ITEM TITLE:
#21-21 - Supporting the 2021-2025 Valdez Senior Center, Inc. Coordinated Community Transportation Plan
SUBMITTED BY: Allie Ferko, MMC, Deputy City Clerk
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution # 21-21
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Ms. Deborah Plant, executive director of Valdez Senior Center, provides the following information for your consideration.
On December 15, 2015, City Council approved the 2016 Community Transportation Plan. This plan will expire on June 30, 2021. The 2016 plan included Connecting Ties as the lead transportation provider in the community.
A copy of the old 2016 plan and the new 2021 plan are attached for Council reference.
Background: Connecting Ties dispatched what is called “purchase of service” rides in the community. Eligible senior citizens and persons with disabilities were able to buy vouchers for $4. The vouchers could be used to purchase service (transportation rides) from the local cab company or from Connecting Ties. Connecting Ties was also the recipient of a matching grant to manage these services. This is a very brief description of the complicated nature of the program.
In 2016, Connecting Ties opted to discontinue managing transportation services in Valdez and focused solely on providing services to their clientele - persons with developmental disabilities. This left a significant gap in the transportation services available to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Almost five years ago, Valdez Senior Center, Inc. stepped in as the lead agency to fill some of this gap, working with the Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT). Rides are provided through “reservations” Monday through Friday during normal business hours and enables seniors and persons with disabilities to conduct activities of daily living which require transportation (e.g., grocery shopping, picking up medication, doctor visits, picking up mail, prescription deliveries, etc.).
In 2016, the Valdez Senior Center, Inc. purchased a new 2016 eight passenger van funded by the City of Valdez and United Way. They have used the van to provide transportation services to senior citizens and persons with disabilities who do not require the use of a wheelchair. In 2019, the Valdez Senior Center, Inc. purchased a 2014 Hyundai Tucson available for rides as well.
Last year, the Valdez Senior Center, Inc. partnered with Connections to Care, Inc., to share a wheelchair accessible van. Connections to Care, Inc. purchased the wheelchair van. Valdez Senior Center, Inc. houses and provides drivers to provide rides to clients associated with Connections to Care, Inc. during their business hours. This includes providing rides as needed to local seniors and disabled individuals requiring the use of a wheelchair accessible van.
As in the past, this item being proposed by the Valdez Senior Center, Inc. requires no matching funds on the part of the City of Valdez. The ADOT transportation grant matches a current office staff position to include dispatcher duties for grant funding. Grant matching funds provide for a full-time driver as well.
Since 2016, the Valdez Senior Center, Inc. has filled a much-needed gap in the unfilled transportation needs of Valdez and does so in a way where there is no risk to the Valdez Senior Center, Inc. budget. In addition to assistance with two full time staff positions, the grant will also pay for the operating expenses of the program like advertising, office expenses, vehicle fuel expenses and repairs/maintenance.
Much of the information within the 2016 Community Transportation Plan has changed since its approval in December 2015. Despite that, the Plan was valid, and an amendment was not required because the Valdez Senior Center, Inc. met Goal #2 outlined in the 2016 plan, which was “Rides to continue to provide transportation to eligible individuals [seniors and persons with disabilities] within the Valdez community.”
The Valdez Senior Center, Inc. continues to work closely with ADOT and has discussed plans with them for development and submission of the new Community Transportation Plan in 2021.
Currently, the Valdez Senior Center, Inc. needs a resolution from the Council supporting the updated community transportation plan for 2021-2025. That resolution is attached for Council review and approval.
The Valdez Senior Center Inc.’s Director, staff, and partners have worked diligently to put this updated transportation plan together. The Valdez Senior Center, Inc. Board continues to support the Valdez Senior Center Inc.’s management of the Community Transportation Plan and newly revised plan.