ITEM TITLE:
#21-43 - Supporting the Valdez Senior Center Transportation Grant Program
SUBMITTED BY: Deborah Plant, Executive Director of Valdez Senior Center
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: Click here to enter text.
Unencumbered Balance: Click here to enter text.
Funding Source: Click here to enter text.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution No. 21-43.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
On May 18, 2021, the Council approved the updated 2021 Community Transportation Plan (the previous plan was in effect from 2015-2021). A copy of the updated plan is attached for Council information.
Prior to 2015, Connecting Ties had taken the lead role as a transportation provider in the community. Connecting Ties opted to discontinue managing transportation services in 2016 and focused purely 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.
In 2016, five years ago, Valdez Senior Center 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, etc.).
In 2016, the Valdez Senior Center 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. They also own and utilize a 2014 Hyundai Tucson SUV for transportation services.
Two years ago, the Valdez Senior Center partnered with Connections to Care, Inc., to share a wheelchair accessible van. Connections to Care, Inc. purchased the wheelchair van, and the Valdez Senior Center houses it. The Valdez Senior Center also provides drivers to give 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 van.
The schedule being proposed by the Valdez Senior Center requires no matching funds on their part. The ADOT transportation grant matches a current office staff position to include dispatcher duties for grant funding. Grant matching funds will provide for a full-time driver as well.
What the Senior Center offers fills a much-needed gap in the unfilled transportation needs of Valdez and does so in a way where there is no risk to the Senior Center 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.
Currently, the Senior Center needs a resolution from the Council supporting their grant application. That resolution is attached for Council review and approval. The Senior Center Director has worked diligently to put this application together. The Senior Center Board addressed this in Board Meetings on September 21st and October 19th.