Aug 07, 2023 Senior Citizens Commission

[00:00:01]

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

[DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL TO ORDER]

EXCUSE ME. MONDAY, AUGUST 7TH.

WE HAVE A QUORUM, SO I'M CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 11:30.

PERFECT. FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE SENIOR COMMISSION MEETING FOR

[1. Discussion and possible action on the minutes of the Senior Citizen Commission meeting of June 5, 2023.]

I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES.

SECOND. ITEM AGENDA PASSED.

AGENDA ITEM TWO.

HOLD ON. OH, SORRY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF.

YOU'RE FINE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES AS IS, SAY AYE.

AYE. ANYONE DENY? THAT MOTION CARRIES.

ALWAYS FORGET THAT PART.

SORRY. YOU'RE FINE.

OKAY, NOW MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM TWO DISCUSSION OF SENIOR PROGRAMING BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2023 AND 2024.

[2. Discussion on Senior Programming budget for fiscal year 2023-2024.]

SO THIS INCLUDES THE CITY, THE SENIOR PROGRAMING BUDGETS TO THE AND WE MET ALREADY WITH ABLC ON JUNE 10TH AND THEN COUNCIL REVIEWED ON JULY 8TH AS WELL.

AND SO FINAL BUDGET DISCUSSIONS IF NECESSARY WITH COUNCIL WILL TAKE PLACE IN AUGUST AND THEN AT THE SEPTEMBER 12TH MEETING FOR COUNCIL, THE YEAR WILL BE THE BUDGET WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR ADOPTION.

AND SO SOME NOTABLE CHANGES THAT WE WANTED JUST TO PRESENT TO YOU GUYS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT MAKING INCREASES FOR, PARTICULARLY FOR THE SENIOR PROGRAM BUDGET IS INCREASES TO THE CHRISTMAS PARTY AS WELL AS THE VALENTINE SOCIAL THE SUMMER PARTY AS WELL, DAY TRIPS AND A SECOND OVERNIGHT TRIP AS WELL.

AND THESE ARE 20% INCREASES DUE TO INFLATION.

THE JUST A QUESTION ON THE OVERNIGHT TRIPS, WHEN YOU SAY A SECOND ONE, DOES THAT MEAN A SECOND ONE FOR THE WHOLE YEAR? YES. SO WE'RE RIGHT NOW WE'RE CURRENTLY TAKING ONE TRIP.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT TAKING A SECOND ONE.

SO HAVING TWO TRIPS FOR THE FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

OKAY. WELL, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS.

YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT PAGE 5.

YEAH. SO THERE'S AN INCREASE FOR OVERNIGHT TRIPS OF $2,500.

SO THE. THE ADDITIONAL PAPERS THAT WERE PRESENTED IN YOUR PACKET THAT HAVE THE MDSS AT THE TOP.

THESE ARE OUR NEW BUDGET SHEETS.

THIS WAS THE PROPOSAL FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

SO THESE ARE THE PROPOSED AMOUNTS.

IT'S OUR FULL BUDGET THAT COVERS OUR ENTIRE RECREATION DIVISION.

IF YOU'LL LOOK ON PAGE 7 AT THE BOTTOM, THERE IS AN AREA THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED THAT IT'S PRETTY SMALL, BUT IT'S NUMBERED 417. THAT IS PARTICULARLY THE SENIOR PROGRAM.

AND SO NUMBERS THAT YOU'LL SEE THERE IS WHAT WE HAVE PROPOSED FOR THIS PAST YEAR.

WHAT WE HAD, I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE ESTIMATE WHERE WE WERE SITTING FOR THE FOR THE YEAR.

WE DO LOOK AT SPENDING THE FULL BUDGET THAT WE WE HAD FOR THIS YEAR, WHICH IS THE $11,000, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. YES.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SPENDING THAT FULL AMOUNT THIS YEAR.

AND THEN WE HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR $18,000, WHICH IS A 72% INCREASE FROM WHAT WE HAD BUDGETED FOR THIS YEAR.

AND THEN ON THE FRONT PAGE, AS WE SAID, THOSE CHANGES, THOSE NOTABLE EXPENSES, THOSE ARE THE INCREASES THAT WILL THAT MAKE UP WHAT WE ARE REQUESTING? SO CHRISTMAS PARTIES, SOCIALS, $800 INCREASE FOR DAY TRIPS AND THEN OFFERING A SECOND OVERNIGHT TRIP.

AND AGAIN, THESE ARE PROPOSALS.

