Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.2 Review of the Shamrock Cafe CITY OF DUBLIN DUBLIN SENIOR CENTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA STATEMENT MEETING DATE:April 7, 2005 SUBJECT: REVIEW OF THE SHAMROCK CAFE ATTACHMENT: RESOLUTION NO. 08—04 ADOPTING A FEE SCHEDULE FOR SENIOR CENTER RECOMMENDATION: Receive report and give input. FINANCIAL STATEMENT: None DESCRIPTION: Brief History In 1988, the Dublin Senior Center introduced a Friday Brunch once a week. Soon after, a cook was hired to prepare full meals twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Then the soup and sandwich idea was added once a week on Mondays. When Senior patrons expressed preference to the soup and sandwich a-la-carte format; it was adopted and offered three times a week on Mondays,Tuesdays and Thursdays. The full meal idea was offered only for monthly special luncheons. During the years of 1995-1999, the ala-carte format was offered five days a week. The full meal program on Thursdays and the a-la carte format were offered on the other weekdays. During the past five years (2000-2005), the Center had passed two fee resolutions that increased fees and impacted the attendance the special events, such as the monthly special luncheons, the Dinner Dance and Bingo Dinner and possibly the daily luncheons. Yet, Staff feels that the costs of the lunch program and special events are competitively priced and necessary to keep pace with the increase in food prices. In calculating the cost to revenue, the current price of $3.50 for a full meal pays for the food costs but not necessarily the overhead costs. It is estimated that both the staff cost and food expenses is fully covered when there is an average attendance of 50 people. Menu Format The Dublin Senior Center currently offers an a-la-carte menu with choices of the following items: a soup of day(a cup or a bowl), two choices of sandwiches (half or whole sandwich), a salad and a dessert are offered on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The cost of the a-la-carte items and special events costs is as follows. The sandwich is $1.75 for a full sandwich and$1.25 for a half a sandwich. A bowl of soup is $1.75 and a cup of soup is $1.25. A homemade salad is $1.25 while the dessert is $1.00. On Thursdays, a full meal consisting of a meat entrée or casserole dish,vegetables,rolls and a special homemade dessert costs$3.50. Staffing of the Kitchen The Center's kitchen relies on volunteers to serve in the lunch program from preparing the food, to serving, to collecting the fees to washing dishes. The chef usually needs a minimum of two volunteers to assist with the serving of the meals. Chef (paid /volunteer) - Plans, and prepares the meals; orders and or grocery shops for the food/kitchen items needed. May have additional duties when volunteers are absent. COPIES TO: ITEM NO. 8.2 C:\Documents and Settings\doras\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK4A\04-07-05 Shamrock Review.doc Asst Chef(volunteer)—Assists chef in preparing the meals including cutting the vegetables,baking and or cutting a cake. S/he may help with serving the food into plates, to serving the seniors directly, to setting and clearing the tables. Server (volunteer) — Takes the food orders, may also take the plate out, and collecting the money. Duties may include setting and clearing the tables. Dishwasher(volunteer)—Prepares and clears the dishwashing area. Helps clear the table, wash the dishes, and put away all the cleaned items. Current Attendance The lunch program attendance varies each day. On Mondays and Fridays, the lunch program averages 10 to 20 patrons and precedes the Bridge Activity. On Tuesdays,the lunch program averages 25 to 45 patrons and caters to three morning activities; the Quilting class, the Poker group, and the Trail Trekkers as well as the afternoon Watercolor Class and Poker group. On Wednesdays, the lunch program mainly serves about an average of 15 afternoon bingo players. On Thursdays, a hot meal serves an average of 10-15 participants of the morning line dance class or the afternoon art class or mah Jong group. An additional 5 to 10 "take out" dinners are often sold on Thursdays. Several single seniors purchase a take out lunch so they won't have to make dinner. Staff noticed that there was a direct correlation in the increase in the attendance of the lunch program when activities were programmed immediately following or preceding the lunch program, when the afternoon BINGO program was introduced at the Senior Center in 2000. The attendance is most evident on Tuesdays because there are up to five different activities scheduled around lunch time. As the Center will double in space, Staff will be able to program more activities, therefore, foresees an increase in attendance accordingly. Patrons from Eden Housing complex will also likely increase the number of regular attendees of the lunch program. Camille Recommendations Staff,Camille Centeno,recommendations are as follows: 1. Emphasize nutritional value of food, have "sugar-free" and "heart healthy" choices. This means obtaining recipes with the nutritional values calculated and following these recipes exactly. 