DEPARTMENT: Human Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Melody Woosley
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorization of an Interlocal Agreement with the University of North Texas Department of Public Administration
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes approval of an Interlocal Agreement with the University of North Texas, Department of Public Administration for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive Senior Services Strategic Plan for the City of San Antonio Department of Human Services. The agreement will commence upon execution for an amount not to exceed $114,196.00. Funds were previously authorized in the FY 2018 Senior Nutrition Program Grant Budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City's Senior Services Program annually provides services to more than 33,000 seniors 60 years and above. Services include a midday meal in a congregate setting, as well as health and wellness activities, exercise, arts, computer instructions, nutritional education, case management and social activities. The program serves approximately 2,700 meals daily, Monday through Friday, at the City's Senior Centers and Nutrition Sites located throughout the community.
The City operates 10 comprehensive senior centers, 8 senior nutrition sites and partners with community agencies to provide senior nutrition programs at 35 nutrition sites. These partnerships provide optimal access to senior nutrition services by utilizing vendor and volunteer contracts.
At the request of City Council, a comprehensive strategic planning process for the Senior Services program was last completed by KGBTexas on September 16, 2011 which outlined multi-year recommendations. These recommendations were presented to City Council at a B Session on October 5, 2011, with final implementation of plan recommendations by Fiscal Year 2018.
In March 2014, the City of San Antonio committed to the World Health Organization’s Age Friendly Cities Initiative, a commitment which was reaffirmed by Mayor Nirenberg in September 2017.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes approval of an agreement with the University of North Texas, Department of Public Administration for the purpose of conducting a Senior Services Strategic Plan for the City of San Antonio Department of Human Services. The agreement amount is not to exceed $114,196.00.
The University of North Texas, Department of Public Administration, provides research services that focus on regional planning in the areas of housing, transportation, and aging services.
A comprehensive strategic planning process for the Senior Services program was last completed by KGBTexas on September 16, 2011 which outlined multi-year recommendations. These recommendations were fully implemented during FY 2018. Since FY 2011, the number of seniors served by the City of San Antonio has grown from 9,000 to 33,371 and the General Fund contribution towards programming has increased by 73%.
The plan proposed by the University of North Texas, Department of Public Administration, will tie into the City of San Antonio’s commitment to being recognized as an Age Friendly City through AARP Texas and the World Health Organization (WHO) Age Friendly Communities network. The purpose of the plan will be to examine the capacity of City services, including but not limited to Department of Human Services programming, to respond to the needs of a growing older adult population in the City of San Antonio and identify opportunities to achieve tangible outcomes in age friendly policy action and recommendations relative to the proposed plans, studies and work programs of relevant city departments.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this Interlocal Agreement not be approved, the Department of Human Services will need to identify another partner to conduct a Senior Services Strategic Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes approval of an agreement with the University of North Texas and is not to exceed $114,196.00. Funds were previously authorized in the FY 2018 Senior Nutrition Program Grant Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an Interlocal Agreement with the University of North Texas, Department of Public Administration for the purpose of conducting a Senior Services Strategic Plan for the City of San Antonio Department of Human Services.