Iowa City’s senior services committee report lists obstacles, recommendations

IOWA CITY - Over the last nine months, the members of Iowa City's Ad Hoc Senior Services Committee have been analyzing, researching and discussing the many senior services provided in the community.

On Monday, the committee approved the final draft of its report to the Iowa City Council, which contains a list of recommendations.

Joe Younker, chair of the committee, said the main goal has been to evaluate the senior center, to provide the council with recommendations on the use of physical resources, and to identify any obstacles keeping members from accessing the center and providing recommendations.

'We were trying to provide the council with kind of a baseline, identify some additional information that may be needed and take a first pass at gathering some of that information,” Younker said. 'The charge of the committee is broader than the senior center, our charge is to provide comments to council on the services that are offered to seniors in the area, in Iowa City.”

Ultimately, the biggest issue ahead for the center is one shared by many city departments: Projected declines in city revenue may lead to a restructuring of services offered by the city.

'I think the concern is that there will be a lot less money available in the future,” Younker said. 'A number of factors impact the city budget, but the expectation is that available funds will decrease.”

According to the report, the senior center operated with about $778,000 in expenses and less than $210,000 in revenues for fiscal year 2013. Iowa City made up the difference, making for roughly 1 percent of the city's general fund.

The committee's report offers recommendations to council that include reconsidering the fees for members who don't live in Iowa City, exploring ways to generate revenue by renting out senior center meeting and gathering space, increasing overall efficiencies, and seeking additional funds from other municipalities whose residents use the center.

The committee also listed a number of obstacles to members that should be addressed including transportation, expanding diversity, access to the center, and a lack of affordable housing downtown for seniors.

The process of exploring senior services in Iowa City has led to some misconceptions along the way, Younker admitted.

'People were concerned that the charge of the committee was to close the senior center or we received comments that folks were concerned that the committee wanted to repurpose the building,” he said.

Michelle Buhman, senior center program specialist, said she too had noticed some concerns expressed by members of the center.

'Mostly people were really afraid of what's going to happen to their senior center,” she said. 'They just weren't clear in what was happening and why.”

Younker said the concerns raised, which has led to well-attended committee meetings, show just how important the center is to members.

'They're very proud of the center, they're proud of the work it accomplishes, they enjoy the programming and they find it valuable. And they should, the center is a good resource and it serves a very important roll,” he said.