Werner. Gaddo started the meeting at 6:32 pm.
The purpose of the workshop was to discuss possible coordination between Fayette Senior
Services and The Gathering Place.
Gaddo reviewed The Gathering Place's history and services with a PowerPoint presentation
(included in the meeting file).
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Debbie Britt, Executive Director of Fayette Senior Services, reviewed the history and services of
Fayette Senior Services with a PowerPoint presentation (included in the meeting file).
Leamard noted that the background information was good, but wondered what was done now.
Gaddo stated that he was interested in input from everyone, specifically to coordinate programs
and services between the Gathering Place and Fayette Senior Services. Gaddo commented that it
would be good to coordinate services, perhaps by better utilizing the Gathering Place. Gaddo
specified that the Gathering Place could be a good transportation hub or distribution point for
Meals on Wheels.
Haddix stated that there was no intent to shut down the Gathering Place or to put its services
under the control of Fayette County. Haddix noted that Peachtree City was part of Fayette
County, and the services offered through Fayette Senior Services were available to Peachtree
City senior citizens. Haddix remarked that many of their services were not offered in Peachtree
City, so they could offer more services to residents of Peachtree City. Haddix said that it was
almost like being double taxed when services were duplicated, and the idea was to explore ways
to expand offerings of both the Gathering Place and Fayette Senior Services to share.
Several members of the public commented that they were concerned about losing services or
classes that were currently offered at the Gathering Place. Gaddo and Britt reassured them that
the purpose of this meeting was merely to inform the public about services offered and the
potential ability to better utilize those services. Leamard commented that rumors existed that
Fayette County would take over the Gathering Place, and Haddix reassured everyone that these
r rumors were not true.
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Joint Council/Recreation Commission Workshop
Meeting Minutes
April 26, 2010
Page 2
Members of the public also voiced'concerns over transportation issues related to senior citizens
in Peachtree City, specifically a desire to have a bus for patrons of the Gathering Place to use.
There was discussion regarding legal issues that would prohibit raising funds or collecting
donations to purchase a bus for seniors to use at the Gathering Place. Britt noted that several
transportation options were available to Peachtree City senior citizens to use, including a l4-seat
bus, vans, and cars, which offered seniors rides to doctors, hospital, stores, churches, and even to
work for developmentally-challenged individuals and disabled citizens, as well as to the Fayette
Senior Services center and back. Senior citizens could purchase vouchers to use the
transportation. These services were available by calling Fayette Senior Services.
Discussion about the Meals on Wheels program was held. Britt noted that there were 35 routes
in Peachtree City serving about 500 people, 31 % of the deliveries. If the Gathering Place were
used as a volunteer pick up station to deliver these meals, it would not take over the entire
building. Approximately 30 coolers would be stored on site, and volunteers would stop in, pick
up the needed food for their route, and be on their way quickly. Britt noted that it was not
necessary for Fayette Senior Services to use the Gathering Place as a pick up station, but that it
could be convenient for the volunteers who lived here. Britt commented that the Meals on
Wheels program offered more than nutritional services to senior citizens; it also provided needed
social contact to those who might be shut in their homes most of the time. Britt stated that the
program offered a cupcake to patrons on their birthday and stressed how much this one small
token was appreciated by those utilizing the program.
Ballard noted that both the Gathering Place and Fayette Senior Services needed to expand and
grow, but that voters had rejected a bond referendum to fund an expansion of the Gathering
Place. Ballard stated that a hub for seniors could be the Gathering Place or another facility, and
as demand increased, time and money would always be an issue. Ballard wondered about a
referral point, a place where people could find out what was available that could offer more
services with room to grow. Britt commented that the Fayette Senior Services Center was about
22,000 square feet and was maxed out. Britt questioned what the citizens wanted, where the City
was at today, and if Fayette Senior Services could help. Britt noted that the reason Fayette Senior
Services Center was located in Fayetteville was because Fayetteville had the cheapest land
available to purchase to allow for the facility to be built.
Werner expressed concerns that some of the programs offered though Fayette Senior Services,
specifically day trips, would often fill up before Gathering Place patrons could reserve their
place. Werner also stated that private coaches were too expensive to be affordable to the senior
citizens. Britt stated that the information about day trips through the Fayette Senior Services was
available. Werner noted that information needed to be shared better between the Gathering Place
and Fayette Senior Services. Werner asked what Fayette Senior Services wanted from the
Gathering Place. Britt responded that they were not looking for anything, but had been
approached by staff to discuss the sharing of resources and to determine if there was more that
could be offered to Peachtree City. Britt asked what Fayette Senior Services could do for them.
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Joint CounciI/Recreation Commission Workshop
Meeting Minutes
April 26, 2010
Page 3
Haddix commented that not all services would be utilized by all the age groups; for instance, a
59 year-old would not want or need the same services an 80 year-old would. Haddix wondered
if there should be a survey to determine what needs were most important, and what the
demographics were of Peachtree City senior citizens. Britt stated that Fayette Senior Services
was required to complete surveys ea.ch year, because of the grants and partnerships that they had.
Britt offered to share the results oftheir survey with Peachtree City.
Haddix said that the City should establish goals for cooperating with Fayette Senior Services and
perhaps conduct a feasibility study. The idea would be to progress one step at a time. Learnard
added that the City needed to understand the needs before doing anything, and that transportation
was a very obvious need. Learnard noted that more coordination between Fayette Senior
Services and Peachtree City was needed. Haddix agreed that the need had to be defined. Fleisch
stated that the bus availability needs could be determined through a sign up sheet. Haddix asked
McMullen if it was appropriate to do a feasibility study. McMullen stated that it was, as they
could modify the survey results that Fayette Senior Services already had. McMullen said that the
City needed to get two answers -how much of the general population of Peachtree City were
senior citizens, and how many of those seniors used the Gathering Place. Haddix noted that they
had a starting place.
Imker wondered how many Peachtree City senior citizens used Fayette Senior Services and what
,...., services they used. Britt stated that information was available on their monthly report, and that
more than 300 members were from Peachtree City. Imker asked what those residents were
doing, and Britt stated that it would take a little time to extract the information from the social
services database. Haddix directed Gaddo and Britt to coordinate the information.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjo
at 8:25 pm.
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