AND SO WE HAVE PRESENTED THEM TO ABLC ON JUNE 10TH AND THEY WERE PRESENTED FOR A FIRST TIME ON JULY 8TH FOR REVIEW.

NO DEFINITE DECISIONS WERE MADE AT THE COUNCIL MEETING ON JULY 8TH.

[00:05:03]

FINAL BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, AS MENTIONED, WILL TAKE PLACE THIS MONTH AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL ADOPTING THE BUDGET IN SEPTEMBER.

OKAY. CAN I. [INAUDIBLE] DO YOU MIND SPEAKING IN THE MICROPHONE, ARCHIE.

YOU'RE ONLY ASKING FOR ONE TRIP BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN? THE END OF THE YEAR.

IT'LL BE. IF APPROVED, IT'LL BE OCTOBER 1ST OF THIS YEAR THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF NEXT YEAR.

SO OCTOBER 23 TO SEPTEMBER 24.

YES. IT'LL BE TWO OVERNIGHT TRIPS.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OVERNIGHT TRIPS.

YEAH, BUT SHE'S TALKING FROM OCTOBER.

THE NEW BUDGET STARTS SEPTEMBER THE NEXT YEAR.

CORRECT. THE NEW BUDGET STARTS.

THERE'S ONLY GOING TO BE TWO IN THAT TIME FRAME.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT TRIPS, TOO, ON THE LAST AGENDA ITEM, BUT OVERNIGHT TRIPS THAT INCREASE ALONE IS $2,500 AND WE'RE ALREADY AT $11,000.

THAT MAKES UP THE BUDGET.

SO WE'RE REQUESTING A 72% INCREASE, WHICH WILL BE AT $18,000.

LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.

WHEN YOU HAVE AN OVERNIGHT TRIP, YOU CHARGE $170 OR $150 A PERSON.

AND THAT SUPPOSEDLY TAKES CARE OF THAT TRIP.

THAT'S THE MONEY THAT SHOULD GO INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AND COME OUT TO PAY FOR THAT ACCOUNT.

SO THERE SHOULD BE NO NEED TO ATTACH ANY OF THE MONEY FROM THE $11,000 THAT YOU'RE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN. YOU SHOULD BE COLLECTING ENOUGH MONEY TO COVER THE TRIP.

AND AND IF YOU'RE DOING THAT, THEN YOU CAN HAVE 20 TRIPS AND NEVER ARCHIE.

WE DISCUSSED THE WAY THEIR BUDGET WORKS BEFORE AND AND I KNOW, BUT THEY'RE STILL PUTTING MONEY IN AND SPENDING MONEY OUT OF THE SAME HOLE.

SO IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S JUST ONE HOLE.

THEY'RE PUTTING OUR ANNUAL EXPENDITURE BUDGET.

WE'RE GIVEN AN ANNUAL EXPENDITURE BUDGET SO THAT MONEY COMES IN AND THEN THE REVENUES THAT GOES OUT.

BUT THE MONEY THAT WE TAKE IN FOR REVENUES DOES GO TOWARDS NEXT YEAR OF BEING ABLE TO GO ON TRIPS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

AND ALSO WHAT WE CHARGE FOR WHEN IT COMES TO TRIPS COUNCIL'S DIRECTIVE WAS THAT WE DO WE ONLY CHARGE SENIORS THE AMOUNT OF WHETHER IT'S THE ROOM OR THE TICKET SO WE DON'T COVER THE CITY SUBSIDIZES OR ABLC SUBSIDIZES THE COSTS THAT GO TOWARDS GAS, TOWARDS PAYING FOR A SECOND DRIVER THAT GOES TOWARDS PAYING THE CHAPERONS ROOM, THAT GOES TOWARDS PAYING FOR THE CHAPERONS MEAL.

THOSE ITEMS, THOSE EXPENSES ARE NOT COVERED BY THE SENIORS.

THOSE EXPENSES ARE SUBSIDIZED BY ABLC.

SO THE FIRST PROBLEM IS INCREASE EVERYBODY'S PRICE SO THAT ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE COVERED.

WE CAN'T, UNFORTUNATELY, TALK ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.

ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD.

DO IT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET? I'M ADDING UP THESE TOTALS.

AND IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR $8,000 MORE AND THIS IS THE EXPENSES HERE TO INCREASE, WHERE'S THE OTHER MONEY GOING? SO DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY? AND THAT'S THE 20% ON ALL THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE].

OKAY, SO THAT'S LIKE BINGO THAT WE HAVE.

WE DO BUNCO AS WELL.

TUESDAYS HAVE BECOME OUR BREAKFAST DAYS AS WELL.

