Agenda Packets - 1992/02/03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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______ Poll shows support for senior center ' ., . PP . , gaining,significant support. Those • po 'REGIONAL • Majority willing are the same major amenities being ..:....::,...,. 'considered bythe task force. to raise taxes - by MacDonald Meade THE 21-MEMBER task force.. ' A four-city task force is moving to build facility has been meeting since last forward following a favorable summer considering the idea of the response to its community poll shared senior center. In November which surveyed resident attitudes seniors giving it one of those two the group identified five potential toward development of a shared priority levels. sites for the facility, all of which senior-citizen center. lie near where the four cities meet. Last week Decision Resources, ADDITIONALLY, 46 percent Four of the five sites are on non- , Inc. released the results of the of the senior households said they tax-generating properties currently.. .' . .. - . J . I. - . . • . - 1" • • 1 - _ . 1' - I. •/ .11' . •111 . I. Brighton, Mounds View; Spring non-senior households said they point are preliminary, the group Lake Park and Fridley residents on know of nearby seniors who they has suggested that the center's. their feelings toward and ideas for felt would be interested in using construction costs would run a regional senior-citizen center. the facility. roughly $1.7 million, and annual Decision Resources was operating costs would be about commissioned by the four cities NOT ONLY did the poll show $360,000. The latter cost is. and conducted the survey in early a senior center would be used, but presumed to be a cost that is • December. it showed that there is some already being paid by the four "There was a strong and willingness to increase taxes to pay cities and their seniors for current • widespread support •for the for it. senior programs but the construction of a Regional Senior The general population sample construction cost represents an Center,"Decision Resources writes showed that 21 percent would be additional cost to the cities. in its executive summary of the willing to raise their taxes as high According to Dana Rebelein, a survey. as $20 per year to pay for it while New Brighton City Council £Kt}mitt; ;Ji ? D#it€f}ii1r il It further concludes in the another 43 percent said they would member who co-chairs the Senior 1l2ii. summary, "A Regional Senior support various specific tax Center Task Force, to pay the- Center,then,is an idea whose time increases between $2 and $17 construction costs the cities likely has come." annually. The senior population will ask the Legislature for sample showed similar sentiment authority to enter into an joint- ACCORDING TO the survey, with 22 percent willing to raise powers agreement which will roughly one in five households in their taxes as high as$20 per year allow the cities to levy for the costs the four cities includes one or more and another 38 percent who would of constructing the facility outside senior citizens. The poll included support specific increases between of the existing levy limits on cities.: two facets including one that $2 and$17 annually. ..; queried a sample of the general HOWEVER, Rebelein said population in the four cities and a OFFSETTING those numbers before that occurs the task force second-that-included only-senior somewhat,-howeveruis-the-fact-that il-l-eontinue-to-eva-l-ua-te-th€- citizens. 21 percent of the senior-only survey,develop more accurate cost e execu ve summary no es samp e, an. per - • - es 'ma es an. a m•r- •e .i • 1 • that an interesting finding of the general-population sample said evaluation of the proposed sites. poll is the fact that a larger they would be unwilling to She said that process could lead to percentage of the general increase their taxes to pay for the the four cities continuing with the population supports the facility. process, or she said it could make establishment of the senior center Asked to list their three top it clear to one or more of the cities than does that of just the senior choices out of a list of seven that it isn't feasible for them. population. amenities for such a senior center, congregate dining/large gathering She suggested that she would NONETHELESS,both groups facilities was easily the top choice. hope much of the research work strongly support the idea with 51 Kitchen and kitchenettes were also will occur in time for the task force percent of the general population listed as a high priority in the to release its final report and : - I deeming it a "top" or "major" facility, with an arts and crafts recommendation to the cities priority, and 52 percent of the room and a game room also sometime in February.