HomeMy WebLinkAboutCDN 2019-02-26 Item 2A - Update - Needs Assessment for Older Adult Recreation and Services with King County Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy GrantCity of Tukwila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Community Development and Neighborhoods Committee
FROM: Rick Still, Parks and Recreation Director
BY: Stephanie Gardner — Brown, Parks and Recreation Analyst
CC: Mayor Ekberg
DATE: February 20, 2019
SUBJECT: Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy
ISSUE
Progress update on King County Department of Community and Human Services Division
Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy projects.
BACKGROUND
In September 2018 Parks and Recreation entered into contract 18-210 with the King County
Department of Community and Human Services Division to receive grant funds in the amount of
$77,500 from the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL). The VSHSL is a
voter approved six -year property tax levy that envisions senior centers in King County as
inclusive central hubs where diverse groups of older adults can form community and access a
variety of senior programming and services.
VSHSL funding was requested for two purposes:
1. Perform minor capital improvements at the Tukwila Community Center to update or
enhance accessibility by installing automatic door opening devices into main restrooms
and replacing automatic door opening devices at two primary entrances into the
facility.
2. Address needs and trends of Tukwila's older adult populations through the
implementation of an Older Adult Recreation and Services Needs Assessment.
DISCUSSION
In January 2019 staff coordinated the installation and upgrade of automatic door opening
devices at the Tukwila Community Center. Each primary entrance to the Center was upgraded
to a motion sensor activated opening system. Additionally, the west end men's and women's
restrooms, located near the social hall, had motion sensor activated opening systems installed.
The new systems are user-friendly, and staff expects they will better meet patron needs.
In November staff requested proposals seeking an individual or consulting firm to complete an
Older Adult Recreation and Services Needs Assessment. After the search process, Staff
entered into a contract 19-003 with BERK Consulting (BERK) in early January 2019.
Throughout January BERK has been completing a situation assessment to gather demographic,
economic, social, and healthy data to better understand and forecast potential demand for
recreation services for older adults in Tukwila. The situation assessment includes quantitative
INFORMATIONAL MEMO
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and qualitative information gathered from interviews and publicly available data from a variety of
sources. BERK has focused on contacting organizations that service diverse communities in
Tukwila.
Throughout February BERK has focused on performing outreach and engagement efforts to
connect with and hear from older adults with diverse racial, ethnic, language, and socio-
economic backgrounds. BERK has attended and participated in a variety of pre -planned
recreation programs and social gatherings to engage in one on one and group conversations
with older adults regarding their recreation, activity, and service needs.
In addition to the situation assessment and outreach efforts, BERK has been working with a
stakeholder's group, several Tukwila based organizations, and city staff to gather information for
the draft needs assessment. The draft assessment will pull together data and information from
situation assessment and outreach efforts to develop recommendations for prioritizing and
implementing recreational services. This will be paired with an estimate of costs involved in
maintaining and expanding recreation services for older adults. Together, this information may
be utilized to apply for future funding from the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy to
further enhance a senior center hub for Tukwila residents. The Final Needs Assessment is
expected at the end of March 2019.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Matching funds were not required to receive levy funding and no direct City funds will be
attributed to the two projects described.
RECOMMENDATION
At this time, no recommendation is requested, and content provided is for discussion only.
ATTACHMENTS
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Z:\Council Agenda Items\Parks and Recreation \VSHSL Info Memo 2.26.19,doc