SO THAT IS INCLUDED IN THERE AS WELL.

I PERSONALLY THINK THIS VERY GENEROUS 72% INCREASE IS QUITE A BIT.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S VERY GENEROUS THAT THEY'VE INCLUDED ALL OF THAT.

THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? NOPE. OKAY.

[3. Discussion and possible action on the Jan 2024 – September 2024 Senior Lunch & Trip Plan]

YES. SO WE CAN START OFF THE FIRST PAGE.

[00:10:02]

SO IN GREEN AT THE TOP, YOU WILL SEE THAT THESE ARE THE RESTAURANTS THAT WE WILL BE ATTENDING OR WE HAVE PLANNED TO ATTEND ALONG WITH THE POPULARITY VOTE.

SO THIS INCLUDES VOTES THAT CAME OR SUGGESTIONS THAT CAME FROM THE COMMISSION AS WELL AS SENIORS THAT CAME TO OUR SILVER HEARTS MEETING.

SILVER HEARTS CLUB MEETING AND JUST OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE GIVEN US FEEDBACK AS WELL.

AND AT THE VERY BOTTOM, YOU'LL SEE THE ONES IN RED ARE THOSE THAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN TO.

SO WE MAY NOT BE ATTENDING THOSE QUICKLY AGAIN.

AND THEN AT THE TOP, I HAVE A LEGEND FOR YOU BASED UPON PRICING.

SO RECOMMENDATIONS, WE UTILIZE THE GOOGLE PRICING LEGEND OF HOW EXPENSIVE THE TRIP WOULD BE.

AND SO THAT'S THE FIRST PAGE IS IN REGARDS TO LUNCH BUNCHES.

YOUR SECOND PAGE IS IN REGARD TO DAY TRIPS THAT WE HAVE RECOMMENDED AS PLANNED.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVE PRICING INCLUDED.

AND WHEN WE WENT AHEAD AND INCLUDED SOME OF THE.

RESTAURANTS AS WELL THAT WE PLAN TO VISIT JUST BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO HIT AREAS THAT WHERE SENIORS HAD MENTIONED WE WANT TO GO TO WE CAN ONLY GO TO SO MANY LUNCH BUNCHES IN THE YEAR. SO WE TRY TO ADD THOSE IN AS ADDITIONAL STOPS TO COVER.

AND THEN AT THE BOTTOM AGAIN IN RED ARE THOSE THAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN TO THAT KIND OF CAME UP AGAIN IN REQUEST.

DO NOTE THAT APRIL AND SEPTEMBER DO NOT HAVE TRIPS PLANNED BECAUSE THOSE ARE MONTHS SECURED FOR OVERNIGHT TRIPS.

A NOTE THAT ON THE BOLIVAR FERRY TOUR AND STINGAREE RESTAURANT, I'VE HEARD THAT STINGAREE IS CLOSED, SO THAT MIGHT NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

CAN WE MAKE A NOTE OF THAT? WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT AND WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU.

YEAH, THAT'S OKAY.

YOU SAID, WHAT IN SEPTEMBER ARE GOING TO BE OVERNIGHT TRIPS? APRIL IN SEPTEMBER WILL BE SECURED FOR OVERNIGHT TRIPS.

SO YOU WON'T HAVE A DAY TRIP THAT MONTH.

IS THAT WHAT THAT MEANS? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. AND THEN YOUR LAST TRIP INCLUDES OVERNIGHT TRIP RECOMMENDATIONS.

AGAIN, WE ARE SCHEDULING TO TAKE TWO THIS YEAR BASED UPON BUDGET PROPOSAL AND APPROVAL.

AND SO, AGAIN, WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN IDEA OF ROOM COSTS OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

AND SO THIS IS BASED UPON APPROXIMATE HOTEL PRICING.

AGAIN, THINGS CHANGE.

SO WE TRY TO DO IT AS BEST TO WHAT IS CURRENTLY ON WHAT IS CURRENTLY FOR THOSE MONTHS TO BE RENTED.

AND I GAVE YOU ALL APPROXIMATE PRICING JUST FOR 12 ROOMS. 12 ROOMS IS USUALLY THE AMOUNT THAT WE RENT OR BLOCK FOR OUR TRIPS.

AND THAT GIVES YOU A SNAPSHOT OF THE APPROXIMATE PRICING JUST TO SHOW LIKE HOW MUCH OF THE BUDGET OF THAT $18,000 THAT WOULD TAKE UP.

YOU GOT ONE THING ON THE OVERNIGHT TRIPS THAT I SUGGESTED THAT PERSONALLY SUGGESTED IS JUST A DAY TRIP GOING TO SHANGRI-LA IN ORANGE.