2. Keep current ala carte menu of sandwiches and add more substantial choices. Offer entrée size salads like grilled chicken or shrimp over Caesar salad and"Subway-style" sandwiches. Offer option of buying a pre- fix meal like half a sandwich, a cup of soup and a dessert for$3.50. 3. Keep current menu and also offer a choice of hot or cold sandwiches. For example, offer tuna salad sandwiches and grilled cheese sandwiches on the menu. Also give the option of making that cold tuna sandwich into a hot sandwich, for example,make the cold tuna sandwich into a hot tuna melt sandwich. 4. Keep current menu and add specials. This will take advantage of what's in season, on sale, or what's donated that week. 5. Offer hot meals Monday through Friday, (just like our current Thursday format) in addition to the current menu of sandwiches, however, reservations needed for pre-fix meals. The hot meal menu will vary each week but the a-la-carte sandwiches would be always available and never change. For example, tuna salad and egg salad sandwiches are fast and easy to make. 6. Have one chef in charge of the whole week (budgeted 25-30 hours) from planning the menu to ordering supplies/grocercies. Hire an assistant who will serve as prep cook, dishwasher, and clean-up person. Volunteers will still be needed but operations will run more smoothly. This will keep costs down, reduce friction, and help keep the quality of food consistent. 7. Rent out kitchen to a caterer/restaurateur or cooking school. Stipulate use of kitchen facility contingent on them providing seniors with lunch at a nominal price. This will entice the public at large to the senior center that normally wouldn't come to our facility. This will generate income in the form of rent and we wouldn't have to pay for the expense of a lunch program. COPIES TO: • ITEM NO. 8.2 C:\Documents and Settings\doras\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK4A\04-07-05 Shamrock Review.doc -2- Committee Members Surveyed In this section, Staff will inquire about the eating habits of the Committee Members. Are you a regular customer of the Shamrock Café? Why do you attend the Shamrock Café? Why do you not eat at the Shamrock Café? What types of foods do you like to eat for lunch? What changes can be offered to improve the attendance of the Dublin Senior Center? How much do you spend on average for lunch meals? What recommendations and advice can you share in formulating a new and improved Shamrock Café Lunch Program? Recommendations Receive report and give input. COPIES TO: ITEM NO. 8.2 C:\Documents and Settings\doras\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK4A\04-07-05 Shamrock Review.doc -3 - RESOLUTION NO. 08—04 A RESOLUTION OF THE PARKS& COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN **************** ADOPTING A FEE SCHEDULE FOR SENIOR CENTER.PROGRAMS WHEREAS,the Dublin Senior Center opened it's doors to the public in spring of 1988; and WHEREAS, the Senior Center is open to those 55 years & older and there is no charge to drop- in; and WHEREAS,there are several programs and services for which a fee is charged; and WHEREAS, it is necessary to periodically revise fees to reflect changes in the cost of providing programs and service; and WHEREAS,the proposed fee schedule reflects these changing conditions. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Parks and Community Services Commission of the City of Dublin does hereby adopt the fee schedule as of September 1,2004, as shown below: BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,that Resolution No. 04-02 be rescinded in its entirety., PASSED,APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 19`h day of July,2004. Note: Afternoon Bingo (includes 3 cards @ $1.00 per card plus $0.75 Activity Fee). Bingo 'n Buffet (includes 3 cards @ $1.00 per card plus $3.50 for dinner and $0.75 Activity Fee). Bingo fee adjustments will be made depending on the number of cards played.