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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4.3 - 1315 Senior Center Registration Program Page 1 of 3 STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL DATE: February 21, 2017 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Christopher L. Foss, City Manager SUBJECT: Senior Center Registration Program Prepared by: Micki Cronin, Asst. Director of Parks & Community Services EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council will consider a Registration Program at the Dublin Senior Center. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve the proposed Registration Program at the Dublin Senior Center. FINANCIAL IMPACT: A registration fee would replace the current Supporter program and help to offset the administrative costs to administer the Registration Program and increase payment options. The Registration Program would have two registration levels. The first level would be for an annual individual registration at $20 for residents and $24 for non - residents. The second level would be for a “VIP” registration which includes an individual registration plus two single day facility guest passes for an additional $10. DESCRIPTION: In June 2016, the Senior Center Advisory Committee toured the Cupertino and Fremont senior centers to observe the facilities’ operations and best practices. Staff and Advisory Committee members noticed that both centers utilized a registration program that required patrons to register or check-in upon entrance to the facility. The benefit of this program allows Staff to have an account for visitors entering the facility on a daily basis and obtain emergency contact information for each patron entering the facili ty. In addition to Cupertino and Fremont, many other senior centers, such as in San Ramon, utilize various iterations of a registration program. The Dublin Senior Center currently has a Supporter Program with an annual fee of $9. The benefit of the Supporter Program is to have a hardcopy of the quarterly Senior Center newsletter, ”Dublin Doings,” mailed to each supporter. Page 2 of 3 The proposed Dublin Senior Center Registration Program would require participants to complete a waiver form with emergency contact information on an annual basis. The Registration Program would have two registration levels. The first level would be for an annual individual registration at $20 for residents and $24 for non -residents. The second level would be for a “VIP” registration which includes an individual registration plus two single day facility guest passes for an additional $10. No other medical information is requested nor required. Patrons 85 years and older would receive honorary status in the Program and have no annual f ee. Benefits for Registration Program participants would include: · A registration card that identifies the patron as a part of the program. · Ability to use the registration card to prepay for activities. · The Senior Center’s quarterly newsletter, “Dublin Doings,” emailed or available for pick-up at the Senior Center. · Access during Senior Center hours to shared use of the television, lounge, patios and computer center; free coffee and snacks; attendance to free workshops; use of jigsaw puzzles; and use of the lending library (books, magazines, CDs). · A cost savings incentive to participants who pre-register for a session. In addition, the Registration Program will accomplish two operational objectives. The first objective is to ensure that Staff can account for the persons taking part in scheduled and leisure activities at the Senior Center. Currently patrons entering the Senior Center facility are not accounted for unless they participate in or register for an activity. Should there be a disaster or a medical emergency, it would not be easy for Staff to determine who is in the facility or to know each person’s emergency contact information. The second objective is to improve the efficacy of collecting participant waivers and payments at the Senior Center. Currently, each Senior Center participant must fill out a waiver per day or per activity, and fees are collected for each drop -in class or activity registration. Under the proposed Registration Program, the waiver would be completed on an annual basis and the participant would have the option to pre -pay for activities using their registration card. For those who are not interested in participating in the Registration Program, registering for a day pass would be required at a cost of $5 for leisure use of the facility. This fee would be in addition to any activity or program fee(s), excluding the lunch program. At the August 4 and October 6, 2016 meetings, the Senior Center Advisory Committee discussed the Registration Program, and heard public comment regarding the Program. By a vote of 3-1-0, with CM Krausnick absent, the Senior Center Advisory Committee recommended the establishment of a Senior Center Registration Program. On November 14, 2016, the Parks and Community Services Commission voted 6-0-0 to recommend establishment of a Senior Center Registration Program as proposed by the Page 3 of 3 Senior Center Advisory Committee. If approved, the Registration Program would begin July 1, 2017. Staff preparation is currently underway with marketing and promotional efforts, as well as educating and explaining the benefits to the public. Special registration days will be available at the Senior Center to help patrons register for the program and demonstrate how to load funds onto the registration card. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: None. ATTACHMENTS: None.