OKAY. I DON'T I DON'T SEE THE NECESSITY TO HAVE THAT BE AN OVERNIGHT TRIP.

YEAH, IT'S A TWO HOUR DRIVE, BUT, YOU KNOW, TWO HOURS THERE AND TWO HOURS BACK AND.

YEAH, DEFINITELY.

AND THEY HAVE A RIVER THAT OR KIND OF A CREEK THAT RUNS THROUGH IT WHERE THEY HAVE A BOAT.

I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT THING FOR, LIKE, SPRINGTIME.

YEAH.

ANY DISCUSSION THAT YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND? WHAT CASINO ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT GOING TO IN LOUISIANA FOR THE OVERNIGHT TRIP? HOTEL FOR YOUR OVERNIGHT TRIP IN LOUISIANA.

THE GOLDEN NUGGET.

GOLDEN NUGGET GOLDEN.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO STAY? GOLDEN NUGGET.

THE GOLDEN NUGGET HAS HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS ALONGSIDE WITH IT.

[00:15:01]

THAT'S WHY THEY PUT $200 A NIGHT FOR THE ROOM.

SO YEAH, I'M LOOKING AT GOING IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH IS IN THE FALL TIME AND THEN ALSO DURING THE WEEK, NOT GOING ON A WEEKEND.

AND THEN THE GOOD THING ABOUT STAYING THERE IS THAT THE POOL OFFERING IS OPEN FOR FOLKS TO ENJOY.

IF THERE'S RESTAURANTS, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF SHOPPING, AND THEN THE [INAUDIBLE] CASINO IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR AS WELL THAT IS WITHIN WALKABLE DISTANCE.

AND THEN THERE'S A BEACH ON THE BACK SIDE AS WELL ON A BOARDWALK THAT CAN BE WALKED ON AS WELL.

THAT'S NICE.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING MORE TO SAY ON THIS? OKAY. [INAUDIBLE] ALL RIGHT.

ANY. I NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

WHY ARE YOU NOT DOING MORE OVERNIGHT? IT'S BASED UPON HOW MUCH WE HAVE.

SO THE APPROXIMATE OVERNIGHT TRIP COSTS ABOUT $2,500 IS WHAT AT THE MOST? AND YOU COLLECT THAT FROM THE PEOPLE WHO GO.

IS THAT NOT CORRECT? NO, SIR. WE DO COLLECT FEES, BUT.

YOU ONLY COLLECT HALF THE MONEY.

OUR EXPENDITURE. OUR EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT ALLOWS US TO SPEND, BUT IT DOES.

THE REVENUE THAT WE COLLECT DOES NOT GO BACK INTO THAT EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT.

IT GOES INTO A SEPARATE REVENUE ACCOUNT THAT WE CANNOT TOUCH AND THAT ACCOUNT IS UTILIZED, GOES TO ABLC FOR THE NEXT YEAR TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW US TO HAVE EXPENDITURES FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

SO THAT WOULD BE WHAT WE'RE SPENDING NOW.

IS LAST YEAR'S MONEY? YES, SIR. YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. NOW, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO ON A TRIP UNTIL YOU TRY TO GET PEOPLE SO YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND.

SO YOU DIDN'T PUT ENOUGH MONEY INTO LAST YEAR'S ACCOUNT TO PAY FOR THIS YEAR'S TRIPS.

HOW DOES THAT WORK? THAT'S NOT CORRECT.

WHAT WE DO IS WE THE MOST THAT WE CAN TAKE ON A TRIP IS 20 PEOPLE.

WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGET.

IF WE FIND THAT IT'S A FREE TRIP, ESPECIALLY IF VICKI IS ABLE TO DRIVE, OR SO WE SAY THAT WE BUDGETED $100 TO GO, BUT WE'RE SAVING MONEY BECAUSE VICKI IS DRIVING. THAT'S WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO BRING IN THE SECOND BUS TO COME IN.

BUT WE ALWAYS BUDGET OUR MAX TO BE ABOUT 20 TO 22 PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHAT WE BUDGET FOR OUR MAX.

SO IF ONLY 15 PEOPLE GO, WE HAVE AT LEAST KNOW THAT WE'VE COVERED OUR COSTS FOR A FULL BUS OF 20 PEOPLE.

OKAY. HOW IS IT WE WERE ABLE TO DO 11 TRIPS A YEAR AND HANDLE 11 TRIPS A YEAR WITH LESS BUDGET THAN WE HAVE NOW.

