Community Services staff continue to strive to provide essential services despite additional reduction of hours. Staff drive meals on wheels routes daily, prepare and pack meals, perform COVID cleaning protocols, and reach out to seniors daily. Phone calls have increase this month due to challenges with scheduling the COVID vaccine. Meals on wheels volunteers and staff were eligible for the vaccine and several are now fully vaccinated.
The Blink EV station is not installed and active at the Sandy Community Center. Staff received a training on tracking of the EV station. This next month Community Services staff will work with SAGE to receive additional training on the app which will be used for the vehicle. We hope to receive the vehicle at the end of March or beginning of April. The application for the vehicle will be run through Envoy.
Senior Services
A significant amount of staff time is being spent on assisting seniors with registering for the COVID vaccine. Information received from the county and local agencies has given staff information which they are using to reach seniors. Most of the challenges the seniors are experiencing include seniors inability to access wifi, limited access to a computer, trouble navigating the website to reserve an appointment, difficulty scheduling an appointment due to lack of transportation and vaccine appointments filling quickly. Staff is reaching seniors daily to assist them with these challenges.
Virtual Tai Chi class kicked off in February. About 10 seniors were able to participate in this Fall Prevention program. The class will increase to twice a week beginning in March. Staff continue to research other virtual programs which we can offer to the seniors.
On February 10th, the weather cooperated for the seniors as they came out for a Valentine Drive Thru at the Community Center. Close to thirty seniors enjoyed treats from Tollgate and received a care package donated by Avamere. The package included a painted rock, pen, a pad of paper and a handmade “Thinking of you” card. These care packages were also sent out to every Meals on Wheels client.
At the end of February, the seniors met at the Japanese Garden (Tsuru Island) at the Gresham Main City Park. They were treated to a private tour from the Garden Director Jim Card. After the tour, the seniors walked along the Springwater Corridor. It was great to have dry weather.
Recreation
Staff is working on summer programming and looking forward to providing the community with new opportunities and some past favorites. The focus will be placed on outdoor classes and camps. Some phasing the return of some past programs is being planned for late Spring. The possibility of Adult Softball being able to return to play this summer will dependent on the availability of the school district fields. As a plan B, it may be possible to schedule stand alone tournaments at the Hoodview Complex if there is interest.
Several Community Recreation organizations are interested in using the fields at the Sandy Community Campus. Staff is working on developing contracts with the organizations to assist in having youth sports return to play.
Special Events
Staff is researching options for the return of past annual events this Spring and Summer. Solve will be offered this April with some changes due to State Risk Level Guidance. Plans are also being developed to offer Noah’s Quest, Longest Day Parkway, 110th Birthday Celebration, Movies in the Park, and Concerts in the Park. These events may look differently in the past as staff develop protocols to stay within State guidelines. Due to a significant decrease in revenue this past biennium, the department may have to make appropriate adjustments to these events.
Parks & Trails Advisory Board
The new board members are in place and we are looking forward to their fresh perspective and ideas. A resource guide was provided to members to help them hit the ground running.
It is an exciting time with the updated Master Plan nearing completion.
Parks & Trails Master Plan
The first draft of the Parks Master Plan had been sent by ESA to Nancy Enabnit, project manager for her to review and send back edits. At the end of February, the draft was also send to city staff and the Technical Advisory Committee. In March, there is a meeting scheduled with the TAC to review the draft.