The Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee on a unanimous voice vote endorsed a plan to repurpose the South Shore Community Center to host a senior meal program, year-round parks programming including summer camp space, and a police training/community room. The committee asked staff to return to the full City Commission with a recommended budget amendment and implementation schedule ahead of the summer season.

Committee members said community input from an October open house and follow-up outreach informed a proposal that would divide the building into functional zones: a central ground-floor area for a senior meal program and partner offices, an auditorium-sized west quadrant for Parks & Recreation day camps and aftercare, and second-floor space envisioned for a police training presence and Police Athletic League activities. City staff told the committee the building is in good condition and needs minor renovations — primarily an elevator replacement and removal of modular cubicles — to host programs immediately.

Housing and Community Services staff said they plan to issue an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) on Feb. 3 for the senior meal site; proposals will indicate providers’ program models and how they would sustain operations beyond the city’s first-year commitment. Staff said the central area could be cleared of cubicles and readied for service quickly, and that Parks & Recreation expects to use the auditorium space for an 80-person summer camp already approved by prior commission resolution.

Committee members repeatedly urged that the city not delay opening a meal service while longer-term reconfiguration or renovations proceed. One commissioner said roughly 150 seniors are on a waiting list for meals and asked staff to prioritize immediate service in the windowed central area or the auditorium while the permanent space is finalized. Staff replied that the appropriation of $175,000 in the current fiscal year is intended to allow the senior meal program to begin while Parks & Recreation prepares the auditorium and staff coordinates minor renovations (estimated to be under $100,000) for the long-term configuration.

On follow-up steps, staff said they would: release the ITN for the senior meal provider, prepare a budget amendment to allocate one-time renovation funds for Parks & Recreation, and coordinate with Parks, Facilities and the county and other service partners to colocate supportive services in the central offices. The committee’s endorsement will be forwarded to the City Commission for final approval.

Ending: Committee members emphasized intergenerational opportunities — pairing summer-camp youth and seniors for reading and activities — and asked staff to return to the commission with exact timelines and the ITN evaluation schedule so the feeding program can start as soon as a provider is selected and contracts are executed.