SO I WILL TELL YOU, POST COVID INFLATION, IT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL IN REGARDS TO THE SUPPLIES THAT WE PURCHASE.

IN THE PAST, WE DIDN'T HAVE A COST RECOVERY MODEL IN PLACE.

WE ALSO HAD A LARGER BUDGET AS WELL.

SO AFTER THE 2020 YEAR OF COVID, OUR BUDGET DID GET CUT TREMENDOUSLY.

AND SO NOW WE ALSO WHEN WE HAD COVID, OUR REVENUES, OUR REC CENTER CLOSED DOWN FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS, I WOULD SAY, AND WE WEREN'T BRINGING IN REVENUES LIKE WE DID. SO THOSE REVENUES THAT COME IN THAT HELP US PAY FOR THE NEXT YEAR, ABLC HAD TO SUBSIDIZE.

JASON. DON'T GET ME WRONG, IT WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

I WOULD SAY PROBABLY OVER $500,000 OR SO THAT WE HAD TO GO INTO ABLC'S RESERVES TO PAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE NEXT YEAR.

AND SO WHEN WE USE THOSE ABLC RESERVES, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SOME REVENUE TO GET THOSE THOSE NUMBERS BACK UP.

SO WE HAVE TO SLOWLY BUILD EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE BACK UP.

ALSO, ONE OF HER FOCUSES IS MORE ON BRINGING SENIORS INTO THE REC CENTER SO THAT CUTS DOWN ON THE MONEY FOR THE TRIPS.

WE DO HAVE A POINT IS IT DOESN'T CUT CUT DOWN THE MONEY FOR THE TRIP.

IT DOES BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEIR BUDGET WORKS AND NOT IF YOU CHARGE ME $150 FOR A TRIP THAT PAYS FOR EVERYTHING. AND THEN IF IT DOESN'T CHARGE ME $200.

I KNOW, BUT THAT DOESN'T THEY CAN CHARGE YOU $7,000 AND IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT THAT MONEY THAT COMES OUT OF THEIR BUDGET.

[00:20:04]

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY? SHE TOLD YOU THAT YOU.

THE MONEY THAT THEY COLLECT FOR THIS YEAR GOES INTO THE BUDGET FOR THE FOR THE NEXT YEARS.

SO THE REVENUES THAT WE BRING IN ASSIST WITH THE BUDGET FOR THE SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER 24 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 25 YEAR.

I GIVE UP. YES.

SO ABLC DOESN'T HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE AS MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. JUST TO TELL YOU WHAT MY CONCERN IS.

I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO GET SPONSORS FOR THE SENIOR PROGRAM TO GET SOMEBODY NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CITY AS SUCH TO PAY FOR THE TRIPS.

MY GOAL IS TO GET A FREE TRIP TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN GOING ON THE TRIPS BECAUSE WE HAVE A SPONSOR THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, WE'LL PAY FOR IT.

OKAY, I CAN'T GO TO ANYBODY OUT THERE AND ASK THEM TO GIVE ME MONEY THAT YOU WANT ME TO PUT IN AN ABLC ACCOUNT. AND HAVE NO ACCESS TO FOR THIS TO WORK.

I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THAT SPONSOR AND SAY THIS IS GOING TO GO TO THE SENIOR PROGRAM AND SOMEBODY IN THE SENIOR PROGRAM HAS GOT TO BE IN CONTROL OF THAT MONEY, NOT THE SOMEBODY ELSE IN THE CITY.

IT HAS TO BE WHERE YOU CAN DO THAT.

YOU CAN GO. JASON'S GOING TO GIVE SOME SOME INPUT ON SPONSORS.

I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT YOU TRYING TO FIND SPONSORS FOR DIFFERENT THINGS.

WHAT'S THE STATUS ON THAT? SO THE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM IS SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING TO KICK OFF COME THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR, THIS PAST YEAR.

SO STARTING OCTOBER, STARTING OCTOBER, YEAH.

SO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH GERI HANDS ON FOR THIS ONE TO GET THAT PROGRAM REALLY OFF AND RUNNING.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THOSE THINGS ARE COMING AND THE DEVELOPMENT IS THERE AND THAT'S HOW SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY CAN WORK.

BUT YOU HAVE TO ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE COST OF THE TRIP THAT COMES INTO PLAY, THAT A SPONSORSHIP MAY NOT PAY FOR THE COST OF STAFF GOING THROUGH AND RESEARCHING THE DIFFERENT TRIPS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO ON OR PAYING FOR THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF.

SO NOT ALL SPONSORSHIP JUST GOES STRAIGHT INTO THAT.

