On December 1st, the Community Services Department implemented staffing changes and reduction of hours. Two staff members were effected by layoffs, while four other staff have a reduction in hours beginning December 1st. All staff are currently providing our essential services including meals on wheels, shopping shuttle, and client services for seniors. Additionally, staff are providing virtual classes, information and assistance, making check in phone calls while planning for reopening procedures, activities, and programs. We continue to recruit volunteers for the meals on wheels program but the DHS background checks are currently taking 2-3 months for approval.
Senior Services
Over 1,700 meals were delivered to meals on wheels clients. We have seen a slight decrease in the need for home delivered meals in December as compared with November. This could be due to the freeze and then changes to risk levels from the Governor’s. orders. We also had few clients who passed away this last month as well. Over the holidays, we continued to provide all clients with frozen meals and shelf stable meals. On Christmas Eve, meals on wheels drivers delivered home made cards which were created by the community and dropped off at the library. In addition, Community Center staff sent over 150 homemade cards to local seniors. This really brightened their holiday season. The meals on wheels program also received over $675 in donations from community members. We are overwhelmed with gratitude of the kindness of our community.
The seniors enjoyed another drive thru on December 23rd. Thanks to Starbucks, we served up some piping hot cocoa. Grocery Outlet donated some cookies and whipped cream for the hot cocoa. Over 30 seniors came through with many smiles and some participated in the ugly sweater contest.
Recreation
While recreation programs are currently suspended, we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Planning for summer programs, especially those that can be outdoors, and indoor programs where appropriate and safe. Over the next month staff will be reconnecting with recreation providers, and exploring new programs with providers who have COVID protocols in place. The goal is to have a full menu of programs for summer 2021. We are optimistic that we will be able to safely offer programs for the community as summer approaches.
Publication of the Community and Recreation Guide is on hold until we are back to normal operations. Other means of communicating with residents are in place and allow us to be more nimble, to reach out in a timely manner, and in a variety of ways.
Parks & Trails
The Parks & Trails Advisory Board held interviews for the replacement of 3 outgoing board members. We will be welcoming 4 new members upon council approval to their first meeting scheduled for February 10th. A manual for park board members is in development and its goal is to provide members with resources to help them in their role. With the updated Parks Master Plan on the horizon, the board will be very busy, and it will be exciting to begin to implement the vision of the plan.
Parks & Trails Master Plan
On December 1st, ESA met with city staff to discuss the following agenda items included Capital funding, TSP Coordination, Sandy Style, Acquisition status, Community Engagement review, and undeveloped park conditions and concepts. It was a very productive meeting and appreciate the input from staff. Additionally, TAC held it 5th meeting virtually on December 1st. Discussion included review of the online open house, revisions made to Deer Pointe and Champion way concepts as well as a new concept developed for Ponder Lane, review of Sandy Community Campus concepts, and the overall system of maps. Doug Gabbard with FCS joined the meeting and presented an overall explanations of SDC;s. It was very informative and helpful to the committee. A follow up meeting is scheduled with ESA and FCS to provide some preliminary guidance on the complex SDC options.