Consultants find strong usage but gaps in outreach, space and transportation at Anacortes Senior Activity Center

Consultants who conducted a community needs assessment for the Anacortes Senior Activity Center told the City Council on Monday that the center is widely used but faces limits on space, outreach and transportation.

The Burke Consulting team presented findings that included two surveys — 317 responses from active center participants and 881 responses from the broader older‑adult community — and a set of short‑, medium‑ and longer‑term recommendations for programming, partnerships and data collection.

The report matters because it quantifies who uses the center, identifies barriers that keep other seniors from participating and offers concrete steps the council and partners can take to expand services and plan for future facility needs.

Burke Consulting project manager Maddie Immel told the council the study began in September 2024 and drew an unusually large response: “This is a huge response rate,” Immel said, noting the 881 community responses represent roughly one in 20 seniors in Anacortes. Consultant Stella Stroffert said the center serves both frequent and occasional users and that attendance generally rises with age; the report found 16% of respondents aged 85 and older visit the center two or more times a week.

The consultants highlighted three practical constraints: awareness of programming (scheduling and marketing), transportation to the center and limited physical space. The report estimates the city’s older‑adult population could grow substantially; consultants said the senior population in Anacortes is expected to increase by about 8,000 people by 2050 and recommended the city consider that forecast in the comprehensive plan.

Short‑term recommendations (0–2 years) in the report include establishing a quarterly task force of organizations that serve older adults to coordinate referrals and resources, testing creative marketing to reach under‑represented groups, and piloting an automated check‑in system to improve data about who uses the center and when. The report also suggests offering programming outside the typical 8 a.m.–4 p.m. window and running more off‑site activities to reduce stigma about the word “senior.”

Consultants recommended hiring one additional staff position in the 2–4 year timeframe — a volunteer and community partner coordinator or a resource coordinator — to strengthen outreach and resource navigation. The team also noted opportunities to contract evidence‑based programs such as chronic‑disease self‑management.

Council members pressed on several specifics. Council member Fantini said transportation has been raised repeatedly at council meetings and urged concrete next steps; Immel and Wolfswinkel said work on a check‑in system and volunteer support is already underway. Council member Walters asked whether the center had data linking participants to subsidized housing; consultants replied they had not matched residence data to survey responses but identified targeted outreach to housing complexes as an opportunity.

Council discussion also addressed space. Carl Wolfswinkel, representing the senior center, said short‑term building adjustments could add a few hundred square feet; the consultants noted a longer‑term expansion option could add roughly 900–1,000 square feet but would be a multi‑year capital decision. The council discussed whether shifting some programming off‑site could delay the need for a major capital project.

Public commenters and center volunteers emphasized transportation and space as key barriers to participation and encouraged the council to prioritize outreach to lower‑income residents.

The consultants will finalize the report for the center and city staff. Council members flagged using the assessment to inform the city’s comprehensive plan update and to prioritize short‑term items such as the check‑in pilot and a task force for partner coordination.