SO IT'S NOT THAT IT CAN'T ASSIST WITH THAT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN JUST BECAUSE WE SEEK A SPONSORSHIP, IT'S GOING TO MAKE SENSE.

I WOULD USE THE EXAMPLE OF IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO SPONSOR SOMETHING AT THE REC CENTER AND THEY HAVE A REVOLUTIONARY WAY OF CLEANING THE POOL AND SOMEBODY WANTS TO SPONSOR THAT, THAT MAY NOT MAKE SENSE FOR OUR FACILITY.

SO NOT ALL SPONSORSHIPS ALWAYS FALL IN LINE, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO SUPPLEMENT OTHER THINGS TO BE ABLE TO STRETCH OUR BUDGET FARTHER, TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IS DOING SPONSORSHIP FOR OUR SOCIALS SO THAT WAY WE CAN START TO UTILIZE SOME OF THAT MONEY IN OTHER PLACES AND SEE HOW THAT WORKS.

BUT DO KEEP IN MIND THAT AGAIN, THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE THAT COMES FROM THAT, FROM HAVING VICKI GO THROUGH AND DO THE RESEARCH ON THAT OR GOING ON OVERNIGHT TRIPS TAKES AWAY FROM HER ABILITY TO RUN SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS. AND WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT A HOLISTIC APPROACH OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE CAN IMPACT.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, TRIPS DOESN'T REACH THE MASSES VERSUS SOME OF THE ONES YOU SAW THAT WE INCREASED WAS OUR SOCIALS.

OUR SOCIALS ARE STARTING TO INCREASE, SO WE WANT TO MOVE MONEY TO THAT, TO WHERE IF WE EXPAND TO HAVE 150, 200 PEOPLE COMING TO THOSE, WE MAY NOT HAVE THE SPACE AT THE REC CENTER AND WE'LL HAVE TO GO ELSEWHERE.

WHEREAS A TRIP INCREASING FROM 10 PEOPLE TO 15 ISN'T ALWAYS THE SAME KIND OF IMPACT.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AS A HOLISTIC APPROACH OF PROGRAMS, TRIPS, LUNCH BUNCH, A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

YOU WANT ME TO GO TO DOW CHEMICAL AND TELL THEM THAT YOU'RE TAKING A HOLISTIC I CAN'T EVEN SAY THE WORD HOLISTIC, HOLISTIC APPROACH TO TRIPS OVERNIGHT OR TO GATHERINGS.

ALL I WANT FROM THEM IS MONEY.

I DON'T WANT THEM TO CONTROL ANYTHING.

I WANT THEM JUST TO GIVE MONEY.

AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT EITHER.

WORRY ABOUT HOW YOU SPEND IT, BUT GOING TO A DOW WAS GOING TO ASK THE QUESTIONS OF THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON THE COMMUNITY.

AND IF I CAN GO TO DOW AND TELL THEM THAT I'M GOING TO IMPACT 150 RESIDENTS VERSUS 15, THEY'RE GOING TO TELL ME THEY WANT THEIR MONEY TO GO TO 150 RESIDENTS VERSUS 15 TRYING TO SELL THAT PITCH TO THEM THAT, YES, THEY MAY HAVE MONEY AND I WOULD LOVE TO APPROACH THEM AS WELL.

[00:25:03]

AND THEY'RE NOT ALL JUST GOING TO GIVE THAT AWAY.

YEAH. SO YOU'RE ASKING FOR THAT KIND OF MONEY.

I MEAN, IF IT WAS JUST A DOOR PRIZE OR SOMETHING, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, OKAY HERE.

BUT AND IT'S NOT TO SAY THEY WON'T LIKE STRATEGIC THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THE BUSSES THAT WE TAKE THAT WE MIGHT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET SPONSORSHIP FOR OUR BUSSES AND ANY SPONSORSHIP WE GET CAN ASSIST WITH THE BUDGETS, BUT IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE ONE TO WHERE AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THAT BLANK BUS OUT THERE, YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR PUTTING SOMEBODY'S NAME ON IT.

WE DO. WE WE WENT AROUND FOR YEARS AND YEARS WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S NAME AND HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROGRAM.

BUT HE GOT ALL OF THAT GOODWILL BECAUSE HIS NAME WAS ON THE BUS.

WE NEED TO TURN THAT GOODWILL BACK AROUND AND GET SOME MONEY FOR IT AND.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT OR DO WE ARE SO YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE A SPONSOR NAME ON THE BUS TO BRING MONEY IN.

SURE.

