HomeMy WebLinkAbout13.F.2. Future of Congregate Dining ProgramCity of Shakopee
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
FROM: Kris Wilson, Assistant City Administrator
SUBJECT: Future of Congregate Dining Program
DATE: November 4, 2010
Introduction
The Council is asked to consider ending the City's involvement in the senior congregate dining
program operated by the CAP Agency.
Background
In December of 1979 the City entered into a long -term lease for space inside the senior high -
rise at 200 Levee Drive in order to provide a site for a senior congregate dining program. The
CAP agency operates a congregate dining program in numerous Scott, Carver and Dakota
County communities. They pay for the food and staffing, but it is the host city's responsibility
to provide a physical space that includes a commercial kitchen.
In addition to making lease payments, the lease also obligates the City to pay the utilities and
provide maintenance and custodial service for the space. For 2010, the adopted budget for
Congregate Dining is $40,980, of which $23,640 is for direct rent payments. This is entirely a
General Fund expense.
The CAP Agency reports that they regularly serve about 14 -17 individuals at this site and that
participants are almost exclusively residents of the 200 Levee Drive building. Seniors from
other areas of the City are not using the program, and this has been the case for years.
Since the Council's last discussion of this topic a few months ago, there are several relevant
updates:
1) The relationship with the owner of the 200 Levee Drive building has become even more
strained. The CAP agency has been unable to resume regular operations in the recently
remodeled kitchen and since December 4, 2009 has delivered meals to program
participants instead.
2) A local church contacted City staff after reading an article in the paper regarding the
possible relocation or discontinuation of the program. Representatives of the CAP
agency toured the church space and felt it would work for the program. The church
staff presented the idea to their Board, which responded with an offer to rent the space
for $1500 per month. While this is lower than the $1970 per month plus utilities that
we are currently paying, it is still markedly higher than the $200 - $600 per month being
paid to rent kitchen space in other south metro communities.
3) Current program participants were surveyed to determine their interest in possible
alternatives, including transitioning to Mobile Meals or traveling outside their building
to an alternative congregate dining site. A total of 21 survey responses were received
and only 2 indicated they would be willing to travel outside of the building they live in to
attend the congregate dining program at an alternative site.
Staff at the CAP agency has told me that they will find a way to continue to serve the program's
existing clients should the City discontinue participation, although they are not ready to
announce the details of that plan at this point.
Recommendation
Given the lack of participant interest in traveling to an alternative site, the still relatively high
cost of renting space elsewhere in the community, and the CAP Agency's ability to continue to
provide the current participants with meals via alternative methods, staff recommends that the
City formally end its participation in this program effective immediately. If Council concurs,
letters will be sent to the owner of the 200 Levy Drive building and to the CAP Agency notifying
them that the City will not be pursuing a lease renewal at the current site or a new lease at an
alternative site.
Requested Action
lithe Council concurs it should offer a motion to direct staff to give written notice to the owner
of the 200 Levy Drive building that the City does not wish to extend its lease relationship and to
formally notify the CAP Agency that the City will no longer be leasing a space for the congregate
dining program, effective January 1, 2011.