Norman Forward Senior Center Ad Hoc Advisory Group Meeting

Norman Forward Senior Center Ad Hoc Advisory Group February 13, 2019 The Norman Forward Senior Center Ad Hoc Advisory Group of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in the Multi-Purpose Room on the 13th day of February, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. and notice and agenda of the meeting were posted at 201 West Gray Street, 24 hours prior to the beginning of the meeting. ITEM 1, being: CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Present: Chairperson Hobson and Members Bonner, Jewell, and Knudsen Absent: Member Terry Others Present: Mayor Lynn Miller, Mayor-Elect Breea Clark, Dave Boeck, Interested Citizen, Mark Campbell, Interested Citizen, Julia Izarraraz, OU Student, and Kent Nicholson, NPS Swim Coach Staff Present: Jud Foster, Director of Parks and Recreation, Sandi Lasseter, Senior Center Supervisor, and Karla Sitton, Administrative Technician IV ITEM 2, being: REVIEW OF MINUTES FROM JANUARY 31, 2019 MEETING Member Knudsen made the motion seconded by Member Jewell to approve the minutes. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairperson Hobson and Members Bonner, Jewell, and Knudsen NAY: None ITEM 3, being: UPDATE SENIOR CENTER VISIONING SESSION Chairperson Hobson felt a senior center should be a gathering spot, focal point, and is an essential element to a successful long and livable community that facilitates a high quality of life for all residents. Chairperson Hobson said there are dimensions of wellness to include emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, physical, and occupational; so as we bring together our senior committee, let us focus on moving that forward and let us remember our community as a whole. Chairperson Hobson introduced Kent Nicholson and said she invited him to attend today’s meeting because he is a swim coach and felt he could offer valuable comments and/or suggestions regarding proposed swimming pool(s) being constructed as part of the Norman Forward initiative, whether at the Indoor Aquatic Facility or at a Senior Center. Mr. Nicholson felt the new Senior Center, Indoor Aquatic Facility and Multi-Sports Facility will be really great for Norman. NF Senior Citizen Ad Hoc February 13, 2019 Mayor-Elect Breea Clark said she is happy to be at today’s meeting and whole-heartedly supports a Senior Center. She also likes the idea of having an annual Senior Center Visioning Session (SCVS). Jud Foster, Director of Parks and Recreation, said the City is very excited about the upcoming SCVS. He said the initial date was March 22nd; however, the date had to be rescheduled to March 15th at the Moore Norman Technology Center (MNTC) located at 4701 12th Avenue N.W. Mr. Foster said he will have more pertinent information, such as time, speakers, etc., in the near future. He felt when the City hires a Design Team, they will want to have several future meetings in order to gain public input, not only for the Senior Center but for the Indoor Aquatic and Multi-Purpose Facilities as well. He said he has contacted and plans to visit NCED soon as an alternative meeting site if necessary. Mr. Foster said he has contacted Jill Jackson Ledford, a Planning Consultant from South Carolina who has a long work history with senior citizens and senior centers to facilitate the SCVS. He said she will be sending more information and a work agreement soon. Mayor Miller said she is excited for Ms. Jackson Ledford to come and facilitate and said she felt she is very familiar with the best and different types of senior centers all over the country. Mr. Foster said the SCVS will begin as workshop type session in the morning –to discuss recent project examples and trends for senior centers. He said after a couple of hours we will break for lunch and plan to have food on site for those in attendance. Mr. Foster said Mike Dover with OKC MAPS Senior Wellness Center on Rockwell will be the first speaker in the afternoon and the next speaker will be an operating group representative with OKC MAPS Senior Wellness Center on Rockwell. He said similar input sessions in 2016 led to the conceptual design and future project input will drive the design. Mr. Foster said there will be time at the end of the SCVS for people to give comments and/or ask questions. Mayor Miller said she also reached out to the YMCA to speak about their operations. Chairperson Hobson echoed several public meetings will be held in order for the Design Team to know what is envisioned and she liked the idea of time at the end for people to give/get input. Member Knudsen said she has spoken to Byron Jackson who is a facilitator/mediator and he would work the SCVS meetings. Mr. Foster said Ms. Jackson Ledford will be the facilitator but may want others to help. Mr. Dave Boeck asked if senior citizens will be invited to the SCSV to give input about what they would like to have in a senior center and Mr. Foster said absolutely. Mr. Boeck asked whether Ms. Jackson Ledford, the planning consultant, will put all the information and input from the SCSV together and Mr. Foster said yes. Member Knudsen said the faith community is a good start to locate and invite senior citizens and she can ask local churches to put the SCSV on their bulletins. Mr. Foster said he appreciates the enthusiasm; however, we are not quite ready for that just yet since everything needs to be nailed down, i.e., time, speakers, etc. He said the Parks and Recreation Department also has a contract with BOLD Multimedia and they will assist with advertising the SCSV. Mr. Foster assured everyone that the City is moving as quickly as possible and Chairperson Hobson agreed. She said to let the Committee know what he needs as they stand ready to help. Mr. Foster said the City will be mailing out flyers about the SCSV soon and suggested the Committee begin gathering names and addresses of individuals and/or organized groups who may be interested in attending. Chairperson Hobson felt Rotary groups would be a good place to seek names and addresses. Mayor Miller said 21st Century has an extensive email list that can be utilized and also suggested having people who attend the SCSV sign in and give their mailing addresses and/or email addresses for future mailings. Mr. Foster said names and addresses that the Committee gathers can be emailed to Karla Sitton at the Parks and Recreation Office. NF Senior Citizen Ad Hoc February 13, 2019 Mayor-Elect Clark said the City should send a press release out about the SCSV and Jud said yes, Staff will do so as well as put the information on the City’s website. Mayor Miller said the City could also advertise the SCSV on the radio with KGOU and NPR. Member Knudsen said another component that cannot be ignored during the SCSV is the grandparent/grandchildren connection and the Committee agreed. Mark Campbell, concerned citizen, said salt water pools are healthier and less expensive and asked why a salt water pool is not being considered. Chairperson Hobson said a salt water pool is still being considered and Mr. Foster agreed, stating that component will be discussed at length at the right time. Mayor Miller said one of the most important things to remember is the SCSV will be a “process” and she would like to see it become an annual event. She thinks it would be wonderful to have 200+ people in attendance. Mayor Miller said the City of Norman recently hired Jack McMahan as an accessibility coordinator and he will begin in March. She felt Mr. McMahan will also have a lot of great input for the new senior center. Mr. Foster said Mr. McMahan is also working on the Ruby Grant Park plan as it will have an all-inclusive component to the play area as well as many other aspects of the park. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 4, being: MISCELLANEOUS Mr. Foster said the MNTC will be free, however lunch will not be. Mayor-Elect Clark asked whether sponsors could help fund the SCSV event, specifically the food and Mr. Foster said yes. Mayor-Elect Clark suggested passing out goody-bags filled with resources to those in attendance. Mr. Boeck said AARP is always willing to help sponsor senior events and said he would contact them about sponsoring as well as goody-bags. Chairperson Hobson suggested having items/gifts to raffle at the SCSV, i.e., blood pressure machine, blood lab work, etc. The Committee discussed and determined the next meeting will be February 27, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. ________________________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 5, being: ADJOURNMENT Member Knudson made the motion seconded by Member Bonner to adjourn. The vote was taken with the following results: YEAH: Chairperson Hobson and Members Bonner, Jewell, and Knudsen NAY: None Passed and approved this ____________of ________________________ 2019 Gale Hobson, Chairperson