I MEAN. WELL, THE OTHER ONE WAS FOR WELL IT WAS SOMEONE CAN PAY MONEY THAT WOULD DEFRAY THE COST, WHETHER IT'S A DRIVER OR WHETHER IT'S FUEL, WHATEVER.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT A PLACARD ON THE BUS TO.

HIS NAME WAS ON THE BUS BECAUSE HE WAS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHO GOT US OUR THE BUS.

GOT THEM THE BUS.

YEAH. THAT'S WHY HIS NAME WAS ON THERE.

THROUGH A GRANT. YEAH.

YES. HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THAT.

I'M NOT TALKING DOING WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE BECAUSE IT WAS ALL OVER THE BUS.

I'M THINKING I'M THINKING MORE ALONG THE LINE OF JUST SOMETHING JUST ON THE BUS THAT SAYS, HE JUST TOLD YOU, PARTIALLY SPONSORED. BUT STRATEGIC WAYS TO THINK OF IT LIKE THAT.

IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TRANSPORTATION SIDE OF IT, IS THAT THEY MAY NOT BE THE BUS SPONSOR, THEY MIGHT BE THE TRIP SPONSOR.

SO ANY TIME WE HOST A TRIP, THEY WOULD BE RECOGNIZED THAT THEY HELP SUPPORT THE TRIPS AS A WHOLE GET THEM TO PAY FOR WHATEVER DECORATION IT IS.

IT'S YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS NOT OUT THE ANY OF THAT.

SO. UH, MY ONLY DEAL WOULD BE IF YOU HAD PLACARDS YOU COULD TAKE ON AND OFF.

THAT MIGHT EVEN BE BETTER.

BUT HE DOESN'T THINK IT CAN BE DONE THROUGH THE CITY.

MAY I SPEAK? ARE WE ANY CLOSE TO HAVING 100 PEOPLE ATTEND ANYTHING? ARE WE ANY CLOSE TO HAVING THAT MANY GO ON A TRIP? NOT ON A TRIP, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE ROOM FOR 100 PEOPLE? WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THE TRIP THAT IS COMING UP SOON.

THE [INAUDIBLE] TRIP, CORRECT? NO, THAT'S NOT THE SCALE.

THERE WE GO. THAT ONE CURRENTLY HAS 61 PEOPLE REGISTERED.

HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE THE LIMITATION THAT WE ONLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE SO MANY BASED ON TRANSPORTATION THAT WE HAVE AND HOW THAT TRIP WORKS.

SO WE ARE APPROACHING THAT FOR TRIPS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'VE SEEN THAT KIND OF RESPONSE FOR ALL OUR TRIPS.

WELL, YOU KNOW, GULF COAST HAS A BUS OR A BIG BUS, SOMETHING.

HE WOULD PROBABLY LOAN IT TO US FOR A TRIP.

MARK S MARK.

THEY USED TO.

THEY USED TO LET YOU USE IT FOR CERTAIN THINGS.

I'M NOT SAYING THEY WILL, BUT IT DOESN'T HURT.

IT DOESN'T HURT TO ASK.

BUT AS FAR AS ARE WE IN THE POSSIBILITY WHERE WE MAY NEED SPONSORS, ARE WE GETTING THAT BIG? I MEAN, WE WILL EXPLORE IT AT ALL COSTS TO SEE WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE.

AND SPONSORSHIP DOES HELP TO BUILD YOUR BUDGET IN SOME WAYS.

BUT SPONSORSHIPS ARE NEVER A GUARANTEE.

SO I CAN SAY WE CAN'T ALWAYS RELY ON A SPONSORSHIP.

SO LET'S SAY WE GET A SPONSOR FOR NEXT YEAR.

WE COULD LOSE THAT SPONSORSHIP THE YEAR AFTER.

AND IF WE'RE TRYING TO SAY WE'RE GUARANTEEING THAT TO HAPPEN, THAT WOULD BE IMPACT OUR BUDGET.

SO WE TRY NOT TO HAVE SPONSORSHIP FOR THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED LIKE ARE GOING TO HAPPEN NO MATTER WHAT.

SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO THINK OF IT IN THE SIDE OF AN EVENT.

IF YOU RELY ON SPONSORSHIP FOR AN EVENT AND YOU DON'T GET THOSE SPONSORSHIPS, YOU CAN'T DO IT.

YOU CAN'T CAN'T HOST YOUR EVENTS.

SO IT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T WANT TO TRY.

IF WE'RE GETTING CLOSE THAT WE HAVE 100 SENIOR CITIZENS THAT WANT TO GO ON A TRIP.

