Tualatin staff propose new lunch program at Juanita Pohl Center; council asked to add $40,000 to FY26 budget

Recreation staff proposed a new congregate lunch program at the Juanita Pohl Center to replace reduced services from Meals on Wheels People, asking council to include funding in the Fiscal Year 2025–26 budget adoption.

Julie Ludeman, recreation manager, and Sarah Shepherd, Juanita Pohl Center supervisor, told council that Meals on Wheels People will continue homebound delivery but will end congregate meals at the Juanita Pohl Center beginning July 1; staff presented four options and said their preferred near-term option is a contracted catering provider operating at the center.

Why it matters: Congregate meals at the center provide both nutrition and social engagement for older adults. Staff said the in-house/catered model would allow the city to continue meals at the center, rebuild drop-in activities around lunch, and maintain social supports for older residents.

Program outline and budget - Current and recent service: Before COVID, the center averaged about 175 congregate weekly meals (35 per day) and 42 homebound deliveries; since July 2022 Meals on Wheels People reduced congregate service to two days per week and weekly congregate meal counts fell to about 16 (roughly eight people per day) while home deliveries dropped to about 27 clients. - Recommended model: contract a catering company to prepare meals at the center and allow advisory input on menus; continue to explore a longer-term in-house nutrition program and the Meals on Wheels People Diners Club card as complementary options. - Anticipated city cost: staff estimated an annual city contribution of about $30,000 to $40,000 to operate the contracted meal program and recommended a $5 per-meal fee to participants; staff estimated cost-recovery revenue at about $10,000 plus sponsorships and donations.

Staff also proposed program evaluation and surveys and said they will return to council with an update in winter 2025–26 with participation and revenue numbers. Staff requested “authorization to increase the budget for fiscal year 25–26 for the lunch program;” Dawn Hester, city manager and finance director, said staff will include the request in the FY25–26 budget adoption staff report and resolution on the June 23 council meeting and noted staff will include $40,000 in the budget with a $10,000 revenue placeholder.

Council questions and comments Councilors supported continuing congregate meals and pressed staff on outreach, measures to rebuild pre-COVID participation and options to offset meal fees (scholarships and sponsorships). Councilors recommended flexibility on pricing (suggesting donation or sliding-scale options), coordination with local nonprofit hunger programs and neighborhood partners, and volunteer recruitment to support service and social activities.

Next steps Staff will proceed with contracting options for the catered model, develop sponsorship and scholarship plans, begin pre-launch participant surveys and menu testing, and include the budget increase in the June 23 FY25–26 budget adoption materials. Staff plan to report participation and financial results to council in winter 2025–26.