NO, NOT TRIPS.

[00:30:01]

THE SOCIALS ARE THE BIG ONES.

OH, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE TRIPS.

THE TRIPS THEY ONLY HAVE.

WE ONLY HAVE 20 CAN GO 40.

NO, 40 COULD GO BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT THE TWO BUSSES.

NOW THAT WE HAVE THE TWO BUSSES.

YEAH. AS LONG AS THEY CAN GET A DRIVER FOR THE SECOND BUS.

WELL, JUST IN CASE.

WE HAVE 100 ON A TRIP.

I'M STILL SAYING WE CAN ASK GULF COAST THAT MAN OUT THERE WAS VERY GENEROUS TO HELP WITH EVERYTHING SO.

AND THE BIG REMEMBER, THE BIG THING IS LOOKING BACK AT THE BUDGET SIDE OF IT IS WE DO REPORT TO A BOARD THAT PROVIDES THAT FUNDING TO US.

SO WE HAVE TO APPROACH THEM EACH YEAR AND GIVE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT THAT FUNDING LOOKS LIKE.

AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY YAY OR NAY FOR IT.

SO AS YOU SEE IN YOUR PACKET THERE, THE MDSS SHEETS, THAT'S THE FULL BUDGET FOR THE RECREATION DIVISION THAT IS PART OF OUR SENIOR PROGRAMS, IS PART OF AND SENIOR PARTNERS IS JUST A PART OF THAT.

SO THE RECREATION BUDGET AS A WHOLE IS A $400,000 BUDGET.

AND SO YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT SIDE OF IT TO WHERE ABLC COMES IN TO SUPPORT THESE COSTS BASED ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COME IN.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE SENIOR PROGRAM SIDE.

THEY'RE MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE FOR THE SENIOR PROGRAMING, OUR GENERAL PROGRAMING, ATHLETICS, OUTDOOR EDUCATION, THE REC CENTER.

SO THEIR APPROACH INTO IT IS TO EVALUATE THE ENTIRE BUDGET.

AND IT PART OF THAT IS THE SENIOR PROGRAMING ONE.

SO AS YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT TO THEM THAT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY NEGATIVE FEEDBACK ON THAT 72% INCREASE BECAUSE THAT'S IMAGINE IF WE INCREASE 72% ACROSS THE BOARD FOR THE REC CENTER AND THE REC DIVISION, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WOULD PROBABLY GET SHUT DOWN PRETTY QUICK.

BUT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR SENIOR PROGRAMING AND SHOWING THEM THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BUILD THAT PROGRAM AND THEY SEE THE RESULTS COMING. IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE TIME TO GET MORE THINGS THERE.

SO WELL, CONSIDERING WE WERE SO LATE IN GETTING THE SENIOR PROGRAM, I THINK WE'VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE WE STARTED.

WE HAD NOTHING.

SO WE'VE DONE FAIRLY WELL AND WE'RE GROWING AND I HEAR MORE COMMENTS ABOUT IT.

I'VE HEARD SOME GOOD ONES LATELY THAT THE DANCE, THE 50TH HOP WAS NICE AND I'M HEARING THINGS THAT'S GOING ON, WHICH IS GOOD. SO I THINK THEY'RE TRYING.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU CREDIT.

THANK YOU. WANT TO HEAR SOMETHING GOOD? YOU HEAR ALL THE BAD, YOU MIGHT AS WELL HEAR THE GOOD, RIGHT? YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE ITEM THAT WE HAVE NUMBER THREE? YEAH. SO THIS ONE WE ARE ASKING, WE WANTED TO BRING THIS BEFORE Y'ALL BECAUSE I KNOW THIS WAS A BIG TOPIC, SO WE WILL LOOK FOR A MOTION ON THIS ONE.

SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE ACTION.

YEAH. AND SECOND BY.

ARE YOU SECONDING THAT? I'LL SECOND IT.

I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE SCHEDULE AS PRESENTED? YES. YEAH.

ALL THOSE IN APPROVAL OF POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE JANUARY 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2024 SENIOR LUNCH AND TRIP PLAN APPROVING SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE DENY.

MM. SO THAT WAS THREE ONE.

THAT MOTION PASSES.

ALL RIGHT. OK ANY.

OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER THE 1ST.

MONDAY OF OCTOBER.

OCTOBER 1ST, YOU SAID.

UH, OCTOBER 2ND.

SECOND. ALL RIGHTY.

I'LL TRY TO REMEMBER NEXT TIME.

PAT, WILL YOU? YES.

MEETING ADJOURNED AT 12:04 P.M..

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.